Big John's performance in this song inspired me to develop my own voice , and I've been fortunate enough to perform O Holy Night anually, for about 20 years now,. It's one of the joys of my life. I do, however, realize my life has much in common with Mr. Tanner, and still earn my living as an auto mechanic. Thanks Harry and Big John.RIP Harry.
The world needs auto mechanics and it's great that some of them can sing! Live your own life, and I truly hope you realize happiness in many areas... with love... Eddie
One of my favourite storytellers of all times!!! RIP Harry Chaplin. Grew up going to concerts and listening to all our amazing artist of that time period. I would not have changed it for the world!
Saw Big John perform with the Steve Chapin band sing this song back in June. He still has that amazing voice range. And the fans in a packed house still love him !
+Dennis Hoskins And your life is better for it! I shook his hand several times , at concerts, because he would stay after, for hours, and sign every T shirt, or other memorabilia, and donate the cash from those sales to world hunger, The fact that we throw away enough food to feed the world's hungry, didn't make sense to Harry. Taken too soon, a kind man, who cared more about others than his own fame....... You can always count on the cheap seats!
This had to be fairly early in Harry's singing career. Big John is the only one who was with him to the end, and there is no Steve Chapin on piano or Howie Fields on drums. Yvonne Cable was his last cello player I got to see him 4 times in concert the last three years of his life and talk to him for 10 minutes after one of those shows (it helped if you managed to be the last person in line to meet him!). His sudden death was devastating to me, and sent me into a tail-spin for a long-time. Harry based this song on a review he read in the "New York Times" that he thought was rather cruel and imagined what came before and after. There is video on RUclips of a tribute concert for Harry where they tracked down the person who was the basis for this song and he sang the John Wallace part. He truly has a great baritone voice.
This was one of my Mom's favorites. She would listen to this cassette constantly, and sing this song while doing the household chores. She was a "Sweet Adeline", as a baritone, no less. I was proud of her.
This song touches on one of Mr. Chapin's recurring themes: negative energy people ruining the lives of others. We are treated to this theme in "Flowers are Red" "Sniper" "The Rock" and many others. I see it all the time on the internet; people, safe behind their keyboards spewing hate and abuse! Of course, it's not a new thing, just magnified by the convenience and cowardice covering of social media! Harry Chapin was a crusader against this sort of bullying! A rare gem of a human being!
I recently met a millennial who was a huge fan. I thought that someone like me, born in 1975, would be one of his youngest fans.... I was thankfully wrong.
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Big John's performance in this song inspired me to develop my own voice , and I've been fortunate enough to perform O Holy Night anually, for about 20 years now,. It's one of the joys of my life. I do, however, realize my life has much in common with Mr. Tanner, and still earn my living as an auto mechanic. Thanks Harry and Big John.RIP Harry.
The world needs auto mechanics and it's great that some of them can sing! Live your own life, and I truly hope you realize happiness in many areas... with love... Eddie
A brilliant story teller. We have not seen his like again.
One of my favourite storytellers of all times!!! RIP Harry Chaplin. Grew up going to concerts and listening to all our amazing artist of that time period. I would not have changed it for the world!
The cello right after "Full time consideration of another endeavor, might be in order" gets me in the feels EVERY TIME
He sure was one of the best lyric writers on my list. Too bad he went so young. Still miss him.
Saw Big John perform with the Steve Chapin band sing this song back in June. He still has that amazing voice range. And the fans in a packed house still love him !
Every song a story. Every story a work of pure genius.
Agreed
I listen to Harry, almost, all of the time. Whenever I sign-on to RUclips, I listen to Harry all night long....
+Dennis Hoskins And your life is better for it! I shook his hand several times , at concerts, because he would stay after, for hours, and sign every T shirt, or other memorabilia, and donate the cash from those sales to world hunger, The fact that we throw away enough food to feed the world's hungry, didn't make sense to Harry. Taken too soon, a kind man, who cared more about others than his own fame....... You can always count on the cheap seats!
You're absolutely right....Bravo....
Dennis Hoskins
Saw him and his brother at my school every year from 1970 to 1974
I really dig your picture too
This was one of my Mom's favorites. She would sing this song as she did household chores. She died last March. I miss her
I saw him in concert three times. He was so charismatic. I miss him but his music lives on with me. What a storyteller!
Chapin and his band were one of those few great folk bands that were a great deal better live than in the studio.
This had to be fairly early in Harry's singing career. Big John is the only one who was with him to the end, and there is no Steve Chapin on piano or Howie Fields on drums. Yvonne Cable was his last cello player I got to see him 4 times in concert the last three years of his life and talk to him for 10 minutes after one of those shows (it helped if you managed to be the last person in line to meet him!). His sudden death was devastating to me, and sent me into a tail-spin for a long-time. Harry based this song on a review he read in the "New York Times" that he thought was rather cruel and imagined what came before and after. There is video on RUclips of a tribute concert for Harry where they tracked down the person who was the basis for this song and he sang the John Wallace part. He truly has a great baritone voice.
This was one of my Mom's favorites. She would listen to this cassette constantly, and sing this song while doing the household chores. She was a "Sweet Adeline", as a baritone, no less. I was proud of her.
Big Big Love this Man.. Beautiful Soul.. 💛🧡♥️
Thanks for the upload of this song by Mr Harry Chapin.
“He sang from his Heart.. he sang from his Soul.. it made him feel sooo good .. he did not know how well he sang it just made him whole” 🥰🥰🥰
I saw Harry about 6 times in concert. He met with fans after every concert and would stay till everyone who wanted to talk with him came through,
This song touches on one of Mr. Chapin's recurring themes: negative energy people ruining the lives of others. We are treated to this theme in "Flowers are Red" "Sniper" "The Rock" and many others. I see it all the time on the internet; people, safe behind their keyboards spewing hate and abuse! Of course, it's not a new thing, just magnified by the convenience and cowardice covering of social media! Harry Chapin was a crusader against this sort of bullying! A rare gem of a human being!
One of the best...miss u!
I had this on VHS. Wish I still had it even though I no LONGER have VHS. Just to have a piece of cultural history.
This was based on a real story about a real person, with some poetic license. A number of Harry's songs were like that.
I recently met a millennial who was a huge fan. I thought that someone like me, born in 1975, would be one of his youngest fans.... I was thankfully wrong.
Part of Genz born 2004 and listen to him daily! Love his music
Harry was not only a great performer and nice guy but he also set up a food bank that grows bigger every year.
@nitro4uf Thank you, I've already had such good fortune to sing Oh Holy Night at Christmas for so many years!
He was great
@redcoat4ever well put,singing is my life , but my livelyhood! Go man go indeed!
The.greatest.ever.sadly,missed
My favourite song od Harry's!
I was born in 85, and I love him! Was this based upon a true story?
Yes. They tracked down the real gent and had him sing at a tribute concert . . . ruclips.net/video/hLtlvPHyTVE/видео.html
Yes.
Mr. tanner was a real person but, he not called tanner i forget the name i think it was tardgars?
+Shinx7009 His name was Martin Turboli....Dennis
Oh thanks means a lot! i didn't want to look it up and knew i would get it! thanks so much!
+Dennis Hoskins...... Tubridy was the last name, I just looked at the Original Newspaper Article....
@losifer69 There's one in every crowd
I hit the thumbs-down myself, just for you.