He wasn't running late, to go and meet Joe. He got a phone call from a mutual friend during the night, to tell him Joe had called her to ask her to tell everyone he said 'goodbye'. As Ren lived quite close by, he ran to try to get to the bridge, trying Joe's phone as he ran. Joe's phone was engaged, which was a positive sign, however he then got an 'out of service' message before he reached the bridge, and he knew he was too late.

Freckled Angels. Suicide. For Joe. All songs related to Ren's friend Joe. And for that matter the last verse of "How To Be Me" is directly about Joe. Hopefully this song brings Ren much needed comfort and release. It gives off that feel already, like he might get past it. Of course, in "Freckled Angels" he sings "I'll sing until my voices shatters, and my lungs they explode." Sooo... Blessings.

Joe was definitely with Ren on this one To give Ren the courage to do this amazing tribute. As far as I remember Rens Album Freckled Angels is named after Joe because Joe's face was full of freckles, Ren is therapy for so many from one song he helps so many people open up in ways therapists struggle to do in person.

I've seen this so many times and the starkness, sincerity and the fact he somehow got through it in a one take - the very last sentence he finally started to break down. You could hear it in his voice

its how the majority reacts to his beauty. such a beautiful tribute to jo. but really to all of us left behind to process the grief. lost my cousin in 2021 and i thank god for Ren to help sort out the grief and aftermath, what a gift to us all! peace be with you both🙏❤

I think so many people relate to Ren because he’s genuine, raw, and like all of us, flawed. I get the same sense of “knowing you without knowing you” from you guys which is why I enjoy your videos. You’re good people - you care, you understand, and I have no doubt you’ll raise a great young man. Keep up the splendid work!

It's hard to watch Ash hurt. So jovial normally. It makes me so happy, when she's happy. It makes me heartbroken when I see her and you hurting. Much love to you both. Brave of you!

Love how supportive/caring Dave is to Ash. So powerful.

Dave, Ashley is a real gem! the reation was heart felt. Watch Ren's 1million thank you cry and also be enlightened. Also becareful of doing his latest release. Another YT reactor was issued warnings.

Your statement that melancholy is in a sense like a "warm blanket" resonated with me. Like you, I also prefer listening to melancholy music over "happy-go-lucky" tunes. I think I can relate to sad songs more because they reflect my life experience and mental state, and give me comfort knowing that I am not alone in my struggles.

Hey dave! Get her in front of The tale of jenny & screetch! Pleaaase..

This song is like a puzzle finaly finished with different pieces of songs for Joe coming from different songs for a full song for his friend as a full tribute. Beautiful and sad song. In Description of this video he explain a lot , even how he sing this tracks in front of Joe's Mom.

There are no issues with copyright on Ren videos, FYI.

Ren is a beautiful special human.. we are lucky to have an artist on his level in this world

I love you both thankyou. Now another day

Thanks for a genuine sincere reaction.

You guys are so good together and are so spot on human in your reactions. Thank you for this ❤️🙏❤️

R.I.P. , Joe........and may you find peace while you're with us, Ren.........

I felt bad when Ashley said her face hurt from smiling after the last reaction. This was guaranteed to undo that feeling. It's a beautiful tribute but I wish she could've enjoyed the happy for awhile first.

You don't have to pause it, ren loves reactions. Speaking of which, amazing reaction. Real.

Thanks you guys, good Job. You two complement each other.

I cry everytime....Ren is just so amazing...thanks guys

thank you for a beautiful reaction love you guys ❤❤❤

First time I've heard this. Beautiful tribute from and to a great friend - how awesome Joe must have been! Touched my heart like Ed Sheeran's F64 tribute to the sudden loss of his own best friend, Jamal Edwards. Thanks, guys. Ren is so talented.... and heartbreaking 😢

If you haven't seen the live version of Freckled Angels Ren performed 8 months after Joe's passing, I can't recommend it highly enough. Incredibly difficult, but a huge window in to who Ren was then, and where he is now.

