Yo-Yo Ma James Taylor - Hard times come again no more

[zzyyxxo]

I do think this is the most heartfelt version of this song available on youtube. Maybe it's just James Taylor's voice or the exquisite playing of Yo-Yo Ma. At any rate this is where my heart landed.

[bewshererin]

Let me rephrase that... this IS be the most beautiful an meaningful piece of music I've heard in a long long long long time

[bewshererin]

This is so fucking beautiful and then some. I'm in years,,,

[bewshererin]

@bewshererin I meant "tears"



[529Reno]

why isn't Mark O'Connor, America's greatest fiddler/ violinist not mentioned in this video? Yo Yo Ma....exquisite. James Taylor.........classic, now. Mark O'connor deserves to be praised as much as both of these great musicians.

[markmason1000]

During the Civil war, Union soldiers changed the words to this song calling it "Hardtack come again no more", If you ever look it up its a really good song

[BA97000]

Appropriate for "our times" now. With all the corruption going on in our governments.

[hbethmorris]

This is so nice, but you only mentioned half the group! That's Mark O'Connor on fiddle, and - I think - Edgar Meyer on bass.

[88leaf]

@Briansongman-the disjointedness is on purpose. He is singing freely, not within a strict meter

[88leaf]

best version out there

[marsuz333]

For John Popa

[marsuz333]

for you Popa

[Briansongman]

Not sure that James is actually in his usual good pocket on this one. This feels disjointed. Maybe it's just a time signature that is hard to count. Not sure why that would be a choice since this is essentially a song for the common man. At any rate I like Mavis Staples version the best of any of the ones I have seen on Youtube

[brianaward22]

@Briansongman It is supposed to sound like that, much harder to play then straight ahead.

[ukesruletheydo]

@Briansongman James` meter in this....IMPECABLE....it`s a bit loosey-goosey when Mr. Occonnor brings in his solo at 1:40 which I find puzzling

[Briansongman]

Not sure that James is actually in his usual good pocket on this one. This feels disjointed. 

[laughmusicwriter]

So smooth, so pretty. Check out Mavis Staples' version. Interesting contrast. Both so very lovely.

[SweetSoundOfGrace]

i loved the fusion of the fiddle and cello, it magically starts to break down whatever holds back your tears. somehow the lyrics seemed a little too deep for the accompanying music, which was quite happy

[mdouris]

@SweetSoundOfGrace ---- something doesn't work, you're right. but hard not to like it, for all that.

[teardroppal]

I love this!!!  Beautiful

[windydoughnut1]

127,000 of the views are from me

[windydoughnut1]

one of the most poignant and sublime pieces of music to have ever graced my ears

[ThePeruanitto]

buena melodia saludos de lima perú

[mjcellix1205]

its a divine moment arising inbetween them by performing together

[ThePaulineleboeuf]

Oh oui magnifique combo, extrait du cd APALACHIAN JOURNEY

[sobocity]

What impeccable taste, and just what we'd expect from James Taylor and Yo Yo Ma.

[Cathye3]

Love this song. How beautiful, simply beautiful....

[4202cvinc]

amazing, a collaberation of phenominal musicians making new of old.

[velvetunderpants44]

It's a little odd seeing James Taylor being the smallest person on the stage!

(With the obvious exception of Yo-Yo Ma...)

[myunicon]

Amazing musicians and a beautiful song written and sing by JamesTaylor,music play by him, Yo Yo Ma, and two other musicians made you applaud at their talents and great human hearts Music with play and sung with such emotion is just enough tot made your eyes misty! What a piece of real heavenly masterpiece !

[helenmyork]

@myunicon This song was written over 150 years ago by composer Stephen Foster, who also wrote Camptown Races, Beautiful Dreamer, Oh Suzannah!, My Old Kentucky Home, and so many more. Admittedly James Taylor and company do a lovely job with it, still it is a traditional American piece of music. The sad part is that it demonstrates that not much has changed in the past century and a half: the poor still suffer in this land of plenty.

