I'm 71 and a Jesse Welles fan. My go to song that I've listened to a bazillion times is "Wheels." I can't get enough of his Dylanesque lyrics. I was a fan when he had 400 followers and don't understand why he doesn't have a million. Dive in. You won't be sorry. Thank you for giving him a spin. ❤
@MatthewjeffersonTodd , I don't know if you've heard today's banger, but Gilgamesh made me cry. It's heart-wrenching and pure Jesse magic. I predict songs like this will touch the masses if there's a heartbeat still left in America. You'll thank me. 🦋
I am also a Boomer... and he so reminds me of the Folk songs that occupied my young adulthood. I am fascinated, not just with the music, but his daily output! I wish him well. I hope he goes far.!
@@kimdolly Gilgamesh is an incredible song. So beautiful, so sad, and yes, heart-wrenching. I had to sit down just with my own thoughts after listening to it the first time.
From Arkansas, but I believe currently Nashville based. Other Nashville musicians in Jesse's comments have recognized his locations (from shooting their own Instagram posts in the same places!)
@@MichaelNobleNotNobel I'm under the impression hes back in Arkansas. He moved to Nashville back in his Dead Indian days. But he's definitely been in Arkansas recently, he visited his mom lol she posted about it
@@DaiMadAboutIthe is back in Arkansas. I live in NWA and take guitar lessons at Musicworks. I had Jesse as my teacher for 2 lessons before he left to go on tour.
The kid's got a ton of songs he's posted, and he's got a unique phrasing. His voice is obviously interesting, but his melodies don't sound like anyone else's. He's making some stylistic choices that may not be apparent when listening to just one song.
I think it's a testament to Jesse Welles' music that, after you went through the music theory side of things, you dove into such a deep and heartfelt personal account of how poverty and ignorance can shape our lives. I love that power in music. Someone a thousand miles away or just around the corner can write something that pulls at some deep longing in our hearts. Thanks for being open and letting that show a little. Much love, bud!
Love your stuff Michael, but I think you slightly mis-interpreted this one. Jesse Welles isn’t doing the “authentic poor hillbilly” thing that’s been big in alt-country the last few years. He’s a protest singer ala Bob Dylan. So we don’t know if he’s singing from his own real experience, because that’s not the point - he’s critiquing society. And “a lot of blame placed outward instead of looking inward” - again, that’s the point of a protest singer. Don’t forget the song is called “The Poor,” not “I’m Poor.” I think “War isn’t Murder” is a better intro to Jesse Welles as a protest singer. He shows off more guitar chops there too. Check it out!
I don’t know how he could have interpreted Jesse Welles in a different light just hearing this one song. You’d reasonably have to hear a few songs to get his vibe, imo
I think Michael's politics colored his impressions here. It's hard to understand Jesse's abilities from one song. It's hard to tell if he'll stand the test of time, but he's got a unique vocal style, lyrics, phrasing, and melody. He sounds completely like himself and right now, it's fascinating to watch.
I just bought every one of his songs on iTunes. He’s like John Prine making me laugh at my own misery and the worst things in the world. Thanks for bringing me something new and refreshing. 🤘😎
Not so much a prophet as a satirist. But a brilliant satirist. He's singing about the times in a particular way that not a lot of Americans are used to hearing anymore, but that was common in the 1930's - 1960's. I've noticed a lot of people who listen to his most satirical songs, "not getting it" or misinterpreting it, because they're so used to literalist, binary, un-nuanced lyrics in so much of what is written today. You have to have a certain understanding of the bedrock from which he's working from and the mechanics of satire to fully appreciate how brilliant a lot of his songs really are.
I learned of this young man just this morning when his Live Aid video popped up in my feed. I had an hour and a half car drive and listened to his tunes the whole time. He has a unique viewpoint on this world and I appreciate that he is sharing it.
I love Jesse. Found him a few months ago when he had about 30k subscribers. I knew he was about to blow up after hearing that first song. Since then, he's skyrocketed and only getting more popular by the week. He has great lyrics, but I'm even more impressed with his ability to create nice melodies.
