Iron & Wine - The Trapeze Swinger - Live @ ACL

[MChartersLFC]

give that man a seat. what a song.

[samjainiit]

damn these 4 lucifers woh disliked this video

[Covonial]

This too is one of my favourite songs....but doesn't he end up playing it a bit fast in this video? Or was that intentional do you think?

[Beram42]

This song almost makes me wish I believed in heaven.

[positivified]

Very nice song indeed, wondering why I haven´t heard it before...

[huskyzrock]

This is the type of inspiration Pink Floyd must have gotten just before writing The Dark Side of the Moon. This is truly one of the greatest songs I have ever heard. Sam is truly an epic poet, perhaps Morrison reborn.

[samjainiit]

@huskyzrock touche !!!! he definitely looks like morrison ....without the scag of course

[DK28749]

I usually don't make comments about the dislikes, but in this video i just couldn't help it..

4 dislikes???!?! Come on! HOW??

[mynameisben853]

I'd have a beer with him

[ThermalJack75]

I always knew zack galifianakis had a great voice, i didnt know he was this god-tier though

[anjanasmom]

What an incredible poet he is as well as a master musician.

[PedroDylan0404]

Wonderfull, Sam is so geniously. !

[deekbo74]

Great song and great live version. 

[DiomedesJem27]

This and November Rain. Two of the best songs ever. We all have our tastes. I like mines.

[bhubert31]

beautiful song, but saying this is the greatest song of all time... well sorry, I don' mean to offend anyone, but this is not my opinion. I guess musical taste is just a personnal matter.

[Justinmilad]

Beautiful song and this version is the best I've heard. Waaaaay better than the cd :)

[AustinWyatt87]

Not to take anything from the song nor the artist, but

Sam Beam's beard > His musical talent

[tiddyt]

Best version I've ever heard of this beautiful song. God Bless You, Sam Beam

[Randomesrik]

I just cant beleive his voice imense. How old is this?

[tiddyt]

@Randomesrik  Pretty sure this is from '08

[bomanrox]

Samuel Beam is one of the truest talents i've ever seen. I love Iron & Wine so much <3

[ToxicKetchup22]

Jesus Christ..............

[bille77]

@ToxicKetchup22 yes, Jesus Christ.

[singmolseq]

Coming at the worst time of my life, I've stumbled on this artist and this song. Struggling to find the words, except perhaps to the previous comment I may play this.......on the way to mine.

[HaightAshburyD]

this is playing at my funeral. end of story.

[mybrainidont]

What tuning is he playing in here?

[Kalamoniac]

@mybrainidont Plain ol' open E with a capo on third. I guess if you want to get technical that makes it open G.

[EliTheBarrowBoy96]

although i dont know what a lot of it means, its an incredible song, possibly my favorite Iron & Wine song

[123skard123]

I wish his sister had stopped singing on the last verse. It just needs to be Sam's voice resonating on it's own to capture the perfect atmosphere of awe. 

[thequeensofheartss]

You guys, later on in life (hopefully much longer) we should all go to Sam beams funeral..and sing this, all in unison all together. It will be one of the most beautiful momments this earth has ever witnessed.

Love you Sam, this is forever my favorite song.

[race13girl]

@thequeensofheartss agree. hopefully it will be a while til that happens though. we need more of his genius music to grace our ears. :]

[mrkidskid]

beautifully done.

[nine7one]

FYI, this video - in far superior audio and video quality - is on on the PBS - Austin City Limits web site. It's at the end of the video of songs he performed that day. Peace

[thequeensofheartss]

This song changed my life. I am a better person now.

You guys, I'm not kidding I think those dislikes were accidents, this one time I disliked something on accident...

[FlyingVneckSweater]

@courageousDaisy Hope you don't mind but i'm stealing some of this. What a hopelessly beautiful song though, the man is a genius. I have a full on man crush on sam, i could never grow a beard like his.

