Added: 4 years ago
From: kenni998
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  • Wow, boy do I feel lucky just to be able to watch this. To hear JB discuss the origins of the song and get a little retrospective is just incredible Being a songwriter myself it's great to hear the thoughts of true masters, which Jackson is definitely earned that distinction. I'm probably rambling { a little Sauv Blanc will usually do that to a guy } but this is awesome. I love this song,love Jackson and miss the great songs/songwriters like him & the Eagles, JT, Gordon, etc... never again..

  • Great, outstanding, genius songwriter and musician. Few have come along since to come anywhere close to matching Jackson. Maybe only Dylan eclipsed him for the brilliance and timelessness of his lyrical output. Just an amazing artist for all times, especially if you really have ears that recognize and appreciate fantastic music.

  • I'm there. 

  • One of those songs that the lyrics (words) you heard in your head before Jackson Browne sang it out loud and your soul woke up ! forever outstanding.

  • I was listening to Sirius The Spectrum, this song blew my mind. Turning 50 and looking back -.

  • and the veterans dream of the fight, fast asleep at the traffic light

    as the children silently wait for the ice cream vendor

  • I have been listening to JB for 30 plus years. Simply one of the best!

  • one of the songs of my life

  • 54 and reflecting.  WOW!

  • anthony kiedis looks and sounds like this guy

  • Recognizing the pretender that is both within you and within others is one way to find a common humanity.

  • I love this take of the song so much more then the album version. just Jackson on the piano. that's all this amazing song needs. absolutely perfect.

  • may god bless and protect u for many more years, JB! your songs have seen me through many years of ups and downs...thank u! EVERY DAY IS A JACKSON BROWNE DAY!

  • can hardley wait for the concert here in Hanford,ca. on no v. 12th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

  • I saw you in concert about 15 yrs ago and you were amazing!!! Got tickets to see you tomorrow night and I can not wait!!!!! Love your music!!!!!

  • And that little store front in North Hollywood is now a very cool recording studio.ReadyMix.

  • If this song doesn't touch you in some way, you have no soul!

  • @izzysdad42094 Seeing him tomorrow night and can't wait....taking me back to the good ole days!!!

  • @izzysdad42094 ditto kiddo uterlly brilliant tune!!!

  • @izzysdad4209I i try to listen to this song every morning the lyrics are so true and hit close to home. I guess I do have a soul.

    . 

  • MAY GOD PLEASE BLESS US WIYH MUSIC LIKE THIS AGAIN IN THIS WORLD JUST BRING BACK THE 70'S AND LIFE WILL BE GOOD AGAIN MUCH--LOVE FOR ALL

  • @franlank1

    You said it Frank, the world is missing this quality of music, and the talent it takes to make it.

  • id rather be a happy idiot then a sad intellegent person any day:)

  • no more feelings and soul could be put n words! we are all pretenders in a way

  • the Great Jackson Brown....if you were around 20-25yo when these songs came out and know JBs music then you probably had a hell of life ..full of drugs music and rock and roll..i hope you all made it through it with no casualties.............

  • @JadeTomZ Hell yeah man...... I graduated in 79 and remember when all his stuff came out along with other artists then and even in the 60s. I had several older cousins here and hung out with them since I was around 6 and listened to their music, and their stories of all the artists back then and learned some cool shit too.

    Eventually......good times with herb, and some chemicals, were introduced.......and no casualties..... Had my fun back then...No drugs now, but I have good memories...yes sir!

  • Listen to Jackson's lead in and the song...then listen to Springsteen's "The Wrestler". They're the same song, and they're not, and we should all be so grateful for having experienced music such as this!

  • Listen to Jackson's lead in and the song...then listen to Springsteen's "The Wrestler". They're the same song, and they're not, and we should all be so grateful for having experienced music such as this!

  • Daryl Hannah loved him too........until he beat the shit out of her. Then, not so much. 

  • @717021 I've met him before, and he didnt seem like the kinda guy who would do that. But regardless of that possibility, he is still one of the best songwriters of the last 50 years.

