GRAND FUNK RAILROAD - I’m Your Captain/Closer To Home | REACTION

This is Part 1 of 4 🎸🔥🔥🔥🔥
Here’s the video link • Video

[@uncleray-ray7414]

Since you asked for an explanation of the song, here it is. (Love your vids BTW). In an interview in 1994 or so, Mark Farner, the writer and original guitar player, said the first half of the song (I'm your captain ) was about a captain that was poisoned by his crew as they called mutiny. That's why he keeps saying "although I'm feeling very sick ". The poison doesn't work so they choke him out (the stranger on his boat with his hand around his throat). That brings us to part 2 (closer to home). Much simpler, shorter, and darker story here. This is what's going on in the captains mind as he dies. Home being Heaven (just in case you didn't get the reference ) Sorry its so long, but you asked for it, my friend... lol Keep up the great work.

[@jamelakajamal]

Thanks for that🙏🏾

[@marjoryarmstrong6953]

I second that...I forgot the whole story cause it's been so long and I'm getting up there....😉😎

[@profjohnfrinks]

Maybe foreshadowing for the captain and that good ship, grand funk railroad. Return Mark his ship!

[@ursulabklyn_mia6148]

Uncle Ray-Ray what are you apologizing for? Wow that background story is sad and tragic. Now have to listen again.

[@k0vert]

Well that's a bummer... RIP Captain

[@michaeldeaves7566]

67 yr old Vietnam era Vet at almost 1am listening to Jamel rock to this great band!!! Jamel I need rest but one GFR song is not enough!!! Thank you young man for putting a little joy in my life!!!

[@danquinnell3502]

Nice to meet you on KZbin Michael. Hope youre doing well. Thanks for your comment.

[@dmCurator]

This is THE song of their career. Freaking huge. Masterpiece. It all came together.

[@shuroom57]

I'm almost embarrassed to admit how spiritually obsessed I am with this track. JUST the studio track, with the strings. I go into a trance listening to the fade out. Something about it.

[@amrak5028]

@@shuroom57 Laid back, Eyes Closed Volume Up. I've done it 1961 times!

[@pursang6792]

It's sad what their manager did to these guys.

[@LarryNeie-lj7zc]

This is GFR's masterpiece. Other seafaring great songs are A Salty Dog by Procol Harem, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot and Save the Whales by Country Joe MacDonald.

[@TheSanityInspector]

The story goes that Mark Farner shed tears when he listened to the orchestral part that the producer put on at the end, because it was so beautiful.

[@scottsteel2395]

I know it still brings tears to me......✌❤

[@arthurbishop3173]

​@@scottsteel2395Same here. This is their 'Stairway to Heaven', and it's AMAZING-ESPECIALLY the outro...SO POWERFUL, yet SO incredibly BEAUTIFUL!!!

[@lemurianchick]

The strings in the middle (around 6:36) are very reminiscent of the ones used not long before on Glen Campbell's "Witchita Lineman."

[@mpeeps636]

Real musicians with reals lyrics, voices and story. We need more of this today

[@johnwilles4636]

Rival Sons are that band today

[@mpeeps636]

@@johnwilles4636 Thank you, I had no idea, will definitely search for them. Thanks!!

[@johnwilles4636]

@@mpeeps636 I love classic rock and Rival Sons are no joke.

[@INUAGAIN]

3 man bands kicked butt

[@landrelarose745]

The reason why they'll never have this excellent music is because most of all the lyrics are used in it.

[@TheScavenger71]

This song was a favorite of the soldiers who were on the way home returning from Viet Nam. Viet Nam vets have a special place in their heart for this song and also for the Animals' "We Gotta Get out Of This Place."

[@TheScavenger71]

@@10aurum48 Thank you for your service, sir.

[@Budavin]

@@10aurum48 Thank you for your service Sir.

[@martyfisher3860]

@@10aurum48 Thank you for your service and Welcome Home! A huge thank you also extended to those who didn't get to come home. Visited the traveling wall a couple years back. An emotional and sobering experience.

[@happyfreeliferc]

I'm in ,Engineer here.

[@skywatcher4602]

Yes Thank you for your Service. My dad was in Vietnam. He died when I was 12. This song has always had a special place in my heart. Now I know its just another thing I had in common with him. Thank you so much!

[@EricBlackmonGuitar]

Back when I was in high school in '71 we jammed to this everyday when Roscoe Gatewood put his speakers in the window and cranked them up in a black neighborhood. WE ROCKED!

