Feel like an old fool, sitting here with a dog in my lap and tears running down my face.

Who's listening in 2024? 👇 Peace and love to all ❤

I cannot imagine a more fitting musical farewell for the last episode of Northern Exposure. It was heartbreakingly beautiful and bittersweet

I will always choose Iris' style over mainstream country every day.

Listening to this in a rural part of Ireland and it resonates with the small villages in ireland,great song by two American beauties greetings from Ireland.

She has the perfect sad voice for this song

来自中国的留言:我今年32岁了，我19岁上大学时每次往返两座城市之间都会坐火车，我会习惯性在火车上面听这首歌，沿路的大自然风景，那时在家乡有我心爱的女孩，所以这首歌赐予我的意义是很牵挂点

I feel like such a winner tonight, hearing this song for the first time in my 68 years. I gotta a lot of catching up to do - and looking forward to it.

whenever I hear this song it makes me weep. My mother loved this song so much. I bought it for her when it first came out. She played it over and over again. She has been gone now for 6 years. I can close my eyes and see her little self busying around her kitchen listening to this. God bless you my mommy. I love you and miss you. And I remember 'Our Town'

Discovering a beautiful singer as Iris Dement in my 70's is a real treat. Thanks to John Prine!

If EmmyLou Harris bringing nothing but coffee and donuts to a recording to simply make a song better she would. She cares about her craft not her ego. Incredible collaboration of talent.

'I buried my Momma and I buried my Pa, they sleep up the street beside that pretty brick wall...' gets me every time. Beautiful.

Celtic Connections…..fiddle maestro Aly Bain, Emmy-Lou, and that gorgeous Iris deMent voice…it’s win, win .🥰

I first heard Iris and "Our Town" late at night, by myself, on car radio on a return trip, after passing through a number of shuttered up little towns in Mississippi and Alabama. Had no idea who she was but that voice and song gave immediate meaning to all those closed stores and old homes no longer lived in. Found out who belonged to that incomparable voice and the feeling it evokes and have been an Iris DeMent fan since.

I can't believe this has slipped under my radar for 45 years. This is the most beautiful musical performance I've ever heard.

Iris de ment, emmylou Harris, lovely fiddle, and everyone else involved here, and such a beautiful song.. what more could a person ask for. Just wonderful. Larry.

Emmylou is so comfortable singing backup, that's one of the things that makes her so great - not needing to be front-and-center all the time. The best put the music ahead of ego. (And yes, Douglas and Bain are doing the same.)

Reminds me of every U.S. Air Force base I grew up on that has since been demolished and plowed over never to exist again. All my hometowns are gone. I can only revisit the place as a dirt patch or what modern buildings are there now but can never revisit the time.

She has the “True” country voice that not many have. What a real talent, love her and this song

I watched True Grit tonight and looked at the credits to see who sang Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. I had NEVER heard of Iris DeMent. I feel like an ostrich with its head buried. What an amazing, God-given talent. I am glad I stayed up late listening to several songs by her. Beautiful music, beautiful lyrics, and a BEAUTIFUL voice. Thank you, Iris for sharing your beauty with the world, and I’m sorry it took me so long to discover you.

This song both hurts my heart and heals it. I don't think I have ever listened to it without crying.

Iris Dement has the most beautiful voice I have ever heard, I don't generally like country music but her voice is just so pure and angelic that it just makes me want to cry whenever I hear it

Listening to this from rural France and saying it never seems old even after "n" times.

Two beautiful woman with such beautiful voices. Extraordinary!

I just lost the home dad built in what was a small rural town. Every word in this song rings true.

This was the closing song that said goodbye to the fictional town of Cicely, Alaska (actually Roslyn, Washington) in the beautiful 1990s TV series, Northern Exposure. Everytime I hear it, it brings tears. I even bought the DVD set so I could go back to Cicely.....

Revisiting in honor of John Prine. I can always come back to this home.

Thank you Iris, you and John Prine are soothing me during horrible times. xx

I can't get one minute into this song without crying. Hauntingly beutiful.

As a musician I am humbled by the perfection of this song.

Iris a talent to behold. Surely the voice of an Angel. Everything she does is awesome.

Every time I hear Iris Dement, she sets off the tuning fork in my soul. You just can't listen to Iris, you have to watch......the intensity in her eyes! .....A religious experience!

What a beautiful song, and the gentle, restrained, close harmony by Emmy Lou Harris compliments it so perfectly.