  • @UndeadFatality I did a little research and it seems to be unfounded. I agree that he is good. I have spent money on him over the years.

  • @717021 Never happened sir. Read the police report. Daryl Hannah was upset over their break-up and made the story up. The police talked to Daryl that night and left after 5 mins because they found no signs of abuse.

  • @longdayer Read my second post. I know that.

  • Love it! Thank you so much for posting

  • love this guy for 30 years now

  • I've been aware of the time going by

    They say in the end it's the wink of an eye

    Anyone else feeling this lyric?

  • Where does all that talent come from,....simply amazing!

  • Awsome, Just love this guy and his songs..

  • Awsdome, Just love this guy and his songs..

  • the foo fighters is better 

  • lyrically superior

  • In my humble opinion the album this came from is one of the top five rock albums of the seventies.

  • I am a happy idiot who struggles for the legal tender

  • damn legal tender!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • You hit it right on the head omtechxl... About 95% of today's "artists" should take note.

  • Drinking with Uncle wayne....

  • M.L.R. You were the greatest pretender this world has ever known. But you were so loved and I miss you!

  • Well said, omtechxl

  • The sign of a true singer/artist/performer, a singer with his piano, and the song is as true and clear as any recording, with out all the post production magic that makes so many others sound good on the radio, but cannot pull it off in a live performance. The naked environment like this separates the real talent.

  • As I get older I understand it is my obligation to keep my passions burning. I still want to go to rock concerts, I want to go out with the guys and shoot pool(dont drink), I want to wake each morning and still think to myself "WOW this life is beautiful" I never want to lose my passion for life.

  • JB and Dan Fogelberg, both giifted and what insightful lyrics

  • @veelighted7

    I love Folgerberg's music and all. But Jackson is in a class all of his own.

  • This video really highlights just how talented Jackson Browne really is...He is a very inspiring artist!

  • an incredible singer songwriter

  • found j b's 'take it easy' video..yay! TO ALL JACKSON BROWNE'S FANS OUT THERE, PEACE N LOVE N MAY U FIND WHATEVER U R SEARCHING FOR, AND THANK U FOR CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THIS GREAT SINGER/SONGWRITER/ACTIVIST! though i m not fortunate enough to attend any of his concerts, i will support in buying his merchandise online.

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  • is there a video of jb's version of 'take it easy'? though i like the eagles' version, i love jb's more... can anyone out there point me the way to where i can find the video? thanks!

  • @pcmckay...don't give up on your hope, faith and your dreams...the famous forrest gump quote 'life was (is) like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get'..to me, a box of chockies in different shapes, sizes and tastes is pretty much like one's life choices...we make good ones, we make bad ones, even ones that defy common logic..the thing is to keep at it, keep tasting each chockie and discover which is the correct one for you, for keeps, may take a while, but it will happen.

  • @098hayley123...you r most welcome...hope you will find ur light one day, too...there is a pretender in all of us, i suppose, in one way or another...thing is, after a while, one tends to get tired of being a pretender..like u said, life is hard enough, why make it any harder by pretending to be someone u r not...keep it simple, honest, keep the dream going, and have faith...whenever i find i m in need of some inspirational words, i tune in to jb.

  • I'm absolutely baffled by the 22 dislikes, who could actually not like this enough to click on dislike?

  • when the morning comes streaming in, i get up and do it again....i love this, not matter how bad the previous day had been, i get up and do it again, for another day...

    i love you, jackson browne! u are god's gift to all your fans , and may u be blessed with many many more years to come!!

    thank you, too, to all you folks for uploading so many jb videos, they are just so awesome!

  • There are 22 unhappy idiots...

  • this song is wonderful. i think sometimes it takes a while to realize what you want and what it takes to get there. thus, the pretender. you have to put in some time with the established world to get your part. get up and do it again. how wonderful that Jackson has that perspective. and shares it. a true contender.

  • I like this song!awesome.

  • i'm 20 years old, i am the pretender.