[@maryellenazack4466]

SUPERSTARS 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@swami1]

“Roscoe Gatewood.” Now THERE’S a name from 1970s high school. Love it!

[@brucelawson642]

Roscoe ? What's that motherscratcher up to ?😊

[@miketurpin5331]

This was back when a bass player worked his ass off. We had a bass player in my band like that and as a guitarist i loved working with the man. I miss ya side show bob. Yes he had a afro lol

[@DonaldKoller]

Mark Farner is one of the most underrated singer to ever live.

[@scottmccullough4267]

I agree,also Bob Seeger!

[@strattuner]

YEAH HE;S A GENIUS AND HIS BAND IS A JOKE WITHOUT HIM,HE IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND FUNK

[@kelltic100]

@@strattuner: Truer words were never spoken. Damn shame what those two did to Mark Farner, because they are nothing without his voice, and his writing. I wouldn't pay a dime to go see that bunch Schacher and Brewer put together. Boggles the mind how they can live with themselves after the underhanded, low tactics Brewer did.

[@paulpresto673]

@@kelltic100 I agree...Mark Farner WAS the band...but with all due respect, Brewer and Schacher, were all three, part of a very special group...how three kids made it THAT big, THAT fast is phenomenal.

[@motfc8]

Don Brewer has an amazing voice, most of the higher stuff, never really got a chance to shine, like Roger Taylor of Queen, like... I'll stop now. LOL

[@MuckoMan]

Something missing today is people making music taking their time and bringing you on a journey. They didn't worry about air time just art and feeling.

[@loki6253]

What a great explanation. They take me on a trip in my mind every time. Much like Nazareth.

[@cynthiacolbert4172]

Back then when you bought an album it was an experience now of days your lucky to like one song not to mention that what your hearing has been digitally changed. That was an a time when voices & instruments were real.

[@christinezeoligratefulchef8672]

Or what they looked like. Oh yeah and can you do it whilst dancing.

[@iahelcathartesaura3887]

Dang straight you are on that!

[@hjs9td]

Top 40 these days is laying on your back singing into an Autotuner.

[@harrykuehb8938]

Listen to how unique the musical composition is and how it flows so effortless. Being performed by three of best musicians of a generation so gifted with them.

[@zeapod]

My uncle commited suicide he was a child of rock and roll and drugs. And when he got cremated we took him to the ocean he loved the water and gave him to the ocean and I sang thing in my head while I was there in Galveston. To me the man in the song is dying and he's getting closer to heaven

[@mediclimber]

I'm 61, this was required listening back in the day. I had the opportunity to see them in concert six times, and I all six events. Glad you like them, they were one of the first ":super groups" to play arenas and sell out most of their shows.

[@milky55way2012]

I saw their reunion tour in the 80s I think it was in Providence, great tour!

[@johnminter5359]

I’m one of the lucky ones, I grew up listening to GFR and it sounds even better today. It’s good that you’re digging it too

[@swampgator1957]

This is how I got introduced to rock and roll, still my favorite. 50. Years later The wanta Grand Funk really screwed up when they got rid of Mark They haven't wrote anything since.

[@carolynlandry1541]

I to grew up listening to them

[@truthstillmatters59]

Me Too - Jim Longstreet - if you are out there I loaned you my Grand Funk Railroad album back in 1975 and you never returned it!

[@detroitlady9282]

Mark is Grand Funk!

[@raymondmorgan7589]

After Jimi Grand Funk Railroad was our hard rock band in our North Philly hood in early 70's.

[@huskerr111]

We played this one in the US Navy, to us Closer to Home was the captain's thoughts heading into his home port after the turmoil described in I'm your Captain. We always wanted to play it pulling into San Diego when a deployment ended.

[@davidgross990]

Played it on the Kitty Hawk 1MC pulling back into S.D. from Westpac and Willie Nelson's On The Road Again when departing on deployment. Music was everything during my time at sea, walkman and Boom Box era, remember when the ships store got walkmans in about '80 thought they were wonderful. Now I put 1000 songs on a flash drive, still have a walkman in a box somewhere.

[@bretrobison5529]

My first Navy sea command aboard USS Hoel DDG 13 this was on of the songs we played at sea and anchor detail returning to San Diego from a 9 month deployment spanning 1981-1982.