[myunicon]

@helenmyork Hi there, thank you letting me know as I was not sure, that is why I got two comments there, which one said a beautiful written song and sang by James Taylor, whereas the other one I put beautiful song written and sing by James Taylor, as that is because he does write a lot of songs though. However, do agreed with you, it is usually the richer get richer and the poor stays poor, not just one place, but all over the world.

[myunicon]

Two amazing musician and a beautiful witten song and sing by James Taylor, nusic play by Yo Yo Ma, made you applaud at their talents and great human hearts Music with play and sung with such emotion is just enough tot made your eyes misty!

[waldo2358]

Mirth and Beauty - two guiding principles. Still, Shit Happens.

Beauty, however, prevails. Praises be.

[edinger58]

simplistic musical genius!

[smrndoff]

JT produces the most plaintive sound I ever heard....I reckon it comes from a deep well of emotional trauma due to the loss of his hair!!!

Hahahahahaha.... only kidding.

[altstrasse]

It doesn't get better than Stephen Foster. Written in 1854- seriously hard times.

Stephen died a pauper in Bellevue Hospital in 1864.

[edmangiaficojr]

Worth listening to several times if only for the conversation 1:40 to 2:40.  These are three string players who know where One is, and how to hit the right note when One comes.

[rockinredneck57]

@edmangiaficojr Four string players who are among the best on their instrument.

[Eagleknot2]

McGarrigle sisters version FTW.... This has too much pollish from the origional song, which is a true song of sorrow and pain from the civil war. James Taylor tried too hard here.

[1971mgb]

@Eagleknot2

That version is great also

He tried just fine and since the song was written 7 years before the civil war it can be best left to anyones arrangement. Bob Dylan probably did the best

[tercel4x4]

Occasionally one stubles across a piece of music that touches the sole. This is one such piece. I hope you enjoy it equally.

Xxx N

[gbellomorin]

Truly a peacefull son and so beautiful. I love this song and James Taylor

[THEGOODMUSIC100]

Has anyone ever heard Jennifer Warnes do a version of this ... a most excellent experience for the ears ... I only have on an old (and very scratched) vinyl else I would share.

[SimSystems]

Sorry, I found another great version of this.

[speakeasynyc]

Truly sensational. Music at the highest level. Bravo.

[cfdpromotions]

what a delight and pleasure to listen to musicians of such stature and talent on a famous stage on a balmy summer night any where......but especially on a magical vineyard with the silence and the sky alight with nature's own show .....the music speaks and resounds very loud...Mr taylor continues to spread his musical expression and share talent around the world...

[fpetrozz]

Tag Edgar Meyer(bass player) and Mark O'Connor on violin

[Fenstrat62]

Edgar Meyer is probably the worlds best base player....a real virtuoso....I've got three of his CD's, a truly amazing player! And this sounds great to me!

[SirPrised]

This is a marriage made in heaven. Will never stop listening to this beautiful song.

[Esopo11]

just two words: TI AMO

[SuperGavi]

Are you kidding? I couldn't hear anything flat about this soulful and vibrant performance.

[hchoron]

Stephen Foster would be stunned.

[jessiesgrrl]

This is a masterpiece... Wag more, bark less, and bite never.

[sweetbippity]

I love all these guys... but... nobody notices that James is singing heart-wrenchingly flat on this?

The string arrangement is pretty bland too.

[naypats]

i love this song but i couldn't help thinking that the bass player looked like Ray Liotta lol

[BubbFromGEI]

Is James Taylor's voice an instrument, or Yo-yo Ma's cello, a voice?

[MichaelCNH]

@BubbFromGEI

Yes.

[bekki650]

Excellent version!

[EndeavourAlways]

Heart wrenchng

[bulbheadmyass]

Awesome !

[manipark73]

wow...I love this violinist... Who is he?

[billwteasource]

@manipark73

The fiddler is Mark O'Connor (sp?) tons of his stuff out there.

Wonderful player.

The song, arrangement, and musicians are fantastic.

[lisalea59]

What an awesome song, and such a beautiful duo. How can you go wrong with JT and Yo-Yo Ma? Love it.

