Harry Chapin-Better Place To Be

[@douglasrasmussen480]

Saw Chapin at the U of I in Champaign in 78. Young and old alike sat in silent rapture while he wove his stories.

[@gilkenson53]

I love Harry.. One of the first spirits I look up if I'm allowed into the light when I pass on... I know Harry is there... A real good guy.. Gave so much to world hunger, great song writer.. The Irish (which I am one) love ballads like this... God bless you my friend..

[@aisforapple2494]

Harry Chapin was the first concert I went to. My stepmother took me to see this wonderful man in November 1980. I'm glad I had that opportunity, because Harry died the following July. I wish there were more people like you in the world, Harry. This is my favorite song of his, and in my opinion, it has the greatest payoff of any song ever! Rest In Peace, Harry.

[@anthonypatrick7045]

Sorry harry died before his time he will always be one of the best musicl story tellers of my life time ,thank you Harry Chapin

[@maleahmaxey8206]

He was so beyond incredible…a huge loss.

[@sandradayl6744]

My favorite singer singing my favorite song. RIP Harry.

[@Utlayolisdi]

I have known so many who have lived this song. Sad, lonely and desperate for companionship. Harry had a way of nailing the essence of human experience. His influence, talent and kindness are sorely missed to this very day.

[@SteveEcksteinDouglasDrive]

HARRY TURNS A SAD TALE INTO A MASTER PIECE SET TO MUSIC. A TRUE CLASSIC. CAUGHT HARRY AT " MY FATHER'S PLACE, ROSLYN, LONG ISLAND . CROW WENT WILS WHEN HE SANG " I STUFFED THE BILL INTO MY SHIRT". STANDING ROOM ONLY THAT NITE.

[@waynesorensen307]

Seems like every so often I pull up a few of Harry's songs. This is one of his best. What a talent.

[@MrMaritoJavier]

This and Mr. Tanner...

[@davevosteen8743]

My favorite song by him. I love Harry..I was in the military stationed in Greece when the accident happened..I was 19 and I cried that day long and hard. What a humanitarian.

[@cathysoles7156]

Saw him twice in concert back in the 70's... Bought every album!! Went to lots of concerts back then but he is the only singer that truly made an impression on me!! Glad I found his songs on line 🙌

[@wandashirkey9654]

I love this song. This and Taxi are my favorites.

[@srgbuffalobuffalony7112]

He GAVE sooooo much of himself and his $/success to humanity and community. Never got enough credit for doing so. He was so unselfish, caring, giving, ...name it..... One of humanity's greatest ambassadors. One of our best ever. Thank you Harry. He deserves the posthumous United Nations Medal of Honor.

[@msmithrandir561]

My favorite Harry song....many california nights sitting up with my roomates learning this beautiful song

[@lisabucciarelli447]

So happy that I am able to have him in my life. Never saw him. But first time I heard him I cried!

[@kevinmcmann5320]

First time I Heard this Song I Cried A River of tears From the Beginning to the End- So Moving , R.I.P. Harry 🙏

[@jamesarnold3656]

Gone to soon, but God now gets to listen to him.

[@eilslove]

oh my god the great harry chapin singing about my homeplace; lonlieness, anywhere is a better place to be, thank you for posting, and thank you harry for lessening the pain, GREAT GREAT GREAT

[@StevieB1362]

One of his greatest stories. What a talent ! In a class of his own. Gordon Lightfoot was close, but Harry Chapin was more a common man's man, where as Gordon wrote great love songs & ballads. But Harry's lyrics & story lines are much grittier & more human. WHo knows what he would be writing now if he'd lived. Long live his music ! Thanks for keeping it alive & posting it on Utube.

[@mynortherndownpour]

What a story teller! A shame that not more people know about his music. I discovered him years back and he's great! Anna in Sweden

[@robindonka9247]

This happened to me, just before I left for my second tour. She was so damn beautiful and looked sad and lost. I wasn't old enough to order her a drink. She saw me watching her, checking out the medals on my uniform. She simply held out her hand and we walked to some rundown place and that night, this young soldier, forgot all about my war. As I left that morning to catch my flight, she was sleeping and her perfume was on my shirt. I'm much older now, but I can still feel her hand in mine. Next stop, I was back leading other young men in combat. At night, when I has set out my men in a ambush, I would think about her. And too this day, I don't know her name!

[@gingervandy56]

I was lucky to see him once. It was amazing. A huge concert hall but he made you feel like he was singing for you. No one sings it like Harry.

[@jaygolfs2008]

Just amazing story telling. makes me cry every time. Song of Hope, rejection and salvation. very cool Harry did this song. Amazing

[@Stringrazor]

I was going to say the same thing! I saw him 2 or 3 times and each time it felt like we were in his living room for the evening. His death was such a huge loss.

[@lloydwelling7430]

Harry Chapin I think you made heaven a better place,take care brother.