[littlepingman]

Solidly the greatest song of all time. How this isn't the most watched video in YouTube history is beyond me...

[nine7one]

@littlepingman I think I personally account for a few hundred of those views.

[bille77]

@littlepingman "...is beyond me" lol - you're absolutely right, you know?

[austinha11]

@aznswagg17 He looks nothing like zach. You think that because he has a beard.

[purple1ris]

Dear YouTube,

Why does this video have a dislike button?

We request you to not dishonour musicdom by allowing trolls to thumbs down such beautiful sounds.

Signed,

Everyone.

[bullshitttful]

when did he write this song?? and when was this video recorded?

[ViaChicago3441]

This is the greatest song ever written. I said that when I first heard it a year or so ago and thought my feeling of it would just fade but it hasn't. There has never been a better written song than this one right here.

[123skard123]

@ViaChicago3441 Ah, I beg to differ. Sam himself has written better songs, I think - Biting Your Tail is my favourite by him, when you listen to the acoustic version.

[bille77]

@123skard123 untrue, sorry.

[bille77]

@ViaChicago3441 thank you so much for saying it like it is.

Love,

Benjamin, Germany

[13maddog420]

well put ironlion i wish i could express like that very eloquent

[kowiggies32]

hah so beautiful. makes me want to do something meaningful. so soft, yet so powerful. music.

[wakejones]

this is the genius equal of Oh Comely and Tangled up in Blue

[vitorvagner]

UNFUCKINBELIEVABLE

[Anii325]

best version of the best song. absolute ever

[ktphoto09]

Those two dislikes have GOT to be a mistake. 

[michaeljkerwin]

the only problem i have with this video is the fact that at the age of 31, i can't grow a proper beard like beam. Dude is a straight pimp.

[littlepingman]

See you in Savannah in two weeks!!

[octobergrl1026]

Thanks Nate :)

[lufcfredrik]

Seriously. I have listened to this song every day for about two weeks now. It's just mesmorizing.

[pseudogenesis]

@BeansCHUCKBoBBy Nobody I know. :) Always liked that line.

[hafive0fan]

This is the actual song Tenacious D is talking about in their song "Tribute"; in other words, the greatest and best song in the world...

[lufcfredrik]

But if I make the Pearly Gates

I'll do my best to make a drawing

Of God and Lucifer, a boy and girl

An angel kissin' on a sinner

A monkey and a man, a marching band

All around the frightened trapeze swinger

Such amazing lyrics.

[hemiflightable]

I need this on a weekly basis...so good

[TheSarge21]

@hemiflightable I need it on a daily basis.

[joshuacookmusic]

im pretty certain these lyrics were painted with words

[BuiltForSin013]

OMG! I love Sam!

[mcauley93]

2 people work for the FCC

[Kalamoniac]

He doesn't say "fuck" because it's recorded from Austin City Limits, a show on PBS. You can't say "fuck" on PBS.

[littlepingman]

I can't stop coming back to this video... this is the best version of this song I have ever heard...

[weethewriter]

@littlepingman i can't stop coming back to this video too...prefer this live version to the album one.

[backwardsman13]

too long? i had to start the song over because it wasn't long enough

[VogonPoet67]

This song reminds me of the friends I knew in school who died too young - the girl across the street who died at 14 of meningitis, my friend with M.D. who died at 16 when his father dropped him lifting him from the bathtub. I hear them saying, "Please, remember me..."

[bonorocks17]

it always amazes me how a song that's so repetitive can be so captivating for 9 minutes but that being said this song never ceases to amaze me

[markgundy]

@bonorocks17 its repetition varies, he never says the same chorus twice they all just start with "please remember me" they are all different all beautiful all heartbreaking

[weethewriter]

How can people dislike this?? How???

[littlepingman]

@weethewriter they have no heart or soul...

[mauercool]

does anyone have this version ripped to an mp3?

[bruteforce2010]

@mauercool go to listen to youtube dot com

[addeSYNC]

Are you americans not allowed to curse? FUCK. It is spelled F U C K. The song was magical apart from that.

