I love how this video commits so completely to both SUPER country *and* SUPER NYC.

Starting out as a true child prodigy, Ricky Skaggs is absolutely one of the most talented musicians of all time in any genre of music. He played with Bill Stanley at age 6 and Flatt and Scruggs at age 7. Definitely a national treasure and a gift to humankind. His music and influence will live on and be enjoyed by many generations to come.

One of my fave songs by Ricky. It never gets old. Hands up if you're listening in 2023.

A lot of us city slickers who grew up in NYC really liked this stuff. Some of my earliest memories as a kid are of Johnny Cash and Glen Campbell playing in the house alongside Frank Sinatra and Tom Jones. That was before corporate radio turned us all into separate tribes who only listen to one genre of music.

Ricky and Bill both signed my mandolin and I opened up for Ricky in the 90's. His fiddle player is the nicest guy ever. These guys made unfathomable contributions to American music. His bassist somehow knew a friend of mine I played music with in college. Small crazy beautiful tragic and fleeting life we live.

Ricky Skaggs and Bill Monroe being a part of this awesome song are almost the everything that I want in country Music today, and that's saying something.

Why oh why did break dancing to bluegrass or country never become a thing ? Not a country fan but this song and video is classic. I am almost 53 in August and used to watch this as a 16 year old. I mainly listened to R&B and BET soul ( Alexander O'Neal, Prince, Freddie Jackson, Jasper Isley Jasper, Dennis Edwards) and MTV hair metal and rock (Hooters, Billy Idol, Genesis, Scandal, Chicago, Billy Squier, Van Halen, Rush, Heart, Emerson Lake and Powell) but VH1 used to play this and it was one of my favorite videos. No matter what music you like, you cannot help but admire Ricky's skill here on that banjo and guitar.

The pure musicianship in this song is off the frigin' chart! I grew up on the Country Gentlemen and the Seldom Scene, both had Ricky Skaggs playing various instruments, at various times in the Northern Virginia area in the 70s. What a talented man, with an amazing band to boot.

I listen to Jazz, blues and R&B; but I am from Mississippi. The first time I heard this song it was being back at home 👍🏾 HERE'S TO RICKY SKAGGS

Amazing picking and singing by Ricky and such fun watching legendary father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe, dancing on the subway! Fabulous!!!!

Dayyum, Uncle Pen's got the moves ! Those taps are awesome. Wish all races, age groups and music could come together like this again.

I never get tired of watching Bill Monroe dance on the subway. I love watching him show 'em how it's really done. :)

You think you can play? Ricky can play!

Fun fact - the taxi driver in this video is a cameo by the then mayor of NYC Ed Koch. Fun video. Amazing musician.

Ricky is one of the best to play any stringed instrument, absolute legend

An hour ago I had never heard that song and now I can't stop listening to it. Awesome.

I have pictures of a very young Uncle Penn standing under an oak tree in my grandmothers front yard in TN playing his mandolin and picking out a tune with my grand daddy and great uncle. I miss all of them, they were wonderful people. Bill Monroe and others like him were just mountain folks to us.

Radio had no clue what we liked this is true excellence.. Great to see Uncle Penn dancing!!

I always liked the part with Ed Koch talkin bout being a country boy. 🤣

You're getting way above your raisin' son. If Bill Monroe walked into a room and told me that I'd probably cry. BTW the "Uncle Pen" nod, brilliant! How the hell did you get Mayor Ed to participate, let alone portray a cabbie! Everything about this video is incredible. Thanks Mr. Ricky.

I haven't heard that song from Ricky Skaggs in a long time. Go ahead Ricky Boy.

When I was kid I asked my dad why they didn't play this music on the radio....he simply said, in a harsh demeanor..."they don't play good music on the radio!"

