Thirteen years later this performance gets me right in the feels, every time.

I love that he's a little taken aback "The Crane Wife? All of it?" and then delivers without any issue because he's fantastic like that

Wow! 845,779 views. I watch this every once in a while, because I love it, and because I am the guy who requested "all of them". That's me in the black jacket to Colin's left, hands in my pockets, at 9:38. I knew KEXP was doing live shows from the Ace, two blocks from my office on 31st St. I definitely had to go for this one (on my lunch break:). Such a small room for this great talent. You never know what a day will bring. This was a very good one. :)

He takes a request from the audience and immediately delivers the Crane Wife Opera. This blows my mind.Colin is a magical creature sent here to teach us the messages from the stars. No less.

Well, it’s November again. Time to listen to The Decemberists again.

Kudos to "All of Them" guy.

There are days when I think Colin Meloy is a genius, and... well there aren't any other days.

These songs always make me cry. Idk why I can relate so much to a guy that marries a bird-woman who weaves magic dresses. I guess it abstracts to being blinded by personal gratification until it's too late, you look up and see the wounds it has left on the ones you love the most. Hits me right in the heart.

The story is already based on a Japanese folktale, Tsuru Nyobo a variation of the Tsuru no Ongaeshi story in which a poor farmer, Yohei man saves a wounded crane and later a beautiful woman approaches him whom he ends up marrying. The woman is the crane in human form, and she begins weaving beautiful silk kimono's that he sells. The silk is made using her feathers, leaving her plucked bare and when the husband discovers what he has done to his wife, she turns back into the crane and flies away

who knew I could listen to a 16 minute song on repeat, but here we are

I'm an English teacher, public school. During our unit on folktales, legends, fables, and fairy tales, I taught a book version of "The Crane Wife," then used the Decemberists' version alongside. My students loved it so much that when it came time to do a lesson on point of view, I brought out Yankee Bayonet for an encore. I really love this live version and will probably use it this school year.

I'm wayyy to high to be listening to this angelic voice and examine the underpinnings of the lyrics. How did I get here? Is this my house?

I about died when I got to see this live

No words hit me deeper and sharper than "all I ever meant to do...was to keep you."

My favorite part of KZfaq comments is reading about their experiences with a piece of music. It's so mind-blowing and beautiful to know that such a small moment in time can have such an impact on people. My friend found The Crane Wife at a pawn shop. He plays all of his CD's on a loop at least five times before putting into regular circulation, and as the years went in, he added more and more Decemberists to that circulation. So this is music that reminds me of him. I've known him for 8 years now. He accounts for at least 1/4 of the music I listen to.

The folks who dislike a band the minute they become successful after usually a decade of assbusting have very different interests than the working or trying to be working musicians they use to show their tribal affiliation i.e. "i'm Indie' or "I'm underground metal". If someone makes a bad album on a tiny label it isn't better than a good album on a semi major indie. I am very glad Decembrists are doing well.

When people ask, "what is your favorite song" I show them this and say, "This song. This performance." One million views and I will keep coming back

The Crane Wife was the point in which Colin Meloy entered my life...and changed it forever. Many many thanks Colin and Co.

One of the most important songs written in the modern era

My favorite is definitely Pt. 3. He just puts so much more emotion into it.

Thank you sir, you saved my life this morning.

Still here 2020, big love from the UK

For some reason the acknowledgment from the crowd and Colin at the seamless transition between parts 2 and 3 made me want to shed a tear

This is absolutely amazing! Even if you take away how soulful his voice and playing are, you've got to respect the fact that he played for 15 minutes straight without making any errors

I've been watching this whenever I was down since the ninth grade. I'm graduating now: moving into the adult part of my life, and it still holds magic for me. Colin, your music is an integral part of my world now, thank you so much for bringing it into existence. I have no idea where I'm going, but I feel lucky to still have this bit of medicine when I need it.

How talented is this guy ? Seriously when I first listened to Hazards of Love all the way through I was just blown away. He could write opera or anything but I just love what he does and the fact that he does it his way. His ability to paint a musical picture is staggering. Props also to the others he regularly plays with etc.

Am I the only one who puts in earbuds and sings all the harmonies? I love these songs so much.

ok Colin, now I would like to hear The Hazards of Love. With interludes included if you don't mind.

i walked down the aisle to the instrumental version of the original crane wife 3. best moment of my life. not all songs have to be designated one feeling - this one has many for me. :)

Dude, who could dislike this?

Colin Meloy's solo acoustic performance of "The Crane Wife, 1, 2 & 3" is quite moving, and it is absolutely beautiful!