[@thomasfranco5997]

I remember when my cousin Billy turned me on to Grand Funk Railroad. I loved Inside Looking out. He had this album and always played it. Now he is no longer with us, he passed on 10/31/2021. We were really close when we were kids and the memories of this album when we were both teenagers. I know he is in Heaven and singing this song. Beautiful!!!

[@davidkelly1820]

Ahhhhhh the sweet memories of driving my 69 chevelle ss with my beautiful blond hair girlfriend listening to this 8 track . Cant believe it has been almost 50 years ago. Seems like yesterday.🎸🎸🎸🇺🇸🎸🎸🎸👍👍👍

[@geminiguy2013]

My 69 Buick GS 350 worked as well my friend ;)

[@completecharleston7142]

8 tracks, including this one, were the bomb in my 69 Green El Camino! (remember on some, after a song was over, you had to wait a while for it to click over to the next track, to accommodate for the disparity in the time of the songs).

[@joesgarage149]

I had a 69 chevelle SS 396 as well. Man this song brings it all back :)

[@Frank-pe9pk]

69 Buick Wildcat digging jams on my 8 track also the kids nowadays missed so much

[@erikvaldur3334]

Yeah, I had a 69 chevelle but had a 71 first. Obviously not new ones. They don't make music like this anymore nor do they make cars like that anymore.

[@toddburgess6792]

Long songs kept them off AM radio. Thank God for FM!!

[@seanholycanoli]

I get so much enjoyment from watching your reaction to these classic tunes from yesteryear. You my friend, have perfected this particular genre with your sincere appreciation of varied artists and the simple and pure delivery method that is your youtube channel. I'm a big fan.

[@vickitrotter7947]

NOBODY...AND I MEAN NO DAMN BODY! ...IS BETTER THAN JAMAL.......MUCH LOVE, ENJOYMENT AND RESPECT TO YOU JAMAL from a former Motown/ hippie / disco chick from 'BAMA. YOU TOTALLY ROCK...❤

[@scottfreitag2114]

@@vickitrotter7947 agree

[@dodgerbluecrew1]

I'm also a huge fan of your channel...😇😎❤

[@jdubbb2004]

I couldn’t have said it better!

[@jdubbb2004]

I couldn’t have said it better!

[@debi9112]

One of my favorite songs, I ran away from home and heard this song. I didn't belong, never belonged, in the house I lived in due to a stepfather, so this song makes me happy and sad. Its beautiful, it wasn't meant to be funky. Thank you for this song!

[@dickcnormous4202]

Check out their video from Shea Stadium 1971. The crowd was grooving and stomping so hard they almost cracked the stadium foundation you could see the grandstand swaying.

[@deborahcornell171]

This was my favorite Grand Funk song back in the day partly because of my love for the ocean. Saw them in concert back when Mark Farner's straight blonde hair cascaded like a waterfall down to his butt. Great voice. Great hair. Nice butt.💙 Btw, people might consider them underrated because they're not talked about as much as some other bands. But they were hugely popular, especially around 1970 to 1973.

[@TheMechanicalGirl999]

Yeah, it's sad they aren't but personally I prefer it after seeing a lot of "modern" pop and rap artists try and "re-invent" the classic/older songs they have come across almost destroying them and so I have trouble deciding if the older stuff would be better if it got back into the hands of the masses or not these days! Since who knows how long it would remain untouched! I'm 29 and this is one of all of the things I can count on all my 10 fingers (yes, my parents only ever did 10 good things for me!), by that I mean introducing my to music from the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s (all the jazz, rock, folk, funk, metal, et cetera of the era). From the well known, like Ella, Janis, Peter, Paul and Mary, AC/DC, et cetera to the lesser known.

[@davidkelly1820]

Im right there with you on that. For the life of me i can't figure out why they haven't been inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame. They wouldn't know talent if it kicked them in the kahunas. I grew up in this time and grateful to have witnessed greatness in action.🎸🎸🎸🎸👍👍👍🇺🇸

[@Waterloosunset2]

@@davidkelly1820 They were not considered very good musicians and were disrespected even by their peers back then.

[@davidkelly1820]

Their peers were jealous of them . This was a true rock band.

[@TheMechanicalGirl999]

@@davidkelly1820 yes they were and it's sad! A lot of great bands, artists, etcetera have ALWAYS gotten b.s. to get to what they need and where they are/were now and in the worst cases only receive true recognition in death! However, that can be said about anyone as some people will always be assholes that can't ever see the true beauty through the shit even after they have trampled it to death!

