John Dawson Read - A Friend of Mine is Going Blind

[hobomojo007]

i am 17 and i came here because of a book called Angry Management by: Chris Crutcher and one of his characters name Sarah Byrns loves this song so i looked it up and yea it is awesome

[pilgrimpage]

Ah John, you have taken me back to nearly forgotten bygone days. Your bittersweet ballad has aged better than fine wine. Where have you been all of these years? Which is to ask... where do I find anything that you have done since Read On?

[BuonaseraAmici]

Thank you, John, for your beautiful song. As others have written, I heard this song on the radio when I was a pre-teen and I've never forgotten it. Every so often, it's pops into my head. It popped in today when I was in front of my computer and I googled it. It sounds as good as it ever did!

[m1234h]

WOW my dad just showed me some of his old Lps and you were one of them. He told me that he once recorded him self singin this song when he was in the 20s So I figured out the chords and got him to sing once more :) Beautiful song Thanks / Mark in Sweden

[dinermikey]

"Such is the Mystery" is another one of the songs from the promo album I had....Fabulous Music!! Thanks again.

[dinermikey]

Wow...I can't believe I am seeing this. I first listened to you in the late 70;s. My brother had a promo album with the song "Some People are Crazy".....great song and great album. I can not find it anywhere, I have been looking for 30 years. If you know where I could get a copy of that promo album please let me know. Your music is one of a kind.  It inspired me at 17 and still at 49 I love it. Would love to see you do some songs from that promo album. I have a few of the MP3s.

[dinermikey]

Wow...I can't believe I am seeing this. I first listened to you in the late 70;s. My brother had a promo album with the song "Some People are Crazy".....great song and great album. I can not find it anywhere, I have been looking for 30 years. If you know where I could get a copy of that promo album please let me know. Your music is one of a kind. It inspired me at 17 and still at 49 I love it.  Would love to see you do some songs from that promo album. I have a few of the MP3s that Ifoun

[dinermikey]

Wow...I can't believe I am seeing this. I first listened to you in the late 70;s. My brother had a promo album with the song "Some People are Crazy".....great song and great album. I can not find it anywhere, I have been looking for 30 years. If you know where I could get a copy of that promo album please let me know. Your music is one of a kind. It inspired me at 17 and still at 49 I love it. Would love to see you do some songs from that promo album. I have a few of the MP3s that Ifound

[analiagermano]

Ever since I was a child, I have loved this song. I didn't understand English back then, but there was something about the music and his voice that captivated me. With the time I could understand the lyrics and I fell in love with the song.

Thanks for sharing and letting us enjoy such a master piece.

Regards from Uruguay

[Mickagume]

In the late 70's, I was a DJ at a 100,000 watt FM station in Kansas, and this song was on our play list. It was the first time I had ever heard it, and I quickly went out and bought the album. I could never listen to it - at work or at home - without tears welling up.( ...and I couldn't just now, either!) It's beautiful, man... absolutely gorgeous poetry! Thank you for this song, and for the memories it now rekindles!...

[benandboys]

Wow. I was about 16, my family had moved to a new town, I was lonely and the radio was my best friend. And they played this song often. And I felt I was the only one in the world who had ever heard it, and that it was written for me.

And now I'm 52, and living in a different town, and once again listening to this beautiful piece of music, and feeling as though I'm the only one in the world who has heard it.

[vw2180]

Thank you. I first heard your music in the late 70s on WBRU boston Ma.

[DuqueBlancco]

Qué hermosa canción!!!!! Te felicito, es una de las mejores baladas que he escuchado.

[danmccann27]

John, when I was a young actor in New york in this was my favorite album. glad to have found it again. 

[idosalsa]

What a beautiful song. I still have this in Cassette.

[bumpaguv]

I was a teenager when this song came out and I love it as much now at age 52 as I did then. Thanks for posting it!

[TheRobert318]

Beautiful song John , i love it 

[TheRobert318]

Beautiful song , beautiful !!!!!!!!

[sadmaawk]

This has always been one of my favorite songs. Thank you for allowing me to hear it again after so many years.

[sadmaawk]

This has always been one of my favorite songs. Thank you for allowing me to hear it again after so many years.

[eklizbeth]

Thanks I have this record, My Mother bought it, and I loved it as a kid and now have inherited it , wonderful songwriting

[senn416]

Never heard this before. Very nice! Thanks for posting.

[vw2180]

I found it on your blog through Google a couple of years ago and first heard a good 30 years ago on WBRU in Boston MA. Thank you for posting your songs. It is as timeless now as it was then. Thank you.