Iris and Emmylou are timelessly lovely

Every once in a while you discover something wonderful on youtube. Iris Dement and Emmylou Harris; thank you youtube.

Good to see dear old Aly Bain. What a difference that boy makes to a wonderful song.

Played this video and sang it to my Momma before she was taken off life support :( 8-5-18 love you Momma

Oh Grandad, I am so sorry my generation and my kids said Good bye to our home town. Its gone now and the sun has set far fast. The time is gone to little home towns and simple farm memorys. Im the old guy here, its not the same now nor willit be ever again. Just respect every one you meet friends.

First comment I ever made on youtube...this is a life-changing song and performer!

Sure do love Iris's songs. Such great lyrics with her unique vocal style.

I've never really been a big fan of country music but this is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve had privilege to hear.

First off, I'm a fan of Iris DeMent. Second of all just yesterday I found it my xfife is I'll with cancer. She must get to a senior living facility close to her family, which means she has to mow from her lifetime home where she has been for 75 years. Yes, she is reluctant, but this will be the song that I hope she thinks of and the last day she moves out of town.

I had never heard of Iris Dement before until I started looking for something by Emmylou Harris. All I can say is that this is fabulous - what a fabulous song and what a voice

Another beautiful country voice, aided and abetted by one of Scotland's finest Ally Bain

When I first heard this song on the car radio it caused me to nearly have an accident. I had to pull over to finish listening to it. I'd never heard anything like it, and still haven't. Iris is an American national treasure. So honest, so eclectic in her musical tastes and a voice that causes you to have "tears in my eyes". It makes me proud to be of the human genus when I hear this. My mob is (very occasionally) capable of this.

When you know you have to leave your home...it makes me cry.

One of those 'perfect' songs, in my humble opinion..

5 minutes of unqualified beauty and I enjoyed every second of it. I'll be returning to this one a lot.

This song makes my cry every time I hear it, I lost my baby sister 1 year ago today and this was one of her favorite songs. In her happier days before she got sick she lived in a small town called Paldi, on Vancouver Island, Canada. Paldi was her town , everyone came to Paldi to see her, she was the queen of Paldi. Sadly they bulldozed Paldi for bigger things, which never happened and my sister had to leave her town, it always made her very sad to know she had to leave her town, sing it Lorrie

That's because Iris Dement is the greatest folk/country singer of our time and one of the very best of all time. On top of that, the incomparable Emmy Lou and the incredible musicianship of the band. This is a truly awesome video.

This song was used in the closing sequence of the last episode of Northern Exposure. A beautiful song.

I love the sweet voice of Iris DeMent!

Love watching a collection of great artists treat Iris Dement's song with reverence

I did not know of Iris before a few days ago, when John Prine passed away. I went to listen to some of his songs, and of course "In Spite of Ourselves" came right up. I listened to that one, and now I am hooked. I really like the folk sound of their music. I look forward to listening to many more of both artists.

I was teary eyed when this song was played in the last scene of Northern Exposure. The perfect song for the ending of the show!

Just love watching you girls sing, what a comfort, great voice Iris Dement, I would marry you just for your voice in my life!

I left my Town in Ireland 72 years ago - this brings so many memories sadness I

I’ve loved this song since I first heard it. What a joy to see Iris perform it live with backing by EmmyLou and Jerry Douglass.

I simly adore this video, it is on my "favourite" list of all time.

What a brave, beautiful voice.

What a tear-jerker ! Life is a jungle, there's winners , survivors, and victims, all striving to succeed and stay alive, but nobody and nothing get's through un-scarred..

Yesterdays coming back. Hard times but also great times. Growing up in a small town was me. I miss those days. Young & no cares. Life was good in our town. I lived by the railroad tracks. Walked to school each day until I finished the 12 th grade. Was 1954 It was the best of times. Then did 30 years in the USAF.. Retired & 83.. I still like Pizza.

This song does absolutely everything it sets out to do with stunning success.

First time I heard this was at the end of Northern Exposure and it has been a favorite ever since.

heard DeMent today 10/12/13 for the first time on public radio---blew me away. amazed I've not heard her before. must have had my head in the sand! many thanks to "A Prairie Home Companion" for having DeMent on their show this weekend. I love emmylou harris too.

Here I am, back again. This is certainly tear worthy and rejuvenates the spirit. Won't be long Momma, I'm on my way.

I grew up in a small town. I feel this very deeply...

such beauty and emmy lou backing

This song should bring tears to the eyes of anyone who grew up in a small town in the three decades after WWII.

A few songs bring tear to my eyes. This is one.