[@andythomason5576]

Dude, I gotta say, after watching many of your reactions. You were just born about 15 years later than your souls wanted to be. Thank God all the great music of my time was preserved for you in yours.

[@827dusty]

There just isn't any music like this anymore.

[@iahelcathartesaura3887]

This wine is gone. The life, freedom & spirit that engendered this is no more. We must keep it alive inside.

[@tomvenner6030]

Try Nightwish, Ghost Love Score, Poet & The Pendulum, Greatest Show on earth. Long story telling songs.

[@victororozco192]

Check out Moon safari... There's sti good music, and a lot.

[@liveoak144]

"closer to my home" -- he is going home to God/he dies. :not an extended version, but the end of the song. they never fell under the radar. we loved them; i have no idea why they did not get into the Hall of Fame.

[@thomasdolby8690]

Because the Hall of shame is run by morons, recently I was watching 📺 late at night and time life was selling great performances of the HOS and some of the bands that were in the so-called rock and roll hall of fame never rocked as good as Grand Funk Railroad.

[@garyscarpulla100]

It really is a travesty, platinum albums, selling out Shea Stadium faster than the Beatles, hit singles, one of the biggest draws and fan favorites of the era. I really don't get it. Other artists and bands of lesser accomplishments have been inducted.

[@freckled100]

I love how experimental Grand Funk Railroad was. They had everything going on in that song. The drums were just amazing to me, too.

[@BPF57]

ELO is another experimental band!

[@rustydoering3431]

My friend, I’m so happy to see a young man totally getting “OUR GENERATIONS” music, we were so lucky to have music like this constantlycoming out , please keep your awesome reactions coming, you will never run out of material

[@237323731]

Jamal, I’m a 78 year old that lived through all this stuff and loved every minute of it. I saw most of the group in concert and what memories. To this day I still listen to it daily. I just found your spot and subscribed to it and will join you every day. Keep it up Brother. Check out the Allman Bros Band.

[@willaimrobinson9383]

Great comment. I just wanted to say that I`m just a "Flintoid" along with GFR. They were just a garage band gettin` their stuff together about a half mile away. Some of my best memories growing up as a kid.... It`s so sad to see what Flint has become now. But we will always have the great memories of what that city gave us.....GFR!

[@uncletom618]

Yes Deborah Cornell, they were absolutely huge in the day. Sold out Shea Stadium faster than the Beatles did!

[@swampsnake2003gmail]

yes they did and also almost had the show stopped because venue management thought the place was going to fall to the ground . watch some of that footage you can see the stands bouncing up and down from the people dancing it awesome to see . i believe shay put a halt to concerts until they could have engineers take a good survey

[@kevincorcoran6493]

Ironically, the first opening guitar chords sound like The Beatles I Feel Fine.

[@jeffmcleskey7685]

Yes, this is an extension of I'm your captain. Came out in 1969 and most Vietnam vets listened to this on their journey home. Great song from a great band.

[@bostonvair]

Another great two-part song from the same era: The Guess Who, "No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature."

[@maceofbass9295]

Hell yeah, great set of tracks!

[@user-qp1hj2pp5b]

Brother, I've listening to this music for 50 yrs , and it still makes me weep, Mark, Don, and Mel , we're ahead of their time, Thank you, for understanding, their Genius,.. WOW, right 👍 Blessings

[@notmygovt]

Good morning J! Mark Farner prayed and asked God to give him a song, hence this beautiful song.

[@deadunionsoldier6526]

THAT's what I heard, too!

[@rickrobinson672]

Grand Funk Railroad were never under the radar. They were one of the biggest bands of the early seventies. The snobs in the music press hated them, but fans loved them. The best band never inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Red Album remains my favorite of theirs

[@jkbowers56]

Red album is AWESOME.... Gotta love "Paranoid"... fabulous use of non-musical sounds in it (that's all I'll say about that - no point ruining the impact for those who haven't heard the song)...

[@terryricketts22]

One of the Greatest Songs of All Time!!

[@andya857]

Grand Funk , Grand Jamal...God bless you and yours...Peace and Safety. my man...

[@evenjon17]

This is some feel good music. Brings chill bumps every time I hear it!

[@rmichael399]

70'S were the Best Best of Times everything was going on people just doing there thing it was so kick back time !!!

[@markkauder1288]

Jamel, seriously, watch this song done at Shea Stadium if you want to see how the effected fans back in the day. Nothing like it today.

