Crow-chee, he died in a plane crash, I believe the concept for this song first occurred to him when he learned he was going to be a father, but the words are left vague so the listener could apply to anyone in their life.
One of the BEST songs of all time IMO. The lyrics the guitar his melodic voice..... I mean who thinks like that..... Time in a bottle In my top 50 at least
Jim has 2 main types of music. 1: Upbeat and 2: Melancholy. On the upbeat side there's Bad Bad Leroy Brown, Don't Mess Around with Jim, Rapid Roy (The stock car boy). On the Melancholy there's this song {Time in a Bottle}, Operator, I Got A Name, I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song, Alabama Rain, Photographs and Memories. He did so much in such little time
My husband passed away unexpectedly last year, and this was a song we played at his wake. I'm glad you listened to it. I love you Frank, and I'll never forget you
I'm sorry for your loss. My father was a huge Croce fan. We used Time in a Bottle as one of his memorial video songs to accompany photos of him with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Such a beautiful song.
@Pat Clark I am so sorry for your loss. I lost my wife and best friend on 9/5 this year it is a pain that will be there forever. In time tho people tell me it lessons as the love and good memories stay present.
Jim "Cro-Chee" was probably the best folk singer of his time, with wisdom beyond his years. It's interesting MrLboyd mentions spending time doing stuff you enjoy because that was Croce's motto. He used to say, "if you dig it, do it. And if you dig it a lot, do it twice."
@@hoodatdare7039 - I’m sorry I’m behaving like the spelling police! It’s nothing personal, I’m compulsive: Joni Mitchell; Leonard Cohen; Gordon Lightfoot; it was their time too. EDIT: You’ve got *Great Taste In Music* That’s what counts!🎶
Jim Croce (crow chee) was an absolutely fabulous folk/easy listening singer songwriter. He wrote this song after his wife in Dec. 1970 told him she was pregnant. To me he was singing about regents that he would not be able to spend all the time he wanted with him. The line “there never seems to be enough time”,alludes to that. Tragically he died in a plane crash in Sept 1973. This had just been released and Jim became only the 3rd person to have a number 1 chart hit after they had passed. Other here have listed other songs you should listen. They are all very good. It is sad to think of all the lost songs he would have written had he lived. Thanks for your reaction and have a blessed day
Great reaction… Croce was definitely one of the artists my parents passed on to me when I was younger. Gotta do “Operator”! Great song, another great message/story
It's one of the most beautiful songs written in the last 50 or 100 years, not to mention the beauty of his wonderful voice, with its alternating depth and lightness. I guess he had the time he needed to create classics and beauty. RIP Jim Croce.
I'm so glad you're going to go on a Jim Croce journey. I LOVE the song "Operator." It's great!!! "Time in a Bottle" is one of the most beautifully written songs of all time. It touched me, like it touched you. Great job.
To understand Jim’s music, you need to know about his life as an aspiring singer-songwriter since his day in college who struggled for nearly a decade, playing in dive bars, and having to work other jobs to make ends meet, including as a long-haul truck driver, and spending time as a Vietnam War era soldier-in-training. His solo career and duo with his wife was going nowhere. Then Jim met an exceptional musician, a classically trained pianist six years his junior, Maury Muehleisen, who elevated the music to match Jim’s voice -> Maury quickly mastered the acoustic guitar and does the more sophisticated finger picking while Jim plays rhythm guitar. In 1972 and 1973, the pair recorded three albums, many of their songs charted, tv gigs were added and they went from tour stops in small college auditoriums to big venues. Jim’s outlook had changed too: he now had a son, and his wife wanted him home rather than constant touring. Me wrote this song anticipating the birth of his first child. On the last day of his life, he and Maury played in a small college venue, the sort he no longer played at, but he had skipped a planned stop there a year earlier and wanted to honor his commitment. After that gig, a local pilot in questionable health took off on a dark runway and struck a tree. Jim and Maury were killed; Maury was just 24. But those final two years the pair were prolific. Jim‘s lyrics were often about characters he had met or encountered in the years before he became a success or heart-wrenching stories about struggles, love and relationships. The upbeat songs leaned heavily on his great sense of humor. He was passionate in all he did and it shows in his lyrics and delivery. Others greats include: Operator I’ll Have to say I Love You in a Song Bad, Bad Leroy Brown (upbeat, huge hit) Workin’ at the Car Wash Blue (hilarious) Box #10 New York’s Not my Home I’ve Got a Name (only hit he did not write) There are many more but those are a varied set of some of his best. It’s worth watching him live too as his personality shines through.
