Song reminds me of so many of my great friends, my life circumstances while I lived in Alaska US, that by the end of song I know this, I lived life filled with love and emotions. I feel it and remember it fully, deeply and sincerely. Thank you all for that my Alaskan family, friends and loves. CROATiAN Sensation VJ PS Dr. Bob Horwitz, dear friend thanks for bringing it up & letting it play in your car while we drove thru Alaskan winter on an icy road to Indian, AK USA to play music w/ friends.
Finding these vintage Ian & Sylvia songs on You Tube is such a gift. I was listening to some songs today by "CIVIL WARS" a contemporary male/female duo and their close harmonies reminded me of I&S so here I am. Two not here that I hope someone can post, a beautiful "Song for Canada" about the French/English rift and a wonderful a Capella duet sung in French that went into some amazing high harmonies; the name escapes me. GREENWOOD SIDIE-O still blows me away. They were simply the best.
@artwitstick I worked at the Cellar Door in Georgetown in 67-68, where they often performed, as did their fellow Canadians Gordon Lightfoot and Joni Mitchell. Ian and Sylvia's shows are literally emblazoned in my memory... so powerful, beautiful and moving.
This is not simply the greatest Canadian song of all time; it is the greatest song of all time. And though there's a lot of good versions out there, this is still the best.
Ian Tyson wrote this song. He and Sylvia had a hit single with it in 1964, I heard them perform it live that year at a small venue on the Emory University campus in Atlanta. Neil Young's cover is wonderful, and so is Dylan's, but this will always be my favorite.
I first heard this song sometime in the 60s when I lived in Santa Ana, Calif. Hugh Cherry, a country music DJ on KFOX in Long Beach, played it late one night. I bought Ian and Sylvia's album and still have it. There are some great songs on that album, including "Spanish is a Loving Tonugh". Wish I could go back to those days, but in the words of an old Roy Acuff song "God doesn't give us back our youth"
Thanks for giving us the original, the gold standard. There are several other versions on the web, including a reunited Ian & Sylvia in 1986, Neil Young. Etc. But this one is quite simply the best. You hear Sylvia, even when she's just humming; the lyrics are perfectly clear; there is a minimum of thudding bass; it hasn't yet been over-Nashvillized into a totally C&W sound; and Ian's voice is at its most beautiful.
To me this song is almost like an unofficial anthem of Canada. I love Ian and Sylvia's music. They are also "musician's musicians" because of the very high quality of their work and its purity and excellence, which will endure as long as humans are here to listen. Truly great folk music, for the ages.
I've been halfway around the world since my childhood in Southern Alberta and this is the ONE song guaranteed to choke me up. I still haven't made it back there since a brief visit in '99. My old friends are all gone.
I saw a concert of Neil Young's where he referred to this song as "the best song he'd ever heard" when he was young in the business. I would have to agree.
they had good take on this song,,I guess because listen to Neil Youngs cover,,it still my favorite
Thanks for the share here
have a good night and God bless
Handyman1714 2 weeks ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Song reminds me of so many of my great friends, my life circumstances while I lived in Alaska US, that by the end of song I know this, I lived life filled with love and emotions. I feel it and remember it fully, deeply and sincerely. Thank you all for that my Alaskan family, friends and loves. CROATiAN Sensation VJ PS Dr. Bob Horwitz, dear friend thanks for bringing it up & letting it play in your car while we drove thru Alaskan winter on an icy road to Indian, AK USA to play music w/ friends.
CROATiANSensationVJ 3 weeks ago
Comment removed
CROATiANSensationVJ 3 weeks ago
unbelievable
JohnnyCashIsGod 1 month ago
Finding these vintage Ian & Sylvia songs on You Tube is such a gift. I was listening to some songs today by "CIVIL WARS" a contemporary male/female duo and their close harmonies reminded me of I&S so here I am. Two not here that I hope someone can post, a beautiful "Song for Canada" about the French/English rift and a wonderful a Capella duet sung in French that went into some amazing high harmonies; the name escapes me. GREENWOOD SIDIE-O still blows me away. They were simply the best.
Pridi16 2 months ago
sour flowers hitting my chest hard
alberts1985 2 months ago in playlist Coney Isle Sesh
What a song. There must be a little Canadian in all we Americans who have loved it all our lives:)
Frenchblue8 2 months ago 3
My name's Sylvia and my boyfriend's name is Ian lol
sylviaanah 4 months ago 2
This is the best version of a great song.
PackingPadre 4 months ago
Listening to this again! it was one of my favorite 3.30 mins in my life!=] This song and the hamonies are just more the explainable!
AlainBradette 5 months ago
Saw these two at a nightclub in Georgetown in 63 or 64. Very impressed!
artwitstick 5 months ago
@artwitstick I was at their Georgetown performance also and have loved their music since then! Those were the days!
barbm22 5 months ago
@artwitstick I worked at the Cellar Door in Georgetown in 67-68, where they often performed, as did their fellow Canadians Gordon Lightfoot and Joni Mitchell. Ian and Sylvia's shows are literally emblazoned in my memory... so powerful, beautiful and moving.
mrjewls 1 month ago
I'm an American, lived in Vancouver in 1971, and this song just tears me up. Every time...