[SCSattler]

This is so bittersweet. I really love this song.

[bpfastfeet25]

2:23

[charliep3]

Any time you put Yo yo Ma on the stage it raises everybody's game and the rest of them already have a pretty good game.

[nealgh111]

JamesTaylor! a ++++

[flylooper]

I've seen Yo Yo Ma at least 2 dozen times, both live and on TV. I've never seen a musician who so visually communicates how much pleasure doing music gives him.

[luigidoll]

But The Brandos version still is the best one!!!

[shan1455]

Is there a better balladier than James Taylor? This collaberation is just magic...pure, pure magic!

[terrho7]

No, but Allison Krauss comes close.

[CaptainHoekify]

Beautiful. This is so amazing. The yo man holds it down as does Taylor and the rest of the group.

[HEmathtchr]

Wow.

[HEmathtchr]

James Taylor and Yo Yo Ma on the same stage. Wow!

[bonsoren]

wonderful rendition. Incredible musicians. Try Jay Ungar & Molly Mason version.

[wendel88]

wow this is music and these two are just pure muscians. james can stop you in your tracks..make you be in the moment like few others..you are amazed and cant find words to describe how you feel..i have heard him live 2 times..and been blown away both times.

[arkman57]

Well said, Billy P. This is wonderful, even though I probably don't really know why other than the fact JT can sing and the guys can play.

[williamanesbitt]

Very nice arrangement of a Stephen Foster song. Check out the version by the Nashville Bluegrass Band from several years ago. I love this string trio. Wonder how much of it was written down and how much was ad libbed on the spot. I know O'Connor and Meyer are both excellent improvisers. Don't know much about Ma (Yo?) other than that he's a stellar classical player. Love the room and stage. Very clean.

[JamesAlfred1]

Thank God for Musicians.

[xcorsary]

MDF!!! THIS IS SOOOOO AWSOME!!!!

[jerdeb4evr]

MDF?

[missinglowell]

it doesn't get BETTER!!!!

[junglecruiser]

James, Mark, YoYo, Edgar...doesn't get much better.

[cgenierun]

Oddly enough, this is the version closest to what the original might have sounded like. It was written in the mid 19th century, when people entertained themselves at home in the evenings by playing instruments and singing. Dylan and Staples were latecomers. This is lovely.

[SoulChildMusic]

again, its your problem if you cant understand what civilized humans are saying

and can you play a "non pretentious" string movement, just so us little people can understand?

And by the way, you cant be a civilized human being and not take offense to a simple little comment.

[dirkwears]

jjjuujj

[SoulChildMusic]

Your completley Wrong. But hey,t hats your opinion.

[dirkwears]

Makes no sense that...you say I'm wrong but then concede it is okay because it is my opinion...anyway, I agree with you...I am wrong...Mavis Staples' version is the best not Dylan...I really like James Taylor too circa Mud Slide Slim...but don't like pretentious string arrangements that don't move me...by the way...you cannot spell...

[dirkwears]

sounds like the strings are playing along to another song which ruins any potential this song has to move which is huge...dylan is the best version...

[oracleofottawa]

Definitive.......

[SCSQ4]

When I first heard this piece on their CD recording "Appalachian Journey," I was so awestruck!

Now with this video, it is so awesome to watch them performing this very touching and beautiful piece together!

James Taylor, Mark O'Connor, Yo-Yo Ma, and Edgar Meyer are a great quartet of fine and accomplished musicians! I am so grateful for all of their efforts in promoting American Music.

[medicvet]

This song, this specific song sung by James Taylor, is one of my all time favorite songs. Definitely on my top five list.

[jfgmusic]

Damn, this is GOOD.

[orimdoom]

This has to be one of the better songs around. All of these guys are masters of their craft, and really work well together. 11/10

[Qdammit]

And Mark O'Connor on fiddle and Edgar Meyer on bass....lovely.

[milesntrane]

@Qdammit I KNOW!! It's like an all-star classical cast

[yoyoloveT]

Wow!! Thank you, again!!