The continuing tragedy in the Croce family is that Jim's son (A.J. Croce) was beaten so badly by his mother's boyfriend that he was blinded in both eyes from the age of 4 until he regained sight at the age of 10. When he was 15 the family house burned down, removing all remaining (non-public) photos and mementos of his father from his life.
Love Jim’s music! There are no bad Jim Croce songs. Favs of mine are lovers cross, operator, I fell in love with a Roller Derby Queen, photographs and memories. He is amazing and you will treat your ears by getting familiar with him. Thanks for this reaction, great one!!❤
As you get older and have a family this song becomes so powerful. My son turned 14 yesterday. It seemed like just the other day he was 8 years old mailing his Christmas list to Santa, or playing at the water park. I will never get that back. I see this song saying that it moves so fast, and he’d like to save all of that time. Past and future.
He died here in the town I live in, Natchitoches, Louisiana. My dad was at his last show here. Next year is the anniversary and a nice monument will be unveiled with a concert of his music, with his son from that music video playing and singing.
I think this is the first time seeing actual joy and happiness seep out of your facial expression. Really nice to see this genuine emotion from you. This is one of my favorite all time songs. Loved your reaction
That line about the box full of wishes - gets me every time. This is not a song to a significant other, this a song to his child. I used to think it was romantic AF, then I had a kid and it changed all meaning to me.
I can't imagine going through life never having met your father but being haunted by a song he essentially wrote about you and him. His son was born in '71(and has had a helluva ride).
@rieskimo - Luckily, AJ did get to meet his father, although their time together was much too, too short. AJ being almost two,only, when Jim died, probably was too young to retain memories of his father. This video of the song always makes me teary eyed, often I cry. The film clips are from home movies, mostly of Jim with AJ.
You are so right. I have an aggressive form of cancer and when you find out how short your time is everyday is precious and every night is heartbreaking.
I remember playing this song on my little record player when I would lie down to go to sleep. It was a 45 and so you’d hear the scratchy LP sound. You lift the bar so it would play the song over and over. My uncle had just deployed to Germany during the Vietnam War and I missed him. I loved him more like a big brother since he was only about 10 years older than me. I would lie in my bed and cry for him. I was about 8 or 9. He’s not with us anymore and this brought back his memory for me. RIP Uncle Russ.
Thank you for your reaction to this song. I’m sure you will love Operator, which is another melancholy song done by Jim. He was special and left us far too soon. 👏👏🇨🇦
I was only about 3 when Jim was taken from us, I have adored this song all my life, I remember hearing it at night on my radio in the dark sometimes when I couldn't sleep, the song, like Jim's time here are both far to short 💜🥺🔥🎀
I love Jim Croce's music. He does such a wide range of songs. Bad Bad Leroy Brown, You Don't Mess Around with Jim, Operator. So many great songs and so many songs lost. His son, AJ Croce, is also a musician.
Please do more Jim he’s one of a kind you will be happy you did brother. I’m only 33 this was before my time but some of my best memories with my father are listening to an old Croce cassette on road trips
Lovely review. Jim Croce died unexpectedly, so this song was prophetic. His son A.J. performs some of his music. He was 2 years old when his dad died. He's had a lot of tragedy in his life.