[@usernameinvalid2675]

Mark Kauder yeah hard to get the energy of a new band from a compressed studio version

[@leighgarrett285]

You need to listen to "Low Sparks of High Heeled Boys", this is a song along the same lines :) By Traffic w/Stevie Winwood

[@jethromorgan]

Yes!!!!! And Freedom Rider. Love it.

[@cindipossidento5688]

This song always rocked for me and a lot of my friends back in 1970 !!!!!

[@EdmundGerber]

I believe the bands name comes from the railroad that runs through Flint (their hometown) the Grand Trunk Railroad.

[@tom4160]

Yes it did

[@HA-lw1wl]

Correct

[@SonicProfessor_a.k.a._T._Andra]

Yupitdoes

[@mikebetts2046]

All the mid Michigan fans chiming in here, haha. I'm from Saginaw and saw the grand trunk rail cars all the time.

[@leegilligan4153]

My mom remembers babysitting Mel when he was a baby.

[@canarsie56]

this song still sends chills through me, it takes be back to that place and time

[@lisagresham1601]

Me too! Music doesn’t compare to what was produced then- 70’s 80’s & 90’s were soooo well written & so much thought out into them!!!

[@aluminut]

This is my favorite song of all time. I want this song to be the last song played at my funeral. The long, orchestrated ending is the long journey to Heaven.

[@randybryant7694]

I am 62 years old and graduated from high school in 1976 and the music we listened to back then was awesome indeed they don't write them like that any more. I just love seeing these reaction videos to these songs that I know so well.

[@jimbettridge3123]

Terry Knight, the band's producer and manager had a special amp built for Mel's bass, ergo that sound, in a 3 piece band the bottom end is so important.

[@TheRagratus]

I see you went "all in" on Grand Funk. I saw them 25 years ago at a little neighborhood fest, maybe 2 thousand people total. My ex had no idea who they were- afterward, she was speechless- and that didn't happen often.

[@planelvr07]

I can't help it, bless you my son! My favorite song by Grand Funk! I feel it's their best song ever.

[@nicoledodds7182]

Imagine a 10 year old, in the 90s on a Saturday, with a boombox and a blank cassette tape WAITING for the local classic rock channel to play this song so I could record it. That’s how I spent my childhood - along with listening to my dad’s massive vinyl collection. Memories I’ll forever cherish. This is one of the many that is my dad & I‘s “song”. 🤘🏻🤍🤍

[@adoracle1]

he's delirious and dying. so he's getting closer to home . the stranger strangling him was not there, he hallucinated that...then he imagined going home while he is dying instead SO GLAD you did this one. I love this song so much. wonderful reaction Jamel 💙💙💙

[@robinfox6256]

It’s a very long song. This is the version we heard in the 70’s! I love the way music moves you! You always have me dancing along with you!! Plus you have a beautiful voice. I really enjoy your reaction.

[@jmfloyd23]

One of my favorite songs of all time. Get goosebumps every time into the transition of feeling closer to my home.

[@johncooney93]

Same here. Im 36 but my father loves GFR and whenever this song came on the transition sounded so soulful

[@jmfloyd23]

@@johncooney93 indeed!

[@barbaravance6774]

Damn! Back when you had to really be talented. And these guys still are so underrated! This is music I grew up on. This is the some of the music I have raised my kids listening to. Their Dad is a bass player and plays this music all of the time..And now that they play, this is what they love to play themselves. Good music is timeless!!!

[@kerdiditra]

Hahahahaha, they didn’t transition, they just continued to jam... that’s the way it’s done ....😂😂😂

[@NandR]

DOOBIE BROTHERS - LONG TRAIN RUNNIN One of the best songs of the 70's.

[@travisinthetrunk]

There’s days worth of Doobie Brothers songs that he’ll love.

[@kburke1933]

'Black Water' is a major favorite of mine. SO much to choose from.

[@kburke1933]

@Point Dexter I'd alter that to be they were better before Michael TOOK OVER the band. ... A lot like Chicago. They were still good with Peter Cetara in the band but went to tripe after Peter took over the band.

[@SODAK2276]

That song is freaking awsome! Huge Dobbie brother's fan

[@marel5932]

Love me some Doobies.

[@chriscaskenette]

I can't believe how tight this band is!!! These guys are unbelievable musicians. It's nice to discover this band.

[@davidjohnson3311]

Brings tears to my eyes. Takes me back. Unforgettable.

