Bonnie Dobson & Robert Plant - Morning Dew

Dec. 8, 2013, Royal Festival Hall, London - Bert Jansch Tribute Concert clip.
Bonnie Dobson (vocals, acoustic guitar); Robert Plant (vocals, percussion); Danny Thompson (double bass); Bernard Butler (lead guitar).
Also see: www.bonniedobs... for full background to the song.
Covers of Bonnie's song over the years include versions, performed by Fred Neil, Tim Rose, Grateful Dead, Jeff Beck Group (ft. Rod Stewart), Nazareth, Allman Brothers, Lulu, Blackfoot, Clannad, Episode Six (Ian Gillan & Roger Glover), Einstürzende Neubauten, Long John Baldry, The Orange Wedge, The Goldebriars, Devo, Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane), Sugar Shack, Dave Edmunds & Human Beans, Procol Harum, Wendy Peters, The National... and many, many more!

[@richardhyde5997]

Thank you Robert Plant for giving credit in which credit was due.

[@MikeBurkhard]

Thats rare, Grateful Dead for sure

[@blossie33]

The Tim Rose version of this song was the best known in the UK back in the late 60s but I remember reading in the music papers that it was actually written by Bonnie Dobson so I'm very surprised that Robert Plant said he didn't know until the 90s!

[@daynasmum529]

Despite Roberts massive fame, talent & everything else that he portrays I absolutely love how he sits & pays 200% gracious attention to other artists performing their part on stage - undivided appreciation for what they contribute - the mark of a very, very great person & artist indeed.

[@BKWERM]

Nice to hear the original songwriter sing her tune again. I've known she wrote Morning Dew since the 60s as my mum was given Bonnie Dobson's first album when she was teaching Bonnie in high school.

[@billfrancis5250]

Robert Plant continues to be an icon of humility, respect and grace... after all these years... cudos

[@KENNETHNOISWATER]

This is practically the only comment on here that isn't by someone posting about their unique ability to use Google or Wikipedia causing grief with others. Kudos to you 👍

[@robmckrobmck5567]

Yes, all of those accolades after so many years as the "self satisfying carnal gourmet" he was while fronting Led Zeppelin.

[@jamesconway4446]

Damn her voice is still sounds just like her original on album! Was. Also cool of Robert to chill back on bongo session !

[@janicejohnson6438]

​@@robmckrobmck5567 And all of we girls were in love with.him and his head full of curls in the late sixties. Jelly?

[@brendarichards670]

Yes

[@seriousbe]

What a voice after all these years....

[@dmac3389]

This song was inducted into the Canadian song writers hall of fame this weekend july 7th 2018 with Gordon Lightfoot presenting the award to her in person as she sang this song. Her voice is exactly the same, incredible. In person she is very kind and humble. She stopped to talk to my 6 year old daughter and let her know how beautiful she was. Thats an honour indeed.

[@Yeractualpatience]

Bonnie's voice remains breathtakingly beautiful. I once asked how she's kept it so clear and she quipped that she'd never got into the drugs scene like many others back in 60s NYC!

[@jonvought700]

Thank you! I so didn't know!

[@sudfac]

Double Bass - Danny Thompson. :)

[@atravelerofbothtimespace4172]

Gordon presenting a songwriting hall of fame award pretty much says it all This is a very very special song

[@ButterflySioux]

Brilliant song and thank you Robert Plant for giving credit to Bonnie !

[@gerardhennessy3586]

Yes, top man Robert Plant. Well done sir for getting Bonnie the credit she deserves for writing this amazing, unsettling, deeply-affecting son. God bless you Bonnie Dobson

[@gmar7836]

Yep. It’s Bonnie’s song after all

[@seriousbe]

Giving credit to the author of a song he covered, well that's a good one

[@flygrace]

@Coogan No, he stole it.

[@alicem3415]

Goodness, 50 years after she wrote it and I think her voice was sounding even better.

[@johncouncil210]

I first heard this song on Jeff Becks Truth album. I fell in love with it. Bonnie Dobson just blew me away here. Thank you Robert ...

[@hoover8699]

Same here.

[@nels9382]

That was Rod Stewart singing on “Truth” for those who might not know🤓

[@quazwasd4062]

It was the first song on side two of the Grateful Dead's debut album one year before in1967. It has the mark of great song writing that so many versions are so powerful. Props to Mr. Plant for having Bonnie Dobson finally getting the recognition she deserves.