I truly enjoy your videos! Seeing your facial expression change as you contemplate the lyrics and realization fans on you is incredible! Your comments are always thought proving and kind. Thank you! ✌️
One of my favorites that I rarely see anything on anymore. Thank you! 😊 He has lots of great music as mentioned in lots of these comments. Hope to hear more.
My mom loved Jim Croce. Growing up as a child born in the 70's, I had an appreciation for him especially the upbeat Bad Bad Leroy Brown. However, I couldn't fully appreciate this song until I was older. My mom of course loved it, but as a child, to me it was just slow. Now it's so beautiful and poignant...
His son A.J. said he has no memories with his father, but knows how much his dad loved him by this song. Just feeling the pain, of a son, who longs to know his dad, it adds even more pain to this song. The more you read into it, the more emotion you feel.
I grew up listening to my father whistle to this song and Operator. He would pay bills with the long cord stretching across the room from the stereo. Memories are wonderful
It's touching to watch the little kid in the video, AJ Croce, perform this song as a grown man, especially after you've watched this video, and know the story.
Jim Croce was an amazing song writer lost too soon. I inherited several records of his and they are in my top favorites, end to end albums. I seriously have never heard a bad Jim Croce song which is incredibly rare for any artist
I heard this song a lot on a local radio station near the summer camp I was at in 1974. So I bought Photographs and Memories after the summer. Didn’t find out that Jim had already passed away until later on, and I had the same reaction as MrLBoyd. Nothing to add to the previous comments, playing the album still brings a tear or two to my eyes.
i am a truck driver and my favorite old school truck driver song is Speedball Tucker by Jim. loved your reaction, to this song, as well as all others. keep on being you brother
I grew up with Jim Croce and he's one of the greatest song storytellers that ever was. My favorites by him are Working At the Carwash Blues, Time in a Bottle and The Hard Way Every Time, but for classics, everyone should know Bad Bad Leroy Brown and You Don't Mess Around With Jim
I only discovered this song just today after hearing it from an Instagram Reel I would really like to keep this song going on my Spotify and RUclips playlist forever
Jim Croce's was a tragic story - so much talent, so much promise, lost much too early. A young man, just establishing his career with a young wife and child. It makes this song just that much more poignant.
Jim was in touch with life, like a poet. He and his musical partner Maury, died in a plane crash. ALL his songs are good, from the "character" songs about "bad, bad" Leroy Brown, the Roller Derby Queen, or the Jim you don't mess around with, to his heartfelt works, you can't go wrong.
"Box # 10", " "Lover's Cross", "Old Man River", " It doesn't have to be that way", "Roller Derby Queen", " Bad Bad Leroy Brown", I could go on for hours for his criminally short career. Croce stands alongside Gordon Lightfoot as North America's greatest singer-songwriters of the last 60+ years.
How many of our most revered singers didn't live long and keep telling us live every day with gusto and joy and don't rely on tomorrow? We listen to their music but don't usually take their words to heart. We sang his song I Got a Name at High School Graduation 1974. RIP
Jim Croce (Crow-she) passed away suddenly in a plane crash in 1973 along side with his guitarist Maury Muehleisen leaving a gig. "I got a name" came out the day after he died. Either did heavy/reflective songs or upbeat stories. My favorites are "Dreamin' Again," "You Don't Mess Around with Jim," "Lover's Cross," "These Dreams," "I Got a Name," and "Walkin' Back To Georgia." Such a small but powerful discography! Most famous song is "Operator" which is a masterpiece!
Funny you mention John Denver too because him and Jim Croce were both 2 of the ones I listened to most as a kid, as well as a lot of Cat Stevens, Dan Fogelberg, Tracy Chapman and Stevie B. They're all some of my favorites growing up.
