Livin' Man Song From "Owl Creek"

Excerpts of the tune "Livin' Man" and a couple of instrumentals from the French-made 1962 short film "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." Adapted from a 1890 Ambrose Bierce short story, the film won a number of international short film awards, and also appeared as an episode on the original Twilight Zone TV series. The end credits of the Twilight Zone version list only Henri Lanoë as the source of the music. In the end credits of the original film, Henri Lanoë received top-billing for the music, with the names of five musicians who contributed listed below his name. According to imdb.com, Lanoë -- assuming this is the same Henri Lanoë -- has been a busy man within the film industry, contributing not only to composing, but also editing, acting, writing and directing. See www.imdb.com/name/nm0487030/
The French title for An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge is "La rivière du hibou." Under that title IMDB lists the names Kenny Clarke and Henri Lanoë for the category "Music by." A separate listing for "Music Department" lists the names Cley Douglas, Robert Escuras, Jimmy Gourley, Jean-Marie Imgrand and Kenny Clarke. This is the same list of names that appear below Lanoë's name in the original film's end credits. Both Gourley and Escuras were jazz guitarists. (The late Gourley can be seen performing in 1987 at • Jimmy Gourley Quartett... ). I haven't yet been able to find any information about Douglas or Imgrand.
As for Clarke, he was an American jazz musician who resided -- and eventually died -- in France. See www.drummerworld.com/drummers/... for more information about him. Videos of Clarke performing can be found here on KZbin. Check out Clarke sharing beats with drummer Kenny Clare in 1970 at • Kenny Clare/Kenny Clarke He was an outstanding drummer, so it's likely he provided the rapid snare work that accompanied scenes of a condemned soldier fleeing through the woods in Owl Creek. Clarke was also a composer, writing a number of jazz tunes, and also the score for at least one other French-made film besides Owl Creek. An article about Clarke at www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/art... mentions -- as referenced from The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz -- he wrote music for the Owl Creek film, which mirrors the "Music by" credits at IMDB. Whether Clarke wrote (and possibly sang) any of the Livin' Man song is unknown.
The Owl Creek episode is actually part two of an exceptional 1962 trilogy of short films by director Robert Enrico called "Au coeur de la vie" ('In the Midst of Life') which have fortunately been posted on KZbin by Nick Palmer. If you'd like to watch the whole trilogy, which after all is the way it was intended to be viewed, part 1, titled "Chickamauga," can be found at • Video
Part 2 -- the Owl Creek installment excerpted here -- can be found at • An Occurence at Owl Cr...
Part 3, titled "The Mockingbird," can be found at • Video
Nick Palmer also includes a link ( houseofmirthandmovies.wordpres... ) that provides detailed info about the complete trilogy.

[@craigx1433]

I watched this in 1965 when I was 9...me and my brother were watching tv and this came on late at night in Newfoundland,Canada...I never forgot it!...now I am 62 and retired and I searched for it just entering I'm a livin man!!!! Wow.

[@IAyala1010]

Craig X first saw this around 2013 (I think) when I was 11 and could never remember what it was called. Finally found it after receiving the original short story from my English class.

[@MAIRECREAN]

I'm the same age as you and I only heard this song once (back in the 1960s) and, like you, have never forgotten it. A real treat to hear it again.

[@MAIRECREAN]

My previous reply was meant for the person from Newfoundland!

[@craigx1433]

@@MAIRECREAN Go Figure...I'm a Newfie too! I live in Ontario now and have a farm that is full of wildlife including Fishers and Martins...

[@MAIRECREAN]

@@craigx1433That sounds wonderful!! I'm from Dublin Ireland but living in Liverpool England so don't have access to lots of wildlife. I do, however, have a little garden and really value that.

[@juventusventuno9213]

I was 18 in 1989, watching public TV in the sweltering summer in the den, and I saw this movie - and mesmerized - it had changed me, song and cinematography - a great poem to life.

[@zakbond1216]

This was arguably one of the greatest short movies. Of all time. The diouloge is kept at a minimum this movie or short manages to convey the Quagmire's of war perfectly.