If you watch the Knox interview Ren intellectually and logically knows there wasn’t anything he could have done that night but emotionally is another thing… the empty cup. But notice there is a bottle of light (lights) to fill the empty cup. The previous produced video was dark and filled with pain and frustration. This starts with that pain but continues with what Joe and all his actions has taught and given Ren. That bottle of light to fill the empty cup. Not only a crafted masterpiece but preformed extremely well with the help from Sam.

Beautiful reaction. Thank you ❤

A beautiful tribute. This was not my first time hearing it, but watching Ash welling up was hitting me hard. If anyone suspects a person is hurting, be the brave one and approach them. Don't accuse them, don't berate them, just hear them. It may help them, it may not; but they had at least that moment to know someone does care.

Glad i found you guys...love your reactions! ❤

Quite an Amazing artist that can make you go -”Yeah, That’s the way the world works” 💥💪🏼😎 in one song. -Haha, fun, crazy 😂 in the next and -Sooo deep… 😢in the third.

Thank you for your honest and genuine reaction. You probably already know most of the information I am providing, so this is more for the benefit of those who are unfamiliar with the story. Ren's best friend, Joe Hughes, committed suicide on the 27th of December, 2010 by jumping off the Menai Bridge, a large suspension bridge connecting the mainland to the Isle of Anglesey where Ren and Joe lived. Ren alluded to it in one of his songs, stating that he lost his best friend before he was 25. The pain of this loss is evident in a few of his songs. "How to Be Me," "Freckled Angels," "Su!cIde," and this release, “For Joe,” are specifically dedicated to Joe. Ren recently posted some background on his relationship with Joe and the tragic suicide. Ren explained that he got a call from his friend Ella around 3 am saying that Joe was on the Menai Bridge, He’d been on the phone with her in tears saying goodbye. He told her to tell everyone he loved them. Ren went out on foot attempting to get to Joe while trying to reach him on the phone. Just minutes before Ren got to the bridge, his friend's cell phone went out of service. The Coast Guard started a search to no avail. Ren, friends, and volunteers unsuccessfully searched the shoreline for ten days; Joe’s body was never recovered. Ren’s song "Su!cIde" gutted me, and I was not able to watch or listen to it again until now. I have not even been able to watch a single reaction to it. It was a sad, haunting, gut-wrenching tribute. My best friend took his life 38 years ago. However, after listening to "For Joe" several times, I came to the realization that as sad and emotional as this song is, it has had a healing effect on me and has given me a sense of closure. Even the lyrics of the epilogue from "Su!cIde" that "gutted" me impacted me differently this time around. Anthony Ray (@AnthonyRay) said after reacting to this performance (I am paraphrasing) that he felt that after all these years, Ren seems to have found a measure of acceptance regarding the loss of his best friend. Anthony's comment suddenly made me aware of the song's impact on me, and I am actually able to watch or listen to "Su!cIde" again. Although I will probably not watch any reactions to it, as I consider this song to be much too personal, and watching someone else's grief would only compound my pain. Thomas Goldschmidt (@thomasgoldschmidt298) remarked, "For Joe" is a continuation of "Su!cIde," displaying the five stages of grief, adding acceptance to the end of his last song…..This song and the sobbing hug he received from Joe's mom after showing the video bring closure to all involved! I think ending "For Joe" with lines from "Freckles Angels" left me with a more optimistic outlook. It is as if Ren is trying to tell us that even though some of our loved ones are physically gone from our life, their memory continues to live in and through us. I think that is why I got a sense of closure and peace.

I love this song, and i love y'alls reaction to this, cause this is exactly how i was when i watched it when he first released it. I was at work bawling listening to it...and Ren's voice at the end...cracking up...made me cry even harder... I, like most of us, have considered suicide in my life...but i now have a beautiful 7yo son (who also LOVES Ren) and he is who saved my life. I live for him and myself now. Ive lost too many and ive seen them leave their children behind...it hurts...some ive lost by suicide, overdose, murder and accidents...its never easy no matter the way we lose someone we love. 😢 I wish you both (and all who read this) nothing but the best in life and always remember- This world is a BETTER place with YOU IN IT!!! 💙💜🩷💙💜🩷

It's ok to have a heart it's ok to show it Dave is rather stoic, but we can see his heart when she sits next to him and talks to us. Thanks for readcting to Ren, bless you both.

