Never would a blind musician from 1927 ever think that a song as beautiful as this would be in space to represent the human race to extraterrestrials. What an honor on his part! I hope his vision has been given back up in heaven! He deserves to be able to look down and smile about this.
we are so lucky to have recorded this. think of the balls it took to record this, knowing its nothing for the radio just an instrumental so raw and captivating
If you don't feel uplifted and sorrowful at the same time by this tune there be something wrong with you. I can picture a man sitting on his front porch playin a tune like this at the end of days.
I first heard this song in Walk the line , I always wondered who played this amazing sorrowful song , So I was on Last.Fm looking around and I heard this song by Willie Johnson , It sounded so familar to the one in Walk the line , So I did some more research , typed in Blind Willie Johnson and here I am , I saw the Vsauce video and that makes this song just more amazing , Willie Johnson was one hell of a guitar picker and a blues singer , Rest easy man
My husband is a musician. He started playing guitar 47 years ago. His musical resume is impressive by anyone's standards. He plays Guitar, Dobro, Lap Steel, Bass, Drums, a little Harmonica, is learning Accordian and can'twait to get a Ukele. After almost 19 years of marriage he just told me this is his all time favorite Blues song. I see why. It is so pure. It's rare to listen to something played from the heart with un-self concious raw emotion. I get it Honey.
""The most soulful, transcendent piece in all American music." Ry Cooder.
Amen.
(Ry has used it as the basis for a song in the film 'Performance' - during the mushroom picking scene - and as the title track for the film 'Paris, Texas'.)
Blind Willie Johnson wasnt blind his whole life but when his stepmother (bitch) threw lye on his face. He died of malarial fever after his house was burned down and had no place to live but in wet newspapers. But now his song is representing our human feeling of loneliness all the way outside our solar system to what ever being that picked it up and perceive it on Voyager I. - quote from vsauce
Makes me shed a tear...
acousticmaddie11 1 week ago
I LOVE THIS MUSIC!!!!!
dreyclove 1 week ago
Never would a blind musician from 1927 ever think that a song as beautiful as this would be in space to represent the human race to extraterrestrials. What an honor on his part! I hope his vision has been given back up in heaven! He deserves to be able to look down and smile about this.
coltranesaxIV 1 month ago
I have a question: did any of these artists get paid anything at the time they made these recordings?
yzetta 1 month ago
Elemental.
The guitar sounds at the beginning almost like music from India.
yzetta 1 month ago
This is amazing this song is representing us to aliens because it is 10.2 billion miles away everytime i think of this i get chills amazing song too
bamfwyatt69 1 month ago
we are so lucky to have recorded this. think of the balls it took to record this, knowing its nothing for the radio just an instrumental so raw and captivating
liveinkindnesslivewi 1 month ago
it represents exactly the feeling of a dark night and a wet, cold ground....its so perfect..rest in peace willie..
cemifuckavril 1 month ago 2
If you don't feel uplifted and sorrowful at the same time by this tune there be something wrong with you. I can picture a man sitting on his front porch playin a tune like this at the end of days.
Darkshadows90 1 month ago
Listen to feeling bad blues by ry cooder, sounds a bit like this
GoodbyeBieber2 1 month ago
LIKE I ONCE READ...THIS SONG CAN WELL BE PLAYED DURING THE CRUCIFIXION OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
mezatlan1 2 months ago
Reaches in and touches the soul like no other you can hear such sadness!!!
Minervarathlin 2 months ago
even without lyrics, this song speaks to me more than any words could.
joshtuk 2 months ago
i can listen to this over and over and still get shivers
watchmen119 3 months ago
yeah...id pick this to be played across the universe too..
ithieve7 3 months ago
Sacred territory
musicanonatempo 3 months ago
I first heard this song in Walk the line , I always wondered who played this amazing sorrowful song , So I was on Last.Fm looking around and I heard this song by Willie Johnson , It sounded so familar to the one in Walk the line , So I did some more research , typed in Blind Willie Johnson and here I am , I saw the Vsauce video and that makes this song just more amazing , Willie Johnson was one hell of a guitar picker and a blues singer , Rest easy man
MATTHEWTHEINGRAM 3 months ago
this sends chills through my whole body
BSfanboy113 3 months ago
bone chilling..just wow
JaxDasher 3 months ago
The chief values in life and character are not blown across our way by vagrant winds. Great souls have great sorrows; and this; WAS/IS a GREAT SOUL!!
Phikay1 3 months ago
My husband is a musician. He started playing guitar 47 years ago. His musical resume is impressive by anyone's standards. He plays Guitar, Dobro, Lap Steel, Bass, Drums, a little Harmonica, is learning Accordian and can'twait to get a Ukele. After almost 19 years of marriage he just told me this is his all time favorite Blues song. I see why. It is so pure. It's rare to listen to something played from the heart with un-self concious raw emotion. I get it Honey.
54caddy1 3 months ago
""The most soulful, transcendent piece in all American music." Ry Cooder.
Amen.
(Ry has used it as the basis for a song in the film 'Performance' - during the mushroom picking scene - and as the title track for the film 'Paris, Texas'.)
monkeytown1000 4 months ago
Anybody else hear this on the West Wing?
Cnd1867 4 months ago
makes you question this life and what the point of it all is
staypuftlova 4 months ago 2
One of the finest pieces of music ever recorded.
bothgunsblazin 4 months ago
1927 ? omg that year when my grandfather born in 20s 1927
TheSicdic 4 months ago
VSAUCE!
1BYEBYE1 4 months ago
why does this song make my feel happy..? weird
warriors9601 4 months ago
thnks vsauce and thnk u mr johnson for your music, now representing us into the unknown
changspaman 4 months ago 5
Blind Willie Johnson wasnt blind his whole life but when his stepmother (bitch) threw lye on his face. He died of malarial fever after his house was burned down and had no place to live but in wet newspapers. But now his song is representing our human feeling of loneliness all the way outside our solar system to what ever being that picked it up and perceive it on Voyager I. - quote from vsauce
siddepoo 4 months ago 50
@siddepoo *ragged sigh* good quote.
TheNerdyEnderMan 3 months ago
@siddepoo
:')
samalyy 3 months ago
GREAT TRUE GOSPEL BLUES POST!!! THNX!!! GOD BLESS!!!
leonardgoodwin25 4 months ago
Haunting always loved this one!!!
kkmundis 7 months ago
the chills start at 0:36
bigmarty11288 7 months ago
Real music.
SoraKumiko 8 months ago
Just stunning
45zettel 8 months ago
Jack White said this song is the best example of slide guitar ever recorded. Couldnt agree more. no lyrics, just pure emotion.
thecatspajamas23 1 year ago 3
This song often makes me cry. It's is the most deeply soul wrenching song I ever heard!
MachinegunApe 1 year ago 3
Outstanding!!!
Grandma mary
Fr3derick 1 year ago
this is a good, old song
madharrold 1 year ago
cool he is in space!
joeblowthehot 1 year ago
this song is truly haunting i absolutely love it
scoobyfckndoo 1 year ago 2
His pickin give me shivers!
billjhyt 1 year ago
Doesn't get too much better than this!
luiszephyr 2 years ago
this son is in the space now do you know that? It goes whit voyager!
ErbandEero 2 years ago
Beautiful touching song.
opetaniec 2 years ago
Instant favourite.
Jornev 2 years ago 2
wonderful
thank you for the upload :-)
Iucy 2 years ago 23
you're welcome =)
RagtimeDorianHenry 2 years ago
=D this is damn good son!
ErbandEero 2 years ago
@RagtimeDorianHenry How old r u?
TheSicdic 4 months ago