RIP James Joseph Croce (/ˈkroʊtʃi/; January 10, 1943 - September 20, 1973) was an American folk and rock singer-songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, he released five studio albums and numerous singles. During this period, Croce took a series of odd jobs to pay bills while he continued to write, record, and perform concerts. After he formed a partnership with songwriter and guitarist Maury Muehleisen, his fortunes turned in the early 1970s. His breakthrough came in 1972; his third album, You Don't Mess Around with Jim, produced three charting singles, including "Time in a Bottle", which reached No. 1 after his death. The follow-up album, Life and Times, included the song "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown", which was the only No. 1 hit he had during his lifetime. On September 20, 1973, at the height of his popularity and the day before the lead single to his fifth album I Got a Name was released, Croce and five others died in a plane crash. His music continued to chart throughout the 1970s following his death. Croce's wife Ingrid was his early songwriting partner. She continued to write and record after his death and their son A. J. Croce became a singer-songwriter in the 1990s. Peace out.
Some of his that I love are "Photographs and Memories", "I'll have to say I Love You in a Song", "I Got A Name", "Working at the Car Wash Blues", "Bad Bad Leroy Brown", Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels)", "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" and of course the one you did here is my favorite.
He tragically died in a plane crash when I was 17, and thus began my fear of flying. I was devastated! He was special, and there will never be another like him. My fave and personal anthem is "I Got A Name" but I don't think that he wrote that one. "Time In A Bottle" is also a very personal song for me. He remains much loved. Some of the best and brightest have been taken in plane and helicopter crashes. RIP Jim
Crow-chee, he died in a plane crash, I believe the concept for this song first occurred to him when he learned he was going to be a father, but the words are left vague so the listener could apply to anyone in their life.
One of the BEST songs of all time IMO. The lyrics the guitar his melodic voice..... I mean who thinks like that..... Time in a bottle In my top 50 at least
His song Operator destroys me every time. Haven't lost a girl to a friend, it reminds me of no Ex. But I tear up every single time. Heh
I loved his love story with wife. Their house was always full of artists that would jam the whole time. ❤
His son sings his songs now and Time in a Bottle is the most personal because it is indeed about him.
Jim said on a talk show it was pronounced "Crow-chay"... I like so many had been pronouncing it "Crow-chee".
Jim has 2 main types of music. 1: Upbeat and 2: Melancholy. On the upbeat side there's Bad Bad Leroy Brown, Don't Mess Around with Jim, Rapid Roy (The stock car boy). On the Melancholy there's this song {Time in a Bottle}, Operator, I Got A Name, I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song, Alabama Rain, Photographs and Memories. He did so much in such little time
Well said. And he was a great story teller. ❤️
I'd have to add Lovers Cross and working at the car wash blues, but otherwise a great list
It's really astonishing how much he managed to do by 30. man.
@@wtimmins IKR? Really seemed to be a humble but amazing artist.
amazing when you think of it, he sure did have some great songs that sound just as good as they did 50 year ago
My husband passed away unexpectedly last year, and this was a song we played at his wake. I'm glad you listened to it.
I love you Frank, and I'll never forget you
I'm sorry for your loss. My father was a huge Croce fan. We used Time in a Bottle as one of his memorial video songs to accompany photos of him with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Such a beautiful song.
That made me tear up. So sorry for you loss and I don't even know you.
Made me cry. I list my husband in April & then my dad in early May 2022. I know it’s been about 6 months but still raw
@@kpmac1 thanks. It's hard to lose a lover and best friend, but we have to keep going forward, even though it's so very hard
@Pat Clark I am so sorry for your loss. I lost my wife and best friend on 9/5 this year it is a pain that will be there forever. In time tho people tell me it lessons as the love and good memories stay present.
Jim "Cro-Chee" was probably the best folk singer of his time, with wisdom beyond his years. It's interesting MrLboyd mentions spending time doing stuff you enjoy because that was Croce's motto. He used to say, "if you dig it, do it. And if you dig it a lot, do it twice."
JONI MITCHEL, LENORD CHOEN, GORDEN LIGHTFOOT, MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT. IT WAS THERE TIME TO.