[@JPhilipCoombs]

Notice how Robert Plant lets Bonnie Dobson take center stage and he sits quietly in the background until it's his turn to come in on vocals.

[@GrtSatan]

Good on Mr. Plant for sharing the stage with an audience who probably had never heard of Bonnie Dobson and were thus treated to this tremendous song for the first time.

[@1blastman]

Wow! Nothing tops the soulful original by the original writer. This is incredibly powerful. Brings me to tears.

[@1blastman]

Also this song is perfect as a man\woman duet.

[@dcase20]

Here here brother!

[@robertcondit1536]

oh, maybe any version by Long John Baldry tops this by far, OR the Jeff Beck Group and of course Duane & Greg's version. All much better than the original or this version. Tho thanks Bonnie for writing it.

[@1blastman]

@@robertcondit1536 There's many great covers of this song by many great artists. The original by the songwriter is always special. A great example is Allen Toussaint singing his songs was always a treat.

[@robertcondit1536]

@@1blastman I would agree in MOST cases - but not this one. Actually, not fond of her or R.P. singing on this one. However I do like the band arrangement.

[@lennyburns7165]

I had only ever heard the Clannad version of this song and always assumed it was a traditional Irish air. Happy to acknowledge the original artist now.

[@stephanevincent7773]

Wonderful song and interprétation ! Merci beaucoup ❤

[@cee2615]

So haunting, so beautiful ❤

[@peterfortunatoauthorartist1054]

She truly owns it. I love the Grateful Dead, but it's Bonnie Dobson's song. Wonderful performance here.

[@barrysmith5981]

Bernard Butler, guitar player for Suede makes this version fantastic. All around great collaboration.

[@davidzimmerli489]

OMG! There is no end to the great music that we miss in our lifetimes! I'm just lucky I didn't miss this.......

[@cricketbat09]

Wow, I never knew who wrote this classic. Amazing.

[@barnesnewberry9183]

Absolutely LOVE Bonnie Dobson! Percy is pretty good too!

[@gerardhennessy3586]

A huge well done and thanks to the wonderfully decent generous, classy man that Robert Plant is. Classy man, classy performer, classy musician. Well done sir.

[@renataostertag6051]

At 2:50 "you'll never hear your baby cry again mama" - heart-wrenching!

[@bubaganoush55]

What a beautiful version by the creator ! Kudos Robert for being kind and generous enough to take a back seat in that rendition - you're a good egg brother 👍

[@madeleinehague648]

Happy Birthday, Bonnie Dobson who wrote this song in the 60's. Born in Toronto, Canada. This song is about the world's annihilation after nuclear war. Few know what it's really about.

[@shilohnoone4632]

influenced from the movie On The Beach

[@beldengi]

I know of no evidence that the song is about anything nuclear. The genius of the song is that we are free to interpret it as we will.

[@fredk5474]

@@beldengi Where do you think the "morning dew" came from? Had you been around in the 60's, you'd know EXACTLY what this chilling song is about.

[@gino11ish]

@@beldengi Well, you're wrong. Morning dew is nuclear fallout.

[@badgeholderdave]

@@gino11ish No, there is no Morning Dew BECAUSE of Nuclear fallout

[@4z94]

So many have done Morning Dew.Nazareths version is my favorite but this is cool.

[@albadross62]

Mine too 👌

[@andyelliott8027]

This is one of the great songs of all time, and it's the first song Bonnie ever wrote ! That was back in 1961.

[@gregoryearl2264]

Year of birth for me!

[@andyelliott8027]

@@gregoryearl2264 I was born November 1954 so I would have been 6 at the time she wrote this.

[@coinneachmaclellan3121]

Bonnie Dobson...Grateful Dead...Jeff Beck...Nazareth...Lulu...all great and distinctive versions thanks to the original spark of one Canadian folk singer. Brings to mind the song, "Universal Soldier" by Buffy St. Marie, another great Canadian folk singer.

[@donaldgehre5964]

A performance that is incredibly brilliant and touching. Wow.

[@dojo8181]

I love every single version of this song from Jorma's version to the Dead, and Jeff Beck's and ...especially this one. It brought a tear to my eyes. Angelic voice!

[@PipeMan1792]

And Nazareth version!

[@aldokrstic5796]

and Long John Baldry

[@stevelane6919]

Human Beans and Clannad

[@2911sagar]

And our boy john in dead and company did a good job too.