[@stephenmark6781]

One of the greatest short subject films ever made. I saw it in 1978 in a high school English class and never forgot it. A masterpiece.

[@undine8750]

This scene hauntingly depicts the human appreciation for the most basic things on earth when faced with death or imprisonment, like the dirt, the grass, the trees, the sky and the water...

[@REPENT...]

Exactly people take stuff like that for granted

[@redwaterfilmworks7210]

This breaks my heart down to its core. I was diagnosed with cancer just about a year ago. I’m a young man, 22 years old, hearing this song just makes me want to bathe in sunlight and love and cherish my time on earth while I’m here. It kinda makes all the other problems in life not so important

[@shadowmomochiuchiha6839]

Don't give up. Keep fighting until the end.

[@swami1]

Keep fighting. You’re a livin’ man. Your time has not come.

[@P-hm4gw]

This episode hit me hard for some reason

[@ABN6565]

Paul william Yea I am a recovering addict if 20 years. hits home those lyrics, trust me god exist.

[@IAyala1010]

Paul william It was derived from Civil War stories. One of the greatest episodes.

[@AlexanderMock-iv9ue]

Yea it does especially knowing that he was set up. I mean sure he was a confederate but he was just a family man living in a crazy time thinking he was protecting his loved ones. It hit me hard because it got me thinking. A classmate if mine flatlined during surgery for a good 3 minutes. She did she was aware that she was dying but was ok with it. She said the weirdest part was that she was in a white void and she said it literally felt like an eternity. She said it wasn’t until like WEEKS later she understood what had happened. She said it was like being born. Like she never existed then one day just kind of waS there and Had memories. Like you have vague recollections or stuff that happened when you were a baby but it really isn’t until kindergarten or so that memories become more vivid. I once smoked DMT (the chemical your brain releases upon death) and I was out for about 15 SECONDS and I woke up in a kind of state of shock thinking I missed out on so much stuff like work and school and meeting my brother for lunch. My homeboy told me I had only been laying on the couch for 15 seconds, but in my mind it felt like an infinite amount of time. My whole dmt trip lasted like 20 minutes maybe less but it felt like 20 eons.. Basically what I am getting at is time is truly relative and that is why this video hit hard for me. As taling to my classmate as well as a few others who have flatlined, and me going on a DMT trip shows you that time is truly a creation of our brain. You could very well be flatlined in a hospital table right now and everything you are seeing now is either a situation like this mans in the movies, or you are relieving your life that you once lived already. Then in this memory when you go to the hospital and flatline again maybe you will relive your life again or fill in the blanks with a different memory. Maybe in a different universe or a different time. Like a sort of memory induced reincarnation. I always thought Of maybe there isn a heaven or hell, or reincarnation. Maybe when we die time reboots and you just exist as something or someone else. Not a Literal physical and spiritual reincarnation but just never ending doors and memories, both real and imagined memories, being opened for you when one closes. You might close your eyes and wake up and you see thousands of years in the past as a nehandrathal bunting a mammoth, then you plunge in a icy river and you are 39 billion years in the future as a body less orb of advanced energy. Time truly is a man made invention. There is no time unless our conscious brains organize time

[@maykun070]

@@AlexanderMock-iv9ue you're amazing.

[@coppingtonfarnham7731]

I went through surgery for prostate cancer...ended with a best case scenario. During recovery, I found An Occurrence At Owl Bridge included in a movie collection I have. I thought, what a coincidence..."Livin Man" is a good theme for someone declared "cancer-free." Make you appreciate the small things, like the sun on your face, bird chirping and leaves fluttering in the breeze. "A living man, A living man, I want to be a living man In all the world, He moves around, He walks around, He turns around I see each tree, I heed each vein, I hear each bug, Upon each leaf The buzzing flies, The splashing fish, They moves around, This living man A living man, A living man, I want to be a living man "

[@wandaramsey9743]

So glad to hear this, how fitting and beautiful.

