"New London Homesick Blues" "Little Bird" Desperados Waiting for a Train!!!! RIP Jerry Jeff Walker, and thank you for the music.

everyone who ever made music in Texas knew Jerry Jeff Walker

You may want to think about doing a cover of this song, done by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band!

Thank you Daniel for honoring Jerry Jeff Walker with his original recording. I prefer his version as it expresses the artist's true intent. RIP Jerry. ✌❤🌻😷🎶

"He did a really good job in making you care about a character." You nailed it.

He was a true folk singer song writer which lead to the outlaw country as he hung out with guy Clark and Townes Van zandt and the armadillo. Viva terlingua is a top ten all time for me. Thanks for doing this. It’s a hard one to lose around here

Thank you for reacting to Jerry Jeff Walker. I'm a fan. He was born and raised in Oneonta, NY. I live about an hour north of there. He was 5 years older than me. I've played his songs at open mics many times. I've just learned from you of his passing and I'm saddened. Rest in peace, Jerry Jeff.

I play this song on my guitar almost daily for 40 yrs.. Thanks Jerry.. Be Blessed.

It always felt like this came from an earlier time. It is a beautifully simple compelling number . Sad another musician gone.RIP

Jerry jeff was a great storyteller and great songwriter mr bojangles was a bit for nitty gritty dirt band sammy davis jr and him as well. For those that know him he is finally off that LA Freeway RIP thanks for the great music and thank u for the reaction

I love that you are so thoughtful to do the music for the people who have passed away ❤

Thanks! Next, do Jerry Jeff's good friend and fellow genius, Townes Van Zandt ( _Pancho and Lefty_ _For the Sake of the Song_ _Be Here to Love Me_ )

That song is in you now. It will come up now and then in your head, which is a good thing.

You really should explore the outlaw country genre. This was the most fascinating time period in country music. It spans from the mid 60s to the early 80s. The Byrds done a couple of country albums one called Sweetheart Of The Rodeo. Kris Kristofferson along with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash were huge contributors. Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan were good friends and recorded a couple of songs together. Waylon Jennings who was Buddy Holly's bass player always had a rock n roll sound to his stuff and even covered a few Beatles tunes. David Allan Coe first gig was opening up for Grand Funk Railroad and he had a pretty rockin song called Cell 33. Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings protested the Vietnam War. I could go one forever lol but yes that time period in country is absolutely fascinating. I love your videos and love seeing young guys and gals getting into the old music. People like you ensure that this great music will live on after the previous generations have passed. Keep up the awesome work man!!!

One if my most cherished musical memories is sitting in a open air bar on Ambergris Caye San Pedro Belize watching Jerry Jeff Walker play a 2 hour acoustic set of songs and stories to about a hundred of us with the Caribbean breezes blowing. What a night it was. RIP maestro.

I saw the notification this morning that you had reacted to this, but hadn't watched it. Then I got the local news notification "Country singer Oneonta native Jerry Jeff Walker dies in Texas." He's always been treasured here. I saw him in concert at the minor league ball park back in the 90s. Rest in peace, brother. Thanks for the memories.

RIP Jerry, this song was covered alot but this original imo was always the best!

Outlaw country was something you saw in the mid 70s through the 80s. Singers would include singers like this one, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson (you can find Willie doing songs in the early 60s with short hair), Hank Williams, Jr., Merle Haggard, David Allen Coe and on and on. It was a different sound from the George Jones' of the Country music world. I have to agree though, the cover by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was probably the best one.

Aw, I live in Austin and have LOTS of musician friends. Jerry Jeff was an Austin treasure, so my Facebook time line is chock full of tears tributes.

Greetings from Austin, Texas. Saw Jerry Jeff several times in past years here in town. Thank you for reacting to his song.

So sad to hear. Jerry Jeff is a Texas legend And I have seen him in concert several times. His album Viva Terlinga has always been a favorite. He was part of the early Texas country folk rock movement that included Willie Nelson, Ray W Hubbard, Kris Kristofferson.... My favorite songs by JJ Walker are London Homesick Blues, Sangria Wine, LA Freeway, Desperados Waiting for a Train. Just about nothing sadder than the death of your dog. I've been through it several times. I would have danced on someone"s head if they ordered me to dance, but the deep south in those days was not kind to black folks (understatement of the year.) Ps, for a happier 🐕 song I recommend Me and You and a Dog Named Boo.

Jerry Jeff was the person who first took Jimmy Buffett to Key West. They wrote Railroad Lady together.