At 1:45, that's Ed Koch, the mayor of New York. He would later become the judge on The People's Court on September 8, 1997. The show expanded from 30 minutes to 60 minutes, and former New York newscaster Carol Martin of WCBS-TV hosted from a studio, with Harvey Levin serving as co-host. Curt Chaplin became the announcer, and appeared on camera as the court reporter. In 1998, Carol Martin left the show, and Levin became the sole host. Ed Koch stayed as the judge on The People's Court until June 25, 1999.

this will never ever get old. always a good one. play it literally at any moment and I WILL jam lol

Love seeing Bill Monroe:)

"I'm still a country boy! I swear!" [puts on ascot]

The choreography of this video is bananas!

Never get tired of this one! Always make me grin from start to finish! Epic!💪👌😊

Rick Skaggs is the real deal and was a real nice guy.this was nashville.

Ken Burns' documentary on PBS brought me here...thanks, Ken!

A lot of '80s country music hasn't held up, but Ricky Skaggs' hits sure have. The video makes me a little bit sad, in a way. Americans have become so polarized that a video joyously celebrating red-state bluegrass music *and* blue-state New York City likely wouldn't be made today.

One of my favorite videos of all time.

The "totally '80s" hair is killer

I have heard this song a million times but somehow never saw the video until this morning. Freakin' AWESOME! This SO put a smile on my face.

That banjo part was amazing

This has got to be the fastest country song I've ever heard.

A #1 hit for Ricky Skaggs on the Country & Western charts. It was the 759th #1 C&W song of the Rock Era.

Anybody been lucky enough to meet Ricky Skaggs? I was - what a genuinely nice man, so pleasant to talk with. Down to Earth, never ruined by the spotlight.

Incredible uplifting video! This should go in the Time Capsule.

My grandpa died when my Dad was 12, and this is the last song he showed him. I myself feel like a country boy at heart.

I mainly listen to electronic and techno, but this is dope. He’s really going at it!

The backing band on this, along with Ricky himself, are straight FIRE

I’m so glad I was reintroduced to this thanks to Ken Burns. God Bless him and Bill Monroe

Well this was a bucket full of FUN! Cool video! and Ricky Skaggs is outstanding! GREAT Albert Lee cover!

I remember seeing this video on CMT,The Nashville Network & VH-1 back in 85 and it's still a hoot to watch. Thank you Ken Burns for reminding me of this great video.

I was country when country wasn't cool in 1985, but I have never seen the video until now! Silly me. How cool!!

Great to see Bill Monroe as Uncle Pendelton Vandiver. Ricky is a bluegrass boy at heart now.

I grew up in Kentucky, my Mom played guitar, her brother and sister played banjo! Grew up with fiddles, banjos and guitars all playing in the house! Had so much fun growing up!

Ahhh how have I never seen this video??!!! Amazing. Bill Monroe getting up to dance with the b-boy kids on the subway is just beyond awesome. Love Ricky Skaggs and this mind-blowing vid!

Well Done Ricky Skaggs on the Award of the Presidential Medal of The Arts. Well deserved. Always love your Music here in Cork Ireland. Cry in’ my heart out over you 🎼🎼🎹🎹

I'm a big fan of Ricky Skaggs and love this song. I also really like how all the members of his band get highlighted.

I’ll always be a country boy no matter what!

Well everybody, this is how music is done. Gettin it!!!

I know Skaggs. but I happened to listen to this song for the first time. What a great songs! I cannot be a city slicker. I'm just a hill-billy. Anyway, it's a fab song. I love it!

Still one of the best videos of the 80s

Written by the great Albert Lee.

I clicked on 1985 CMA Awards Show on here and this was the opening number...Mind Blown. Here to see how the studio version holds up. Adding to library now...and getting up to practice more...lots and lots and lots more. Golly.

Fun fact..my dad is Jim White. My dad knew Ricky in Ohio and Ricky also knew my grandpa Bob White. My dad and Ricky would be pick in’ and grinnin’

Thank you, Ken Burns!!

Loved seeing Ricky and Friends do this on the 2018 CMA Awards!

'Looney Tunes' theme near the end of the coda, was genius! Dave

This video is hilarious! Ricky Skaggs is super-talented--and Bill Monroe was pretty spry, for a guy his age!😊💒

First time seeing this and seeing Bill Monroe gettin’ down on the subway 😂😂😂 country music has best characters I swear!