[@kystars]

Very well put. you are cancer free? Thank God, good to hear. I also had Cancer last fall, 2019 but I survived it. and yes the small things in life really do matter. All the small things matter. holding sand in your hand, seeing the sun rise....... many things. for me, I am Christian and believe in God and you will have ever lasting life and always be living as long as you accept God. just be saved. Jesus saves us by his shed blood. just ask him forgiveness and accept that he died on the cross for YOU. HE KNOWS who you are. He knows all of us. just think, JESUS who died on the cross , knows all of us. and yes Jesus was real , its even in the records of the Romans during that time. They killed him. I wouldn't want to be them. but if they later asked for forgiveness, Jesus would forgive accept Jesus Christ into your life... its FREE. YOU Just turn away from your sins. you know what they are. drinking and so on. but that is all. you will be SAVED and pray to God you want a new change at life. to be on of God's children. and then you are saved. just don't return to sin. you won't be PERFECT........but do your best. if you make a mistake, pray for forgivness. God will deal with you. you will still be one of his children. God bless you. you will be a living man or woman always.

[@kystars]

@@wandaramsey9743 my mom was named Wanda. she was a devout Christian. She was saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. are you saved? are you a Christian? its simple. just accept that Jesus died for your sin and you are saved. just turn away from your sins. Tell God you want to be one of his children. and then you are . stay away from sin. you won't be perfect, but if you make a mistake, just pray to Jesus for forgiveness. you will have ever lasting life and always feel the sun on your face, the sand in your hands and the water on your feet. God bless you

[@pjwallace1006]

It’s ALWAYS nice 👍🏻 to meet a fellow “LIVIN’ Man”…🤗💚💛💙

[@alperilgazaytek]

You unlock this door with the key of imagination.

[@riverboatjoe4449]

Incredibly beautiful song. I wish so badly that there was a full-length version.

[@cameron81anderson]

it’s horrible

[@dougr.2398]

@@cameron81anderson the song or the film? They are both remarkable, one probably written and sung by the people this man probably oppressed, and the reality of man ?and woman’s) ‘s inhumanity to man.... both remarkable amd horrible

[@ToxicSoupMan]

@@cameron81anderson Terrible take. Should've kept this one in the drafts big fella 😬

[@cameron81anderson]

@@ToxicSoupMan nah. still awful

[@ToxicSoupMan]

@@cameron81anderson your momma

[@katizz988]

I was in the 7 or 8 grade when I read this short story. I never forgot it, but when I saw it on film I cried. Revisiting and seeing it through the eyes of a director, with terrific actors was amazing. I was shocked because I thought about wanting something so badly, it is so close, but so far away...and it never comes to pass. The song, A Living Man, the erie sounds, soul touching and haunting, but a work of art.

[@BroPorkChop]

I love the Twilight Zone and I've been watching it religiously for the last 20 years, but today was my first time ever seeing this episode. I had to come to KZbin to find the song though...

[@cinoeye]

Trevez Montgomery omg same here!

[@wandaramsey9743]

This is one of the best and also the least shown, there is another great one "The encounter", I think maybe they are not broadcast often because they are an hour long.

[@AlexanderMock-iv9ue]

Yea it was only shown a few times and wasn’t in syndication from what I know. I think because it wasn’t original or twilight zone, it was a French independent short film that twilight zone bought the American right too and the contract said it could only be shown so many times. It is on the Netflix twilight zone and I think on blu ray releases. It just isn’t shown in syndication because of the contract stipulation

[@lindsayvanas7125]

I recently saw this episode from the twilight zone and I just felt so bad for that man

[@ronwilliams6875]

I seen this short film in high school 50 years ago and could never remember the name, but it made a lasting impression on me.

[@BooBoo586]

Makes one yearn to live, grasp at the thread of life. The first time I saw this the end had me hysterically crying.

[@darleenstrathy6394]

I was 4 years old when this Twilight Zone episode appeared.......Twilight Zone played with your head.......but for some reason that song and that man running toward his wife through the ravages of war always got my attention......back in the day this would have been a controversial movie, but was well made, well played and helped everyone who lost loved ones in wars to appreciate life.......I am guessing this guy passed away and got free.......and he's running toward his wife who was murdered at the hands of soldiers too and they can now be together.......or he survived and is able to make run back to his sweetheart.......see what I mean it makes you think.......the end he didn't fall into the water, but dropped to his death....... makes people think

[@TheGreenDragon7777]

Once again this music gets stuck in my head!!

