I love his music and prose. I wrote to him and he answered me. Not that is just plain nice and caring. Beautiful music and lessons he taught me....Tnanks
Thank you so much for this. I haven't heard this in decades, it's not the sort of song that ever gets played on the radio. It's especially poignant now that my wife - my best friend, come to think of it - is slowly going blind. Thank you again. Bless you.
I remember this song playing on the radio back in the 70s and haven't heard it since then .I remember that I loved it then and only remembered the first line.I was very surprised when I Google it just now and found this , nearly 50 years later. Still as moving as it was then.
I heard this song many years ago and it stayed in my head all these years. It brings me to tears, the sheer beauty in the lyrics. Mr Read you have written a monumental song.
exactly the same for me, at least 15 years ago i heard it for the first time and just recently i remembered i still knew this song and started listening to it again. i might even like it better now than then. learning to play it on the guitar now
+John Dawson Read Great to see you on here, Mr. Read. I am disappointed this song has never been on CD. Can you tell me who now owns the rights to it ???
+Nash Burnette I have the full album available on CD via my website www.johndawsonread.com come and have a listen to some of my other songs as well. Cheers JDR
+John Dawson Read Thank you for that, and I just checked your website. I assume this album is the original recording, and not re-recorded, but I have two questions. 1) What is the price for this 1975 album in U.S. dollars ? 2) Do you only take Paypal, or do you also take credit cards ?
+Nash Burnette Yes it is a digital remastering of the original studio tapes...no idea what the exchange rate is at the moment but it would be about 3-4 dollars. Paypal does the conversion for you and will accept credit cards (I think). Does that help?
I heard this song for the first time when I was in high school in the late '70's. I was struck by its' beauty. I after years of searching for this music I found it on RUclips. I am grateful to be able to hear it now whenever I want.
This song started running through my mind this morning. Very grateful to find it online! Used to play this in coffeehouses back in college in the late 70s. Thanks very much, John Dawson Read. Still a powerful song.
I was a teenager in the 70´s in Uruguay, studying/struggling with my English. This song really struck me in those days and still hits me very deep now that I listen to it again after such a long time ... Thanks for posting it.
I agree that John Dawson Read is the most underrated singer/songwriter. I fell in love with the song "Such is the Mystery" when it came out back in the mid 70s. The melodies are singalongable and pretty, and the words show a man of gentle kindness and depth. I want these albums on CD. They're beautiful.
This song got some play on the top 40's stations in the fall of 1975, my senior year in high school. It's so nice to be able to find it on RUclips and walk down memory lane. Thank you
I can never get this song out of my mind--not that I want to--just keeps popping back in when I see something beautiful, or meet someone memorable. Beautiful song, about beauty, change, and memory. Thank you, John Dawson Read.
I first heard this when my brother played it when I was a teen. It's one of those songs you hear and remember. The lyrics alone are so utterly beautiful and thoughtful. It's the kind of song that makes you feel. To appreciate and to love one another. I found it on RUclips awhile back and it was like "I remember brother singing that!" It is a beautiful song, and sung so beautifully, a poem to music. Wish we still had good Folk type songs now a days.
A very close friend shared this song with me a long time ago. Like many friendships our paths were parallel but just out of reach, yet crossed now and again over the years. Through fate a minor accident rendered him a quadriplegic. That event brought us back together for the last few years of his life. This song is a beautiful reminder of that friendship.
I heard this song a few times on the radio ('74-'76) and somehow learned the chords, but I couldn't recall the lyrics until I found it on youtube. One of the best ballads there's ever going to be
This was one of the first albums I ever purchased way back in the seventies. Way back when life was full of excitement and new discoveries. Now that I'm turning 65 and life has taken it's tole out of me these songs are so much more poignant than they were when I first discovered perfection in music like this album. It feels like he wrote these songs just for me It's seldom an artist and album can not just take you back in time to happier memories but can actually describe ones life track by track. Thank you for sharing these wonderful gems to the rest of the world. Music like this invaluable.
Thank you JDR for writing and singing such a beautiful song. It brings a tear to my eye as I sit in a pub in Shap, Cumbria, listening to it on RUclips after all these years. I also have the album on CD.
Thank you, thank you! Trying to find these amazing songs nowadays is soooo difficult! I'm just thrilled all these musicians are still being listened just make me happy!
A classic song. Excellent vocals. Wonderful words. Nice guitar work.. Should make us appreciate the gift of sight and the beauty of the world around us..💐
John, I bought your first two albums when they came out in the 70's. Just heard "One Life" and shared it on Facebook for my daughters along with "AFIGB" . Thank you for the great music. It's now made it to two generations of listeners. I suspect many more will hear it...Thank you.
I lived in Edinburgh 1975 when this album, and especially this song, was released. It has been an inspiration ever since. Man, would I like to see JDR perform again.
