Yeah, exactly. It's about the saddest song in the world, but the fact that it's being sung by a lanky banjo-playing nutcase in a derby and wingtips who clearly managed to avoid going to work in tall buildings quite successfully kind of cheers me up.

Thanks for sharing, I'm so lucky to love this beautiful person,😅 we all are

John Hartford was one of the most underrated musicians of my lifetime. He was simply wonderful.

John Hartford was the Samuel Clemens-Mark Twain of my Generation, since I was born in '51 and still pickin' guitar. I knew John when he and Norman Blake used to play as a Duo and sometimes full ensemble for about 3 or 4 years in a row at the Philadelphia Folk Festival in the early 70's. He had just released his 1971 "Aereo-Plain" album, with this line-up of greats: •John Hartford-banjo, guitar, violin, vocals •Norman Blake-guitar, mandolin, vocals •Vassar Clements- violin, cello, viola, vocals •Tut Taylor-Dobro, vocals •Randy Scruggs- electric bass, vocals. No one like John. He was a quiet, humble humorist, musician extraordinaire, and a Genuuu-wine Certified Riverboat Captain on the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. Keep on Doin' The Boogie Way Up On The Hill Where They Do, Do The Boogie, John! Love you, Cap'n!

I had the privilege of playing music for about 45 minutes with the master John Hartford in the summer of 98 when I was working at Gruhn Guitars. I won’t ever forget it and I’m thankful to God for that opportunity. He was gracious, kind, and always listening to others. A wonderful lesson for any musician.

i first heard this song at age 4 on a dirt road in southern missouri, 12 miles from the nearest town of 600 wonderful people. by age 6 i knew what it meant and i promised myself then that it wouldn’t be me. here i am, 21 years old, sitting in my car, listening to the same song, staring at the 5 story warehouse i have to spend the foreseeable rest of my days breaking my joints in. this planet is a fucking cruel and ironic place.

Great song, really hits home for me. I quit my job last year when I turned 30 to travel the land of my father in Colombia. Best thing I’ve ever done

He was a banjo and fiddle player who was a better guitar player than I will ever be.

I grew up in Montana, on a ranch. I now work in an hospital in New York City. This song is so my life, I want to go back. I miss my sky and mountains.

Glad I'm not the only one who found this touching. Teared up with a bit of regret and sadness as I sit here in my cubicle.

John Hartford was a true American Treasure.

My father was good friends with John. When I was very young (10ish?) John was playing a show in Chicago and parked his tour bus in Evanston. My dad and I walked down to hang out with him and he played a VHS tape that contained the original version of the farting preacher. It is my earliest memory of laughing uncontrollably to the point I was in pain. A few years later when John passed away I knew that memory would linger with me my entire life and now 25 years later it is one of my fondest memories of comedy. I had no idea how many people John touched with his music until much later but I always remembered him as the farting preacher guy and it still makes me smile today.

Lordy-- I heard this song in mid-70's in college. Stayed OUT of cities from then on! Have heard this song changed many lives by we who decided to NOT 'work in Tall Buildings.' Thank you, John!

My all-time favorite musician. Saw him at least seven times. In Tall Buildings and the Talking Heads’ Don’t Worry About the Government got me to change my career to conservation. ♥️

Considering that the guitar was John's third musical language, the exquisiteness of this musical construction is kind of mind-boggling. It's also a songwriting accomplishment that would stand as his legacy if he hadn't already written that one that Glen Campbell made a career out of. This creation contains as much of his soul as anything he left for us.

This is more painful than beautiful now.

This song never gets less beautiful or painful.

We lost him way too soon! RIP Johnny Hartford

I have to say, this is one of my favorite songs in existence. It's so so beautiful! I think this, of all things, will be the song played at my funeral. May it never come.

there will never be another Hartford

we miss you, John.

Fantastic!! Takes someone very special to pull this kind of uncomplicated music off, one voice and one instrument, pure!!!

Got to see him a couple times in Cincinnati in the late 70's. I first heard this song when I was twenty and heard a song about conformity. Now i'm a couple years away from retirement and the verse about time passing and years spent in "tall buildings" or where ever you spent your working life really has meaning now. John wrote some fine lyrics as well as great music. Miss you John

It doesn't get much better than this. Deceptively simple.

@thesanantoniokid Exactly my sentiment, one of America's most under-rated but greatest performers,characters,cloggers,songwriters,singers , traditional musicians, and altogether a great tribute to the very best of America,gone but never forgotten,RIP!!! John,I am listening to one of your CDs again today with much pleasure due to your quirky folksy and wholesome perspectives on life

One of my musical heroes. The album this is from is magical.

My wife and I were taking a ride on the Julia Belle Swain in Peoria back in the 70's and he comes aboard to help captain the ship. I later saw him do a concert. I still do his "Don't leave your records in the sun" at gatherings, but most people don't know what a record is unless they are old like me. By the way this song and "Guess He'd Rather Be in Colorado" by John Denver both make me smile.