[@mmay2669]

Liked it before I watched it. That's how confident I am you will love it.

[@jamelakajamal]

👍🏾

[@HendrixJHE]

Same! LOLOL Cant wait to see when he does T.N.U.C live from 1974!

[@mariazimmerman8948]

I believe him saying closer to my home, is him passing, and getting to heaven.

[@LyndaMom]

This song was THE song for high school kids in a band to learn when i was in high school. People went crazy when they played it.

[@Ayce1955]

My Dad and I had a discussion about this song when I was 17, and it was new. He said the lyrics just kept repeating, so it wasn't much of a song. I told him the Closer to Home section has to be heard differently than the rest of the song. Yes the lyrics repeat, but you don't just listen to the lyrics, but the music in between, and it builds and changes as the song goes on. There are subtle introductions of instruments and melodies along the way, creating more of a soundscape.

[@LANPartyAnimal]

This was my goto song when I was returning home from my 3 month submarine patrols.

[@lawrencet.mcguilicutty7447]

10 years old and asked to my first dance to this song! Will never forget it

[@juniorjohnson9509]

Never did just 3 guys put out more sound on stage or on an album! Great band that blew people away for a few years.

[@amberandrews6842]

Well Rush as well. I own most albums by both bands. Just so much talent.

[@markkempton5466]

Grand Funk Railroad is my all time favorite bands of all time...growing up in L.A. I've been to 8 GFR concerts and over 100 live concerts in my lifetime...Should have been in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame a long time ago....I was in DaNang, Vietnam when this great song was released...

[@conniehuddleston582]

Thank you for your service 💓

[@kellydelay18]

This is a GREAT GREAT song

[@patroscher6240]

Watch the live version at Shae Stadium. It took the Beatles around 7 weeks to sell out Shae Stadium. Grand Funk sold out in 3 days. The people rock the stadium to the point they almost called in engineers because they were afraid the stadium was going to collapse from everyone dancing and gyrating. Great band.

[@richarddoran4217]

I turned my younger brother on to this one of his all time favorites he passed 2 years ago spreading ashes on a mountian top I'm your captain going. Peace brag. Miss you

[@richarddoran4217]

That's Peace Brah

[@Richard52517]

This song is my favorite from Grand Funk...excellent...Thanks once again for an excellent review......

[@aramhamparian9641]

I love your reaction vids! I saw GFR live and they played for 3 1/2 non stop. Probably the greatest AND loudest concert I've ever seen. Thanks for your channel!!

[@TRprepper]

They just don't make great music now a days. Love the classics.

[@reddragon3733]

As someone previously commented, this song was very popular with the Vietnam Veterans. Because they dreamed of coming home. As a guitar player you appreciate Grand Funk Railroad. Mark Farner's into is amazing. The interlude and tempo changes all the way to the outra makes this song Amazing. As well as the lyrics. The otro says it all for the Vets. My Favorite Rock Song. Mark Farner is a talented Writer, musician, singer & composer. Love my GFR!

[@meptune]

Listen to how this song changes and develops; it grows and unfolds, changing through different keys and rhythms. There's more than just one great melody here and some very clever lyrics. This is good song writing.

[@applehead1744]

These are my home town boys from Flint, MI. Thanks for reacting. I love it!

[@geminiguy2013]

GFR...our "homies"!

[@pureau79]

It was. It was an extended version about the journey to where life takes you. It was a captain’s experience of treachery and deceit. It was the journey back from the unknown with unsavory men seeking to take what was not theirs to have. It was jealousy and greed driving a crew to the point of no return. It was a plea of desperation to reach the place where it all began when everyone aboard had a common vision. It was nearness to the deepest love while at the knife’s edge of brokenness. It was so close... so close. Did he make it back. Or, did he slip away in the grip of death’s hand? It was life’s mysterious voyage. Who can simply be and let be? Who loves with a pure love? Are you able to see? There will always be those who have and those who have not. Does your lack entitle you to my surplus? Let me feel the ocean spray and smell the salt air. Don’t take my love. Don’t hinder my life. It’s not all about you. It’s not all about me. It’s how we come back from where we have been... it’s how we go to where we have not been... it’s about heaven... and the hell of treasonous men. Sounds like life today where everyone is all out for themselves.