  • Great song with some good comments/insight from JB. It's funny when I was a kid in the late 70's & early 80's I knew a wise old fool who when I asked him what that sone meant to him he simply said, "In your lifetime you will only have two kinds of wishes, wish I would have & wish I wouldn't have." I'm 42 now and truly know what that means, too bad it took 30 years.... but I guess that's the journey.

  • I was fortunate to attend Jackson's live concert tonight in New Orleans with my daughter, this song brought back so much...a great talent who shares himself with the audience.............Jackson, 20 guitars, a keyboard and microphones with a still awesome voice that makes you feel every word...........

  • The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. -HDT

    Timeless great song. Love the simplicity of this version too, Much more expression than the one from the album.

  • Love this song.

  • Love this song.

  • The legal tender...We all are the pretender

  • @Raiderfn31 thats the idea

  • @Raiderfn31 There was a time I thought I was only.. or few who were "The Pretender".,,

    I guess we all are.

  • questa canzone è semplicemente meravigliosa. senza tempo

  • which mike wilson?

  • 21 people are Saving Jane fans.

  • oh man i f******* love this song :D

  • "i want to know what became of the changes we waited for love to bring,

    were they only the fitful dreams of some greater awakening?"

    morning has broken so WTFU ! luv ya's

  • What a beautiful song, to the very soul of our purpose and can be so well received by everyone. Jackson you are incredible. Most of us learned to become the Pretenter. And the good news is..........with a change of heart you can change your mind and direction at anytime, it takes courage, compassion and love for yourself. Love yourself. Tell your friends, family, everyone, .....it is not too late. XOXOXOOOOOO Hugs.

  • I saw Jackson! In LA! I have never experienced a night like that! Brilliant raw talent from one of the kindness musicians I have ever seen! He kicked off his shoes and invited us into his living room.He said "Screw the playlist what do you want" WOW! He just wanted to give!! He stopped in the middle of a song to tell a story about washing his hair and great BIO products and keeping the earth clean! Hope he knows what a gift he gave to hundreds of us! That night and for the world sense he started

  • 20 Dislikes=20 People who don't know music.

    

  • I saw jackson brown in concert recently and he is still an amazing artist.

    As for not being a pretender : ), Check out the art of non-conformity. It's a great book and the author has a website with lot's of free articles to get your mind going.

  • My best friend from high school and traveling partner for years after has lost his final battle. He gave life his best shot but life shot back. I guess we all pretend in the end, he didn't have a chance against it. Get in touch with an old friend from your times in the Sun and tell them how much they mean to you. You may not ever get the chance if you wait Rest In Peace, Mike

  • If you have not seen his solo show you must...

  • I truly do not think that a song exists that can top the melancholy truth in this song about the lives that all of us live. Even if the song is twice as old as I am (it's actually not quite that old, but still), there's no denying the truth that we seemingly have to take a stab at life like he explains. We fill in the missing colors in our paint-by-number dreams.

  • Jackson Browne, the man has more talent, soul, intelligence and originality in two bars of a song than most of the "songwriters" today can produce in their lifetimes. Rock on Mr. Browne,

  • @SeveranceNservice What, thump, what ,thump thump. LOL, Yeah, thats what is called music? LOL JB all the way! Saw him last year! PERFECT as ever!

  • I love his music and will always listen to it, but don't like his politics.

  • 20 people are fucked up and don't know what good music is.Thanx for posting this song.

  • jUST GOT HERE AND LIKE THIS SONG BUT i DO SEE A LOT OF FUCKING IDIOTS WITH THEIR FAGGOT OPINIONS..HEY !! SHUT THE FUCK UP AND LISTEN TO THE SONG YOU FUCKING ARGUMENTATIVE COCKSUCKERS .. peace : )

  • @Geo69xr Now that puts everything into a proper perspective. tnboltsfan56 and I are having an intellectual debate on our different interpretations....all good. Thank you for labeling us as fucking idiot faggot cocksuckers. Say no more, we know what's on your mind. I'm sure that Jackson Browne is proud to have you as a fan. peace : )

  • @dueman500 why thank you, you are soo kind. : )

  • There is no proof that JB beated up a woman!