He is the best song writer. I'm telling you he is comedy , lyrics , philosophy major. He isn't out of tune. It's how Jesse rolls. Love him man. Listen to all. Dylan is in him. Bob
I've been hooked on Jesse's stuff lately! The guy is so prolific and a fantastic and unique lyricist. Very inspiring to me. His latest album Patchwork is real good.
Jesse is the modern day Dylan! He’s been around for a while now but he’s finally getting noticed in this newest iteration. And yes, he can rip leads and play super melodic runs as well as write phenomenal lyrics.
i clocked onto jesse about six months ago. When i heard his voice I had to show my missus. I also saw you break down some buckethead and even though I'm not a shredder I saw your passion and it helped me reconnect witht he guitar at a difficult time. I love the fact that something I saw on two different channels thar was meaningful has crossed paths. You sir are a motherfucking g.
He has been around for several years. Check out Cosmic American and Dead Indian. There are videos from Paste and Fayetteville pbs and a few others. Then he was doing rock and to me is a really good guitarist with a good band.
Mike I grew up pretty poor and my parents were never taught and in turn weren’t able to teach me the rules of the game so to speak. It’s taken me close to 50 years of making mistake after mistake to get to a place where at least I can understand the game to some extent. Our country for as great as it is definitely has its blind spots and this is a big one.
At first I saw him and thought of Björn from ABBA. Then heard him and he reminded me of Bob Dylan. But then I saw HIM as I paid attention to the lyrics. I liked him 🙋♀️🇺🇾🥰
I've said this exact thing to a room full of California business and government leaders at the Milken Summit. I said that we need a basic class in High School that teaches people how our world works, how to run a small local community business, how to be a good active citizen. This song couldn't be more accurate. I've never once used my recorder skills to get me out of a real life jam.
Maybe it's autobiographical in part or in full or maybe not at all, I can't tell just by watching him sing one song from my comfortable home studio in suburbia USA; and I definitely can't make the leap to see the slight mistuning (perhaps) of a 1950s Stella with a capo on it (and maybe a rubber bridge) as being indicative of a disadvantaged socio-economic background, most-likely associated with--GASP--a public school education and poor parenting. The Stellas happen to have a very high cool factor. Besides, lately he's been playing a Gibson LG-2 and an all mahogany Martin 12 fret. Anyway, check out his other videos and you'll find the work of a highly talented musician and songwriter who's been dedicating his craft lately to the folk genre. You'll also find some truly brilliant gems that can compete with the best of writers like Prine, Dylan and others of the late 50s-early 70s folkies. So, like folk singers before him, he's raising a prophetic voice to his times, throwing down a challenge and pushing buttons in a direct, but artful way. IMO, in this piece, one of the things he takes aim at is the condescending, dismissive, and hyper-individualistic attitudes of some towards the poor. Ultimately, he raises the question of the social contract and the common good in an acceleratingly unequal society. You know, like, Who is my neighbor and what mutual obligations do we share?
He sung in a (what I would describe as a punk) band under the name "Welles". Not always been doing folk tunes Edit: "hold me like I'm leaving" is one of my favs from that band.
The only financial training my father ever gave me was, and I quote: "a quarter is a big chunk of money" and my personal fave, "money doesn't grow on trees". Thanks Dad!
Really nice licks on a beautifully sounding instrument brother Palmesano......really nice. I am so very glad that you now have Jesse in your reproquire. I've been following for good while now , and I absolutely love this fellow for his songwriting. He is a fellow who has an amazing gift of words coupled with rhyming in order to establish songs to tell the absolute truth of the human condition like no one I've heard in quite a while!!......and he can actually much much better than in this particular piece. I highly encourage you to dive deeper into his work , especially when your dealing with one of the many topics he has covered in the ever growing base of songs he has written since his start. Thank you as always for your dedication and hard work concerning the guitar and music as a whole. I hope all things are well with you and all your family , and want you to know and remember what a difference your program has made in this old mans life as far as music and our common love for music goes......and for that I will always be thankfull. Stay you , stay real , and carry on. Cheers , ron
I'm one of those with longer thumbs, so I almost always use the over-thumb technique for the F-shape chords on the bottom strings. Jimi, SRV, John Mayer all use this technique because they all have long thumbs and fingers and it's comfortable to do.