I went to the funeral of a very close friend, of some 40 years, and like your uncle the church was packed and there was more outside. It is a testament to their life but it upset me that most of them had not been in contact for years and had not there for her at the end.

You're both brave to have a camera pointed at you when you watch this for the first time. Thanks for doing this reaction. Be well.

Hey Ash! Thanks for allowing Dave to be present! ;) Rough song, but worth it. Ren once again baring his soul. Thanks for the reaction.

liking these reactions!

You two are adorable and the love is felt ❤ we can all only hope to find that connection 😊✌️

Love you guys!

Beautiful reaction and the conversation after was acceptional. I recently discovered your channel after your first Ren reaction, consequently I've grown fond of both of you. OBD, you're a beautiful man, I bet your son loves you to bits. Old Celtic features, whilst Ash reminds me of many of my Irish rellies. The looks and the fire that resides within her. Anyways, it was Ash that prompted me to respond to a comment she made. It was in regards to music, yoiu said you prefer Happy, while OBD, you said you feel at home within melancholy. Well I'll be, I thought, I'm Ash and OBD, torn between Happy n Melancholy. Lol Point is for me, I emote at both types. Emotionally I am conflicted I suppose? Buggared If I know. I enjoy the pendulum swing between melancholy and Joy. But Joy is my real goto, Melancholy feels to me to be a domain of us menfolk. Melancholy fools with big hearts and overactive minds. Ash, you're safe from harm forever, there is alot of protection around you. And Dave, you're more capable than you give yourself credit for. Don't overthink ought lad, you're totally who you're meant to be. You are enough ! Just be you brother and shine that inner power outwards, you're loaded with goodness. Above all dear souls, there's no need to protect your hearts anymore. You're both who and where you're meant to be. Praja = (Scouser in NZ).

Great reaction. The part you you said sobering about listening to sad/ melancholy music is like a warm blanket, i totally get. I've anyways gravitated towards metal type music because of that. For some reason, the sad/ angry music is soothing to me. Makes me feel less alone maybe?

Ren doesn't argue copyright if you challenge any strikes he will just ok it his end

Great reaction guys! This song is a rough one but an absolutely important message to facilitate a conversation.

💔🥲 RIP Joe 💕

I cried with you

You two are great. I love your reactions, Ren or otherwise.

Ash. No words. ❤️

Be'lakor!!! 🤘 Great reaction, as always!!

Have you guys seen Ren busking with his band The Big Push? "The Big Push - I Shot the Sheriff/Road to Zion/Hip Hop".

Joe did change Ren's life. Ren was often very ill back then, so much so that he thought he couldn't live like that for much longer. He has a video up he made back then, then in the comments he explains the relationship of that with Hi-Ren. When you watch it you can feel how desperate he was getting. But after what happened to Joe saw what it did to those that love you and decided he would never do that to those he would leave behind. So in a way Joe may very well have saved Ren's life.

So good!!!!

Wonder if had the Lamp for Joe's spirit to find his Friend , bro .?

So sad but so beautiful.

Did you enjoy your visit to our lovely island, where did you visit I'm in Pentraeth so chances are you drove through my village. Notice anyone with mad coloured hair

Hugs 😶🐰🤓

it's time to get the big boys SLEEP TOKEN to the musical playground, if you haven't yet introduced them to her !!!

❤❤❤

don't ya just love ren? me, too. great reaction. much love, kathleen - bts RENegade

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oh grabbing the tissues now before we start. Yeah we like to bounce off Ash

It's much more entertaining with your wife with you

Every song with Ash, she brings up "her past" ... everybody has a past... but she always brings it up... she is crazy, dude!! .... She thinks the world revolves around her... leave her and get somebody better before she goes nuts... she is primed to go off at any minute.

Great song... but that line about "the ocean coming from my tear ducts" was honestly played out, over used, and was considered lame 20 years ago... that line didn't belong in this song... the rest is great tho.

❤❤❤