@@hoodatdare7039 - I’m sorry I’m behaving like the spelling police! It’s nothing personal, I’m compulsive: Joni Mitchell; Leonard Cohen; Gordon Lightfoot; it was their time too.
EDIT: You’ve got *Great Taste In Music* That’s what counts!🎶
Two story tellers I loved at the time. Jim and Harry Chapin. Both died to young.
Jim Croce (crow chee) was an absolutely fabulous folk/easy listening singer songwriter. He wrote this song after his wife in Dec. 1970 told him she was pregnant. To me he was singing about regents that he would not be able to spend all the time he wanted with him. The line “there never seems to be enough time”,alludes to that. Tragically he died in a plane crash in Sept 1973. This had just been released and Jim became only the 3rd person to have a number 1 chart hit after they had passed. Other here have listed other songs you should listen. They are all very good. It is sad to think of all the lost songs he would have written had he lived. Thanks for your reaction and have a blessed day
Great reaction… Croce was definitely one of the artists my parents passed on to me when I was younger. Gotta do “Operator”! Great song, another great message/story
Yes, Operator is a must.
It's one of the most beautiful songs written in the last 50 or 100 years, not to mention the beauty of his wonderful voice, with its alternating depth and lightness. I guess he had the time he needed to create classics and beauty. RIP Jim Croce.
I'm so glad you're going to go on a Jim Croce journey. I LOVE the song "Operator." It's great!!! "Time in a Bottle" is one of the most beautifully written songs of all time. It touched me, like it touched you. Great job.
OMG! Jim Croce is amazing! So sad he passed so young... definitely worth listening to more from him sir!
To understand Jim’s music, you need to know about his life as an aspiring singer-songwriter since his day in college who struggled for nearly a decade, playing in dive bars, and having to work other jobs to make ends meet, including as a long-haul truck driver, and spending time as a Vietnam War era soldier-in-training. His solo career and duo with his wife was going nowhere.
Then Jim met an exceptional musician, a classically trained pianist six years his junior, Maury Muehleisen, who elevated the music to match Jim’s voice -> Maury quickly mastered the acoustic guitar and does the more sophisticated finger picking while Jim plays rhythm guitar.
In 1972 and 1973, the pair recorded three albums, many of their songs charted, tv gigs were added and they went from tour stops in small college auditoriums to big venues.
Jim’s outlook had changed too: he now had a son, and his wife wanted him home rather than constant touring. Me wrote this song anticipating the birth of his first child.
On the last day of his life, he and Maury played in a small college venue, the sort he no longer played at, but he had skipped a planned stop there a year earlier and wanted to honor his commitment. After that gig, a local pilot in questionable health took off on a dark runway and struck a tree. Jim and Maury were killed; Maury was just 24.
But those final two years the pair were prolific. Jim‘s lyrics were often about characters he had met or encountered in the years before he became a success or heart-wrenching stories about struggles, love and relationships. The upbeat songs leaned heavily on his great sense of humor. He was passionate in all he did and it shows in his lyrics and delivery.
Others greats include:
Operator
I’ll Have to say I Love You in a Song
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown (upbeat, huge hit)
Workin’ at the Car Wash Blue (hilarious)
Box #10
New York’s Not my Home
I’ve Got a Name (only hit he did not write)
There are many more but those are a varied set of some of his best. It’s worth watching him live too as his personality shines through.
The continuing tragedy in the Croce family is that Jim's son (A.J. Croce) was beaten so badly by his mother's boyfriend that he was blinded in both eyes from the age of 4 until he regained sight at the age of 10. When he was 15 the family house burned down, removing all remaining
(non-public) photos and mementos of his father from his life.
@@MrVvulf Just awful. Thanks for sharing.
"I Got a Name" is one of my favorites. ❤️
Man...my father in law played this song at my wedding, my stepdaughter sang it. Thanks for bringing happy tears to my eyes tonight.
Love Jim’s music! There are no bad Jim Croce songs. Favs of mine are lovers cross, operator, I fell in love with a Roller Derby Queen, photographs and memories.