Jesse is one of the best writers of this generation. I've already been in deep analysis and when you open the song with "I was stoned in a factory working an industrial slicer".. it's gonna be good
I love Jesse and I am coming more and more to appreciate your interpretive tangents more than anything. Honestly I don't play the guitar enough to be able to do that much with the guitar commentary (really I need to take some lessons, there are just other things going on in my life). But I do live life. As do you. And your taking the time to share where the songs take you is meaningful. There are lots of guitar gurus out there on RUclips. It's good that you mix it up.
Yup! You're spot on Mike. I live in Alabama and those are definitely power line or gas line trails. They are all over and I'm so glad that I stumbled on this. I love the rawness of Jesse's voice and playing!! Also, I just got a guitar after not playing for years. I will say my dexterity is not what it was 8 years ago!?
You make some very good points. Listen to more of Jessie's work, especially the song I'm sorry, and, that can't be right, and, fear is the mind-killer Jesse Welles will soon be a household name. The Poor Jesse Welles Lyrics [Chorus] If you worked a little harder Then you’d have a lot more So the blame and the shame’s on you For being so damn poor [Post-Chorus] It ain’t the price gouging And it ain’t the inflation It ain’t everyone above ya tryna make a buck from ya And screwin' the whole congregation [Verse 1] I had that reduced lunch I had the benefit cards It never occurred to me to blame my family For life being so damn hard I should've paid attention Back when I was in school Then I could figure up the tax I would know a lot of facts I missed thе class where they taught thе rules [Verse 2] I was memorizing capitols I was in the spelling bee I must've missed the part Where they taught the art Of private equity I was selling chocolate bars I had a disorder I was cuttin' up a frog Got lost in the fog Learnin' how to play a recorder [Chorus] If you only worked a little harder If you worked a little harder, ah-ah If you worked a little harder, ah, ah-ah If you worked a little harder Then you'd have a lot more So the blame and the shame’s on you For being so damn poor [Post-Chorus] It ain’t the banks And it ain’t the taxes It ain’t the pay day loans and the high rent homes And predatory fees and practices [Verse 3] Wave your dumb flag Whatever it means But you should ask yourself When it comes to health Are the poor really all that free? [Chorus] If you worked a little harder If you worked a little harder, ah-ah If you worked a little harder, ah, ah-ah If you worked a little harder Then you’d have a lot more So the blame and the shame’s on you For being so damn poor, yeah
He's the best singer/songwriter in America right now and the only one focused on what's happening in the world. An uncommon wit, wisdom and rhetorical gift. The phrase "new Dylan" is so over-used, it's become meaningless (and it's a meaningless phrase anyway). But he has many of the gifts Dylan had in his early protest years in his songwriting, with a bit of John Prine and a lot of Guthrie. When I first started going through his songs last year, I was floored. Not just by the writing, but by the sheer *volume* of songs he was putting out. The guy is 30 years old and he's been doing this since 2012. He's put out, I believe, at last count, TEN albums, a handful of EP's, countless "singles", etc. He's obviously plugged into the muse and the moment - and considering how wonderful his songs are now, I can't imagine the stuff he'll be writing in another 10 years. Or maybe he wont be, by then, who knows. All I know is: the guy's speaking to the era in a depth of focus and with a satirical wit that I honestly thought was dead before I heard him. He's fantastic.
For me it would be wheels, whales or war is a god along with its "sister" war isn't murder ,but like you said all his songs are worth listening too. There's a whole spectrum of emotions and sincerity in his lyrics and his melodies. It feels close to home, even though I'm from the other side of the ocean I feel what he sings about. I can relate to him and that feels good, because I don't feel as alone as I would without it. I'm grateful that we get to know an artist as him in our era, we need people to tell the others about the situation, our world as it is, in a crude and sincere way.