[@stefanjonsson7420]

I love this sad story. Waow! A Masterpiace! It's so ❤❤❤Good and makes You cry😢 Bravo!!❤❤❤

[@missoutreful]

This song never ceases to give me chills. A million thinks for posting this marvelous live version.

[@mrcoz1764]

I have always loved his stories,,,since txi in the 70`s,,,bought the 8 track tapes,,,went to the cassettes,,,and the graduated to CD`s and to this day,,,STILL listen to his music,,,too bad he left us too soon

[@kidcharlemagne7238]

These songs and Harry's Atmosphere made me a singer at the piano, God Bless ye Harry.

[@carolynanderson7871]

Harry....tàk3ñ

[@christopherwagner2395]

Beautiful song

[@michelle9211960]

I can imagine this whole story in my head. Such a great story teller. In the end I am sad and happy at the same time. Isn't this what Harry wanted? I think he just wanted us to think........

[@marcusm4766]

Yes his songs are like little movies that play in your head when you hear them. This is one of the best songs ever written. Harry Chapin's death was such a huge loss to the world of music. What an amazing songwriter he was.

[@Moreththerogue]

One day we'll have more wonderful storytellers I just so damn glad, till then, we can listen to Harry. Thanks friend for the upload.

[@DenineDiece]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Harry!!! Thanks for sharing this wonderful video of one of my favorite Harry songs!! Never got the pleasure of meeting Harry BUT, I have had the honor of meeting Tom, Steve, Howie Fields{drummer}, and Big John Wallace!

[@dragonfly2948]

I've loved his music since 1972 when I first heard him...a fantastic musical story teller, I agree!

[@ternak001]

What a performance! Bravo!

[@kerryriseley9249]

sad he is gone he is a true talented story teller

[@walterchurchill5587]

God, they dont make 'em like this anymore!!

[@harrysbags1]

A great person and listening to him give me a pickup when feeling down All his songs have meaning

[@jaygolfs2008]

amazing story teller

[@JeffGreen-d1v]

THE story teller...

[@ravenofno]

1981...I was playing Jim Bowie at the Alamo at the Mary Moody Northern Outdoor Theatre in Galveston, Texas. One of my fellow actors was...as I was..a big fan. We were drunk..and singing Mr. Tanner (I took the chorus)..and...midday at the rehearsals...we learned that he was killed in the accident. He sang like a bard...singing stories......

[@rwilli1962]

I wish that I was beautiful, or that you were halfway blind.......Story of my life............

[@fanboy4224]

happy birthday Harry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@PatrickMcCarthy13]

I used to play cello. Harry left us much too soon.

[@jamesvanlandingham3569]

God I wish I'd seen him when i had the chance.

[@StevieB1362]

Thanks for posting this Live performance, complete with BIG JOHN WALLACE?! in reply to Danny Boggs Are you drunk or what? I think you're reading a lot into this song that isn't there. She's a lonely bartnederess who also wanted company with this lonely watchman. I didn't hear any confession about his cheating with anyone else's wife? Just let us enjoy this great composer/performer's storytelling. FYI: During his short time on earth, Harry Chapin did more work in his "spare" time, while not touring, to feed the hungry than many fulltime hunger fighting organizations do. So, as my dad used to say, "If you can't say anything nice, kindly shut the hell up."

[@snookums01]

+StevieB1362 Danny was talking about the song "I want to learn a love song". In that, a married woman wants to learn a love song and is seduced by (or seduces?) Harry (or the "singer" perhaps?).

[@rodf1961]

Thank you for posting.

[@GuitaristInProgress]

Man. Thanks for posting this.

[@ravenofno]

Wish I could have. The irony is that he will be best remembered for his ..um...bagatelle....Cat's in the...welll........he was a master bard.

[@phishENchimps]

Only a fan :) thank you

[@PresAdams-bz2ep]

😭😭😭😭💔💔💔💔

[@lightening16]

Where did u see him? I saw him at the Capital (?) theatre , now gone, in Passaic NJ. He made such an impression on me during the short time he was here.

[@firedesignguy]

He says the cello players name...Yvonne Cable

[@FoxW1188]

dobry

[@michaelnorton6153]

you know 79 in

[@phishENchimps]

What does he say at the very end.

[@mepfann]

and he told the waitress his story...

[@dragonfly2948]

omg....it's life....it's all around us....good or bad....he's only telling a story from different perspectives -- a lonely single man and a lonely married woman.... shit happens...sorry but that's life and if you don't like it DO SOMETHING to change it and make sure it doesn't happen.

[@bill3901]

It was a one night stand...what did he expect?...he is lucky he got a note at all...Im glad that he finally lowered his standards and took a "fat" girl home...is that the point of this song?...strange tune

[@gilkenson53]

I love Harry.. One of the first spirits I look up if I'm allowed into the light when I pass on... I know Harry is there... A real good guy.. Gave so much to world hunger, great song writer.. The Irish (which I am one) love ballads like this... God bless you my friend..