I fell in love with this song as a teenager. It always brought a tear to my eye. Watching my Dad decline and my Mom take care of him as Dementia slowly took him away, it became more than a song to me. It was like a message from God. I'm 62 now, and starting to need my wife's help more and more, I'm so lucky to have my own Margaret.

This song is a beautiful testament to lasting love, Steve was a national treasure. Kind of tearing up typing this. Miss his sparkling personality and wit. The man was an amazing presence on stage, hilarious. He didn't just sing he entertained.

Every time I hear this song, I cry. My dad has been gone for nearly thirty years, and I am now four years older than he was when he died. That ache of loss and regret for missed opportunities bubbles up every time. Sweet Steve knew how to write a song. It also hurts when I think how his dad only made it to 58--but Steve only made it to 36. Leukemia cheated us out of so many songs that he would have written if he had been granted more time. I miss him.

I learned this when Steve first recorded it. I played it with my music partner who seemed like The Dutchman when he was young. He has Aspergers. He said he was practicing for when he got old. We're in our '70s, and we still sing together in the dark.

I felt in love with this song when I was 18...now I'm 62 and my Mother passed away 8 years ago of dementia.

This is the saddest , sweetest song I’ve ever heard.

Arlo Guthrie made Goodman's "City of New Orleans" his own and Goodman did the same with Michael Smith's tune (it doesn't help that when Smith finally recorded it, he had a woman sing it). There's a whole tale to be written about the friendship between Goodman, Prine and Jimmy Buffett, all who have had different outcomes: Buffett, mega-star, Prine adored but slightly neglected figure, Goodman tragically dead early of the leukemia he long lived with. If you've never heard the lovely story of how Kris Kristofferson and (I believe) Paul Anka heard Goodman in a club, only to have him drag them over to see Prine, it's a moving story of generosity and friendship. I did live broadcasts from Passim's (in Cambridge) for years. The club owners had a special fondness for Goodman and he played some lovely sets for us. Gone too soon. (This set is much like one he did for us, and on my playlist for "Live At Passim's".)

A love song best understood the longer you’ve been together. I watched my Dad take care of my Mom. Unbelievably selfless and beautiful. I hope I have this inside me.

Nobody could sing the Dutchman like Steve Goodman. He made the song his own. Gone too soon.

The best song and best performer all in one

Steve was sooooo good!

I Love Steve Goodman ♥️

Steve is a legend....hes dead but he aint gone...what an amazing talent....my god talk about someone who died way too soon

As you grow older the song reveals more meaning every year

What an amazing performer, writer, and guitarist.

One of the most beautifuls ever written!

Love this song. Steve was such a good musician, gone too soon.

His guitar playing on this song kills. What a talent he was. I saw John Prine and Steve on the Riverboat PRESIDENT in New Orleans, John did one hour, Steve done one hour. Both came back together and did another 45 minutes. John made the remark ,,,, I only play 4 or 5 chords. STEVE PLAYS THE WHOLE GUITAR. LOL. WHAT A NIGHT THAT WAS.

RIP Steve Goodman

I was fortunate to see him as warmup for Steve Martin. Awesome talent gone too soon.

Still appreciating this wonderful musician!

Mesmerizing. What a talent Steve Goodman was! Wish I’d seen him.

Loved the guy...saw him many times live...always a pleasure...

Michael Peter Smith was a brilliant songwriter. I love this but Spoon River is my favorite.

Lovely song, and Steve sings it with such tenderness. I never met him, and miss him as much as I do some friends who have passed.

I Love Steve Goodman...he is Timeless!!

God I really miss him.

Always loved this song, even though it's incredibly sad. Not sure if I used to hear his version or the original songwriter's on the radio back in the day, but a little while ago my husband was listening to yet someone else's version up in his office and I came in and started singing along and he was surprised that I knew it. So I started looking up who might have sung the version I remember from the 1970s or 80s. And somewhere in the past I had tracked down the lyrics because I found a file on my computer. I have an entire folder of songs I've looked up over the years for one reason or another (but mostly because of them being really great songs, that I either heard on the radio or remembered from when I was [mumble mumble] way way younger.

'And Margaret comes to take him home again'. I choked on my Weetbix. Such a cruel disease.

'And dear Margaret, remembers......' Ugh and Love

He was such a nice person too. I saw him with a date at Michigan State about '77'. Such a talent.

Beautiful voice

Thanks! That was beautiful!

Go Steve Go...

Used to hang out with him at Mcsorely's pub in Chi Town. Great drinker and talker.

I saw Steve in concert at the celebrity theatre in phx in early 70s

*Jackie "Jokemam" Marlowe's favorite song.* 🙂👍🏻

Great 👍

What a light he was...so bright he had to burn out too soon

I'm a grown-ass man, damn near 60yo. This still breaks me.

💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

I believe it's a Peter Smith song, but Steve embodied this masterpiece.

Austin City Limits 1977, I believe.

Got word that Mike Smith passed away today........

?

It was written by Michael Peter Smith in 1968 and popularized by Liam Clancy, Brendan Grace and Steve Goodman. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dutchman