He is amazing and you will treat your ears by getting familiar with him. Thanks for this reaction, great one!!❤
As you get older and have a family this song becomes so powerful. My son turned 14 yesterday. It seemed like just the other day he was 8 years old mailing his Christmas list to Santa, or playing at the water park. I will never get that back. I see this song saying that it moves so fast, and he’d like to save all of that time. Past and future.
Yeah unfortunately he left us with so little music in his short life, however all of his music is absolutely beautiful.
I've played this and many other Jim song over and over SO many times....there was never enough time for him to share his immense talent with us.
He died here in the town I live in, Natchitoches, Louisiana. My dad was at his last show here. Next year is the anniversary and a nice monument will be unveiled with a concert of his music, with his son from that music video playing and singing.
I think this is the first time seeing actual joy and happiness seep out of your facial expression. Really nice to see this genuine emotion from you. This is one of my favorite all time songs. Loved your reaction
One of the most beautiful songs ever written.I miss those days...thanks
“Operated” is one of my favourites
RIP JIM YOU ARE DEARLY MISSED
That line about the box full of wishes - gets me every time. This is not a song to a significant other, this a song to his child. I used to think it was romantic AF, then I had a kid and it changed all meaning to me.
I can't imagine going through life never having met your father but being haunted by a song he essentially wrote about you and him. His son was born in '71(and has had a helluva ride).
@rieskimo - Luckily, AJ did get to meet his father, although their time together was much too, too short. AJ being almost two,only, when Jim died, probably was too young to retain memories of his father. This video of the song always makes me teary eyed, often I cry. The film clips are from home movies, mostly of Jim with AJ.
The true reason reaction videos are so addictive...
I listen to the lyrics as if it's the first time.
Got me welled up on this one.
You are so right. I have an aggressive form of cancer and when you find out how short your time is everyday is precious and every night is heartbreaking.
My favorite Jim Croce song is I've Got a Name. So many words in that song that I can relate to,
Remember liking this in '72. I cannot believe it's been 50 years.
Watching your subtle smile grow on your face as you catch the meaning
I remember playing this song on my little record player when I would lie down to go to sleep. It was a 45 and so you’d hear the scratchy LP sound. You lift the bar so it would play the song over and over. My uncle had just deployed to Germany during the Vietnam War and I missed him. I loved him more like a big brother since he was only about 10 years older than me. I would lie in my bed and cry for him. I was about 8 or 9. He’s not with us anymore and this brought back his memory for me. RIP Uncle Russ.
One of the most beautiful songs ever written.. One of..
It is a love song to his child.
One of the finest singer/songwriters of all time.
Croce is a legend. Fantastic reaction
Jim is a whole rabbit hole of music of music you must explore!
I love this song so much as I do Jim Croce in general. Wordsmith extraordinaire
Beautiful song. Photographs and Memories is another good one by him
Thank you for your reaction to this song. I’m sure you will love Operator, which is another melancholy song done by Jim. He was special and left us far too soon. 👏👏🇨🇦
"Sad and touching song", they way I've always thought of it (even as a little boy in the 70's) was "Hauntingly beautiful".
This was the song we chose for our first dance at our wedding 28 years ago. More Croce please.
I see you already found your way to this tune....What a balladeer. It is too bad we lost him too soon.
Operator is a great song by him. He is a great story teller. Leroy brown is a good one too.
Brings me to tears every time!
Absolutely LOVE his music. Glad you found it, listen to his other stuff, you won't be disapointed.
Thanks for finding me a gem of my.childhood again.
Jim Croce is an incredible poet songwriter!
Wonderful song. So much truth there.
Jim's while catalog of music is superbly amazing! Delve into his music you won't regret it
Croce is an absolute gem. One of my top singer-songwriters of all time, despite how short his run was.
My all-time favorite Croce song is "One Less Set of Footsteps." Worth a listen.
Always makes me cry... Always..