Michael, I like how half the video here was about your takeaway from his message. Other comments say you basically don't get it, but I think he did his job in the fact that you took almost half the video to show how it resonated with you! But I wanted to say that you should react to his song "Walmart", or maybe "War Isn't Murder". Or both. He covers so many different feels. An older song "Life Like Mine" is one that I forgot about that I think you'd dig too. That one's different. He wasn't almost a "protest singer" or whatever. Cheers my friend.
Finally, the man is getting the attention he deserves! If you do another one of his songs please do "Simple Gifts" that song is so beautiful and not political like the rest of his stuff.
There are so many other Jesse Welles songs you should check out besides this one. Looks like Mick Jagger, sounds like Bob Dylan. Depression, God Abraham & Xanax, Payola, War Isn’t Murder. Urge you to check out another one. He’s insanely prolific.
My son put me onto Jesse. Jesse is the new king of folk protest music and he hits it out of the park!
I'm 71 and a Jesse Welles fan. My go to song that I've listened to a bazillion times is "Wheels." I can't get enough of his Dylanesque lyrics. I was a fan when he had 400 followers and don't understand why he doesn't have a million. Dive in. You won't be sorry. Thank you for giving him a spin. ❤
I really hope he releases that on one of later album’s
You are so right..'wheels' so dam good...'War isn't murder' too..lots really ,a new great songwriter far away from the homologized nonsense we get fed
@MatthewjeffersonTodd , I don't know if you've heard today's banger, but Gilgamesh made me cry. It's heart-wrenching and pure Jesse magic. I predict songs like this will touch the masses if there's a heartbeat still left in America. You'll thank me. 🦋
I am also a Boomer... and he so reminds me of the Folk songs that occupied my young adulthood. I am fascinated, not just with the music, but his daily output!
I wish him well. I hope he goes far.!
@@kimdolly Gilgamesh is an incredible song. So beautiful, so sad, and yes, heart-wrenching. I had to sit down just with my own thoughts after listening to it the first time.
Jessie's finger is on the pulse.
He speaks truth to power.
More people are waking up everyday!
He’s in Arkansas he’s very talented and prob my favourite new folk artist at present.
From Arkansas, but I believe currently Nashville based. Other Nashville musicians in Jesse's comments have recognized his locations (from shooting their own Instagram posts in the same places!)
@@MichaelNobleNotNobel I'm under the impression hes back in Arkansas. He moved to Nashville back in his Dead Indian days. But he's definitely been in Arkansas recently, he visited his mom lol she posted about it
@@DaiMadAboutIthe is back in Arkansas. I live in NWA and take guitar lessons at Musicworks. I had Jesse as my teacher for 2 lessons before he left to go on tour.
War isn't murder!!!
Great song!
The kid's got a ton of songs he's posted, and he's got a unique phrasing. His voice is obviously interesting, but his melodies don't sound like anyone else's. He's making some stylistic choices that may not be apparent when listening to just one song.
Makes for such a unique song
He is this generation’s Bob Dylan. He drops bangers about current events so quickly. He’s a song writing machine.
He’s 30 lol
@@DoctorAlright yeah but look at the date at the end of the username you’re replying to lol. @NoWay1969
@@goodgodmode I guess 30 is old to me haha
Jesse is the real deal. True talent all around
I think it's a testament to Jesse Welles' music that, after you went through the music theory side of things, you dove into such a deep and heartfelt personal account of how poverty and ignorance can shape our lives. I love that power in music. Someone a thousand miles away or just around the corner can write something that pulls at some deep longing in our hearts. Thanks for being open and letting that show a little. Much love, bud!
Hes so prolific, dropping sometimes three songs a week, or two a day. Insane how every single one is amazing
yeah man the consistency in his craft is jaw dropping. His rock back is also sooo good.
which song do you like most and why?
These are songs that he has on albums.
Jesse is finally blowing up, been watching this guys daily Songs on youtube for a year or so now!
