I will flatly state that Harry had the finest voice of all. More importantly, he knew how to USE it!

it's a shame this video doesn't have more views. this man was a terrific singer/songwriter. He chose to remain in a state of obscurity throughout his career and it's unfortunate because he really could have been absolutely HUGE. RIP Harry, I wrote a song for you today

Recently introduced to Nilsson's music within the last 2 years - He is now one of my favorites. I understand why The Beatles took such a liking to him. He was one of the great ones of all time.

Nilsson was one of the least appreciated artists of is generation. The only reason I know about him is that my dad was a big fan of his, I grew up watching the Point. I wish kids my age would listen to him, but they're to busy listening to crappy pop music the major record labels put out and don't want the masses to listen to other music

So much richer than the album version beautiful song

He didn't do any touring so there is not many videos of his live performances. Thank God he did this live special on an empty studio. This rendition is so much better than the record version. So much emotion.

The best singer songwriter and a great piano playing Humble man of the last 1000 years!!! No comparison to any other singer, Nillson was the most unique and original artist Ever!!! Love You Harry as do my parrot's

A musical giant in all aspects

Love Harry... My request to God when my time come; to be able to meet him an thank him for all the joy i have experienced in my life listening to all his compositions..

Brilliant, moving version of this great song by Nilsson.

A first class blues tune, if there ever was one!

Tears . beautiful tune and... that last part..repeating the fathers father...on and on it goes.

I love this live version of an absolutely beautiful song. This video is now on the list of songs I would like to be playing during whatever funeral service people will hold for me. I am trying to introduce Harry to my extended circle of people, especially those who are two or more generations behind me. His gorgeous voice, his skill at writing songs, and the artistry he had meant his songs were telling stories of people and their love, while also writing of simple ordinary things. A favorite example of his talent is his song about his desk. An everyday object like the desk is seen as being worthy of love and being shared with others. I am starting to feel like a fanboy talking now, but in this case I don't much care. Hope you're days are going well, peace 💚

Incredible. Gives me goosebumps every time.

he was really good, discovered him the other day on a netflix documentary, glad to see im still finding great music with the current list of nothing playing on the radio, and i mean just about all of it sadly

Not hard to see why Harry and John had so much in common....love this song...xo

Much better than the over prouduced album cut

i love him and im only 16.the story's he tells are amazing. it is sad that no one in my generation knows who he is

Nilsson was an amazing singer composer...great!!

Chills .... Every time, CHILLS!!

I always knew Jump into the fire, coconut, everybody's talking, but this is phenomenal!!

Fabulously tragic song. An incredible talent, as a composer and performer.

It is interesting that he sings this entire song with his eyes closed, except for in the line "And the open road". He opens his eyes during the word "open". Probably an unconscious reflex but still a neat thing.

Angelic voice

Long not listened to.And not rightly so! One of the very,very best.

Meritevole di menzione anche la versione italiana incisa magistralmente da Patty Pravo nel 1970.

Who isn't self indulgent Einstein? Anytime I saw Harry on stage he was content and sober. He was a modest and meek person who didn't sell out to the record companies. He was perhaps one of our greatest musicians of all time. He was Harry Nilsson.

what a version

this is...genius

RIP Harry,,,,,,thanks for the post

think ill have a go at covering this song...one of my fave songwriters

I believe Lennon was influenced by Nilsson. He was the best! No matter what the truth remains and can not be changed.

Brilliant writing (of course everything he wrote and sang in this song was true)

The entire song is 7th chords. E7, A7, D7, B7 and Throwing in a C7 for the last line of each verse.

Harry was such a rare bird.........god bless

My love, we spent time together 20 years ago..

voice is so angelic

what a voice and so underrated or not even know

Well, in 1941 a happy father had a son And by 1944, the father walks right out the door And in '45 the mom and son were still alive But who could tell in '46 if the two were to survive Well, the years were passing quickly but not fast enough for him So he closed his eyes till '55 then he opened them up again When he looked around he saw a clown, and the clown seemed very gay And he said, I'd like to join that circus clown and run away Well, he followed every railroad track and every highway sign And he had a girl in each new town and the towns he left behind And the open road was the only road he knew But the color of his dreams was slowly turning into blue Then he met a girl, the kind of girl he wanted all his life She was soft and kind and good to him so he took her for his wife And they got a house not far from town, and in a little while The girl had seen the doctor, and she came home with a smile Now in 1961 a happy father had a son And by 1964 the father walks right out the door And in '65 the mom and son were still around But what will happen to the boy when the circus comes to town?

To think RS magazine didn’t include him in their “top 200 singers of all time” list is blasphemous to say the very least.

Pretty deep

Well in 1941 a happy father had a son And by 1944 the father walked right out the door And in '45 the mom and son were still alive But who could tell in '46 if the two were to survive? Well the years were passing quickly But not fast enough for him So he closed his eyes 'til '55 And he opened them up again When he looked around he saw a clown And the clown seemed very gay And he said I'd like To join that circus clown and run away Well he followed every railroad track And every highway sign And he had a girl in each new town And the towns he left behind And the open road Was the only road he knew But the color of his dreams Slowly turning into blue The he met a girl, the kind of girl He wanted all his life She was soft and kind and good to him So he took her for a wife And they got a house not far from town And in a little while The girl had seen the doctor And she came home with a smile Now in 1961 a happy father had a son And by 1964 the father walked right out the door And in '65 the mom and son were still around But what will happen to the boy When the circus comes to town

😢😥😰😭

Poetry.

And it's already 2016 and nobody know me...(read with song rhythm)

jason chastain cries when he hears this song

This is a better version

Those lyrics were painful to listen to as so many in the story suffered.

Well put. Good for you. Seriously.

It's the American That'll be the Day.

I'd love to add this to my playlist, if it wasn't for the last 4 seconds...

when did you see him on stage? seems he never played live or i misunderstood the documentary i watched which is entirely possible

0:48 "And the clown looked very gay..." In the mid sixties the general meaning of the word "gay" was cheerful, fun, excited, bright, attractive...

he never did play live. MrPow is either lying or referring to some of the few and far between footage of harry live in the 80s. or this performance

Similiar to Girl from the Beatles.

However?? Cool as this?..seldom heard. Cool as in PERFECT!

kasual: 4 my ppl

you should know

Mr.pow I think you may have misinterpreted my comment. Stop searching

Did anyone ever cover 1941?

LATE AGAIN

not really. much more personal

The Ed Sheran of his day!