Mary Chapin Carpenter - Stones In The Road

[hiyolote]

iTunes gave me this song instead of Our House by graham nash, what a treat, this is a great song.

[mtrott1]

This is a great song. Mary Chapin Carpenter does a magnificent job here of reaching out to a certain generation with the lyrics... very meaningful....

[mindel22420]

Uni-Pig

[AllisonTheSNLGuru]

Such a beautiful song. I first heard it in early 1996 when I watched the movie "Bye Bye Love" with my parents. I was 13 years old at that time, and thought it was beautiful then. Reminds me of childhood and growing up, and brings me back to that nice time in my life where anything was possible and everything was innocent. Thanks for sharing. :-)

[asengupta100]

A poetess delight!!

[justinlwerner]

This song always gets me right in the gut.

[ApocalypsePlough]

One of America's most under-rated singer/songwriters.

If her name was Barry Chapin Carpenter, I'm sure it would be a different story.

[gs7767]

She is my favorite artist and I feel her story telling and ability to put everyday feelings into her songs is unlike anyone else.

[mymonkeydusty]

One of my most favorite songs by her. Thanks for the posting

[padraigpurseal]

Still sounds great

[tishhead]

this is the song that made me a MCC fanatic. previously, i had heard only "passionate kisses" and thought her version paled next to lucinda williams' original. then i heard this on the radio and it stopped me in my tracks. that entire album is indescribably good, as is come on come on.

[StreamFunction]

I thought that I'd just listen and then my eyes filled with tears - what a powerful song

[chrisbannisterone]

'To see a train draped in mourning' Mary is one of the greatest lyricists ever, her words are almost Robert Frost-like and I can't think of a higher compliment than that.

[Suteruni]

loved Mary from the first time I heard her and still do :)

[gerelepo]

Chapin is truly the most underrated singer-songwriter of the last 20 years. I feel like she won't truly get her due until she's gone. Her entire discography with the exception of "Party Doll" and "A Place In The World" is truly wonderful. You should check them out especially the album this track is from "Stones In The Road". It's on par with the best vintage Joni Mitchell. :)

[butfulmuzik]

@gerelepo You are so right. "Stones In The Road" is brilliant songwriting by a wonderful artist. She is one of our angels of music!

[jstraw4]

This masterpiece is in part a poignant elegy on the sixties and the dreams we once dreamed before they killed our heroes.

[Massivo07]

Just wonderful perfomance. MCC is the best.

[citbmitww]

beautiful

[tnichlsn]

wonderful song, thanks for posting.

[mymonkeydusty]

This is one of my most favorite songs ever written... Thanks for the posting

[znarf541]

What a beautiful song... first told from the viewpoint of a child and then an adult, about the challenges life throws at you. Joan Baez liked it so much she covered it...

[giffeym]

She looks so relaxed and self assured plaqying live. IMHO she is the greatest living singer-songwriter of our time and to me she is a hero, not just for her music but her stances on what she believes in. I would love to see a live video of her singing "On With the Song".

[anfocal]

(2) diamonds in the dust, to perhaps a view of stones in the road being impediments or sources of possible discomfort or pain. The final chorus sees the stones scattered by the car wheels (now they are net even seen on a route to the next destination). the more scattered they become the harder it becomes to find your way back (a voice calls to us to make our way back home).

[anfocal]

(1) I have always loved this song, like a beautiful tapestry Mary weaves in three presidential links, one for each verse, (pledge of allegiance, the Kennedys and in the third verse the "thousand points of light" refers to George Bush seniors depiction of America's next generation in his inauguration speech) . The stones in the road present as an ever changing metaphor, from the Christian Anderson depiction of Hansel and Gretel's pebbles (the umbilical chord back from whence you came) shone like

[chrisharro]

@anfocal Thanks so much for your insightful analysis of this gorgeous song. Great to see so many appreciative comments for the clip. She doesn't need a band! Incidentally, I'm the guy who recorded this performance from the Australian current affairs show "Sunday" and gave the video to my good friend smscmaster to load on to YouTube. I'm just rapt it's still here - so many good things get deleted or wrecked by Vevo. She's a very special songwriter.

[KaseyluvsJamesDean]

I love this song

[acusticadam]

to me mary chapin carpenter shines brighter than the rest-so magical and brilliant.

[jstraw4]

The greatest song from an absolutely brilliant album.

[jserra17]

Perhaps it is because we were born three weeks and 50 miles apart, but this song speaks to me like no other. I remember Bobby Kennedy's funeral, the riots in Newark and riding my bicycle in suburbia that summer, wondering what the world would look like when it all ended. An amazing song, beautifully performed.

[berantle]

The album, "Stones In The Road", is probably the pinnacle of her output. Brilliant album.

[klee7567]

Just glad I came across this album, in my opinion the work here is simply "top class"

[masterd48]

absolutey brillaint

[simon7975]

My favourite song and singer.

[telegraphroad82]

Best female lyricist in my opinion. Those words are chilling without the music. With the music it just brings tears to the eyes. She has the gift of seeing the world through diferent eyes, if only we could all learn to see the same way...

[Bigbadred23]

@telegraphroad82 I agree She Is Something Special....

[siochain08]

MCC has many fans here in Europe. She tells a tale in her songs and is great live.

[JenJenEL]

This whole album is brilliant.... very touching

[gamestopnate]

There are several albums I consider my favorites of all time; this is one of those considered.

[DrumDTLTE2]

This song is so simple and yet so epic. This is musical poetry at its finest.

[kforste]

Joan Baez does a great version of this tune too.

[masterd48]

love this song

[cuzinkevin]

Now thats just fantastic

[singersongwriterfan]

the greatest video, thanks!

[SharedExperience]

One of my all time favourite MCC tracks, Thanks for posting it :)

She's the pinnacle of singer/songwriters,I'm hoping someone has a clip of "The Dreaming Road"

[bassplaynme]

The verse about Robert Kennedy is haunting

[GeneGeigerME]

This song has amazing lyrics, particularly for anyone who lived through the 60s. MCC is one of the great singer/songwriters.

[chrisharro]

Thanks for posting this great song - someone's been holding on to this clip for a while!