Thank you. I never researched this song. I liked it but in 1968 my father didn't. He worked in harlem for decades and saw bill Robinson and thought the song was disrespectful to his memory. Nice to finally know it was not about bill Robinson. Thanks again

The dog up and died, and after 20 years he still grieves. That line gives me the chills after 20 years of hearing this song.

A lot of Guy Clark tunes in the recommends here. A great song writer who also recently passed away.

I saw Jerry Jeff a couple of times. You got some country, some rock and a lot of funny, witty commentary. Great writer, performer.

1969 was a decade ahead of the Outlaw movement. Jerry Jeff was an amazing songwriter. Bridged the gap between folk and country with many of his songs.

Desperados waiting for a train(guy clark written,) Navaho rug, LA freeway, London homesick blues, pickup truck song. All great songs by jerry jeff.

hanks for honoring Jerry Jeff- loved him! Nice reaction, as always, Daniel. You should check out Desperados Waiting for a Train- fantastic song!

Thank you for this. RIP Mr Jerry Jeff Walker.

For being known as a songwriter, my favorite song he did was the live "London Homesick Blues" on the live album, Viva Terlingua. The song was written and maybe even sung, by Gary Nunn. Many people in Texas love this because it was the theme song to Austin City Limits for decades.

You should give L A Freeway a listen. Too bad you missed him, he was one cool guy.

Thanks for all the groovy times. Rip. TX

When I was a kid this song used to make me tear up

David Bromberg was a guitarist who played in Jerry Jeff Walker's band for a long time. There is another version of this song sung by Jerry Jeff with a beautiful guitar solo by Bromberg. And if you love that version as much as I do, you'll also love a live version Bromberg did as a solo artist. In the middle, Bromberg stops and tells some of the background of Mr Bojangles, along with his relationship with Jerry Jeff Walker, and he finishes up with one of the most gorgeous acoustic guitar solos I've ever heard. RIP Jerry Jeff Walker. (kzfaq.info/get/bejne/o9t3a851vsi-ZYU.html)

I hope Jerry is somewhere with Guy Clark, John Hartford, Doc & Merle, Janis, Jimi , John and George and having one hell of a jam.

Waylon Jennings paid tribute to Jerry Jeff in the last verse of his song Luchenbach Texas. "Jerry Jeff's train songs..." if you liked this Kris Kristofferson's 'The Pilgrim, chapter33" would be a good one.

song always makes me cry

I always think of Sammy Davis, Jr. for this song. He was a member of The Rat Pack in the 1950s and 1960s.

The song "Getting By" was Jerry Jeff's theme song. I saw him a few times in the 70s and his music holds complicated memories for me.

Nice remembrance Daniel! Jim Croce surely picked up Jerry's torch. There were so many singer songwriters in late 60's early 70's that I believe was the golden era of that genre. Cheers, Chicago Ray

My all-time favorite cover of this is by Sammy Davis Jr.

December 18th 2018 I saw David Bromberg perform this song at a bar in Ithaca NY. It was an awesome night 🌙.

Classic. I remember when this came out... I was very young. Edit... It just made me think of another song from around that time "Those Were The Days" by Mary Hopkins.. incredible voice.

Daniel... You brought tears to my eyes. I love this song because of the heartbreak of Mr. Bojangles... You reading that comment about folks just asking him to dance after voicing the loss of his dog... Then, what you said made my heart squeeze. I just recently found out that my great-great grandfather was part of the Underground Railroad. At my old age, I can still not believe that we have to deal with and hope for the end of racism in our nation. I wish it wasn't a thing, as well.

Thank you.....

I love this kind of music. I'm 50 now and the roots music is good for middle age and elders. It's good for youngsters too but I was real into Ramones, Clash, Damned, Black Flag, Bad Brains, Kreator, Sepultura etc. Lately I've gotten really into Napalm Death (they come here from England every year). But this roots stuff helps balance me, and I connect with my parents and their generation

OMG, saw him in Austin, TX and Tulsa...1976....Check out David Bloomberg! Also John Prine!

Nice song. RIP. Some other great old country songs I'd suggest for you would be "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" by Willie Nelson, "Sunday Morning Coming Down" by Kris Kristofferson, "Old Five and Dimers like Me" by Waylon Jennings, and "Ode to Billie Joe" by Bobby Gentry. Cheers, Daniel.

