"There's a live version from some country reunion show. Johnny is seated and his girth forces him to hold the guitar in an unusual fashion, beneath his knees. He doesn't make eye contact with any of the people around him, instead staring off into the middle distance as he sings with a voice as burnished as the wood in...well, an old violin. No other country singer--Hank, Lefty, Kitty--no one could come close to this performance." - Bob Dylan.

My dad was paychecks bass player for 8 years from the late eighties into the nineties. He came camping in Lake Erie with me and my dad and a couple friends of theirs and I watched him play and sing half the night while they were all drunk and I’ll tell y’all it’s remarkable to have been lucky enough to witness such greatness without a sound engineer or anything diluting the purest feeling possible at the moment! 15 beers deep, dentures out, and still just flawless!

This performance is referenced in Bob Dylan's new book in wonderfully evocative terms.

He should be in the Hall of Fame. He deserves it..

Country legends in 1 room, listening to a man sing his own funeral song... I miss outlaw country...

Paycheck deserves the hall of Fame the end!!!!

The fact that this is the song he's singing in a room full of these legends makes it all the more poignant every time

It was Mike Judge's Tales from the Tour that led me to Johnny Paycheck 🙌😅. A man of the ppl ✊. This is a gorgeous tune. God has surely smiled 🎻😊.

Very possibly the greatest country song ever..

Nothing like Stage IV cancer and being 70 to make this song hit home. You were a great, but flawed one Johnny. We can all learn from you.

Ain't no Country Music, like the old Country Music. The reason we pay to listen to SIRUS FM, and Willie.

I’ve heard this song hundreds of times but every time the line “I feel like I could just lay down, and get up no more it’s the damndest feelings I’ve never had it before” always sits with me and makes me appreciate my youth A young man would give his health for wealth An Old man Would trade all his wealth for his health

And just like that, it hit me, That old violin and I were just alike. We'd give our all to music, And soon, we'd give our life. Johnny passed away over two decades ago, but his music lives on

This man is a legend and has real feeling in all his music. No thumbs down are recognized

I've been listening to this song all day - that's the effect it has...

Bob Dylan references this performance in his book Philosophy of modern song. "There's a live version from some country reunion show. Johnny is seated and his girth forces him to hold the guitar in an unusual fashion, beneath his knees. He doesn't make eye contact with any of the people around him, instead staring off into the middle distance as he sings with a voice as burnished as the wood in... well, an old violin. No other country singer-Hank, Lefty, Kitty-no one could come close to this performance. He dips down to a low baritone and then goes up into that high tenor that somehow all the years of abuse didn't damage. He insinuates, leans in close to the microphone for a moment of heartfelt recitation, and at one point stops strumming so he can point to the heavens like Babe Ruth signaling Johnny Sylvester's home run, before he hits a high note as pure and as clean as a mountain stream. People say that Sinatra was a thug who transformed into a poet when he sang. Frank sang mostly of love and loss. The stakes are higher in this song- it's about life and death.

That room is packed with true country! This new pop country today aint anywhere near as good as all these amazing singers

Oh God, if only country music could be like this again, but not in our lifetime unfortunately. Johnny RIP

Man, Johnny Paycheck rocking those laceless grandpa loafers like a boss! 1:52

What's sad i forgot all these Legends how do I miss these people this was real country

Straight from the heart, all emotion. Never be another Paycheck...

I choke up every damn time I hear this. Thank you, Mr. Paycheck.

It would of been so powerful to be sitting around that group during this.

Johnny, like Townes and many, many others had his demons, but no one can ever take away from his ability ❤

There's more talent in that room than all of the so called country singers of today!!

Music like this is dead and gone, I'm glad I grew up working to, dancing to, and grieving to music like this. These new "country artists" are an atrocity to this beautiful legacy

I don’t know why but this always puts tears in my eyes

Damn I love Johnny paycheck...

Love the way Jean Shepard reacts to this beautiful song. She clearly loves the song and the wonderful performance by Johnny Paycheck. Love it too.

I love to see the heart he puts into it, it brings a tear to my eye everytime I see this video

When I watch this video, It makes me feel like a group meeting of living legends coming to the end of their amazing careers and sharing their feelings as if it were an AA meeting, There will never be another generation of country legends like those people.

Is there a better song ever than Old Violin? I don't think so. What a brilliant emotional song, they just don't write songs like this anymore. I first heard it ten years ago, three months before my ailing brother's death and I have to say it hit me like a ton of bricks, it hit every chord in my body and it still has the same affect every time I hear it. It is just a brilliant song and beautifully sung by one of the greats of country music. I couldn't agree more with you J J Kanuck, how JP is not in the hall of fame, he is an absolute legend. Johnny Cash is my favourite of all time but JP is right up there with him. JP you are sadly missed, you may not be here with us now but your music always will be. This is the great part of music video, you can actually see these great artists forever, instead of playing a song on CD and putting a mental picture of the artist in your mind as it is playing. Please, all you music lovers out there, let me know how you feel about Old Violin, I can't see how anyone could dislike it as if they do, they can't have blood running through their veins

I feel like the old Violin typing this at 6AM 20 beers deep

I can't help but to tear up every time I hear this song

FANTASTIC! Like watching a man realize he has done something very great in his life.

Thanks mike judge

Love his smile when the violin begins to play! He knows they know his song!!

