Bob Lind/Elusive Butterfly

[HVYMETL]

Cool, what a treat. jguth, where did you get this video? I filled my house with this song last night, playing variations on the keyboard for over an hour - Bob wrote a masterpiece!

[Zorgadoni]

If life was fair Bob Lind would still be in the Top Ten and Lady Gaga would be flippin' burgers at McDonald's.

[bzuesprucex]

How cool is/was this!  Thanks for posting!

[rikusvan50]

Ahhh. What times! This reminds me of being 10 in 1966, waking up on sunny Saturday mornings, birds singing in the park, Bob Lind singing on the radio, feeling the limitless energy of being a kid and bursting to go play in the park. May those days always remain so clear.

[BrideOfSnape]

Love ya, Bob!!!

[TheBlueCream]

beautiful song..the words are profound..great to see the man who wrote it singing it

[apache30]

Put earphones on, sit back, close eyes and relax - what a song!

[hayesman76]

Still a beautiful song, and beautifully sung by its creator, after over 25 years from its first performance.

[Baxter28]

a  song about gnosis and waking up....a modern day parable at its best

[OjaiRoy]

I was just 10 when this song came out and I've always pictured a field with a butterfly whenever I hear it. And here he is singing in a field. Awesome. Thank you both.

[MrBohemio123]

Great,Great,Great,Great!!!!!

[charsalutube]

What a great song, I can't come close to counting the number of times I listened over and over and over to the great lyrics. Now I get to see the man...

This made my week.

Charsal

[ransman413]

@charsalutube my dad thinks the same way about seeing the performer. beautiful lyrics.

[starblue1986]

Great Live acoustic performance of Bob Lind doing his now Classic Elusive Butterfly!

[tismeal]

great stuff

[vcoaster]

It doesn't seem possible that he could have recorded this song 40 years earlier! He looks about 40 years old here! I hope Bob knows that his song is remembered and treasured by millions of us. One of my favorite songs of all time. Thank you!

[hayesman76]

@vcoaster I was wondering the same thing. But this video was made in 1992, I believe. The song was first released on record in 1966, 26 years earlier. I'm writing this in 2011, so the song is now about 45 years old -- yet will remain forever young as it's lyrics are timeless!

[DICKinMICHIGAN]

Great video of one of my favorite songs. I hate to play Guitar Geek, but as someone who has owned and played Martin guitars exclusively since 1973 I can assure you that the guitar Bob is playing is in fact NOT a Martin. Contrary to what the poster below claims, any knowledegable guitarist can tell by a quick glimpse at the headstock in the video that the logo is in fact that of an Alvarez guitar.

[pf1950]

one of my all time favorites very mellow

[Grifiki]

Capo on C. G. A-minor?

[hotbun11]

awesome, sooo beautiful :) have the song on my CD but it sounds so pretty in this live version too!

[Lisheous55]

I've always liked this song....

An All Star *****'s performance...

THank You....

[11xzxzxz]

MAYBE the best one-hit wonder song of all time.

Not this live version though..

[filmbuff57]

This is one of the few songs that stick in my mind that defines the sound of the late 1960s! A perfect song in lyrics and music. and Bob Linds

masterpiece still brings be back to times when everything seemed to get better!

[manorlee52]

OMG!..Indeed you are here! (I am no longer computer illiterate..2 months & counting..57 years old..geesh! I still can't get over how you can just type a song into a machine & BINGO!!) Anyway..OMG!! I used to see Bob Lind in the late 60's play at THE ICE HOUSE in Pasadena! What a time and era! How much fun was THAT?! Even have a barely audible, but beloved, tape that I recorded there.. somewhere in my cassette (yes, still have those, too) drawers. PLAY THE CANYON CLUB IN THOUSAND OAKS, BOB!

[TheSnobear84]

Thanks guys I've loved this song since it was new. Yes i'm that old. And bobs new stuff is just as good. Thanks again

Don Snow

[MishuTaste]

You guys were so lucky to have him playing this song live at your place.

[michaelflorida48]

Although I love this song, and I'm sure I could never write one like this, I wouldn't call Bob a musical genius. That would put him with some elite company like dylan, lennon-mcartney, I don't think so.

[schusterlehrling]

@michaelflorida48

Would you agree that he caught a glimpls of genius writing this song?

[MQUEEN10]

Thank you so much for sharing this. And please thank your friend, Bob Lind, for writing this masterpiece of a song. He is truly a musical genius! Bravo (forever)!

[Dougoulako]

His songs are part of my life. What more can one say? They're also distubing at times, but that is an aspect of the genius.

[Dougoulako]

This is still one of most beautiful songs ever written. I'm 66 and I feel young again when I hear this. He's a true genius.