I never fail to get goosebumps when he begins to sing.

I love most (if not all) of TheDecemberists stuff, but I have a special place in my heart for The Crane Wife saga. Maybe it's because I knew the folk-tale before. 'Special" weaver-wives aren't that uncommon. Abuse them and you get the stick of fate.

Definitely one of the finest songwriters of our time. Poetic, succinct, melodic, relevant. Really good stuff.

what a talent,how many beautiful songs can one man write .

these three songs have literally gotten me through some dark times thank you to whomever requested all of them !!! 💕💕💕

Absolutely phenomenal. "Did you want 1, 2 or 3? All of them!" Those of us who live in Portland are so proud to call Colin one of our own.

Colin Meloy rocks! One of the best concerts I will ever see was The Decemberists' Hazards of Love tour at Merriweather Post Pavilion.

The voice crack at 9:27 makes it feel even more emotional and genuine, it only adds more to an already incredible song and performance. I like the little imperfections like that. Because imperfect doesn't always mean bad.

I will always give great thanks to my high school English teacher. She introduced this story to us & the songs this band has crafted beautifully.

When I was younger I used to listen to this every day... It's quite emotional to have found the joy of listening to this once more. Few songwriters are as good as Colin Meloy.

[1] It was a cold night And the snow lay round I pulled my coat tight Against the falling down And the sun was all And the sun was all down And the sun was all And the sun was all down I am a poor man I haven't wealth nor fame I have my two hands And a house to my name And the winter's so And the winter's so long And the winter's so And the winter's so long And all the stars were crashing 'round As I laid eyes on what I'd found It was a white crane It was a helpless thing Upon a red stain With an arrow its wing And it called and cried And it called and cried so And it called and cried And it called and cried so And all the stars were crashing 'round As I laid eyes on what I'd found My crane wife, my crane wife My crane wife, my crane wife Now I helped her And I dressed her wounds And how I held her Beneath the rising moon And she stood to fly And she stood to fly away And she stood to fly She stood to fly away And all the stars were crashing 'round As I laid eyes on what I'd found My crane wife, my crane wife My crane wife, my crane wife [2] My crane wife arrived at my door in the moonlight All star bright and tongue-tied I took her in We were married and bells rang sweet for our wedding And our bedding was ready when we fell in The sound of the keening bell To see its painted red Soft as fontenelle The feathers and the thread And all I ever meant to do was to keep you My crane wife My crane wife My crane wife We were poorly, our fortunes fading hourly And how she vowed me, she could bring it back But I was greedy, I was vain and I forced her to weaving On cold loom, in a closed room, with down wove The sound of the keening bell And to see its painted red Soft as fontenelle The feathers and the thread And all I ever meant to do was to keep you My crane wife My crane wife There's a bend in the wind and it rakes at my heart There is blood in the thread and it rakes at my heart It rakes at my heart [3] And under the boughs unbowed All clothed in a snowy shroud She had no heart so hardened All under the boughs unbowed Each feather it fell from skin Till threadbare while she grew thin How were my eyes so blinded? Each feather it fell from skin And I will hang my head, hang my head low And I will hang my head, hang my head low A gray sky, a bitter sting A rain cloud, a crane on wing All out beyond horizon A grey sky, a bitter sting And I will hang my head, hang my head low And I will hang my head, hang my head low

The Crane Wife Part 1: 0:04 The Crane Wife Part 2: 5:59 The Crane Wife Part 3: 12:04

Man I’m crying so hard, I wish I could see this live so badly

I think it's great how, even with all the technology we have now, he can just go onstage and preform a song without the aid of auto-tune and other modern tactics. All it takes is an acoustic guitar and a microphone, and he can deliver a song beautifully. With the addition of the amazingly well-written lyrics, it's quite a stunning package.

I Gotta love the Decemberists when they're all together, But this is Absolutely Brilliant :)

Colin Meloy is a genius.

I’ve been watching this since it was posted here, it’s been a few years and it bund back a good off emotions from my late teenage years, turning 30 this year and felt the need to come back and listen to this again, it causes just an emotional and physical reaction bring me right back to being 18.

Ever since I heard Mr. Meloy in 2006 I really loved his skills he is a rare artist.

If you ever wanna jam with an electric Violinist, I listen to your music, and it moves me to play once again..

This never gets old. Beautiful.

I actually go tot hear him perform Crane Wife live in Louisville last year. it was one of the greatest fifteen minutes of my life!

I am an old man now and I am angry of lost potential it is brief, that moment, sometimes and extended moment when you can grab that brass ring and make it yours no one elses….yours and the music comes out and you know you are lucky, to have heard, felt, and touched that music even the stongest, as they try, cannot deny emotion and love and beauty it is as "god" intended it to be.