  • This song stands up there amongst the best...words and melody, and an outstanding performance to boot; and oh what a message for all of us...we should take note!

  • This song basically says: "give up" you will never achieve anything. The land of opportunity only applies to JB and his ilk..not to the average person..."happy idiots" is how he labels us. It is so sad that this is the message that JB sends to the people who made him successful: I did it, but you can't...get used to it. Not me...I refuse to participate in the dumming down of the greatest society to ever inhabit the face of the earth. And if Jackson Borring doesn't like us....:See Ya..."

  • @dueman500

    Wow, your interpretive and/or listening skills are lacking. Success is relative to the individual that must evaluate him/herself. Jackson is NOT putting down the average man, he's speaking of the people that value money over family. Fuck keeping up with the "Joneses", if I may paraphrase. "They say in the end it's a wink of an eye".

  • @tnboltsfan56 How pompously typical. You don't agree with my interpretation of someone's art and it's MY skills that are lacking. Sorry, I take Jackson at his word: "....say a prayer for the pretender, who started out so young and strong, only to surrender". Very uplifting.

  • @dueman500 "....say a prayer for the pretender, who started out so young and strong, only to surrender".

    Yeah, he's talking about people that sold out and/or gave up on their dreams. You may take him at his word, but don't be so pompous, as you say, to understand the content.

  • @tnboltsfan56 JB's songwriting has always been a commentary on the world as he sees it, which I am totally down with. There are no references to ''family" in this song, and the only reference to "dreams" are on "ships" carrying them away. Since I am just a plebe, and you are so much more intelligent than me, please, please, point out for me the hopeful, encouraging, uplifting LYRICS in this song. Stupid me...I only understand the ACTUAL words. Surrender equals giving up.

  • @tnboltsfan56 One more thing genius, at the end of the second verse he writes "YOU'LL get up and do it again". Who do you think he's talking to/about? The sad fact about Jackson Browne is this; he is a brilliant song writer/musician but he has a history of violence against women. There are no bigger pussies on the face of the earth than men who beat up women.

  • @dueman500 Which begs the question. Do you have to love the artist to love the art? John Lennon was a wife beater too. 19th century German composer Richard Wagner was a raging bigot and anti semite. I'm sure there are dozens of examples.

  • @jasonlloyd33 I never said that I didn't appreciate his art. As for Wagner, did he victimize the objects of his hatred, or did he just have views that most would consider repulsive? With Lennon, society does seem to selectively embrace people who perpetrate violence against those who are vulnerable, but only so far. Adolf Hitler and John Wayne Gacy both fancied themselves as artists, but you don't see anyone defending them.

  • "we'll get up and do it again...get it up again"

  • the first time i heard this song is from sister's room balcony..i was 13 years old and now that i am 39 years old i still remember how this song never fade, the value of it and the quality of it...LOVE THIS SO MUCH.

  • His true masterpiece.

  • This is exactly where i am in life... stuck between following my dreams and finishing my helicopter pilots license, and a 9-5 as a construction manager who can make $200,000 a year through what my family wants... if i dont follow my dreams ill just be society's fool trading bulk unhappiness for money.

  • @DeepCore214 , good luck bro, my Daughters boyfriend is starting pilots license for a helicopter now also. Personally, myself, i put my dreams on the back burner many years ago, so my family would have a better than average Life, and even though my dreams and my Cabin is just a thought now, i am more than Happy the way things turned out. Guess i'm the Pretender now. Best to you Deepcore.

  • @DeepCore214 Watch out for The Working Class Hero

  • I cannot believe that runerreign thinks that Jackson Browne did a cover of a Foo Fighters song!!! Were you born yesterday? Jackson Brown wrote that song the 70's you moron!

  • @pnolanrn

    You should learn a little something about capitalism, human nature, and society. Being ignorant of these things is not the best idea.

  • worst Foo Fighters cover, ever

  • @RunnerReign

    are you retarded

  • @RunnerReign lmao

  • A cherished favorite, indeed.