[@rubymouse6904]

Also einstürzende neubauten :-)

[@ekoeschannel140]

One of the greatest voice of the last century and a young girls that alone inspired Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Jeff Beck, Tim Rose, Gregg Altman and others..

[@jeanyveslohier1070]

When l was a kid, l listened the version of NAZARETH ... My head between my 2 speakers to appreciate the bass😊

[@jjzuc]

I hope she got a boatload of royalties!

[@mikejohnson2098]

Well that was gorgeous.

[@roberttreborable]

A quiet powerful performance that speaks volumes.

[@lesterforney6200]

This song is so tragic. It always brings a tear to my eye. It's about a couple stuck in a survival shelter after an apocalypse. And slowly the wife goes mad and the husband struggles to try keeping her sane. Would make a good movie.

[@probsteiergalerieHH]

. .❤️

[@lloydzilinski4401]

It's a song apparently inspired by a really dark movie from a really dark book. Apparently she went see the movie "On The Beach" based on the book by the same name written by Neville Shute. The book is better than the movie but check either or both out if you have a chance. That's what apparently inspired this song and while the technology in these may seem a bit dated the theme isn't. In fact, events going on in the world right now actually make this song and the movie and book it was supposedly based upon exceedingly relevant on February 28, 2022. Who in heaven's name ever thought we'd be here today but here we are and a sixty year old song is more relevant than ever. There are dozens if not hundreds of antiwar protest songs which bear relevance to sometimes specific battles or wars while others relate to war in general but this is perhaps the most powerful anti-nuclear- war song ever written, evidenced by the numerous times it's been covered by many very famous performers in several different music genres. So play this song, whichever version you choose, and listen to it closely. Also if you can, read Neville Shute's "On The Beach" and/or check out the movie. And reflect on all this as we take in the daily hash of news from media and online from the events in Europe right now and hope and pray for sane heads to prevail; the finger is closer to the button than it's been in a very long time.

[@danielhanson6424]

Almost sounds like "When the Wind Blows."

[@chrisb1953]

For many years I listened to and enjoyed the Allman Brothers' lovely rendition of this great song assuming that it was theirs. Today I have been corrected.

[@janicejohnson6438]

She is amazing. Beautiful voice. Back in the 60s my high school boyfriends band played Morning Dew. I always tbought it was just a Grateful Dead song. Thank you for posting this!

[@kennethb.drinkard2010]

An honor to be introduced by Mr. Plant and a cool tune.

[@jolo2331]

Covered by so many but it was only Tim Rose who made sure she got no royalties which is sad so Im so pleased to see her being recognized here

[@lumpygasinavacuum8449]

This is so beautiful oh my God. Thank you Jesus

[@atravelerofbothtimespace4172]

Thank you for uploading Incredible❤

[@ronaldrankin9918]

That’s the way this song should be heard first. Nazareth also covered this song with some artistic liberty and really brought out the base line. All covers of this beautiful song are excellent! Thank you Bonnie!!!

[@Walter6078]

Blackfoot also covered this song.. theirs is a pretty good cover.

[@johnculbreth4543]

So glad to know who wrote this song!

[@cindischroeder1561]

Bonnie has a beautiful voice. This is a great duet. Thank you ♥

[@Joshualbm]

My god, what an angel. Such a beautifully pure yet aching voice. On don't forget Robert Plant on bongos, ladies and gentleman, give it up!

[@marcelaoyarce5384]

IT seems to me that Robert Plant kept the essence of his best along with his pains, in his music, on himself, in his life, and all that became this wonderful music. Always a pleasure.

[@probsteiergalerieHH]

. .❤️

[@alandouglas8044]

A great song and Danny Thompson playing bass!

[@HOWNDOG66]

Wow! I'm big time Nazareth fan and great to see this girl that wrote it..

[@philipferguson8570]

Both their voices have stood up incredibly well and this is done beautifully.

[@t.j.payeur5331]

1969..First time that I ever heard this song it was Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart. Interestingly enough it was also the first time that I ever got stoned.."Truth" is a great album...

[@pesachBtov]

I still have Truth that I bought new when it came out. Also, saw Jeff Beck and Rod Steward live at the Shrine Exhibition Hall, Los Angeles around 1969.

[@nataliezementbeisser1492]

her voice didnt change over the decades. crazy

[@tonygarcia9908]

Beautiful voice and song. kinda brings a tear to my eyes

[@danielfogarty4619]

Sensational!!!!!

[@madeleinehague648]

Bonnie, more beautiful than ever.