He had an entire music career already. This is his folk music era and I’m here for it. 😂
Love your stuff Michael, but I think you slightly mis-interpreted this one. Jesse Welles isn’t doing the “authentic poor hillbilly” thing that’s been big in alt-country the last few years. He’s a protest singer ala Bob Dylan. So we don’t know if he’s singing from his own real experience, because that’s not the point - he’s critiquing society. And “a lot of blame placed outward instead of looking inward” - again, that’s the point of a protest singer. Don’t forget the song is called “The Poor,” not “I’m Poor.”
I think “War isn’t Murder” is a better intro to Jesse Welles as a protest singer. He shows off more guitar chops there too. Check it out!
Ok fair enough!! Thanks Jesse!
I don’t know how he could have interpreted Jesse Welles in a different light just hearing this one song. You’d reasonably have to hear a few songs to get his vibe, imo
@@goodgodmode Agreed. I'd be confused too if this song was my first exposure to him
I think Michael's politics colored his impressions here. It's hard to understand Jesse's abilities from one song. It's hard to tell if he'll stand the test of time, but he's got a unique vocal style, lyrics, phrasing, and melody. He sounds completely like himself and right now, it's fascinating to watch.
tho your right in some respects you should listen to some of his videos that he speeks in cause he says exactly that.
I just bought every one of his songs on iTunes. He’s like John Prine making me laugh at my own misery and the worst things in the world. Thanks for bringing me something new and refreshing. 🤘😎
Love it!! Thx so much Mike!
@@Guitargate
John Prine is a legendary top tier songwriter, and super underrated. RIP.
He's definitely listened to some John prine
JESSE WELLES PLAYED FARM AID
I shouldn't be surprised but YO Jesse Welles played Farm Aid. So deserved
Jesse’s skill at verse demonstrates his genius at laying out the reality of life, of our institutions and the lies we are fed.
Jesse also has a rock band called *"Welles"* from 7 years ago, which is also awesome.
Jesse Welles puts so much intentionality into his lyrics. He is a modern day prophet! This one doesn’t display his guitar chops like others do
Not so much a prophet as a satirist. But a brilliant satirist. He's singing about the times in a particular way that not a lot of Americans are used to hearing anymore, but that was common in the 1930's - 1960's. I've noticed a lot of people who listen to his most satirical songs, "not getting it" or misinterpreting it, because they're so used to literalist, binary, un-nuanced lyrics in so much of what is written today. You have to have a certain understanding of the bedrock from which he's working from and the mechanics of satire to fully appreciate how brilliant a lot of his songs really are.
@@redadamearth I agree he is a master of satire. I think his most satirical songs are often hilarious. Fat is a great example.
I learned of this young man just this morning when his Live Aid video popped up in my feed. I had an hour and a half car drive and listened to his tunes the whole time. He has a unique viewpoint on this world and I appreciate that he is sharing it.
Jesse wells is da shit! I don’t know how he does it, but every song he puts out there is a banger! His mind must not have an off button
I love Jesse. Found him a few months ago when he had about 30k subscribers. I knew he was about to blow up after hearing that first song. Since then, he's skyrocketed and only getting more popular by the week. He has great lyrics, but I'm even more impressed with his ability to create nice melodies.
He is the best song writer. I'm telling you he is comedy , lyrics , philosophy major. He isn't out of tune. It's how Jesse rolls. Love him man. Listen to all. Dylan is in him. Bob
Fear is a mind killer is my favorite one from Jesse. So good
hell yeah man me too. How was i supposed to know?
One of the most brilliant songwriters I’ve ever seen and great voice on top of it all
Started following Jesse lately. Dude puts out a few originals like every week. He’s a machine!
YES Jessie is a legend and the voice of a generation
Your ideas on contemporary education goals are spot on.
Incredible life lesson right there that is not discussed enough. Great video.
Man this song went straight over your head. Read the lyrics and listen to ten more of his songs.
I've been hooked on Jesse's stuff lately! The guy is so prolific and a fantastic and unique lyricist. Very inspiring to me. His latest album Patchwork is real good.
Jesse is the modern day Dylan! He’s been around for a while now but he’s finally getting noticed in this newest iteration. And yes, he can rip leads and play super melodic runs as well as write phenomenal lyrics.