This beautiful, sad song is a classic example of a songwriter's ability to embrace the "power of eternal rhymes". He was influenced to construct the song in this style by Dylan Thomas' poetry. Walker said the inspiration for this song came from an encounter with a street performer in a New Orleans jail. While in jail for public intoxication in 1965, he met a homeless man who called himself "Mr. Bojangles" to conceal his true identity from the police. Mr. Bojangles had been arrested as part of a police sweep of indigent people that was carried out following a high-profile murder. The two men and others in the cell chatted about all manner of things, but when Mr. Bojangles told a story about his dog, the mood in the room turned heavy. Someone else in the cell asked for something to lighten the mood, and Mr. Bojangles obliged with a tap dance. The homeless "Mr. Bojangles", who was white, (Louisiana's jails were still segregated) had taken his pseudonym from Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (1878-1949), the best-paid Black entertainer of his era. Jerry Jeff, you influenced my life in a positive way and I am grateful for your existence.

This is more Folkey, but JJW was definately hard core true country!

Young man, you were moved in heart and mind.

L.A. Freeway Jerry Jeff's recording of this song gave Guy Clark a hit and a career!

The Outlaws (JJW, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristopherson, Johnny Cash) were instrumental in getting actual rights & ownership of their own music

another song ive hear thousands of times and you have taught me something

RIP Jerry Jeff Walker

I find it a happy sad. You nailed it again.. you're a very intuitive young man

Dig it. Peace. Love.

Always makes me tear eyed.

Very Interesting!I knew this song,"Mr.Bojangles"by Sammy Davis Jr.His tribute to tap dancer Bill "Bojangles"Robinson. By you disectinng this song I learned so much more about the song,and it's composer Jerry Jeff Walker.R.I.P.If you have time look at the you tube video of Sammy Davis Jr.

10/30/2020 Hello, Jerry Jeff is a very special artist. Outlaw and Western Swing story teller. You should listen to some of his other songs like Desperadoes Waiting for the Train, My Old Man, and the Truck Song and Navajo Blanket. I am very sorry to hear of his passing. Millions dances to his music and to the Austin City Limits Show. Sad song about alcohol abuse and just being human. If this song makes you sad then it does exactly what he wanted it to. He wanted you to feel his work. Just like his Texas Swing style people moved when he sang. I am not positive but Mr. Bo Jangles dances in Shirley Temple movies. I miss him but will replay his work many more nights, hopefully, yet to come. Don

Nilsson did IMO the definitive version of Mr Bojangles. RIP Jerry. Are you ever gonna recognize IAN HUNTER. Still writing, recording and performing at 81. Google him while he’s alive. A legend.

A popular song. But I doubt many people have even heard this original version. I like it.

You weren't expecting that I'm glad you enjoyed..

You might consider doing Alan Jackson's song Remember When. It is about his life with his wife and children in the video. A VERY GOOD and moving song 🎵

Some of my favorite Jerry Jeff Walker songs are: "Gypsy Songman", "Some Go Home" (train song), "Morning Song To Sally" and "I Feel Like Hank Williams Tonight". I think any one of these would be great to react to.

I'm not the biggest fan of country either, but I love me some Alan Jackson and of course Patsy Cline.

Such a sad song. I'm going to have to listen to Al Stewart's Year of the Cat, to balance it out. 🐱

Thank you for doing the original by Jerry Jeff Walker! I saw him in concert at a small venue which was more intimate & rather cool. JJW was so drunk and high he fell off the stool he was sitting on more than once. Nevertheless he actually put on a good show. His version is by far the best.

Thanks Daniel! Another FYI for you not on a somber note... 1964: The Rolling Stones appear on "The Ed Sullivan Show" for the first time.

GREAT SONG. By the guy who wrote it.. about Bill 'bojangles' Robinson. .😎♥️🎼🎶🎶

gods, this one takes me back. i saw jerry jeff at the palomino club in north hollywood in 1970-something, and he was wonderful. my favorite tune of his was the bittersweet but also sort of outlaw country "l.a. freeway."

Check out the recording of Bojangles from Jerry Jeff's live album A Man Must Carry On from 1977. This is recording is more of an outlaw country sound.

RIP Jerry Jeff Walker.

I'd never heard this original version; I've only heard the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band version. Thanks, Daniel.

Great song and reaction. It’s a good simple song to learn on the guitar because of the descending bass line with the F# surprise. This reaction video won’t play in the youtube app on my phone but plays fine if I use safari. 🤷🏻‍♂️ the YT App works for everything else. Jerry Jeff Walker RIP. Very talented songwriter. Circus Maximus was a pretty good band too.

Been following your for several months, Daniel, and I love how you do your best to interpret the lyrics. Rush is amazing, Yes is impossible. It'd be wonderful to see you encounter the Grateful Dead's stuff. Easily the most dense lyrics you'll ever be exposed to. I suggest, from their album AMERICAN BEAUTY, the songs "Brokedown Palace," "Attics of my Life," and the absolute classic "Ripple.: Super chill, "Americana," and not really representative of their sound, but the harmonies are golden, and the lyrics are deeeeeeeeeeep! I hope you'll find time to give them a try, you won't regret it!