[@vickimingus9281]

SHE SOUNDS THE SAME

[@derrickmcdaniel4320]

Sad ........ I think they made a movie about this.

[@jimgleeson98]

Where have all the flowers gone? Another great same theme.

[@ciabattatom521]

@@derrickmcdaniel4320 According to Wikipedia... "Dobson stated that the inspiration for "Morning Dew" was the film On the Beach, which is about the survivors of virtual global annihilation by nuclear holocaust." Released three years earlier (1959), it starred Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner. (I do not know whether a subsequent film also followed based on the song.)

[@lightsone2]

Just boppin' thru KZbin and stumble on this gem of a performance. WoW! I knew Bonnie wrote the song but this time I could understand her lyrics. Yes, I've heard covers of this many times. My favorite cover is by Blackfoot, believe it or not. But, the original is the best. It's a haunting song of finality.

[@Просвет-у4в]

All sleep...Nazareth Forever !!!!

[@petemccarry2326]

BD has a terrific voice!

[@kathymassey4356]

Far Out. 🤗 Seriously still a beautiful tune, thanks Bonnie.

[@EnergySponge]

She's just amazing as ever

[@rexmundi3108]

God. A treasure mostly forgotten in her native Canada.

[@vovkoritfw]

Fabulous. So many great versions. The Nazareth 8 min version is haunting. Thanks to WMMS for the airplay.

[@sns0805]

The version I'm most familiar with.

[@andyelliott8027]

@@sns0805 Bonnie got paid for all the versions of course.

[@sns0805]

@@andyelliott8027 of course.

[@christelhawkins807]

@@vovkoritfw WATCHING DAN and the band do their rendition of the song is mesmerizing ❣️💔

[@RussG7]

Mega kudos to Robert Plant, many artists have covered this song. One of my faves, I have twelve versions of this song. Percy Plant happily takes the backseatto let Bonnie take centre stage. Hope this song made her rich, well deserved. Beautifully understated lyrically but the message is so powerful.

[@elmerfudd5738]

some music can lift you above the earth ....... this does

[@TLChivz]

Many have covered this song over the years but this is miles and away the best version I think we'll ever get! Absolutely blown away by it.

[@ktkee7161]

My God, her voice is still good. Must be clean living...

[@dmcqdoug]

What an amazing quartet - all masters of their art, thanks so much

[@HobbyhorseMusic]

I love this version. Bonnie Dobson sounds amazing!

[@lntimidatingxbl5857]

After all these years Bonnie's voice didn't change at all. If only Plant was the same way...

[@vickimingus9281]

pLANTS IS STILL THERE.. MY GOD DUMB PPL

[@TomM-wc3eo]

Morning Dew changed my life on June, 18th 1983.

[@2skip2lou]

My birthday (1967)

[@nucky9810]

SPAC

[@TomM-wc3eo]

@@nucky9810 Yep. Killer Wheel too if I recall. I saw every SPAC show!

[@JanPienkos-s7r]

simply heavenly…

[@markmorris9089]

What a lovely song with lovely vocals. Great stuff from the band also.

[@SensoryEdge]

Thank you Bonnie for writing it. Nothing comes close to the power of the Allman Bros version. EDAE AGDE

[@folkmusicgirl]

I have been a fan of Bonnie Dobson for many, many years. What a beautiful voice she has and an incredible song writer! Immense talent beyond words....I only wish she would tour in California.

[@flyingfishsurf]

+folkmusicgirl If you mean Garcia's rendition, he can't sing. The author & Plant are great singers.

[@folkmusicgirl]

+flyingfishsurf No, not Garcia's at all! Bonnie singing it - that is why I said, "What a beautiful voice she has" etc. My entire comment was only about Bonnie Dobson. :-)) Did not mention Garcia at all in my comments so didn't understand why you thought I might be talking about Garcia's rendition..

[@mikel5582]

​@@folkmusicgirl Some people are just obsessed with hating on Jerry Garcia. Says more about them then it says about Jerry. Agree that Bonnie's singing voice is sublime.

[@ThePaleGuy01]

An immortal song with an immortal message!

[@barttheanorak]

So great that one of the generation that enjoyed the Tim Rose adaptation could acknowledge its origins so brilliantly by inviting Bonnie to join him onstage.

[@michaeligoe3935]

1969 heralded the end of hippy and many of the song lyrics turned dark and sinister. Bonnie wrote and recorded "Winter's Going" in that year. It is one of the most beautiful and terrifying songs I've ever heard. It screams to be heard.