When this song became popular years ago, I fell deeply attached to it. The video in this version really sucks and should be revised. The song is great and thank you for posting it.
Folk songs like this are non-existant these days. This song is a beautiful story and poem. It took years for me to discover this. If it weren't for digging through the Billboard charts and seeing this interesting title for a song that debuted at #99 and didn't go much higher than the mid 70's. Anyway, this wasn't meant for mainstream Top 40....especially as disco was evolving.
Agree with all you said here. It peaked at #72 on a 4-week run in 1975 and to my frustration, it has to my knowledge, never been on CD ..... It was on Chrysalis Records, recording home of Jethro Tull, so either Sony or EMI should have made it available at some point through the years.
Well said. I remember when it came out. It actually got radio play. Unfortunately it is not available on iTunes. I have to make due with a version I got off of a scratchy record. Nice to hear it here without the scratches and hiccups.
I also discovered this (early 2000s) looking through the lower Billboard charts. Obviously there was a lot of good stuff in the charts in the UK but he should have done better there and worldwide. But now with the internet we can discover all the things that didn't get recognition everywhere or at all, and I've found plenty over the last 20 years.
What the history behind the song? What was the inspiration? I found a sheet of paper with the lyrics. I had written them down years ago, in pencil! Love the song. Would love to know it's history. thanks clem
What a lovely song. We need more of these.
One of those precious songs that tells us something worth knowing.
I love his music and prose. I wrote to him and he answered me. Not that is just plain nice and caring. Beautiful music and lessons he taught me....Tnanks
Thank you so much for this. I haven't heard this in decades, it's not the sort of song that ever gets played on the radio. It's especially poignant now that my wife - my best friend, come to think of it - is slowly going blind. Thank you again. Bless you.
I remember this song playing on the radio back in the 70s and haven't heard it since then .I remember that I loved it then and only remembered the first line.I was very surprised when I Google it just now and found this , nearly 50 years later. Still as moving as it was then.
I heard this song many years ago and it stayed in my head all these years. It brings me to tears, the sheer beauty in the lyrics. Mr Read you have written a monumental song.
exactly the same for me, at least 15 years ago i heard it for the first time and just recently i remembered i still knew this song and started listening to it again. i might even like it better now than then. learning to play it on the guitar now
Thanks everybody for your wonderful messages. JDR
+John Dawson Read
Great to see you on here, Mr. Read.
I am disappointed this song has never been on CD.
Can you tell me who now owns the rights to it ???
+Nash Burnette I have the full album available on CD via my website www.johndawsonread.com come and have a listen to some of my other songs as well. Cheers JDR
+John Dawson Read
Thank you for that, and I just checked your website.
I assume this album is the original recording, and not re-recorded,
but I have two questions.
1) What is the price for this 1975 album in U.S. dollars ?
2) Do you only take Paypal, or do you also take credit cards ?
+Nash Burnette Yes it is a digital remastering of the original studio tapes...no idea what the exchange rate is at the moment but it would be about 3-4 dollars. Paypal does the conversion for you and will accept credit cards (I think). Does that help?
I believe you have
a Facebook page.
I'll send you a
friend request and
we can message.
My initials are R.S.
I heard this song for the first time when I was in high school in the late '70's. I was struck by its' beauty. I after years of searching for this music I found it on RUclips. I am grateful to be able to hear it now whenever I want.
This song started running through my mind this morning. Very grateful to find it online! Used to play this in coffeehouses back in college in the late 70s. Thanks very much, John Dawson Read. Still a powerful song.
I was a teenager in the 70´s in Uruguay, studying/struggling with my English. This song really struck me in those days and still hits me very deep now that I listen to it again after such a long time ... Thanks for posting it.
I got turned on to this song in the '70's and have looking for it.....yea....found it.
I agree that John Dawson Read is the most underrated singer/songwriter. I fell in love with the song "Such is the Mystery" when it came out back in the mid 70s. The melodies are singalongable and pretty, and the words show a man of gentle kindness and depth. I want these albums on CD. They're beautiful.
This song got some play on the top 40's stations in the fall of 1975, my senior year in high school. It's so nice to be able to find it on RUclips and walk down memory lane. Thank you
Thank you for posting this great music memory.
I can never get this song out of my mind--not that I want to--just keeps popping back in when I see something beautiful, or meet someone memorable. Beautiful song, about beauty, change, and memory. Thank you, John Dawson Read.
This was one of my favorite songs in 73. JDR is one of the most underrated of singer/songwriters.
I first heard this when my brother played it when I was a teen. It's one of those songs you hear and remember. The lyrics alone are so utterly beautiful and thoughtful. It's the kind of song that makes you feel. To appreciate and to love one another. I found it on RUclips awhile back and it was like "I remember brother singing that!" It is a beautiful song, and sung so beautifully, a poem to music. Wish we still had good Folk type songs now a days.