[aksa8c]

Wow! I heard that in '66 when I was 16 and I love it still. Always will.

[CTMarineMom]

where is talent like that nowadays.?so beautiful....

[MQUEEN10]

The guitar is a top-of-the-line dreadnought guitar crafted by the C.F. Martin Co. of Nazareth, PA. They have been making their fine guitars with pride since 1833. Anyone in the music business will quickly tell you that Martin is the best acoustic guitar in the world!

[neurofire]

I have a couple of Martins and I love em both - but I bought a couple of James Goodall guitars (six and 12 string) a couple of years back - and they are simply astounding. Not cheap but the craftsmanship makes them a pleasure not only to play and listen to but to look at and feel. I get a thrill every time I take them from their cases.

[jimincairns]

@MQUEEN10 I thought that inlay was only done on a Martin slothead.

[MQUEEN10]

jimincairns--- I'm not sure what you mean here. All I know is that the guitar Lind is playing IS a Martin (C.F. Martin Co., Narzareth, Pa.). As to whether others do a pearl inlay, sure they do. I have a top line Fender acoustic and it has "Fender" done in pearl inlay. The Gibson Hummingbird also has this. So, like I said, I'm not sure what you mean.

[jimincairns]

@MQUEEN10 What I meant was that the inlay on the solid headstock of Bob's guitar is unusual because it's usually done on a Martin slothead.If you'd like to see a few of mine, google my name, and check the' guitars set 'on Flickr!

[MishuTaste]

Which company makes that guitar? The sound is so rich!

[HolyDioDiver]

Wonderfully crafted.

[bluehairspaz]

holy shit! you are friends with bob lind? can i be you?

[fundybaygirl]

wow, my friend got me to listen to this, and I am very happy he did...what a wonderful song...it is a favorite now of mine...i think I remember it from the past but not sure..doesn't matter...I now have it on my fav list......

[kbuysman]

With an eclectic variety of songs on my mp3, this beautiful song is at the top of my playlist!

[hollies65]

I first heard this song as a 8 year old kid...every since that time no other song can fill me with such a melancholy warmth. A true classic and a brilliant piece of songwriting.

[0800BOY]

although i knew this song, bob came to my attention when i heard 'cool summer' on a jarvis cocker compilation called 'the trip'. if you haven't heard of the album or compiler, i strongly sugest you consider getting acquainted - bob lind being only one of several artists unknown to me that i was uhered toward. besides this and cool summer, bob has written several other beautiful and noteworthy songs. 'spilling over' and 'since there were circles' examples of this, and perhaps my diatribe below!

[0800BOY]

there is something in how he puts these songs together, with modulations, then refrains, then chord changes; the way the melody unfolds like a spreading ink blot, roots being slowly put out, flowers opening and withering... or an inchoate, simple thought... that make his songs beautiful. he's very honest and understated - often he won't give you a credo like in this song.

[SwampDog1957]

The down side of writing a great song like "Elusive Butterfly" is that it's difficult to come up with a song to equal it. Bob continued to write and perform some very good songs but I don't think he ever matched "Elusive Butterfly."

[schusterlehrling]

So thk god that he came up with it.

One stroke of genius is something that most peope never get, though they try very, very hard.

Bob got it at least once, so why should one not admire him?

[Dougoulako]

One of the most beautiful songs ever written by a superb artist.

[tapeman155]

I loved this song from the first time I heard it (1966). It will always be very poignant for me, because it reminds me of my first love. Just beautiful!

[wildmanbigfoot]

It is interesting to note that this excellent song served as the theme song for Scott Muni, one of the first "alternate" rock DJs in the New York area.

[passover77]

Thanks for reminding me that Scott always played this on his show. R.I.P., Scottso!

[tandolin2]

One of the most talented and genuine singers in music history! Bob, we all luv ya! ROCK ON....

[srf1969]

This is a good song however, it did not sound like him singing the song and he kept stopping his playing of the guitar while he was singing this song.

[jlsfla01]

Very nice----I wish there was more of a Bob Lind compilation for the past. He is a fine singer songwriter who was capable of a whole lot more.

[Spiritualseeker2007]

Bob lind your a legend brilliant song

[atmj65]

One of the all time greats. Just love it.

[TACYELLA11]

so beautiful

[Sissymtz]

I love this song. It's one of my biggest favorites from my youth. Bob Lind has a beautiful voice and this song is sung beautifully by him.

[hillcrestjh]

I rarely get emotional or nostalgic, but this song does it every time.

[tandolin2]

Bob Lind, so classy and very special, then and now! Thank you Bob! We luv ya!