"Feels sad." Yeah, just a bit. Sammy Davis Jr. used it as his closing song for every concert he gave, as a reminder to himself of what he didn't want to become. Regarding "outlaw country", there is a 1970s documentary, _Heartworn Highways_ , that focuses on outlaw country artists. Very much worth watching just for the music (and I'm not a country fan, particularly), but especially because it features a fair amount of footage of the great Townes van Zandt, one of the greatest songwriters of all time, and in it you can sort of see why his friends said he was the main reason he never hit big ("It was his own fault; he kept shooting himself in the foot; I mean, his foot was Right There, and he had REAL good aim..." said Steve Earle in one interview). Anyway, it'll give you a better feel for the genre, which isn't especially "punk" in energy, but more in the simplicity and lack of polish of its production. They were "outlaws" from Nashville, basically, the center of the country music industry. In fact, my Obscure Reaction Request is going to be a clip of Townes from an out-take from that movie playing, as he puts it in the clip, a medley of his hit, "Pancho and Lefty". kzfaq.info/get/bejne/sNaihb1j3Ky1dGg.html

Great 👍!

Just subbed to your channel today, I love your personal breakdown of the songs, great stuff! One that I would love to watch you react to is American Triangle by Elton John. It has a very deep personal meaning to me, and I'd love to see your take on it.

My favorite version of this song is David Bromberg's. He tells about the background in the song.

great live version available with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Jerry Jeff Walker.

Never forget when Bill Robinson danced up and down your he stairs with Shirley Temple

There have been so many covers of this song - Dylan, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, etc. - but I think my favorite is the one by John Denver.

Great song. My fav. Version is by Neil Diamond

“Hank Williams pain songs and Jerry Jeff Train songs... Luckenbach Texas.

Several good covers of this song, but the one that stands out for me is David Bromberg. He used to tour with Jerry Jeff. David does a live version where he tells the story. JJW was a notorious party animal in the early part of his career.

If you haven't already, I don't think you have, react to Maggie Bell, A scottish vocalist, what a VOICE, and a great band, lovely sounds. You're going to love it, I dare to say. "Suicide Sal" and "Wishing Well" are fine examples, the "Best of" videos are of great audio quality, thoug they have few views. I Just heard Wishing Well on Radio Finland. There was talk about Maggie being compared to Janis Joplin but the dj. said Maggie has a voice of her own, and she's not a copy of Janis. I Agree.

The author of a song does not always render the definitive version, which in this case is by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

try "London Homesick Blues" (not one written by him, but it is great)

Great song, great artist. Nina Simone does a wonderful version of this song, gives me goosebumps every time!!😌😌

I'm hoping you'll do a reaction to The Four Seasons in memory of founding member and close friend of actor Joe Pesci, Tommy DeVito, who died last month at the age of 92. "Beggin'", "C'mon Marianne" and "Let's Hang On" are a good start. The Four Seasons were a MAJOR influence on some of rock's biggest superstars, especially Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel. Any Springsteen song that has a lyric or song title with the name of a girl in it --- that's the Four Seasons. Billy Joel's monster hit, "Just the Way You Are" is taken from the last line of the Four Seasons' big hit, "Rag Doll"..."I love you just the way you are...". Billy Joel also had a big hit in the early 1980s called "Uptown Girl" which is an homage to The Four Seasons. The song structure, lyrics and harmonies are 100% Four Seasons.

I love the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's version. Check out Bailey's Walk by Pixies. No deep dive song meaning, but it's similar in nature. A guy the song writer, Charles Thompson aka Black Francis, encounters while walking in Puerto Rico.

Cool song ! Realized something was different about it because I only knew the David Bromberg cover if it. After comparing them, have to say - David’s is better I think. He used to play with Jerry Jeff , so no wonder he learned to “own it”.

Sangria Wine

Grew up with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band version (has banjo, etc.) so this is a lot different. I had never heard the writer's original version. It's nice, but I do prefer the Dirt Band's version.

I just now saw a video for your Halloween theme. Listen to Aha! By Pentatonix. It’s fun. Video starts with a group sitting around a campfire.

The song could be notated either as 6/8 or 3/4 time. Likely 6/8 is the more common time signature because of how the drums are arranged. You should check out the awesome cover version by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. They had a Top 10 hit with it.

Please play the Sammy Davis Jr version with him singing and dancing to it. Great song. Peace!

There is one version of this song that soars above all others. That's the Nina Simone version.