Thanks for putting this up - i wasn't even sure if anyone else knew who John Dawson Read is. This song taught me to play finger style guitar.
Always loved the heart in this man's music.
Love a song that paints such a soulful picture. Its like a portrait. Almost makes me tear up. Thanks for this gem.
One of my eternal favourites. Moving lyrics, soulful music. Thank you for the music JDR.
A very close friend shared this song with me a long time ago. Like many friendships our paths were parallel but just out of reach, yet crossed now and again over the years. Through fate a minor accident rendered him a quadriplegic. That event brought us back together for the last few years of his life. This song is a beautiful reminder of that friendship.
I love reading comments for this song. Thank you all.
I heard this song a few times on the radio ('74-'76) and somehow learned the chords, but I couldn't recall the lyrics until I found it on youtube. One of the best ballads there's ever going to be
This was one of the first albums I ever purchased way back in the seventies. Way back when life was full of excitement and new discoveries. Now that I'm turning 65 and life has taken it's tole out of me these songs are so much more poignant than they were when I first discovered perfection in music like this album. It feels like he wrote these songs just for me It's seldom an artist and album can not just take you back in time to happier memories but can actually describe ones life track by track. Thank you for sharing these wonderful gems to the rest of the world. Music like this invaluable.
Thank you JDR for writing and singing such a beautiful song. It brings a tear to my eye as I sit in a pub in Shap, Cumbria, listening to it on RUclips after all these years. I also have the album on CD.
Thank you, thank you! Trying to find these amazing songs nowadays is soooo difficult! I'm just thrilled all these musicians are still being listened just make me happy!
A classic song.
Excellent vocals.
Wonderful words.
Nice guitar work..
Should make us appreciate the gift of sight and the beauty of the world around us..💐
Amazingly beautiful song. This is the first time I’ve heard it.
Dear God I love this song.
I heard this song once, 36 years ago, and never again. I'm glad to have found it again.
Ed Greenberg: Some pieces just touch us so that we never forget how beautiful they are, even after so many years.
John, I bought your first two albums when they came out in the 70's. Just heard "One Life" and shared it on Facebook for my daughters along with "AFIGB" . Thank you for the great music. It's now made it to two generations of listeners. I suspect many more will hear it...Thank you.
my vinyl album of this has traveled all over the country and is still a go to song!
God, I love this song! Been listening to the album now since it came out!
JDR.....one of my all time favorites . My Mom had glaucoma, so this hits home
I saw him do this on The Old Grey Whistle Test in the mid 70s....first time ive heard it since then...beautiful song...thanks for posting
Jim
Never heard this song before, but it got to me right from the beginning.
I love my guitar and I'm going blind, too. Wow
I lived in Edinburgh 1975 when this album, and especially this song, was released. It has been an inspiration ever since. Man, would I like to see JDR perform again.
Great song. Touches the soul.
When this song became popular years ago, I fell deeply attached to it. The video in this version really sucks and should be revised. The song is great and thank you for posting it.
Folk songs like this are non-existant these days. This song is a beautiful story and poem.
It took years for me to discover this. If it weren't for digging through the Billboard charts and seeing this interesting
title for a song that debuted at #99 and didn't go much higher than the mid 70's. Anyway, this wasn't meant for mainstream Top 40....especially as disco was evolving.
Agree with all you said here.
It peaked at #72 on a 4-week run in 1975
and to my frustration, it has to my knowledge,
never been on CD ..... It was on
Chrysalis Records, recording home of Jethro Tull,
so either Sony or EMI should have made it
available at some point through the years.
CDs are available from the man himself:
www.johndawsonread.com
Well said. I remember when it came out. It actually got radio play. Unfortunately it is not available
on iTunes. I have to make due with a version I got off of a scratchy record. Nice to hear it here
without the scratches and hiccups.
I also discovered this (early 2000s) looking through the lower Billboard charts. Obviously there was a lot of good stuff in the charts in the UK but he should have done better there and worldwide. But now with the internet we can discover all the things that didn't get recognition everywhere or at all, and I've found plenty over the last 20 years.
thank you for the tears...
lovely songwriting !
And, how I wish Superficial Things from the first album had been preserved for RUclips.
This hurts.
John Dawson Reed's voice sounds very similar to James Taylor's. Wonder if JT has ever heard this beautiful song?
What the history behind the song? What was the inspiration?
I found a sheet of paper with the lyrics. I had written them down years ago, in pencil! Love the song. Would love to know it's history.
thanks
clem
World song
Tunescribers has created sheet music for this, you can find it here: www.tunescribers.com/2871/more-work-samples/a-friend-of-mine-is-going-blind