I was only about 3 when Jim was taken from us, I have adored this song all my life, I remember hearing it at night on my radio in the dark sometimes when I couldn't sleep, the song, like Jim's time here are both far to short 💜🥺🔥🎀
Same here , I was 2 yrs old when he died. He still features in my regular play list .
This song is the one most of us in the 70's had played at our weddings.
A man who was taken in his prime hell of a song writer
Thank you MrLboyd, Jim Croce is one of my all time favorites.
Heard the song a hundred times never realized it was about his kid how amazing...
One of my all time favorite artists. Remember listening in the car with my Mom. Great memories!
I love Jim Croce's music. He does such a wide range of songs. Bad Bad Leroy Brown, You Don't Mess Around with Jim, Operator. So many great songs and so many songs lost. His son, AJ Croce, is also a musician.
Beautifully haunting
Please do more of this content brotha. Thank you.
Please do more Jim he’s one of a kind you will be happy you did brother. I’m only 33 this was before my time but some of my best memories with my father are listening to an old Croce cassette on road trips
“I’ve got a name” is an amazing song by Jim
Lovely review. Jim Croce died unexpectedly, so this song was prophetic. His son A.J. performs some of his music. He was 2 years old when his dad died. He's had a lot of tragedy in his life.
I truly enjoy your videos! Seeing your facial expression change as you contemplate the lyrics and realization fans on you is incredible! Your comments are always thought proving and kind. Thank you! ✌️
One of my favorites that I rarely see anything on anymore. Thank you! 😊 He has lots of great music as mentioned in lots of these comments. Hope to hear more.
Makes me cry every time.
RIP, you had quite an impact on my preteen years. ❤️⚘️
My mom loved Jim Croce. Growing up as a child born in the 70's, I had an appreciation for him especially the upbeat Bad Bad Leroy Brown. However, I couldn't fully appreciate this song until I was older.
My mom of course loved it, but as a child, to me it was just slow. Now it's so beautiful and poignant...
His son A.J. said he has no memories with his father, but knows how much his dad loved him by this song. Just feeling the pain, of a son, who longs to know his dad, it adds even more pain to this song. The more you read into it, the more emotion you feel.
I grew up listening to my father whistle to this song and Operator. He would pay bills with the long cord stretching across the room from the stereo. Memories are wonderful
It's touching to watch the little kid in the video, AJ Croce, perform this song as a grown man, especially after you've watched this video, and know the story.
Jim Croce was an amazing song writer lost too soon. I inherited several records of his and they are in my top favorites, end to end albums. I seriously have never heard a bad Jim Croce song which is incredibly rare for any artist
I heard this song a lot on a local radio station near the summer camp I was at in 1974. So I bought Photographs and Memories after the summer. Didn’t find out that Jim had already passed away until later on, and I had the same reaction as MrLBoyd. Nothing to add to the previous comments, playing the album still brings a tear or two to my eyes.
i am a truck driver and my favorite old school truck driver song is Speedball Tucker by Jim. loved your reaction, to this song, as well as all others. keep on being you brother
This was so sad at the time of his death...He was one of my favorites as a teen and this was my favorite song. When he died I was heartbroken...
LOOOOOOVVVEEE This song.. My life in a bottle
Your ability to absorb the soul of a song amazes me. Well done.
Carry on......💌
I grew up with Jim Croce and he's one of the greatest song storytellers that ever was.
My favorites by him are Working At the Carwash Blues, Time in a Bottle and The Hard Way Every Time, but for classics, everyone should know Bad Bad Leroy Brown and You Don't Mess Around With Jim
I only discovered this song just today after hearing it from an Instagram Reel I would really like to keep this song going on my Spotify and RUclips playlist forever
Jim Croce's was a tragic story - so much talent, so much promise, lost much too early. A young man, just establishing his career with a young wife and child. It makes this song just that much more poignant.
Yeah, he's a favorite of mine and had so many nice songs by the age of 30.