Philosophy of modern song brought me here

It is a shame that they are never going to allow him into the Country Music Hall of Fame

This is real country music, miss so many of the past country singers.

Look at that smile on his face when he finishes.... He knew that song was unbelievable... Rest in peace brother rest in peace

i have absolutely no words..i've listened to this over and over

I can relate to this song. I had a very satisfying local career, never went big time but lots of success here at home. There comes a time when it's time to fade away. Thanks to friends still in the business I sit in from time to time, but that old violin is staring me in the face. Johnny sings this song with such feeling and passion. He's singing it for all of us who love our music and gave it all we had during our time. I would do it again. I admit I tear up every time I hear it. Great job Johnny. You are missed.

Best version, no chorus, and especially no stupid bells!!!! I love it.

I can't believe there have been 27 thumbs down to this brilliant song and sung with such emotion and I think it is one of the best country songs of all time. They can't have blood running through their veins not to get chills with the way Johnny sings it. Johnny and Merle sing a great version too. R.I.P both of you, are and always will be absolute legends of country music and how can we thank them for the great music they left us

can't listen to this without a tear in my eye.

What an incredible song! That is country music folks!

This reminds me of my dad. He literally looks like him and my dad would sing too. He was told he had 6mo max to live. I had to see him and talk to him knowing it was the last time I'd see him. When i play this i cry every time! I love you dad, I'll see you soon.

Johnny Paycheck is real country...outlaw style with a caring heart. This song should be up there with the all time classics....so good George Strait covered it on his new album.......that's respect!

I love the way all the people are paying complete attention to his performance as if hearing it for the first time - which they may very well be.

ive watched this like 10 times,,, just now noticed, not one person took their eyes off of him!

Paycheck was awesome.... I'm from Brazil and love the musics of him....

One of the best country songs ever and this version knocks the roof off. Like many others here I listen to this song over and over and still can't get enough. This new generation of so called "country acts" sure could learn a thing or two if they would just listen to the great songs that came along way before they did. I also listen to the version on "You Tube" that Johnny and Merle did on the Crook and Chase show and what a performance that was.

Bob Dylan's Philosophy of Modern Song (and my heart) brought me here!

What can I say! My favorite song and singer of all! This song describes me to a T! Love it! Please keep playing it! Touches my heart and should touch yours also! 🙏🙏♥️🥰

Wow! Heart and soul. This country eases my anxiety and fears. Never alone when you can listen to an artist like this.

That has always been my favorite song

that is a room full of talent , miss the old country stars ,JP should have been in HoF on day one!

I've loved this song all of my life. I'm listening to it right now on oct-3-2021 at 10pm at night and this song explains exactly the way I feel.

Pure country music with true meaning

One of the GREAT OLD SCOOL OUTLAWS!!!

RIP in peace Johnny Paycheck you paid your dues ,!!!!!

He sure was a hell raiser in his day.rest in peace Johnny. 🎻

This voice is true country ,never heard a song he sings I didn't love ,gone to soon miss you Johnny

One of the all time greats, we will miss you RIP, and damn right he belongs in the Hall of Fame

What a voice

Wow! That song really gives me the chills everytime I hear it!

Nothing but a legend. Johnny sir, I miss you.

One of the real legends of country music.

This song is so true to life 2023

The room is packed full of country stars but he has them in awe with one of the best songs ever wrote that song touch My heart when they thought I was dying with double pneumonia because I'm so thankful for this song and I play it now as a reminder of how bad things got at one time and how good God is.

I know this feeling quite often.

as my dad walked out.... last time to see him alive... THIS SONG PLAYED... stuck in time over and over, just to hold him one more time...

That one question we all ask ourselve one day. Mr. Paycheck asked it well.

Brings a tear to my eyes

My first listen to this song & it's absolutely incredible This is well written & delivered with real soul

Raw Paycheck. Beat it.

It’s brilliant and so sad at the same time, the man wrote his own funeral song

Johnny paycheck. Nobody sang with the heart soul and emotion that he did. Nobody ever will either

The way all the stars look at him let's you know just how important this man is to country music. Best of all time in my eyes.

This was such an awesome performance in front of his peers

great song and what a voice

Little Jimmy called it right... Johnny just got better with time/age. It's so cliche to say, however, in Paycheck's case it couldn't be any truer. The greatest country songs ever written & sung = He Stopped Loving Her Today & Old Violin.

What a truely beautiful song.

Lord, don't let my well run dry, give me the strength to plow another round." John, where do you go from here?

Just an amazing song and a great songwriter.

Sometimes a song is written, this is that song, RIP Sir

This brings tears to my eyes ❤

Real country..felt like that before..

NOT ENOUGH WORDS CAN BE SAID ABOUT THIS SONG. ONE OF THE BEST SONGS OF ALL TIME.

This performance is stone Cold..

great voice great song

Johnny Lytle & my uncle ran around together while growing up in Hillsboro & Greenfield.. I remember when he came to Hillsboro & shot a man down from the old walk in theater.. Rest In Peace Johnny & Uncle Jimmy..

Hits me right in the soul

God damn I love this song

the words the music the singing you can't get too much better than this check out the studio version

Still gorgeous voice

Boy if you can't feel that you ain't living..🖤

One of the greatest live performances ever! Crazy to think how old he was when he did this.

What a tremendous talent he was!!