[SnaphappyMcfishsuit]

@addeSYNC yeah, we have the fcc and bible bangers that get offended about it... sadly. I was pretty let down when I heard how that line was changed in this version, the bonneroo version imop is the most amazing one recorded. so melancholy, and so natural. the way he sings the part about drawing god and lucifer, a boy and a girl, etc etc at the end amazes me no matter how many times I hear it. such a beautiful song

[mmmansuy]

@addeSYNC Cursing is the crutch of the conversationally crippled. Maybe a few of us are aware of that...

[bruteforce2010]

@mmmansuy well unfortunately the word fuck was the not crippled conversation it was motherfuckin beautiful art. fuck.

[mmmansuy]

@bruteforce2010 What's unfortunate about it? He chose to leave it out. It's his song. Deal with it.

[bruteforce2010]

@mmmansuy I believe it was censored on tv. hence the FCC talk

[JimJamJuMV]

sam beams so amazing, one of my favourite songs of his, ive tried covering this song and can barely get passed the 2nd verses without messing up and he plays the whole 7,8,9minutes of it (changes it every time too!) without any mess ups and making it sound absolutely beautiful every damn time. god, it's amazing

[Ohnani]

A song with the same chord progression being played for 8 minutes straight never sounded better...

[mcsmac1229]

Holy Shit! man what a tear jerker....awesome guitar

[backwardsman13]

8 minutes? i know, way too short

[willis402]

we analyzed this song in my english class bc my teacher is legit

[PeachyPhipson]

censoring the 'fuck the man' part feels kinda cheap :/

[littlepingman]

Sam is the most amazing songwriter of my time and I feel privileged to experience his words and music.

[redscape]

Would someone please escort the two dislikes back to North Korea? Thanks.

[T0RIVISI0N]

Yay, glad I could make people laugh :D

[awheelhead]

the way he says pretty is breathtaking

[KFCBUCKETS]

This honestly takes me to another world its so weird

[AStew717]

Anyone know of an mp3 version of this song?

[coolblu23]

Absolutely fantastic. One of the single greatest songs if all time, and this live performance in particular is amazing. Top stuff Sam, thank you.

[gbraboy]

This song could lull me right to sleep in a good way, but I stay awake because I want to keep hearing it.

[ohyesitsbekah]

there just aren't the right kinds of words to describe how that song makes me feel, he's incredible

[fblb44]

no words came out of my mouth but a gasp of joy first time I've ever experienced that feeling. thank you sam

[NikPnchl7]

The tune is absolutely out of this world but... are the lyrics intended to make any sense ?

[T0RIVISI0N]

He makes me want a beard.... the odd part is I'm a girl lmao.

[tVIKINGH]

@T0RIVISI0N

this comment brought tears of laughter to my eyes.

I'm glad I have a beard.

[OoOBubblesOooO]

@T0RIVISI0N LOL. Made me chuckle at 1:21AM. :)

[shinofan18]

Hell yeah he deserved that ovation!

[tsfixari]

2 dislikes? that's shocking. this song is so perfect.

[r8dioinmyh3ad]

never knew who he was until this show....thanks for uploading & thanks to ACL for showcasing these talented artists

[jasoninrichmond]

@r8dioinmyh3ad Same situation with me. Came across him on ACL one night and was completely blown away. I've been hooked since that night and always come back to this version. Maybe/ Maybe not the best version, but will always be MY version.

[OrpheusXII]

They're really tight it's awesome.

[VogonPoet67]

Not a lot of songs give me goosebumps, but THIS version of THIS song does it every time.

[StDefenestration]

Sarah is hot in this video.

[MATTHEW80800]

I couldn't belieive the first time I saw these guys on ACL. The audience reaction shots say it all- I want this song played at my funeral..

