I'm 17, my dad used to rock this song back when I was all of about 4 years old, I searched it up and found myself thoroughly disappointed with the amount of people that have clearly yet to experience this song. Also I wanna add, I primarily listen to rap nowadays (mainstream and underground) but, I can still enjoy this and other songs alike equally or even more in some cases, so have a bit of faith in today's youth. Cheers niggas!
Todd is one of the greats! OPen My Eyes, Forget all About It, Kiddie Boy, Last Ride, Hello It's Me, I Saw the Light, Couldn't I just Tell You, Parole, Utopia + one of the premire rock 'n' roll guitarists......OMG it just goes on and on and on......
What excellent ENERGY from the whole band, not just the front people. This is without doubt my fave song from ALMOST HUMAN - always has been, since I first heard it; one of those songs that seems like it's a cover, it "sits" so well; you just imagine that someone ELSE must have written it before this incarnation. TODD, like Wile E. Coyote, is a SOOOPER GENIUS.
I echo the earlier comments.. this is a classic tune, and what an awesome performance.. great to hear it live with Womack and Michele on backup vocals.. Michele is a great lady, she played one of my tunes on her radio show in Hawaii recently and said some very nice things about my vocals..
can someone tell me why he's not so famous? like.. i havent heard of this guy... till now.. and he's fantastic.. why is he not up there with the greats?
Oh, he is to the folks in the know. I've been listening to his music since 1968. And this caught my eye. I have a VHS of the appearance, myself out in the storage room. Not sure my tape would look any better than this. Todd's Letterman cuts are classic.
Todd is such a MASTER & GENIUS.Overlooked Ignored, and Misunderstood. Todd Rundgren needs our support RIGHT NOW More Than Ever! Not finacially secure after all he has accomplished in the Music World and Computer World. Please support shows buy merchandise & spread the word. Also please click periodically on his myspace music page. Help HIM RISE 2 this OCCASION !! ROCK LOVE, CHERRY XOXO I am on Twitter too supporting TODD using same Username Just Loving Fan
RIP Bobby Womack. I have broken more vocal chords singing you and Todd;'s' stuff than my neighbor Lee Ann Womack.; being in choir together does not give you any heart or soul.
I've been wrong I had plans so big But the devil's in the details I left out one thing No one to love me No one to love me No one to love For the want of a nail, the world was lost For the want of a nail, the world was lost For the want of a nail, the shoe was lost For the want of a shoe, the horse was lost For the want of a horse, the rider was lost For the want of a rider, the message was lost For the want of a rider, the message was lost For the want of a message, the battle was lost For the want of a battle, the war was lost For the want of a war, the kingdom was lost (such a tiny thing) You're askin' What's all this talk about horses and war? Put yourself in the place of the man at the forge And day after day you live a life without love 'til the morning you can't take it anymore And you don't get up Multiply it a billion times Spread it all 'round the world Put the curse of loneliness on every boy and every girl Until everybody's kicking, everybody's scratching Everything seems to fail And it was all for the want of a nail Tell me what else could the answer be Don't hold back now Give me all your love Just a little more love A little tiny bit of love
@axeman1009: I had forgotten how sweet this disc really was. This song, Parallel Lines, The Waiting Game, Can't Stop Running, Unloved Children, I Love My Life ... solid elpee. Solid Todd.
As usual, Americans were dumfounded by the greatest musical phenomenon to Grace the continent. Go figure.. when I met Jim Hoover I had seen Todd b4 however.. God bless Jim Hoover whever he is.. I'm easy to find.. only priest in Penngeove
@axeman1009 i know man but that's a high class of problem to have. I had the distinct pleasure of helping to select the music for a play I was the lead in recently called Private Eyes by Stephen Dietz. I have always wanted to use I SAW THE LIGHT and this was the perfect vehicle to close out the play. I'm seeing him in NYC on Dec 6th. Can not wait!!
@addunlap So true!, and interestingly, " The Want of a Nail" is a very old.. ( 1400's ) .. and well known proverb. TR admittedly "borrowed" the words from the proverb for this song.. but! .. he also fleshed it out with additional content and ended up with this freaking incredible piece. I have the "Nearly Human" album and have to say that this Letterman performance of "The Want of a Nail" is even BETTER than the studio version, which make no mistake, is excellent too!