[@ptsdpamphletcompany5890]

I regret plenty of stuff, but one of the things I do not regret was dishing out the extra bucks to take a American Literature class I didn't need, and discovering this jewel of a short story. The teacher player the TZ episode of it and it's something that has sat in my head ever since.

[@EphemeralProductions]

Can't listen to this again, it gets me emotional. (A lot of songs do though. LOL) Heard it years ago when I found the TZ episode it's from, on KZbin, and have remembered it ever since. The end of the film just destroys you.

[@ABN6565]

tall32guy IT makes you so sad as if your losing someone or something.

[@gavinbergman1246]

Did anyone else just have a crippling heart attack when he shrieked at the end of this episode.

[@andyspiegel4877]

Lovely song, unforgettable short film. My VHS copy is among my prized possessions.

[@TheSolitary1]

Watching this episode now

[@ToxicSoupMan]

The ending part of this song always got me emotional. Even knowing what was coming after having read the story, the music progressively getting louder and almost happier as he runs towards his wife one last time before death. Its like a fleeting, false hope, in music form

[@girlidkyuh2263]

my teacher showed this silent film in my class a few days ago and i thought the song sounded pretty

[@Zaron_Gaming]

What a mind fuck.. I grew up on twilight zone my schools in the 90's showing us some ("it's not fair!" blew my classes mind) and have watched it off and on through the last 25 but I am still not used to the twists in this show.. The ending fully floored me leaving me "what the heck?" So wild

[@ABN6565]

beautiful _song_.

[@jsthlrd]

This song plays in my head every time I watch a nature show on insects and arachnids.

[@cinoeye]

Twilight man brought me here!:) great episode. You can tell it was produced by film and not tv crew...editing, cinematography...and music is amazing!

[@jamese.morris2891]

Sy-Fy channel airs the Twilight zone early on weekdays.I watched this episode while getting ready for work and this damned song was ingrained in my head.....i know not the lyrics...but there it is....driving me nuts....

[@user-it1ig8fn1r]

Perfect music supporting the mood and effect!

[@evaaloezos6522]

This song is so trippy

[@joyceangleberger3660]

Until I found this film on youtube, I frustrated myself by watching TZ marathons so hoping to catch the film, but it is never included. TG for KZbin and internet. Search is over

[@AlexanderMock-iv9ue]

Yea it was only shown a few times and wasn’t in syndication from what I know. I think because it wasn’t original or twilight zone, it was a French independent short film that twilight zone bought the American right too and the contract said it could only be shown so many times. It is on the Netflix twilight zone and I think on blu ray releases. It just isn’t shown in syndication because of the contract stipulation

[@foreverskeptical1]

TY Prof Jonathon Shannon for introducing this to me!

[@CapAmerica2211]

This song and episode reminds me of the Mark Twain Riverboat and the Rivers of America ride at Disneyland

[@andyspiegel4877]

One of my favorite TZ episodes, and I just discovered that there's a Hitchcock version on KZbin!

[@SinuheAncelmo]

It is a very shocking story, specially due to its end :( Here the end was cutted...

[@silverado2004]

I saw this year's ago on Showtime.They played it after showing twilight zone the movie.

[@bigkahuna1919]

This song is haunting.

[@gregthebaritone]

3:01 I claim that this had to be the inspiration for Lancelot storming the castle wedding in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

[@kystars]

I always loved this show! This song is so fantastic! I shared it with many people around the world, they loved it! thanks for the upload!

[@eagleeye2300]

Poignant beyond belief...

[@juventusventuno9213]

theres a version where he is running to his wife with a drumroll and it repeats a few times until he is suddenly upon her.

[@CapAmerica2211]

Lucky, I wish they showed us this in AP US, the way history is taught at schools sucks, they need to show more critically acclaimed videos to deepen our understanding

[@TheSisterDemons]

Thanks for posting! I've been meaning to find this song without having to go through searching through the Owl Creek video itself.