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  • @CJsBeachGrill

    But, sir, I don't have any balls at'll. Now what shall I do?

  • 19 people suck :0

  • this man wasnt just a musician, he was something that people really try to find as a answer, not just someone can know about, more as someone they can just listen to, hes a normal man , with more answers that should stay behind closed doors

  • I swear, this song could be written about my Dad. Completely lost sight of his dreams, he's just struggling to go through the same routine day after day in the hopes of a wider purpose. The section about the loss of 'the changes we waited for love to bring' particularly resonates since he's trying to deal with separating from my mum at the moment. Can only hope he pulls through, I feel like life's worth living and not, as Jackson puts it, something to 'surrender'.

  • Happy days Tenby Tower Northfield Birmingham 1978

  • Reminds me of Birmingham 1978  Northfield what shit house

  • So many of us are in our 50's....dreaming ? It's for all of us. We just realize we didn't have to "keep up with the Jones'" as we thought.

    We are all happy idiots who struggle for the legal tender.. and money can't buy true love or happiness, right ? Say a prayer for all of us.

  • I have this album and will have to listen to this again and again! Great stuff.

  • the eagles and jackson browne co wrote take it easy and actually its originally jackson brownes he didnt finish it and told the eagles to cause they liked the song and were friends with him

  • Who started out so young and strong....Only to surrender....Say a prayer for the pretender....Are you there for the pretender?...Then he sighed, lowered his head, and shed a tear....

  • @rastafari...for all those age 50s and above, it is never too old to dream...me, i m hitting the 53rd mark in a few months' time, and i still have my dreams, for dreams bring hope. it's a step by step day by day thing for me, my motto is 'keep it simple, keep it burning' and i m confident i will find my light at the end of the tunnel, one day.....this is one of my fav j b song..his voice is just awesome! thank you for sharing this video with all of us

  • @clouds882 I agree, Clouds 882,,,I'm 56, and dreams don't go away until I either achieve them, or update them a bit, you know? JB has been a wonderful incentive to me to keep on learning life, guitar, and love! I cherish his music!

  • that is very encouraging. i am a 29 yo singer/songwriter/musician attempting to br8k n2 the industry, and i pride myself on my musical education. i have grown up in the NC foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns., and i listen to a very wide range of music and am always challenging myself musically, lyrically, and formally. i never want to stagnate- i just want to touch the world with beautiful music and then fade away n2 the night. as a DAV, i recall Gen. MacAurthur's words-old soldiers never die...

  • @clouds882 I will hit 57 yr. next month-I have always loved this song. After listening to JB tell about how he wrote this song, it made me stop and THINK. Was having a really bad nite, I love the way you put it clouds882-step by step..day by day, you are right keep SIMPLE. Life is hard enough as it is. Why make it harder-simple is best. I hope I do like you find my light--one day. I do keep dreaming everyday. Thanks for making me feel better.

  • @clouds882 i think i've given up....

  • @clouds882 I Am 53 but still young. Saw JB last Sept in concert! All I can say is wow!

  • @inatizzy2

    53 but still young

    53 young

    So are you 53 or are you young? Which is it?

  • @JaredHorning LOL, all of the above! What.

  • Decided the tickets go on sale today in Montreal I am going to see this amazing song writer a jewel in the world.

  • i was at merriwether the night he recorded the live album; still get chills thinking back on his show; he was a big part of my life and getting through life, his music touched me like no other singer

  • There is a little of "The Pretender" in all of us~so moving and soulful!

  • I remember the first time I heard this song was when I was 14 or something.. loved, loved the song, but didn't really understand the meaning of it. Now, 16 years on.. I still love the song and all the more for what it talks about!

  • Everyone can dream. When you stop dreaming, you die, at least the part of you that was once human.

  • My favourite JB song, thanks for the vid.

  • Can a 52 year old man dream? Or are dreams for the young?

  • @Rastafari6 -- Dreams belong to all ages. When dreams cease to exist, life fades away.

  • arnt we all pretenders at one point? I just wonder how many fight the love that is still there inside.

