Harry Chapin - A Better Place To Be (1972) Storytellers\DayOne Reacts

[@khausere7]

I enjoy all of Harry Chapin's music, but this song, THIS song, has always hit me the hardest. When my marriage was falling apart, and I figured I had nothing going for me, this one always brought a tear to my eye for the sheer honesty. I don't think he was drunk, but his one night stand made him see a depth of loneliness he had never experienced before. The waitress saw this and wanted to help him, as he was adrift and happy to go anywhere outside of his misery, even for a short time. At least that's been my interpretation. Thank you for reviewing it.

[@briangrogan7107]

So happy you chose this song Angela, I’ve always loved it. Your reaction was terrific as always, thank you

[@scottmoquin]

When you're going nowhere, anywhere is a better place to be

[@chetstevensq]

What a story, told simply without flourish. That cello! It's not that he is drunk, it is we are all somebodies something. He thought himself unworthy of the woman in the diner, the waitress thinks herself unworthy of the watchman. Self image and depression leading to loneliness and that desperate reach for something warm.

[@COLINWARD-v3y]

He is a fine singer and storyteller. For me a song about lack of confidence and loneliness that can arise out of this.

[@pamagnolia]

Such a beautiful yet sad song about loneliness and not feeling you’re worthy of the attention or the love of others. Harry Chapin was such a treasure and we are blessed to still have his music 😊

[@billwhite7658]

Harry was another national treasure taken from us too soon. He had a deep understanding of the highs and lows we all live with. He performed a concert to benefit local charities in DC at Constitutional Hall way back in the seventies. Many great stories in his songs.

[@Carln0130]

Hi Angela. Thanks for listening to this. BTW, his last name is pronounced Chay-pin. The story is a lot deeper than that. The message is that loving someone, is always a better place to be. Rather than the result being because he was loaded, he learned from his encounter with the woman at the diner, that giving someone a piece of yourself is always better than shutting someone out, even if they are not attractive.

[@MitchCrane]

I guess I have a hopeful take on the story. I would like to think that the watchman and the waitress are not so much a mismatch as he and the other woman were and maybe they will find that they enjoy each other's company and neither will have to be lonely anymore. The watchman could go back to wasting the years watching the metal rusting while waiting on a pipe dream, or he could spend them with a good listener who puts a smile on her face despite it all and, maybe most importantly, who really wants to be with him.

[@danjoda755]

Lovely pick, Angela." You caught the meaning quite well, except for over-emphasizing that the night watchman was drunk at the end. He simply finished his gin, nothing more. This wasn't about metaphors or subtle meanings, it's just a straight narrative. Bravo. & thank you as always. 😇🌹☺️

[@garyarnett1220]

The one nighter taught the little man that accepting love, without conditions, beats being alone. It had nothing to do with the alcohol, he was just mote accepting.

[@philipprocop9259]

I always thought he wanted to pick up the waitress so he told her the story to get to her. When he smiled his crooked grin it tells me he knew it worked. I love his music and there are many more good ones to hear. Try "Sniper".

[@jackieblue7591]

Loneliness is an epidemic. 😢

[@pamagnolia]

Beautiful but sad song about loneliness and not feeling worthy of attention or the love of others. That’s my take. Harry Chapin was such a treasure. We are blessed to still have his music.

[@Elephant2024]

Pronounced CHAY-PIN, Angela. Never got to see Harry live. But I did see members of his family performing his music in concert. This was one of the songs they performed along with 'Cats in the Cradle', 'Taxi', and other classics. 'Circle' is another song you may want to consider reacting to. It is a great sing a long, closing concert song.

[@weshwn4246]

Let it go others pronounce differently. So give it a break

[@Elephant2024]

@@weshwn4246 That is the way his family pronounces it. Think we should respect that. Sorry, you don't see it that way.

[@jennastorm4785]

@@Elephant2024 People, including me, have tried to correct her in earlier Harry Chapin reactions. She either doesn't read comments or she ignores them.

[@Elephant2024]

@@jennastorm4785 Thank you for letting me know. Suspected that was the case because I never saw Angela like or respond to any comment here. She probably does that on Patreon only.

[@alanpeterson4939]

Now do the studio version of Harry Chapin’s “Sniper.” Prepare to be shocked. You’ve never heard anything like it.

[@TGS556]

No, he wasn't drunk. He and she both were lonely and recognized that in each other. They each realized, too, that they were not out of the other's "league"; they were right for each other. Remember, she says: "I wish that you were mine". They are going to try for a relationship.

[@mickrose4161]

❤

[@williamboylan4516]

The same way the beautiful woman accepted the advances of the little man to stave off loneliness, the little man paid it forward...though he too would likely find it time to move on in the morning.

[@phillip8443]

No this is sweet song about two lonely people finding each other It is a beautiful love song not a pick up song a true love dtory

[@jamesvomsaal]

He never said he was drunk

[@jamesdemarco7161]

To me, there are four people in this song. The guy looks at the beautiful girl the way that the bartender looks at him. I think the key to the song is when he tries to tell the girl how wonderful she is, she says "shhhh... I know just how you feel". That tells me there is someone she likes, but cannot have. So I don't think the song is about one night stands as much as it is about longing for someone you can't have/someone out of your league. You have an over weight, ugly woman who longs for a diminutive working class guy, that is an upgrade for her. The diminutive working class guy longs for the pretty girl, that is an upgrade for him. The pretty girl longs for an unknown somebody who would be an upgrade for her. They are all lonely because they long for a thing they can't have. I think, in the end, the bartender states her feelings to him, and he reconsiders his priorities, sort of breaking the cycle so to speak.

[@brenthenderson3983]

Them being drunk never entered the story, you could be changing the whole story..

[@b1bmsgt]

Unfortunately, you picked a not so great version of the song! Try the one from the “Greatest Stories Live” album. This entire album is the definitive Harry Chaplin IMHO…

[@weshwn4246]

It was this good anyway

[@allendesalme197]

You are mispronouncing Harry's last name - it is a long A, not a short one - CHAY-pin - just trying to help

[@weshwn4246]

So what it not that big of deal

[@allendesalme197]

@@weshwn4246 just trying to help