If they taught the commoners the way the system works then our owners would have a hard time staying in their position.
he's got SO MANY good songs! check out Horcrux... Cancer! That Can't be Right... he was invited to play at Farm Aid with Willie & Mathews!
I have to say I really dig the respect you give to each artist. Always love your videos.
Thanks so much!!
@@Guitargate growth is a mindset and a discipline great work.
I'm begging you, please watch more of his stuff because he's amazing and this is not a very good example of his talent lol
Michael, you need to mine more of him, you probably have by now. The muse is strong with this one.
Seriously have to listen to more of his stuff
i clocked onto jesse about six months ago. When i heard his voice I had to show my missus. I also saw you break down some buckethead and even though I'm not a shredder I saw your passion and it helped me reconnect witht he guitar at a difficult time. I love the fact that something I saw on two different channels thar was meaningful has crossed paths. You sir are a motherfucking g.
He has been around for several years. Check out Cosmic American and Dead Indian. There are videos from Paste and Fayetteville pbs and a few others. Then he was doing rock and to me is a really good guitarist with a good band.
He also sung under the "Welles" name before too
Mike I grew up pretty poor and my parents were never taught and in turn weren’t able to teach me the rules of the game so to speak. It’s taken me close to 50 years of making mistake after mistake to get to a place where at least I can understand the game to some extent. Our country for as great as it is definitely has its blind spots and this is a big one.
This guy is fantastic. Glad to see mike the God picking up on his tunes
At first I saw him and thought of Björn from ABBA. Then heard him and he reminded me of Bob Dylan. But then I saw HIM as I paid attention to the lyrics. I liked him 🙋♀️🇺🇾🥰
His lyrics are very Prine esque.
He just did farm aid. He freaking so new.
Yes and no. He's been around for a little while with other projects.
@@josephb7183 I've been a fan since the wood songs. Already researched him.
I've said this exact thing to a room full of California business and government leaders at the Milken Summit. I said that we need a basic class in High School that teaches people how our world works, how to run a small local community business, how to be a good active citizen. This song couldn't be more accurate. I've never once used my recorder skills to get me out of a real life jam.
Maybe it's autobiographical in part or in full or maybe not at all, I can't tell just by watching him sing one song from my comfortable home studio in suburbia USA; and I definitely can't make the leap to see the slight mistuning (perhaps) of a 1950s Stella with a capo on it (and maybe a rubber bridge) as being indicative of a disadvantaged socio-economic background, most-likely associated with--GASP--a public school education and poor parenting. The Stellas happen to have a very high cool factor. Besides, lately he's been playing a Gibson LG-2 and an all mahogany Martin 12 fret. Anyway, check out his other videos and you'll find the work of a highly talented musician and songwriter who's been dedicating his craft lately to the folk genre. You'll also find some truly brilliant gems that can compete with the best of writers like Prine, Dylan and others of the late 50s-early 70s folkies.
So, like folk singers before him, he's raising a prophetic voice to his times, throwing down a challenge and pushing buttons in a direct, but artful way. IMO, in this piece, one of the things he takes aim at is the condescending, dismissive, and hyper-individualistic attitudes of some towards the poor. Ultimately, he raises the question of the social contract and the common good in an acceleratingly unequal society. You know, like, Who is my neighbor and what mutual obligations do we share?
He sung in a (what I would describe as a punk) band under the name "Welles".
Not always been doing folk tunes
Edit: "hold me like I'm leaving" is one of my favs from that band.
@DurzoBlunts His other band Dead Indian is pretty good too. Has some grunge type vibes.
First heard about Jesse from his song about the national anthem. He just played Farm Aid recently
The only financial training my father ever gave me was, and I quote: "a quarter is a big chunk of money" and my personal fave, "money doesn't grow on trees". Thanks Dad!