[electricgrendel]

@MATTHEW80800 Me, too. Well- I'm torn between the beauty of this and the sheer hilarity of Bad Romance. ;)

[alexanderalexanders]

The best part of the whole video is when its over and you can press "replay"

[xmusicxaddictionx]

Its too bad they censored the part where he's like "and FUCK the man."

[myfriendebin]

@xmusicxaddictionx Agreed, it's also annoying how the crowds always cheer when he says 'fuck' Takes away from any emotion or meaning there...

[JKrois]

It's enough to make a grown man cry.

[switchdrum]

@JKrois I am and I did

[captainadam1]

When I die, I hope that they play this song.

[ironlion49]

the reconciliation of death. the miracle of life, the miracle of death. the marvelousness of the dance between the two. the rapidity, the brevity of it all. the smidgens we remember; the gaps which we forget. the afterthoughts, the foresights, the remembrances. the heights by which we are remembered as we pass through the lowest exits mortality drags us through. This is an expression beyond which the words of which it is composed can verbally express. This song is felt rather than heard.

[KeepSmilingMon]

@ironlion49 This might be the greatest description of a song I have ever read in my life.

[bmqdf]

@ironlion49 "felt rather than heard" so, so true of this song. hit the nail on the head

[xribeye95x]

@ironlion49 sophistry can be so common on youtube; it is extremely refreshing to see something real for once. thanks for sharing this with us; comments like these enhance the experience of listening to even the most meaningful songs such as these.

[19melina92]

I'm FINALLY gonna see him live!!

sept. 18 take root festival=)

[PhalexSpace]

This is my favorite performance of my favorite song by one of my favorite songwriters. I've probably played this video a thousand times :)

[carlosfarva]

Why do people ruin a beautiful song by screaming and cheering when he says "fuck the man". It's childishly pathetic.

[exarhell]

@carlosfarva let the people have some fun. jesus. even sam doesnt mind.

[OrganizedChaos88]

I absolutely love the album version of this song, but this version somehow manages to put that one to shame. Perfecting perfection.

[ZPOTGABRIEL]

In live the sound is more beautiful that in a song recorded

[Goldline74]

Beautiful song, makes you wish things were different.

[mcslumdog]

motivation can do wonders cant it? haha

[samtc2]

This is song is too perfect, I do not have words for it.

the chorus singer totally adds to the performance.

[jmInDreams]

Sam Beam makes me wanna stop singing cause he has set a standered.....

I can not reach......

[tad449]

@jmInDreams don't every give up - just re-set the standard and keep singing :-)

[jmInDreams]

@tad449

thanks

[toastysnowman]

why doesn't this have the most views on youtube fucking ever!??! i'm so baffled!

[sixstudio]

@toastysnowman i have to agree.

[Rednwhite77]

@toastysnowman so true. superb!!

[kverse1]

@toastysnowman bro, it's because of the VIDEO quality...dumb bastards are missing out on the best AUDIO

[jmInDreams]

Hhis songs are poetry and he tells a story everytime.....Beautiful

[akr2207]

Great.

[therearen0rules]

Why does this video look like it's from the 90s? Regardless, this song is amazing.

[SHIBBYiPANDA]

@therearen0rules lol.

[EskamoBassist]

I would really like the link to the whole set list. It looks like an amazing show. :)

[didoma73]

Would be indebted for an upload of the rest of this night

[lambdachi1826]

@didoma73 : hey there...would you like a link to this whole show? hit me up with a message and i'll send it to you! It is an amazing set. Each Coming Night, Love and Some Verses, Upward Over the Mountain, Boy With a Coin, and this tune is his set I believe. Anyway, I do have a hi def link to this whole set. =)

[toshibagafaw]

this is amazing.

[ACompleteUnknown]

Never has a standing ovation been so necessary...

[Arvon211]

This sounds sooo awesome on my ovation legend m867, since its aged and the sound of legend has always been beautiful...son of a bitch to learn it all by ear but i think i finally got it :)

[elneros]

Great song...he got the soul for it.

[calijordan1987]

thanks for the vid