Jim was in touch with life, like a poet. He and his musical partner Maury, died in a plane crash. ALL his songs are good, from the "character" songs about "bad, bad" Leroy Brown, the Roller Derby Queen, or the Jim you don't mess around with, to his heartfelt works, you can't go wrong.
Jim Croce is an amazing storyteller. He is definitely one of a kind. If I were you, I would definitely go down that rabbit hole.
So many hits in such a short time
His greatest hits album called photographs and memories is great. Every family road trip when I was a kid.
"Box # 10", " "Lover's Cross", "Old Man River", " It doesn't have to be that way", "Roller Derby Queen", " Bad Bad Leroy Brown", I could go on for hours for his criminally short career. Croce stands alongside Gordon Lightfoot as North America's greatest singer-songwriters of the last 60+ years.
How many of our most revered singers didn't live long and keep telling us live every day with gusto and joy and don't rely on tomorrow? We listen to their music but don't usually take their words to heart. We sang his song I Got a Name at High School Graduation 1974. RIP
Wow I can't believe I never realized he only lived to 30. Thanks for the reaction.
Hope i see him in the next world hes amazingly blessed now at lest we can love his music
I was 7 when he died. I remember hearing about it from Casey Kasem on America’s Top 40. Loved all his popular songs even at that young age.
One of my favorite songs of his was working at the carwash blues.
Great reaction! That dude was awesome!
Jim Croce (Crow-she) passed away suddenly in a plane crash in 1973 along side with his guitarist Maury Muehleisen leaving a gig. "I got a name" came out the day after he died. Either did heavy/reflective songs or upbeat stories. My favorites are "Dreamin' Again," "You Don't Mess Around with Jim," "Lover's Cross," "These Dreams," "I Got a Name," and "Walkin' Back To Georgia." Such a small but powerful discography! Most famous song is "Operator" which is a masterpiece!
This was played at my wedding 7/23/1976, it’s a beautiful love song
Mr.B! glad to be back watching your reactions.
This song was written for his son, who now performs his dad's music as well as his own. His son is AJ Croce.
Funny you mention John Denver too because him and Jim Croce were both 2 of the ones I listened to most as a kid, as well as a lot of Cat Stevens, Dan Fogelberg, Tracy Chapman and Stevie B. They're all some of my favorites growing up.
RIP James Joseph Croce (/ˈkroʊtʃi/; January 10, 1943 - September 20, 1973) was an American folk and rock singer-songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, he released five studio albums and numerous singles. During this period, Croce took a series of odd jobs to pay bills while he continued to write, record, and perform concerts. After he formed a partnership with songwriter and guitarist Maury Muehleisen, his fortunes turned in the early 1970s. His breakthrough came in 1972; his third album, You Don't Mess Around with Jim, produced three charting singles, including "Time in a Bottle", which reached No. 1 after his death. The follow-up album, Life and Times, included the song "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown", which was the only No. 1 hit he had during his lifetime.
On September 20, 1973, at the height of his popularity and the day before the lead single to his fifth album I Got a Name was released, Croce and five others died in a plane crash. His music continued to chart throughout the 1970s following his death. Croce's wife Ingrid was his early songwriting partner. She continued to write and record after his death and their son A. J. Croce became a singer-songwriter in the 1990s. Peace out.
I still remember the lyrics, this was my favorite song at the time. I cried for days when he passed
Some of his that I love are "Photographs and Memories", "I'll have to say I Love You in a Song", "I Got A Name", "Working at the Car Wash Blues", "Bad Bad Leroy Brown", Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels)", "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" and of course the one you did here is my favorite.
He tragically died in a plane crash when I was 17, and thus began my fear of flying. I was devastated! He was special, and there will never be another like him. My fave and personal anthem is "I Got A Name" but I don't think that he wrote that one. "Time In A Bottle" is also a very personal song for me. He remains much loved. Some of the best and brightest have been taken in plane and helicopter crashes. RIP Jim