Really nice licks on a beautifully sounding instrument brother Palmesano......really nice. I am so very glad that you now have Jesse in your reproquire. I've been following for good while now , and I absolutely love this fellow for his songwriting. He is a fellow who has an amazing gift of words coupled with rhyming in order to establish songs to tell the absolute truth of the human condition like no one I've heard in quite a while!!......and he can actually much much better than in this particular piece. I highly encourage you to dive deeper into his work , especially when your dealing with one of the many topics he has covered in the ever growing base of songs he has written since his start. Thank you as always for your dedication and hard work concerning the guitar and music as a whole. I hope all things are well with you and all your family , and want you to know and remember what a difference your program has made in this old mans life as far as music and our common love for music goes......and for that I will always be thankfull. Stay you , stay real , and carry on. Cheers , ron
Dude is an incredible songwriter! He’s all over the place, he’s the modern day, Bob Dylan!
Love Jesse. Gotta listen to ‘Whistle Boeing’. That’s my favorite tune of his
Oh hell yeah. 2 greats in one video
Jesse writes incredible songs that come from different places. He played in a band for years and just recently saw him on FarmAid. 😊
I'm one of those with longer thumbs, so I almost always use the over-thumb technique for the F-shape chords on the bottom strings. Jimi, SRV, John Mayer all use this technique because they all have long thumbs and fingers and it's comfortable to do.
Changes Jessie Welles is fire
My vibe feels the combined storytelling of Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt and Steve Earle.
Jesse is one of the best writers of this generation. I've already been in deep analysis and when you open the song with "I was stoned in a factory working an industrial slicer".. it's gonna be good
His whistling style is addictive and interesting.
I’m so glad you’ve found Jesse Welles. You definitely need to check out War isn’t Murder.
To quote a previous comment - came for the music stayed for the lesson. Thanks Michael 🙏
Jesse is one of the best songwriters I’ve heard in recent years
I love Jesse and I am coming more and more to appreciate your interpretive tangents more than anything. Honestly I don't play the guitar enough to be able to do that much with the guitar commentary (really I need to take some lessons, there are just other things going on in my life). But I do live life. As do you. And your taking the time to share where the songs take you is meaningful. There are lots of guitar gurus out there on RUclips. It's good that you mix it up.
Yup! You're spot on Mike. I live in Alabama and those are definitely power line or gas line trails. They are all over and I'm so glad that I stumbled on this. I love the rawness of Jesse's voice and playing!! Also, I just got a guitar after not playing for years. I will say my dexterity is not what it was 8 years ago!?
Jesse is my hero!!!!! Brave enough to be honest. Thank you!!! Im not alone
You just stumbled on one the best modern songwriters
Welles-Hold Me Like Im Leaving
Is one of my favs before he started doing folk tunes.
I LOVE Jesse Welles, please do more reactions🙏
Jesse is the real deal! Every bit as good or even better than the legendary Dylan and Neil Young!!!
More jesse please! He is so talented. His "regular" music is really good too.
Please do more from Jesse!
I like his song Bugs. I like alot of them but that one i like more. He also is very good hybrid picker
Jesse Welles speaks the truth, and the truth never goes out of fashion.
what a killer song. Like driving down a gravel road.
love love love this Guys.....all his stuff..
Jesse is amazing…..one of my favourite artists…
Bugs is my favorite Jesse song, love him
I got given an acoustic from a family friend, it’s a 70s daion and it’s the prettiest sounding guitar I’ve ever played
You make some very good points. Listen to more of Jessie's work, especially the song I'm sorry, and, that can't be right, and, fear is the mind-killer
Jesse Welles will soon be a household name.
The Poor
Jesse Welles
Lyrics
[Chorus]
If you worked a little harder
Then you’d have a lot more
So the blame and the shame’s on you
For being so damn poor
[Post-Chorus]
It ain’t the price gouging
And it ain’t the inflation
It ain’t everyone above ya tryna make a buck from ya
And screwin' the whole congregation
[Verse 1]
I had that reduced lunch
I had the benefit cards
It never occurred to me to blame my family
For life being so damn hard
I should've paid attention
Back when I was in school
Then I could figure up the tax
I would know a lot of facts
I missed thе class where they taught thе rules
[Verse 2]
I was memorizing capitols
I was in the spelling bee
I must've missed the part
Where they taught the art
Of private equity
I was selling chocolate bars
I had a disorder
I was cuttin' up a frog
Got lost in the fog
Learnin' how to play a recorder
[Chorus]
If you only worked a little harder
If you worked a little harder, ah-ah
If you worked a little harder, ah, ah-ah
If you worked a little harder
Then you'd have a lot more
So the blame and the shame’s on you
For being so damn poor
[Post-Chorus]
It ain’t the banks
And it ain’t the taxes
It ain’t the pay day loans and the high rent homes
And predatory fees and practices
[Verse 3]
Wave your dumb flag
Whatever it means
But you should ask yourself
When it comes to health
Are the poor really all that free?