Rip pops. Thank u for showing me legends such as JH

Saw him in a small theater in Atlanta.. early 70's maybe.. he came out on the stage, but the crowd (800 maybe) thought he was the roadie I guess.. setup his own equipment.. finally they realized it was him.. it was funny.. it was a great show, he was a real talent, no pretense.. just good music.

When did he Record this? John was a sweet guy. I remember walking into a jam session, feel in pretty out of place at the time...a fellow long hair, and I looked over and there was John. John looked at me, smiled...winked, and everything was fine after that. Such a wonderful Human Being.

Thanks for the lesson.....Finally I can see your magic, and your wonderful presence, up close and personal. Love.

A beautiful Guild guitar........

Miss you, John.

my freinds n i did a waltz in the mountains live with mr John

Last song my best friend played for me before he left town and overdosed. Much love Patch. Not fade away

Wonderful talent taken away far too soon. R.I.P. John

Some day, my baby When I am a man When others have taught me the the best they can They'll sell me a suit and they'll cut my hair and send me to work in tall buildings So, it's goodbye to the sunshine Goodbye to the dew Goodbye to the flowers And goodbye to you I'm off to the subway I must not be late I'm going to work in tall buildings When I retire My life is my own I've made all my payments It's time to go home And wonder what happened betwixt and between When I went to work in tall buildings So, it's goodbye to the sunshine Goodbye to the dew Goodbye to the flowers And goodbye to you I'm off to the subway I must not be late I'm going to work in tall buildings So, it's goodbye to the sunshine Goodbye to the dew Goodbye to the flowers And goodbye to you I'm off to the subway I must not be late I'm going to work in tall buildings So, it's goodbye to the sunshine Goodbye to the dew Goodbye to the flowers And goodbye to you I'm off to the subway I must not be late I'm going to work in tall buildings

Amazing. Can't help but feel the irony that he's wearing a suit. But it's not in a tall building... ;)

I can personally relate to this song. Thanks, John.

oh n yes fullmoon concert over the white mountains

Tears in my eyes!

it is a very sad song indeed, but the emotion rings so true. Growing up isn't fun :( if you listen to the lyrics to 'railroad street', it too carries a great message w/in the lyrics.

Sic transit Gloria mundi, Mr. Hartford

That's how it's done.

Going to the memorial concert in Springville in Indiana soon 2022!!

saw him open after the gospel hour and had my elbows on the stage nad before that a lunar eclipse in virginia

Hats off

So beautiful!!

What a beautiful song. Thanks for putting this up.

Many of us had that same thought.

This is great!

just too good

Fair point, Kid.

very nice

@DelbyC you need to come to the Philadelphia Folk Festival in August, there is some John Hartford on youtube from when he played the festival in the 70's. Its the 50th anniversary this year and you won't be dissapointed there is a great amount of this kind of music!

@DelbyC and it just so happens the John Hartford String Band is performing this year, that is the last band John performed with before he passed.

I have always thought it a song about conformity .... and how fast life passes by while we are working " In Tall Buildings" ..... how true.

It is meloncholic, but i think it's too beautiful to be depressing. It kinda pokes fun at the ridiculous idea of working in TALL buildings as well. This makes me want to go live off the land, but it also makes me feel that one way or another, everythings gonna be alright. :-)

@ilovechugs I take it the complete opposite. I feel that John is telling us what happens society expects us to do when we "grow up," but asJjohn shows us, we don't have to conform to those societal archetypes and norms. It is still sad also because he brings forth the things we must confront as we grow older.

GREGORY ALAN ISAKOVs version of this song is FANTASTIC!

Perfect.非の打ち所が無い。素敵だな。

@ilovechugs I always thought this song was about having to adapt to the hussle and bussle of the modern world and leave the old country lifetstyle behind, just my opinion. I've heard somewhere that John wrote this song about his grandad, who had no real education and had to go get a 'city' job just to survive. Still kinda depressing.

Billy Strings sent me here

Someday my baby, when I am a man, and others have taught me the best that they can they'll sell me a suit they’ll cut off my hair and send me to work in tall buildings So it's goodbye to the sunshine goodbye to the dew goodbye to the flowers and goodbye to you I'm off to the subway I must not be late I’m going to work in tall buildings When I’m retired My life is my own I made all the payments it's time to go home and wonder what happened betwixt and between when I went to work in tall buildings So it's goodbye to the sunshine goodbye to the dew goodbye to the flowers and goodbye to you I'm off to the subway I must not be late I’m going to work in tall buildings So it's goodbye to the sunshine goodbye to the dew goodbye to the flowers and goodbye to you I'm off to the subway I must not be late I’m going to work in tall buildings

I love John Hartford - grew up with him and the Glen Campbell Hour. BUT, in the late 70's or early 80's - I saw just a tiny bit of a video of his - I think it was 'Piece of My Heart' - and he did his little signature ending with the hat trick. Can anybody please help me find this? Would love to have it.

I'm looking for John's version of "Little cabin home on the hill" . Anybody ?

don't be a nutter. of course you're supposed to like this music.

How about uploading this as the complete video?