[budman1946]

Great to finally find this song again. I have looked for so long to find it since I first heard it Thank You one of the best songs I have ever heard

[ToddGilmore]

John, thanks so much. This song has haunted me as well since I heard it on a late night FM station in 1975. What beauty and sincerity.

[meistermuzak]

John.....wow it's so good to see this video. Any chance that you will re-release your albums on cd? Thanks buddy!

[angusthethird]

John...

just sitting here reminiscing about my 70s childhood in memory of my precious mom, who passed away on June 12.

I felt your hit of '75 was so sad. I loved it. I was able to picture myself in the same situation. I can only imagine.

How's this guy today?

[jackie4mail]

I menioned this song in a blog, and a friend found your website for me. Now I see you on MySpace too! I've loved this song (without ever finding it again) for 30 years. If this were the only song you ever wrote-it would still be something to be very proud of. So glad you wrote it, so glad I found it-again.

[francisanosissi]

my mother bought your album at a market somewhere bout 76.she liked the cover and took a punt.we did play that record quite a bit,which was a miracle, trying to squeeze anything between rumours or frampton comes alive..anyway i can still whistle those tunes without prompting,thanks for those songs,hope you are well.

[sk8ter6969]

necesito saber donde consigo algun cd de este autor y de que pais es. Gracoias

[ferguibernau]

Excellent! I seem to have been searching for this song for ages! A now I even see you singing it! Thanks so much! It's taken me back to some cherished times!

[Nancy8999]

I've been searching for this for ages since I first heard it so many moons ago on the radio.

Thank you for this lovely work of art that has haunted me (in the best way) for the last twenty years.

[middkees]

John Dawson Read is an incredible talent. I have loved and cherished his music since the 70's. If you appreciate beautiful, moving songs like this one, visit his website and discover a truly remarkable artist. This man's music has enriched my life. He is an incomparable artist.

[luismihura]

Thank you John for share with all us this beautiful video. The good music have no age. My 17 y.o daughter Maite is listening all the day your CD "Now...Where were we". She became a new fan of John Dawson Read. Thanks again.

[JohnDawsonRead]

Thanks Luis ..... and pass my appreciation to your daughter. John

[skipthebear]

John,

For most of my life, the first three or four lines of this song have remained etched in my mind. Thru tough times, they have served as inspiration. What incredible words!!!

What a joy it is to hear you sing them.

May God Bless You.

rb

[mnnorthcountrygirl1]

I am so happy to hear and see this - I fell in love with this song the first time I heard it on my transistor radio. :) I am so happy to have found it again, it's like coming back to the comfort of an old friend. Thank you so much!!!

[JohnDawsonRead]

Believe me... it is absolutely my pleasure.

Thank you for the message... John

[greggsansone]

John,

Like others, your music has not only touched my life but actually changed my life and made me a better musician. I cannot tell you how moved I am that you contact people and that you are such a beautiful force in the world. I'll tell you how my benefit goes for my back and I'll sing "A Friend of Mine is Going Blind" in your honor!

PS: Whatever happened to Tommy Davidson?

Gregg Sansone

[JohnDawsonRead]

Thanks again Gregg for your messages - Tommy Davidson (real name Graham) sadly passed away shortly after my second album Read On was released. He suffered from Muscular Dystrophy and yet was taken by apendicitis! Can you believe it!. Again, best of luck with the benefit concert. John

[Johnfern99]

So great to see this, John!! Happy to see you've got some videos up and can't wait to check them out! Would love to see some more concert footage if you have it!

[JohnDawsonRead]

Thanks John.... and great to see all the songs that you have put up on Youtube as well.... you are seriously prolific! All the best, John

[MARKAHATFIELD]

I want to tell you Mr Read, I'm not sure a better song was ever written or sung. This song is the standard that I compare serious lyric writing with. . Very few writers are in your league. Very few singers as well. I assume you know just how deeply this song touches the heart. I wore out 2 copies of this album. Please show these young folks more of your wonderful music. What a great joy to see this performance!

[JohnDawsonRead]

You are a gentleman sir ..... and you have made my day. John

[raskalnikov187]

Thanks for posting this! I heard the song some years ago by chance and was deeply moved by it, and it was not until recently I found it. Good to see it here now. Lot's of respect to the musician and the friend!

[khp700]

This song and album is the sole reason I still have a record player attached to my stereo. Thanks for the song and for posting it.

[JohnDawsonRead]

Its a pleasure ... thrilled you found it. John

[lovettfan]

Thanks for posting! KSHE 95 in St. Louis used to play this in the 70's. I heard it twice and never forgot it. In fact, I couldn't find the music, so I found the lyrics on the net and tried to remember the chords. If you have a lead on a copy of the album, let me know please. thanks again!