[@loridriskell8121]

Happy birthday Bonnie🥳

[@davidpavlik9389]

awesome -- I was hooked in 68 on Jeff Beck/Rod Stewart version but this is just excellent -- she wrote a great song and her feeling in it shows

[@ronaldthomas7221]

Absolutely

[@viviennes2775]

WOW!!!! SO Robert To Give Credit TO WHO Credit Is Soo Due!!! Your an Amazing Man !!!

[@arlingtonhynes]

Well, he hasn’t always had a perfect record on that one.

[@gogoyubari366]

Bonnie is so pretty and she has a pretty voice!

[@thomassmith8721]

Enchanting. Absolutely gorgeous.

[@avrilsilk7666]

Absolutely glorious

[@brainoneill7639]

My first time hearing this was blackfoot and blackfoot it'll remain

[@brainoneill7639]

My god Ricky goes for it.any live version. Digging this thoW

[@rcranky64]

Incredible voice

[@markielinhart]

I’m weeping, what a voice she has…✌️

[@eugenbeer6321]

Danny Thompson. The bass rock on which so much live music is built...

[@markwelton9428]

How many artists have Danny to thank for adding that unique sound of his? He must have been on the scene for 60 years or so now. A great performer and a great guy

[@stephennorth5518]

Great music! Discovered this gem by accident today.

[@davidsalukvadze4099]

Plants solo songs are one of one,.. awesome😍😍😍😍

[@ingleman.6529]

Stunning!

[@taimeuppe6174]

So glad I got to see Mr. Plant live from the 3rd row April 1970 Memphis

[@briancatt3648]

I first heard The Morning Dew on a Les Dudek album I bought while on maneuvers in W. Germany in 1981. I give you all respect and honor for a favorite song of mine

[@christelhawkins807]

@@briancatt3648 YES, and NAZARETH covered this song in GERMAN😉

[@mt4818]

This was the first song Bonnie wrote this after seeing On The Beach. Spectacular performance.

[@simonrae1]

I saw Tim Rose do Morning Dew at Frank Freeman's Dance Studio (in Kidderminster, UK) in the late 60s, prompted by hearing him on John Peel's BBC radio show. Tim's voice added much to the lyrics I think, giving them an anger that is sometimes missing. I also loved his version of 'Come away, Melinda' by Fred Hellerman and Fran Minkoff - another great anti-war song.

[@grendel_nz]

Absolutely. Now w the passing of Jeff Beck I'm playing all these versions again. Awesome song. Now i know who wrote it, I'll have to explore her story too. Thank you YTube etc.

[@JStormWaters]

What a voice....

[@maevemcmahon4286]

I've loved this song forever, have even covered it myself with a couple of bands I've performed with … it's a song that has come through every change of genre whilst retraining its basic purity. Nazareth's version with that incredible bass line - Tim Rose's version with all the gutty grit - Long John Baldry … so many … an incredible song!! Thank you, Bonnie Dobson for giving us a wonderful gift!

[@Catherinewheelband]

I saw the song titel, and i thought Long John Baldry.

[@andyelliott8027]

@@Catherinewheelband Title.👍

[@thehmc]

Allman Brothers version of this song is the best. Hands down.

[@jonsmith4669]

I always loved this by Tim Rose in the 60's had his LP until some French student stole it along with other LP's we were sharing our home with in the UK ,thanks buddy , hope you enjoyed it as much as i did. I tried to sing Morning Dew in a band but couldn't match Tim Roses guttural voice,but did my best. Bonnie Dobson sounds amazing ,just like her original recording. now I realise it needn't sound like Tim Rose to sound just as fantastic ,its the message that counts. I was drawn not only to the melody but mostly to the words ,in the 60's everyone was very conscious of the threat of nuclear war and it nearly happened over the Cuban missile crises. Now with Putin in Ukraine in 2022 ,threatening the Nato countries with nuclear weapons if they interfere with his murderous war , a nuclear war once again is raising its ugly head to the world. I only hope and pray something happens to change Putin's deranged mind to prevent this catastrophe that will end life as we know it on Earth.

[@carolannecole3252]

Stunning. Thanks for putting this up.

[@jeanferret9497]

Two awesome voices.

[@markszpak]

Great performance, deeply in the heart of the song. Interestingly, I can hear her voice in Garcia's guitar when he performed this.