This video was in regular rotation on VH1 when it first launched in 1985. I was a young man from rust belt Ohio, and both bluegrass and NYC were foreign to me. But I got a huge kick from the video.

I love it! All races and a love for country! Woot!

man I can be this metal as I want but I can't run from my roots. Ricky skaggs and his banjo player are metal as hell anyways 😂😂

Heavy metal can't even come close.and I love metal and I'm rock myself being from la.....

Uncle pen" billy monroe" this is music. Ricky skaggs was my favourite, still is

Guitar skills extraordinaire....

I love this video, it should be a musical scene in a movie!!!

My dad used to listen to Ricky when I was very small. I love listening to him now and I’m 44. ❤️ What I’d do to be a country star back then!

God my mom loved this stuff, when I was young I hated it, when I was old I didn't understand it, now that Im older I love it, many life is such a sadistic journey.

I love this song and really like Ricky skaggs one of my favorite bluegrass singers 🙂🍻🍺🍺

Saw him and his band couple weeks ago. Incredible. Was hoping he would sing this song but didn't. Would sure see him again.

So cool they had New York Mayor Ed Koch leaning against the yellow cab in this video. At 4:18 I thought Ricky would say "well, that's all folks, see you next time." Awesome guitar lick!

LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. Ricky Scaggs singing any song that he sings. His voice is phenomenal and unique in every way possible. A FANTASTIC singer and entertainer who can certainly play many instruments. A true Classic and a Genius. ELIZABETH in SCOTLAND. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

I have been hearing this song ever since Skaggs released it in the mid '80s. I always thought that he wrote it. Just found out today that it was actually written (co-written) by a Brit and Skaggs' version is a cover version.🤯

Ricky is a MASTER MUSICIAN !!!!!

This is so 80s

As a picker, skaggs has to be a guitar god in some sort. This type of skill and picking is something equal to the magnitude of EVH and dare I say George lynch lol

bill monroe being in this video and his performance totally makes it!! god rest his soul

Not a country fan but this song is amazing

Actor David Keith at the end looking for Ricky Skaggs. (Great character actor you may remember from An Officer and a Gentleman.)

Still love this song

Love it when the uncle got up in the subway and started dancing. He’s had ENOUGH!! 😂😂😂👍👍👍👍

Dude can play 🎸

Wow, i have always loved this song but I never saw the video. It has aged perfectly, I don't know what I expected but it wasn't this. Classic

America: Let's be this again.

Probably one of the greatest country songs that features the most ridiculous shredding from all instruments.

Ricky Skaggs has ALWAYS been my favorite Country Artist!. My Grandfather would sing every Ricky Skaggs song to me then after I learned the words he stopped singing to me until he learned of new music. That was our connection, and He was teaching me how to talk and sing. I was so little, that was years ago, but I still remember it!. RIP "Grandpa I love you!."

Ricky skaggs is one of the greatest country singer😊

What a fun tribute to the great Bill Monroe! 💕

I did some work at Possum Point power station. One of the engineers told me Ricky used to work there. The story is his supervisor told him that "your going to work or music." He chose the music, Probably good choice. Im not sure if that is true or not, but sounds good.

1985. So nice.

love you Ricky Skaggs.. i live in big city Chicago since July 2009, but originally a Texas country girl... and no where I live will take out the Texan or country girl out of me :)

Bobby Hicks always puts a smile on my face.

What if the strangest verse melodies I have ever heard ! Thumbs up

i never heard of this guy.. just decided too look him up after seeing him play with flatt and scruggs as a little kid and play amazing.. so i had to look him up! this isnt my type of music but he can sure play!!

Saw Bill Monroe play at a local bar back in the 80's. Met him back in the kitchen while he was waiting to go out and play to about 25 people, I knew the owner. He was a great guy, let me hold and pick on his mandolin and I got his autograph of course !!

I love me some bluegrass and this is a great cover of an Albert Lee song. I heard on a podcast that Ricky and Albert used to play together. That's something I'd like to see. Haha