Part 2 makes me cry every time I listen to it, and I listen to it a lot. Not sure what that says about me, its just so tragic and perfectly eloquent at the same time- such sweetly raw emotion

This is the type of song I would totally ask for but not expect to get, he delivers it so perfectly, I'd barely be able to pick it out against a studio version. Mad mad respect for an artist that takes an audience request like this. beautiful, much love

I cry every single damn time at all three of these, they're just so perfect 👌

crazy - this is 13 years ago , feels like yesterday

To the 78 ppl who thumbs down this video. I challenge you to play all 3 songs straight like Colin did. That's what I what I thought.

I'm so very much in love with this version

My best friend set a unique ring tone for me in her phone. It was the Crane Wife 3. That should give you some idea of how unsubtle I am in my love of these songs.

Colin Meloy needs to have a performance of an acoustic, solo version of Hazards of Love IV: The Drowned. In San Diego.

This is such an amazing video. One guy with a simple instrument, telling a story from a long time ago in a place far away still has such power to move our hearts. Beautiful.

"And all I ever meant to do Was to keep you."

His music makes me sob. (Not that I'm going to admit that...)

These songs are some of my very favorite, ever.

It's just magnificent, as all the Decemberists songs are. Beautiful, lyrical poetic beauty. We live in a good time to experience them x

It is an utter joy watching Colin play. He is one of the biggest musical inspirations in my life. I love you, Colin!

I heard this guy on Parks and Rec, and now I’m obsessed! (Around the 3rd part)

I never knew who the decemberists were until this lady I was working with in Seattle showed them to me. Man I miss the Larry's market crew.

this song is soooo beautiful...

0:29 his face when he says that he can only do a couple more songs but some audience member said to do 16 more minutes lmaoo

I love the different way he sings "the sun was all" and "winter's so" etc in this one, going to the lower note earlier. Reminds me a lot of The King is Dead.

JUst hearing this song and the feelings just, wow... they are there... they are more surely there.

One of my favorite performances, most especially at minutes 7:26. LOVE... "Our fortunes fading hourly.." And I was greedy and I was vain and my voice kept you waiting....... WOW, original.

Amazing song part 3 gives me chills

My favorite song(s) in the whole world.

11:27 The most remarkable thing about coming home to you is the feeling of being in motion again. It's the most extraordinary thing in the world.

You're absolutely right. They should totally take the advice of a single person on youtube who says they dislike his voice. They'd be huge.

All of them, indeed!

The greatest love of my life abandoned me at my weakest moment, when my life was dissolving; a close family member had died, I had dropped out of school, was jobless and uneducated, living at home at age 23. I loved her more than anyone I had loved before, my heart would leap at her touch. She didn't feel the same way, up and left me because I had become depressed and started to drink a lot. I listened to this trio of songs incessantly for two years. Listened to it so much that the CD wore out.

Jeez. Just so beautiful.

wow!!! i love this kind of music, which really gives us a feeling of beeing alive!!!!!!!!!

Genius...just sent this to my brother who lives on the Puget Sound. Thanks, Colin.

I just love this. :) Colin Meloy is a wonderful singer.

Simply amazing. Song brings great memories!

His voice is wonderful, I think I love him

I love going past peoples looks and straight to their talent :3

What a beautiful clear voice. Brings back some fond memories......

This is simply fine...Moves me like old Neil Young...

Yes, I agree Crane Wife is their best album. Though each one has their qualities. Great recording as usual, KEXP.

I have now seen this a good million times.

Powered through them all in one sitting, what a champ. His voice alone with a guitar is amazingly powerful. But Crane Wife 1 from the studio is still phenomenal! Make sure you check out the studio versions, there's accompaniments that you aren't hearing here that need to be heard.

Back for one of my frequent revisits to this beautiful piece of art.

I always cry I always will - thank you so much - wonderful - Belinda

Excellent, Colin. You somehow captured the fullness of the whole band. Beautiful songs, beautiful job!

@tcbaxley, I wish we could, but according to our agreement with Colin's label, we could only offer it for a limited time. They were generous, though, to allow us that. Hopefully, one of your friends downloaded it!

Wow. That was incredible. Colin commanded that space and the viewer's attention.

I love how he mad a song about the old Japanese folk tale about the crane lady. It's pretty awesome

im upset, why are there so many irrelevant comments on this song?...ought to be ashamed....This song really gives me the chills...I love it.

That is the day you just play and its awesome. You got that Colin. Very good performance! Thanks alot!