There IS something about Canada- I pray she doesn't lose Her soul and become too American. Don't believe that will ever happen. O Canada!!!!
DavidChaseDance 5 months ago 3
They were great together. This song can make you cry.
catmint4mrkitty 5 months ago
This is not simply the greatest Canadian song of all time; it is the greatest song of all time. And though there's a lot of good versions out there, this is still the best.
gwmacdonald 5 months ago 4
Love this song and I am going to use it for a nice geography lesson for my grade 4 class. Very calming too which is an added bonus!
Shawn77Styles 5 months ago
Ian Tyson wrote this song. He and Sylvia had a hit single with it in 1964, I heard them perform it live that year at a small venue on the Emory University campus in Atlanta. Neil Young's cover is wonderful, and so is Dylan's, but this will always be my favorite.
thissong4you 6 months ago 2
I first heard this song sometime in the 60s when I lived in Santa Ana, Calif. Hugh Cherry, a country music DJ on KFOX in Long Beach, played it late one night. I bought Ian and Sylvia's album and still have it. There are some great songs on that album, including "Spanish is a Loving Tonugh". Wish I could go back to those days, but in the words of an old Roy Acuff song "God doesn't give us back our youth"
Thanks for the video.
CowboyOld 6 months ago
Ohhh MAn - back in the day - I heard them on one of my trips to BC. Was a truly a neat thing - really good stuff
ra4wmsn 6 months ago
Voted Best Canadian song of all time.
corvus13 6 months ago
great song
diverngpuque 6 months ago
Neil Young has enough great songs in his repertoire that he doesn't *need* to do any covers. That he does this one speaks volumes.
dlc1119 9 months ago 2
dylan's version is the best - a lot better than this.
smokinbill 9 months ago
@smokinbill this is original.
schnel127 8 months ago
@smokinbill Dylan? oh please, give me Bobby
64fairlane305 6 months ago
The saddest song I've ever heard. And Smoke Gets in Your Eyes is second.
bush1tman 11 months ago
@bush1tman 'Traces' by Classics IV is up there too. Terrific tune.
jamrobarm 8 months ago
This is truly a beautiful song, and my heart aches every time I hear it. Yes, it is our Canadian anthem, and rightly so. Thank you for sharing!
BishopMrs 1 year ago 3
My college years wer on the new York/Canadian border.
I was photo editor when I&S performed. i crawled around the stage and their dressing room, - taking photos.
I looked a lot like Sylvia and absolutely idolized these two performers.
macpduff 1 year ago
My favorite song of all time...it is about parting. Partng is such sweet sorrow.
When you part well, it stays with you forever.....my love....!!!
lewiscenter100 1 year ago
almost the national anthem of Canada....still chokes me up...I'll love this until I die
spennithorne1 1 year ago 2
One of the greatest folk songs ever!It's practically a standard!
landrykkb 1 year ago
Thanks for uploading this version. This is how it should be sung - it's a melancholy break up song - no syrupy pop sound please.
And if all you Canadians want to take great pride in it - I don't blame you a bit.
Bamaboompa 1 year ago 4
The universality of the Four Strong Winds is what gives it greatness.
user905596 1 year ago
A classic Canadian song. I remember hearing it many times growing up in southern Ontario. As beautiful now as it was then.
nuchems 1 year ago
Thanks for giving us the original, the gold standard. There are several other versions on the web, including a reunited Ian & Sylvia in 1986, Neil Young. Etc. But this one is quite simply the best. You hear Sylvia, even when she's just humming; the lyrics are perfectly clear; there is a minimum of thudding bass; it hasn't yet been over-Nashvillized into a totally C&W sound; and Ian's voice is at its most beautiful.
jarabaa 1 year ago
To me this song is almost like an unofficial anthem of Canada. I love Ian and Sylvia's music. They are also "musician's musicians" because of the very high quality of their work and its purity and excellence, which will endure as long as humans are here to listen. Truly great folk music, for the ages.
Dulcimerea 1 year ago 2
I've been halfway around the world since my childhood in Southern Alberta and this is the ONE song guaranteed to choke me up. I still haven't made it back there since a brief visit in '99. My old friends are all gone.
ThatHairyCanadian 1 year ago 28
@ThatHairyCanadian \ Hi, we keep getting chucked out of theis channel ! but Ty ... some us still are not n home ... But Hey !!! ty !!!
yukonnahanni 1 year ago
This song is so moving to me. It actually made the hair stand up on my arms...
Meaningful, melancholy lyrics..Nice nice harmony...Sadly, I enjoy singing along but it makes the dogs next door start barking...sigh...
uscgccampbell 1 year ago 4
One of the most beautiful duets ever...I have this Ian and Sylvia song on my
Folk Favorites" double cd pack....Contemporary music simply cant touch the sweet lyrics and deep thoughtfulness of this song. Fabulous...
uscgccampbell 1 year ago
I saw a concert of Neil Young's where he referred to this song as "the best song he'd ever heard" when he was young in the business. I would have to agree.
llieber100 1 year ago 22
@llieber100 He was 17 at the time when he first heard it just outside Winnipeg when he was on summer vacation. I luv his version too!
Kenebutch 1 year ago
@llieber100
Yes Neil tells on the dvd he was putting coins in the juke box over and over again
to hear this song when he was young
lennoxkiel 1 year ago