True Grit introduced me to this lovely lady, Iris Dement. Her voice is so unique and it's the cool drink of water that we all need.

She brings me to tears

very emotionall song by iris a true legend in country folk music

Just heard this on the "Beau" episode of The Big Door Prize... Made me cry.. Beautiful song.

It feels like your heart was just ripped out, I miss the famly farm more then I thought I would. Bless you my friend, My heart is with you.

This song makes me cry uncrontrollably every time, no other song affects me this much.

What memories of northern exposure. magnificent song to end a magnificent series.

She has a good style and expresses her feelings as she sings.

I first heard this song on the final episode of Northern Exposure. Three years later, my parents sold our family home. I sat in the backyard and played this song over and over. It was the perfect farewell to the decades we spent in that house.

Such a great song. Thank you Iris

Iris is a national treasure. From my Texas roots to my life in the fast lane in California this song pulls at my heart strings more than any song I've listened to. It was fitting that it was the last song played on the epic TV show 'Northern Exposure'.

I love this song close your eyes and drift with the music

It touches your soul. Saw Emmylou Harris a couple of weeks ago in Frankfurt/Germany. She is truly an icon. Recognized Iris Dement the first time in the closing Credits of Coen-Brothers "True Grit" with "Leaning on theeverlasting arms". What a beautiful simple voice she has.

Iris and Emmylou are beautiful, inside and out! We are privileged to be able to hear and see them together!

Loved this song since I first heard it on Northern Exposure Chris in the morning on KBear

In a Bar Bradford, Shipley (West Yorkshire)…I lost all in the 90s, my late Mother gave me a cassette by Miss Dement…my Mother, Miss Dement got me through those bad times…remarried my wife R.I.P…reconnected with my children, basically I pulled back from the brink I did! Am I happy yes, biggest price paid was losing the only person I truly loved! Rest-in Peace EMO…I feel the years lost, yes, but our last years (11) were as good as when first married! Never find anyone better than my lovely class English Lady…I I’ve my memories, isn’t that all we have 5:01 …PS I’ve had 4 beers, which is a gargle to an Irishman! Home soon! Bless all! 🇮🇪

I know you can take lessons to learn how to sing but a voice like this can't be learned, you have to be born with it. So beautiful it takes my breath away!

I love Iris DeMent's singing style with its honesty and genuine simplicity. This performance and "Let the Mystery Be" are particularly captivating, performed in a home setting with such wonderful instrumental accompaniment. Sometimes the simple, down-to-earth things are the most beautiful.

So proud they had to come to Scotland to make this sound! And what a beautiful girl?

Just how perfect can a musical performance be? When you put Iris Dement, Emmylou's gut-wrenchingly beautiful harmonies and Aly's superb backing together and add a brilliantly written song like this, you're bound to get perfection, and that's exactly what you get. Stunning, just stunning.

I first heard this song at the end of the final episode of Northern Exposure back in 1995. By the time of that final episode the show had run out of steam having lost some of its major characters. But this song just rocked my world. It took some research to find out about the song and its writer, Iris Dement. I sincerely echo all of the superlatives added below in the comments about this masterpiece of song writing. She has so many other great songs too. Listen to "Let The Mystery Be."

She attracts the most amazing musicians - that is something special.

Ditto to others comments. I am not a fan of country music but I love this one. I cry every time. Loss is a grief that never heals. It becomes an old wound felt time and again as the world passes by.

My dad told me to listen to this and I'm glad I did. Her voice, the music, the back vocals, everything together makes such an authentic sound. I'm absolutely a fan now, will explore this woman's music now. 🎶 🥰

Thornton Wilder would have loved the sentiment of this song had he ever heard it. Every small town American can feel the lines in the song...and worry when it's all gone. Our town built this country, NOT Wall Street. Iris DeMent and Emmylou...what a beautiful brew.

The songifacation of bittersweet in the most perfect, beautiful way.

A blacked-up Morris dancer sang this in a singaround at a festival recently and it was the first time I'd heard it. His voice was rough but it "struck a chord" with me. I told him I'd enjoyed his song, as we were leaving and I am so glad I remembered it and found it on youtube

This is proper working class American folk music, Iris at her meloncholy best.

I left "my town" over 50 years and have not been back much. These lines from Iris Dement bring my youth back and bring a tear to my eye every time I hear it when I think back to those day, to "out town" where my parent lay by a petty hedge.

Had the pleasure of seeing Iris Dement at Glastonbury in the acoustic tent 1994. Beautiful song