[MQUEEN10]

Ditto!

[COLINMCCALLUM]

magical every time

[philipleanza3]

This is one of music's all time greatest songs. I absolutely love how Bob did this video with the woods in the background in front of the pond. A perfect setting for this song.

[51bav]

Just brilliant. Thanks

[babyv1997]

I just have to have my ELUSIVE BUTTERFLY fix every day,I've listened to it at least 20 times today!!!

[DunhillHilton]

Magnificent !

[velvetvixen16]

one of my all time favourites -----------well done . THANK YOU , could listen all night. YVONNE

[radcam69]

Thanks Bob.

[FLMNEDE]

brings back memories of riding my schwinn stingray with my friends on a beautiful sunny day. this is 60s music at its best

[tandolin2]

Just one of the most beautiful songs of the 60s, that all! Bob, you rule! John A.

[guyglowmore1]

last time i saw bob perform was at the culver city rec center in early seventies. only about 30 people showed at a place that held thousands and when bob came out he passed on the band and played an intimate acoustic set. it was really fine. everyone enjoyed and bob took requests and was a good sport. always had a fantasy of doing a duo with him but so far not yet. far as this video, great job. thanks

[JingleCollector]

What a concept... a singer/performer from the sixties who can still sing and play. Great performance!

[WSMDSA]

Brilliant!!!!!!! that's what you call a song, not like most of todays music which is mainly a steaming pile of dogs dung.

[Cherrybark]

What a delight to see Bob Lind and hear him sing a song that has been with me for years and years. It will be rattling around in my head for a couple of weeks now.

[173792]

I'm constantly thanking the Lord for creating people/talent like you.

[maredish]

brings me back to my childhood-where has bob been for all these years. my #1 favorite

[BIGLOU48]

Thank you to me the most beautiful ever recorded

[7272257]

In one word "tranquil" I have the single. I played the vinyl tracks off it years ago and over the past week I must have played it 15 times on u/tube. Thanks for posting it.

[bernadettestar]

This is one of my very favorites, what a laugh! Beautiful. Is this the original artist? Nice job.

[annie482000]

Yes, Bernadette, it IS Bob Lind (the original artiste) on the video!

[AGraffitifan]

My favorite song since I first heard it in 1966. Love the video and the casual way it was recorded. Always wondered what Bob Lind looked like and what became of him. Aged well.

[judicannon]

This song is timeless!

[toonzee99]

Yo BOB, you still have it, what a song, and what a talent you are.

[angelov128]

They were Great Times! Your song was one of my favorites. Good to hear it again, reminiscing of the old days. Geez, I can't belive I just said "Old Days"!

[joyceloo2]

me too....hughjenqin oops, but not childhood

[hughjengin]

a song from my chidhood, makes me sad and happy all at the sam time... thanks..

[johnmail1]

great song thanks

[stephencraig444]

Fantastic!

[tsegat01]

Great songwriter. I have one of his albums and every single song is poetry, but sadly, only Elusive Butterfly was a hit.

[MQUEEN10]

Agreed. But, here's the deal. When you write a song as timeless and classic as "Elusive Butterfly," you have earned the right to rest on your laurels and collect large royalties for the rest of your natural life. God bless Bob Lind!

[JOYOUSONEX]

Pure poetry set to music!!

[betsilouise]

My very favorite song from that era. Awesome lyrics. Thanks for bringing back good memories.

[jonpaley]

Bob great to see and hear you again. You're still the best and one of my all time favorite people. Nice memories...

[jkoncz]

one of my favorite songs by a true folk singer and lyrics that made sense to me in my teens

[zamione]

Improbably good, absolutely fantastic. "Cheryl's going home" was a massive number one hit in it's italian cover version: "Che colpa abbiamo noi" by The Rokes.

[LDousay]

Beautiful...even more so because of the memories this songs brings.

[steve4477]

Ditto: One of the best songs of the 60's era---lots of memories, nice to see Bob is still touring.

[dominique777]

GREAT BEAUTIFUL!

[steve4477]

Nice to see Bob is still actively playing even today, great clip from years ago.

[groovyray]

Thank you bob , that was beautiful man.Beautiful.

[glencram]

Cool Video! Has always been one of my favorite songs. Thanks for sharing!!

[jguth3]

You got it!

[zippitydoowop]

Awesome...What an artist. One of my idols...

[Juanartista]

Space patrolman...Its not the guitar...its the one who is playing it..peace and love.

[shoezz70]

Thank you so much for sharing. I love that song.

[spacepatrolman]

What brand of guitar is that it sounds good.

[temiscaming]

Alvarez guitar.

[HailToTheThief9]

Oooh, soo good. 5/5.