[@rsmullyan]

According to some sources, including NYTimes, the song is called "Live Livin' Man", and written by Henri Lanoe. www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/35918/An-Occurrence-at-Owl-Creek-Bridge/overview

[@fellowearthling4609]

I wanna be, A LIVING MAN!

[@joewars66]

Thanks for the Info I have always liked this song.

[@JamesNifong]

This is an adaptation of the song "Lover Man" by Kenny Clarke. Henri Lenoe took this and adapted it to this film calling it Living man. So look up Lover man by Kenny clarke if you want to hear the version he does. Its jazzier and real groovy.

[@gvxrlole]

For the life of me I can't detect any similarities between this song and "Lover Man."

[@Fuggettabouttitt]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpjEhap5g86tiMU Is this the song you are referring to? The only similarity I hear is the opening riff on the saxophone : /

[@edavsaa]

2:47 my favorite part. Found this song from Twilight Zone episode.

[@lincbond442]

I think we all wish he could have lived happily ever after with his pretty and adoring wife.

[@darrenjames7901]

STILL THE CREEPIEST SONG EVER!

[@adamwatson2914]

So heartbreaking

[@dwayne20110521]

I found it in volume 19 The Twilight Zone DVD collection after seeing it in 64.

[@babybeluga10]

oh snap!

[@GrizeldaGrundle]

I LOVE THIS SONG. wish I could buy it somewhere (?)...

[@sydneywestbrook7448]

Damn 1:09 with the spider, interesting mesh between the words and the image

[@blackowiak]

This song is just really creepy to me

[@23king92]

I thought that they were really far away from each other lol

[@rynekieffer2696]

Lookin for guitar chords/tabs for the start of 2:52 ... wish me luck👍

[@bobsyouruncle6900]

D minor C major A minor Dm A7 I think?

[@alessandroinglese4238]

Haha! I think I will try too

[@sheilap.6377]

Why is it so hard to find the singer of this song, the music is beautiful by Henri Lanoe but who is the ORIGINAL singer? Its driving me nuts! Does anyone know who actually sings the SONG???

[@raindog48]

For years I've wondered the same thing even after I had been successful in purchasing the '45 of the song. I never could find-- even as a librarian!-- the answer to the "singer question". Today I finally had success thanks to a recent Y-T comment from the ultimate authority, Mr. Lanoe (kzbin.info/www/bejne/laOamauhiLF4nqM ). Here's the automated Google translation from the French: "Hello, I discovered this fan club which makes me very happy. Kenny Clarke has done the long drums solo that accompanies the escape of the condemned man and the guitarist Jimmy Gourley sings A Livin 'Man while accompanying himself. Both resided in Paris since the 1950s. Kenny died there in 1985 and Jimmy in 2008."

[@raindog48]

However...since writing the above comment I have written to Mr. Lanoe about a possibly wrong-headed issue: to the best of my knowledge Mr. Gourley does not-- admittedly at quite a distance-- appear to have been African-American. To my ears the singer here seems to be. So, this issue has (in my mind) not been resolved. I have not yet seen a reply from Mr. Lanoe and also I have not heard anything from Mr. Gourley's son whom I messaged on Facebook....

[@raindog48]

@@blobcity3591 You can't....for sure! I asked myself the same question when I wrote that but I decided to throw the thought out there anyway. . .

[@pjwallace1006]