[@candicemorrison304]

Love this! This should be the pinned comment (imho) ;-)

[@johnkelly2663]

My brother bought this home in 72, we grew up in Philly. Still love Grand Funk. I was 10

[@pdmullgirl]

Yes! I’m your captain, closer to home is all one song. I love me some Grand Funk! Glad you enjoyed! ❤️💜💚

[@joelsimms4636]

I had this album and literally played the grooves off of it!! Traveling back in time!! Hope you had a great holiday man!! Great reaction! Peace and love to all people!

[@jimearnest4342]

Yes Jamel,closer to home is an extension of I'm your captain, check out "paranoid" also by them,I also suggested "mean mistreater" in a earlier post, love your channel brother!

[@SuperGuitarDude7]

Glad you like them, too. What a great band. Disrespected by a lot of critics back then, but had so many great songs. Very talented.

[@catherinehall4820]

Unbelievable talent for a 3 piece great band. Great musicians. Love.

[@NoActuallyGo-KCUF-Yourself]

This brings me back to summer days, playing cards and smoking in the garage.

[@bobinfaith]

Hey Jamal, I loved your reaction! I'm Your Captain/Closer To Home by Grand Funk Railroad remains timeless to this day. If I remember this song was about the turbulent times in the late 60s and early 70s. "I'm getting closer to my home" was an anthem that at some point and trial, we're coming home to our "roots." Thank you for presenting and the sound was great!

[@jesserosenberger6531]

June 5, 2020....still LOVE this song....in times of turmoil it is great to hear songs like this and escape from the divisiveness in our country and relax with you sir with this song and see you enjoy it as much as I do...God Bless America....

[@cynthiacolbert4172]

Never felt so blessed as I do now to have grown up in the mid 60’s & 70’s to have heard all this great music & have seen a lot of these groups live. I wish my kids who are 30, 29 & 22 could of experienced this same effect. I grew up in Detroit with many places to go to see live music but moved to NC over 21 years ago & I miss seeing live music so much. My love of music is all over the charts but I loved hearing R&B the most.

[@deborahcox3011]

Ok, you are delving into my teenage years and I love it!!!! Whoo hoo! GFR is a wonderful, groovy memory. Thanks so much for reacting to them.

[@patrickdebauche1541]

Love it... my all-time GFR is "Time Machine" long live the shuffle!

[@annalykins1579]

Brings back some awesome memories!! Party time🍑

[@jamelakajamal]

🕺🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@Loader7272]

The build up of the orchestra instrumental layers towards the end is magical.

[@richardgazinia5482]

Great reactions. This is one of my favorite "headphone" songs. Grand Funk Railroad was huge in the 1970s. I was just a bit too young to see them live at the height of their popularity, I was born in 1965, but my older brother would play their music loud and proud over and over, so I have him to thank for my love of this song. I came back to this song in the 80s when the 70s were being revived a bit with the "classic" rock radio format. Would blare this out the windows of my 1980 Chevy Chevette. This song is better a-hem "appreciated" with a little weed and a great set of headphones.

[@benkmoskomusic3679]

You gotta check out “American Band” by Grand Funk. One of their best known songs and just really fun and full of energy.

[@sallygalarneau1569]

Thanks for taking me back to mid teens. This was my music! So much great music!

[@redevil7081]

First time to see these guys live they were fronted by Iron Butterfly…they came out and set the place on fire. Saw them several times after, as recently as 2008, they still rocked out, everyone younger was mesmerized by their set. Good don’t spoil with age.

[@powerdavid6235]

Saw Grand Funk Railroad at the free Hyde park concert in 1971 (With Humble Pie, Heads hands and feet), this is the song that I remember the most from that day (I was 14 years old).

[@rudaddygar]

This is my favorite song of all time!!! Any time I feel down I listen to this song and it helps me feel better!

[@jimfrederick3907]

A 70's classic!

[@gud2go50]

One of my all-time favorites as a kid and now.

[@signal12hvac]

musically, this was the best time to grow up listening to music. todays stuff does not come even close!

[@daveking9393]

You are awesome I just realized I got four of these I get to listen to. And of course watch your reaction.

[@jamelakajamal]

Right on Brotha👍🏾

[@kathys6402]

Thank you so much for doing this one, Jamal!

[@jamelakajamal]

👍🏾Part 1of 4

[@danu6718]

The sound of their instruments is so raw and some of the best sounding I know. That bass tone and drum sound.

[@MoonlightNothing]

It's a journey. Jamel, it's coming home. It's a trip to miss home and lovingly return.