[Chorus]
If you worked a little harder
If you worked a little harder, ah-ah
If you worked a little harder, ah, ah-ah
If you worked a little harder
Then you’d have a lot more
So the blame and the shame’s on you
For being so damn poor, yeah
I encourage you to listen to more of his songs. There are clips of him in an electric band as well. I think he could be huge.
the youtube gods brought me back after years micheal
love it all man. great vid.
A comment for Jesse and the algorithm 😎 still speechless at his songwriting
I love his song "Autumn" ...
He's the best singer/songwriter in America right now and the only one focused on what's happening in the world. An uncommon wit, wisdom and rhetorical gift. The phrase "new Dylan" is so over-used, it's become meaningless (and it's a meaningless phrase anyway). But he has many of the gifts Dylan had in his early protest years in his songwriting, with a bit of John Prine and a lot of Guthrie. When I first started going through his songs last year, I was floored. Not just by the writing, but by the sheer *volume* of songs he was putting out. The guy is 30 years old and he's been doing this since 2012. He's put out, I believe, at last count, TEN albums, a handful of EP's, countless "singles", etc. He's obviously plugged into the muse and the moment - and considering how wonderful his songs are now, I can't imagine the stuff he'll be writing in another 10 years. Or maybe he wont be, by then, who knows. All I know is: the guy's speaking to the era in a depth of focus and with a satirical wit that I honestly thought was dead before I heard him. He's fantastic.
For me it would be wheels, whales or war is a god along with its "sister" war isn't murder ,but like you said all his songs are worth listening too. There's a whole spectrum of emotions and sincerity in his lyrics and his melodies. It feels close to home, even though I'm from the other side of the ocean I feel what he sings about. I can relate to him and that feels good, because I don't feel as alone as I would without it. I'm grateful that we get to know an artist as him in our era, we need people to tell the others about the situation, our world as it is, in a crude and sincere way.
This entire video should be shown in schools
I was waiting for this
Please please look more into Jesse Welles
Michael, I like how half the video here was about your takeaway from his message. Other comments say you basically don't get it, but I think he did his job in the fact that you took almost half the video to show how it resonated with you! But I wanted to say that you should react to his song "Walmart", or maybe "War Isn't Murder". Or both. He covers so many different feels. An older song "Life Like Mine" is one that I forgot about that I think you'd dig too. That one's different. He wasn't almost a "protest singer" or whatever. Cheers my friend.
Well said brother.
Finally, the man is getting the attention he deserves! If you do another one of his songs please do "Simple Gifts" that song is so beautiful and not political like the rest of his stuff.
I miss the guitar, arthritis sucks! Thanks for the video.
Love Jesse
Welles is rad! I'd say Woody Guthrie, John Prine, Steve Earle and Mojo Nixon vibes. Which I love. Lyrically he also reminds me of Jello Biafra
Fear Is The Mind Killer is probably my favorite out of Jesse, u should check it out
Welles is blowing up
Jesses amazing
Check out the songs of his previous band, Dead Indian. There is a YT page for it.
Jesse is genious.His musical heritage is interesting. Check it out.
What model of Taylor is that
I want to know too
It sounds fantastic.
There are so many other Jesse Welles songs you should check out besides this one.
Looks like Mick Jagger, sounds like Bob Dylan.
Depression, God Abraham & Xanax, Payola, War Isn’t Murder.
Urge you to check out another one. He’s insanely prolific.
Love this guy! He throws these songs together what seems like daily. Always great lyrics and playing. Check out Bugs.