Back in 1997, I was still in the US Marine Corps (Operation Balkan Peace), attached to UN Peacekeeping Forces. I had graduated college the year before, earning my [first] BA, as well as receiving my officer’s commission. Anyway, I saw some things that shook me up pretty bad (that PTSD STILL remains a constant companion, DESPITE receiving an honorable discharge in 2002, one marriage and divorce, being a single dad to 3 adopted kids, and getting married-quite happily-again!!!). They were the kind of things that reminded me what my maternal grandfather [God Rest his soul: 💐💐💐🕯️🕯️1921-2003🕯️🕯️💐💐💐] saw in Europe during WWII💔❤️‍🩹💝 I was on leave in the UK 🇬🇧, visiting family on my dad’s side not long after seeing the things that folks HERE only READ ABOUT in the papers📰 …☹️💔❤️‍🩹💝 One evening, I was helping out w/ one of the family businesses (a pub & restaurant) in York. I found some VHS 📼 tapes of The Twilight Zone up in the “overnight loft” (sometimes, it was necessary for a family member or friend to stay overnight if there was a shipment 🚚 due the next morning. There were only a few regulars that time of night, and there were no football ⚽️ matches on, so I popped a tape in, and Occurrence At Owl 🦉 Creek Bridge was on. This wouldn’t be the first time I wanted to be “A LIVIN’ Man”, not would it be the last 💚💛💙 Back home here in the Good Ol Pacific NW (Oregon-way), I try to get out to the State Parks, the Oregon Coast or the Columbia River Gorge whenever I can; sometimes by myself, a LOTTA times w/ the wife and kids (the latter all 3 all grown up now and doing well in life ❤️🤍💙💛). Whenever I see that Mighty Ol’ Columbia or MacKenzie or Yamhill River, I’m reminded AGAIN just how happy 😊 I AM to be “A LIVIN’ Man”❤️🧡💛💚💙💘💘💘💘💘

[@josh0liva]

@GrizeldaGrundle me too... ive been searching all day

[@Jacob-pf3ih]

Livin Man- Stoney Joe on Spotify

[@blobcity3591]

take his watch

[@jg77northeast36]

New Years day marathon 2024 Syfy channel

[@Undertaker8898]

I know this isn't the song, but does anyone know the song near the end when he's running towards his wife?

[@joyceangleberger3660]

Undertaker8898 At URL kzbin.info/www/bejne/fn_NeGiQoKeca9E are several paragraphs describing the music origins, musicians and possibly who sang the original version of "Livin Man" and music at the end of film which to me sounds like more instrumental of original song. "

[@Abbotte]

dont know how i came here!! thx anyway

[@glennraytutor]

does anyone know where sheet music for this song can be acquired?

[@zakbond1216]

Any one have the whole song?

[@calebewert2683]

i sampled the song when hes running towards his wife, would i need to get that cleared or is it fair game?

[@MPam1619]

Who is this singer?

[@loudibella9423]

Henri Lanoë

[@edavsaa]

2:47

[@Meta-Drew]

Awesome, after we watched this in English class years ago I got a copy and cut the audio out for this song and put it on myspace, though it seems the file is no longer downloadable like it used to be, its at myspace(.com)/owlcreek if anyone knows how to get an mp3 off there

[@SouthCircinus]

Me too, there´s so much humor on it!

[@opsk9]

This song always stuck in my mind, but it seems weird and dark they way they showed it in so many elementary schools (like mine). Kids don't need to "get" the starkness of death until they'd much older. What was the motive behind all that distribution? I see it wasn't just a local fluke.

[@goodnitesteve]

I'd like to know as well. I'm sure it's an easy song to learn, it reminds me of the stuff Bob Dylan or Tom Waits do now.

[@jamesedward3734]

I, too, very much enjoy the TZ. However, after watching 100s of episodes, I've come to the conclusion that an insanely high % of episodes are basically just about death or somehow the idea that humans are aliens (or vice versa) or the beginning of the Earth or the ending of the Earth. Not complaining, but rather stating that if your watching an episode it's a good bet that one of these is the outcome! :)

[@Frogkhan915]

Don't forget a small-time crook/no-goodnik getting their comeuppance

[@JamesBWBevis]

Or a flawed but sympathetic character getting a second chance

[@willamjohnson9439]

The creepiest song I've ever heard!

[@Diana-qy4mc]

How many water signs understand this?

[@theyeastinfection9871]

Tom Waits? lol

[@EphemeralProductions]

+Evan Demaree Tom was just a kid when this came out. LOL No it's some French singer I can't remember the name of.

[@gvxrlole]

Everything seems funny when you're stoned.

[@thafireman8526]

Rapture