  • In our early 20's we are running on empty. In our 30's, Ready or Not. In our 40's we the Pretender, and by the time we are 50, we are just waiting for Everyman.

  • @joe44850 hahaha awesome

  • Does any one else miss the time when a musician sounded just as amazing live as they did on there CD? when they wrote, and sang amazing lyrics. when music was still art? I wasn't even born then, but when I emerged from the shadow of my fathers record collection, I was let down and very sad. Thank you Mr. Browne for, for speaking for the pretenders!!!

  • That explanation was exquisite-Thanks for posting the whole story

  • am a pretender...becuase i want to keep anythings.......

  • Thsi is my life-female version.......what happened to the dreams-they are still there, but not happening like my parents who planned every move-and their perfect world was achieved-those days are gone in America.........

  • I this is my entire life summed up-female version......

  • They say in the end, it's the wink of an eye

  • The Best song of my generation !!! Love it...

  • Jackson's band should be called the Jackson 5 as a joke

  • THE PRETENDER: I'm going to rent myself a house In the shade of the freeway I'm going to pack my lunch in the morning And go to work each day And when the evening rolls around I'll go on home and lay my body down And when the morning light comes streaming in I'll get up and do it again Amen Say it again Amen
  • I want to know what became of the changes

    We waited for love to bring

    Were they only the fitful dreams

    Of some greater awakening

    I've been aware of the time going by

    They say in the end it's the wink of an eye

    And when the morning light comes streaming in

    You'll get up and do it again

    Amen

  • Caught between the longing for love And the struggle for the legal tender Where the sirens sing and the church bells ring And the junk man pounds his fender Where the veterans dream of the fight Fast asleep at the traffic light And the children solemnly wait For the ice cream vendor Out into the cool of the evening Strolls the Pretender He knows that all his hopes and dreams Begin and end there
  • Ah the laughter of the lovers

    As they run through the night

    Leaving nothing for the others

    But to choose off and fight

    And tear at the world with all their might

    While the ships bearing their dreams

    Sail out of sight

  • I'm going to find myself a girl

    Who can show me what laughter means

    And we'll fill in the missing colors

    In each other's paint-by-number dreams

    And then we'll put our dark glasses on

    And we'll make love until our strength is gone

    And when the morning light comes streaming in

    We'll get up and do it again

    Get it up again

  • I'm going to be a happy idiot And struggle for the legal tender Where the ads take aim and lay their claim To the heart and the soul of the spender And believe in whatever may lie In those things that money can buy Though true love could have been a contender Are you there? Say a prayer for the Pretender Who started out so young and strong Only to surrender
  • this is why i love youtube! thanks for posting this!

  • Favorite. JB song....

  • Poetry and shattered dreams from the 'Summer of Love' 1968............

  • One of the best songs of my time....all time....I know exactly what the song is about...

    you are. so so gifted...come to Melbourne.....Karl and I , well we didn't make it.... but I would buy him a ticket, no two tickets... just to be next to him, your biggest fan.,,to see you, to hear all those songs....they were "our songs".and always will be!!! thnx for your music....xx

  • This song is one of the best of all time!

  • OK Jackson lighten up dude.We'll decide whats the songs about.Less talk and more singing please.

  • @marcmgm If you can't appreciate the value of the songwriter telling you what a song is really about and what it means in his heart, you can't fully appreciate the value of a song.

  • @tguitardude

    no kidding man. no freakin kidding.

  • Ah, the laughter of the lovers as they run through the night...

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  • This song is absolutely amazing.

  • I loved this song when I was a teen in the 70's, and now that I'm staring 50 in the face, it has more meaning for me now than ever.

  • Great Tune-- Man I can relate...........

  • The best of the best... I forgot how good this music was

  • A living legend!

  • After a hellish week trying to be a pretender... I need to revisit my Jackson Browne collection. Thanks for posting.

  • wow, what an awesome video, THANK YOU for posting this for all of us to enjoy , the story in the begining, and the song, brings tears to my eyes every time!!