Please check out the same video link at 380p, better sound quality also! You'll have to find it as they won't let me post the link here. Poster was imharpo, only 3,433 views here vs. 33,157 views of this lower quality version.
ianmackenziedavis: Interesting take you have on this...I mean... stiff and soul-less white people" ... really?? Bobby Womack seems quite in the moment on this, as he is also on the original recording. TR has that same "blue eyed soul" timbre to his voice that Daryl Hall has, and trots in on out when he wants to. The backing vocalists are recreating the EXACT same parts as on the original. This Letterman performance is stellar. Execution, style, groove, vocals... and Bobby Womack is hip to it!
Look, I like this song...I'm a big Todd Rundgen fan...influential artist, gifted melody writer, producer, etc, yadaya...I know. But, I'm sorry, Bobby Womack must be thinking why am I performing with so many stiff and soul-less white people? The sad thing is, Todd knows better. Why he is not comfortable hiring real black soul musicians and background singers to pull off the real deal is beyond me. Todd is from Philadelphia as is other white soul artists like Hall & Oates. I don't get it.
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Unbridled joy!! Fabulous!!
I'm 17, my dad used to rock this song back when I was all of about 4 years old, I searched it up and found myself thoroughly disappointed with the amount of people that have clearly yet to experience this song. Also I wanna add, I primarily listen to rap nowadays (mainstream and underground) but, I can still enjoy this and other songs alike equally or even more in some cases, so have a bit of faith in today's youth. Cheers niggas!
Me, my wife & 2 friends were in the audience for this. Just a happy co-incidence that TR was the musical guest that day.
Todd is one of the greats! OPen My Eyes, Forget all About It, Kiddie Boy, Last Ride, Hello It's Me, I Saw the Light, Couldn't I just Tell You, Parole, Utopia + one of the premire rock 'n' roll guitarists......OMG it just goes on and on and on......
todd rundgren and bobby womack. loved this. thank you for uploading, joef200337
This is a powerful song and loaded with meaning and unconventional references (e.g., love and war). Rundgren is a talent!
This was the old good times .. thanks for all the videos of todd on the you tube !! keep up guys
Never holds back... he's got a box of nails!
This music is Gospel!
Thanks very much for the great tune from Todd. A fab performance to say the least. Cheers.
I love the Lyrics!!!! Todd is Great!
What excellent ENERGY from the whole band, not just the front people. This is without doubt my fave song from ALMOST HUMAN - always has been, since I first heard it; one of those songs that seems like it's a cover, it "sits" so well; you just imagine that someone ELSE must have written it before this incarnation. TODD, like Wile E. Coyote, is a SOOOPER GENIUS.
Possibly makes my top ten Todd list! Lyrics are ingenious. So frickin' many songs to choose from though....
I echo the earlier comments.. this is a classic tune, and what an awesome performance.. great to hear it live with Womack and Michele on backup vocals.. Michele is a great lady, she played one of my tunes on her radio show in Hawaii recently and said some very nice things about my vocals..
beautiful inside & out
another GREAT one from the master!
I remember seeing this broadcast. Great album.
Awesome Awesome Awesome ro hear this live! That little blond chick is so smokin'! I presume she's Michele Grey...
That intro is HOT!!!! 2 great performers!!!
can someone tell me why he's not so famous? like.. i havent heard of this guy... till now.. and he's fantastic.. why is he not up there with the greats?
It's a mystery. He should be!
Oh, he is to the folks in the know. I've been listening to his music since 1968. And this caught my eye. I have a VHS of the appearance, myself out in the storage room. Not sure my tape would look any better than this. Todd's Letterman cuts are classic.
Todd is such a MASTER & GENIUS.Overlooked Ignored, and Misunderstood.
Todd Rundgren needs our support RIGHT NOW More Than Ever! Not finacially secure after all he has accomplished in the Music World and Computer World. Please support shows buy merchandise & spread the word.
Also please click periodically on his myspace music page. Help HIM RISE 2 this OCCASION !!
ROCK LOVE,
CHERRY XOXO
I am on Twitter too supporting TODD using same Username Just Loving Fan
I never connected Womack and TODD, but I appreciate the insight! Thanks.
They sang this in the movie CAMP. I would never known about this great song if it wasn't for that movie.
The "NEARLY HUMAN" album, this song in particular, were when I realized that he hadn't lost it, after all.
Can't believe Todd Rundgren wearing a tie!
But we Love You, Todd! Double You Tee Eff are You talking about!?!?
I forgot all about this one. More proof that Todd had the uncanny ability to make even pop sound great!
RIP Bobby Womack. I have broken more vocal chords singing you and Todd;'s' stuff than my neighbor Lee Ann Womack.; being in choir together does not give you any heart or soul.
Great stuff!
I've been wrong
I had plans so big
But the devil's in the details
I left out one thing
No one to love me
No one to love me
No one to love
For the want of a nail, the world was lost
For the want of a nail, the world was lost
For the want of a nail, the shoe was lost
For the want of a shoe, the horse was lost
For the want of a horse, the rider was lost
For the want of a rider, the message was lost
For the want of a rider, the message was lost
For the want of a message, the battle was lost
For the want of a battle, the war was lost
For the want of a war, the kingdom was lost
(such a tiny thing)
You're askin'
What's all this talk about horses and war?
Put yourself in the place of the man at the forge
And day after day you live a life without love
'til the morning you can't take it anymore
And you don't get up
Multiply it a billion times
Spread it all 'round the world
Put the curse of loneliness on every boy and every girl
Until everybody's kicking, everybody's scratching
Everything seems to fail
And it was all for the want of a nail
Tell me what else could the answer be
Don't hold back now
Give me all your love
Just a little more love
A little tiny bit of love
@axeman1009: I had forgotten how sweet this disc really was. This song, Parallel Lines, The Waiting Game, Can't Stop Running, Unloved Children, I Love My Life ... solid elpee. Solid Todd.
As usual, Americans were dumfounded by the greatest musical phenomenon to Grace the continent. Go figure.. when I met Jim Hoover I had seen Todd b4 however.. God bless Jim Hoover whever he is.. I'm easy to find.. only priest in Penngeove
Thanks PattioDaddio1 for sharing this:)
@axeman1009 i know man but that's a high class of problem to have. I had the distinct pleasure of helping to select the music for a play I was the lead in recently called Private Eyes by Stephen Dietz. I have always wanted to use I SAW THE LIGHT and this was the perfect vehicle to close out the play. I'm seeing him in NYC on Dec 6th. Can not wait!!
@addunlap So true!, and interestingly, " The Want of a Nail" is a very old.. ( 1400's ) .. and well known proverb. TR admittedly "borrowed" the words from the proverb for this song.. but! .. he also fleshed it out with additional content and ended up with this freaking incredible piece. I have the "Nearly Human" album and have to say that this Letterman performance of "The Want of a Nail" is even BETTER than the studio version, which make no mistake, is excellent too!
"The Lead Singer'! Pftt!
Todd Rundgren you mean.
You can hear Thom (Bell) and Linda (Creed) quite clearly in this song, even of Todd didn't invite them at the time.....
Please check out the same video link at 380p, better sound quality also!
You'll have to find it as they won't let me post the link here.
Poster was imharpo, only 3,433 views here vs. 33,157 views of this lower quality version.
Adnan Ibrahim loves this song !!! hahahahaha :D
I came here because of him!
He was talking about the chaus theory!😂
Nice 'n' smooth. For the record, which of the backing singers is Michele Grey, and which is 'unknown'?
V. belated cheers (the comments side of RUclips is strange to me) :-)
wow, you were a very smart 12 year old! ;)
Not familiar with his Utopia days of the 80's I guess. Get this. MATCHING suits and ties.
Gotta check out Utopia stuff. Warning...different creatively from album to album....
عدنان ابراهيم 😅
Adeeb Twait 😂😂😂
Is that Will Lee on Bass?
ianmackenziedavis: Interesting take you have on this...I mean... stiff and soul-less white people" ... really?? Bobby Womack seems quite in the moment on this, as he is also on the original recording. TR has that same "blue eyed soul" timbre to his voice that Daryl Hall has, and trots in on out when he wants to. The backing vocalists are recreating the EXACT same parts as on the original. This Letterman performance is stellar. Execution, style, groove, vocals... and Bobby Womack is hip to it!
he's one of the only white singers that can do the darryl hall/mariah carey thing with his voice...which is very cool
camp
Letterman ..back when Paul had hair..at least on the bACK of his friends
im sorry , whos the guy ...lol
Look, I like this song...I'm a big Todd Rundgen fan...influential artist, gifted melody writer, producer, etc, yadaya...I know. But, I'm sorry, Bobby Womack must be thinking why am I performing with so many stiff and soul-less white people? The sad thing is, Todd knows better. Why he is not comfortable hiring real black soul musicians and background singers to pull off the real deal is beyond me. Todd is from Philadelphia as is other white soul artists like Hall & Oates. I don't get it.
You've spent too much time reading the works of that writer.