Natalie Merchant - Song of Himself (Lyric Video)

[@patsyheard555]

This new music has uplifted my soul. I am 75 years old and never knew you until I just saw you on tv singing Tower of Babel a few minutes ago! I have tears of joy listening to your new music! Thank you and God bless you!

[@TheBackyardBirdCo]

I’m excited for you to discover all the brilliance. Enjoy. ❤

[@parkerhilliard3819]

I am 51 and didn't know who Natalie was until like 2002,lots of people have been listening to her for 40 years. I love her

[@BradJames878]

I became a big Natalie fan sometime after 'Tigerlily' came out. I was walking down a street, and I found a broken cassette lying in the gutter. I picked it up and took it home and repaired it, and it turned out to be a mixture of different songs that someone had unprofessionally put together. I realized there were some great songs on there that I had to research later on. (The internet wasn't out yet.) I later learned that one song was 'the Forest Gump suite" and one was "expecting to fly' by Buffalo Springfield (neil young.) But the first two songs I thought were Natalie Merchant, because I had been hearing Tigerlily on the radio, and I was certain it was her voice. But I could find nothing with the lyrics because I knew nothing of 10,000 Maniacs. Years later I learned the songs were Jezabel and Noah's Dove, recorded from the MTV concert onto the cassette. I've been a big fan of Natalie ever since, and Tigerlily is my favorite CD. For perspective, my second-favorite is 'the Wall' by Pink Floyd, so that gives some idea how I regard Natalie.

[@mpratt]

I love this song! It's right up there with my favorites, River, and Verdi Cries. As a result of Song of Himself, I've become interested in poetry and have been reading Walt Whitman +. Now that I'm retired, I have time to enjoy the Arts in many varieties. I can't wait for next album and more words to ponder. Thanks Natalie for the great lyrics.

[@ResidentWiseacre]

I’ll take a grey-haired Natalie Merchant dancing in front of a drop cloth tapestry any day over your next flash-in-the-pan pop tart any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

[@bobburroughs6241]

Wonderful - how great to have her back.

[@thaivo]

Natalie Merchant just gave me chills singing a song about Walt Whitman. Who these days releases a commercial album with the subject being Walt Whitman? Natalie is an amazing one of a kind artist. There are lines in this song that are pure poetry. Dedicated to America’s greatest poet no less.

[@jamesdeeringer6789]

Intellect in music is rare these days. Always a joy to find and Natalie Merchant is consistently superb in that regard.🤟😎🎵🎶

[@TacShooter]

I thought it was about Titus Flavius in the person of Iesous.

[@petemavus2948]

I love the concept and like most of the songs from this album they're missing something and too indistinguishable from each other. As much as I admire Natalie and will always respect her, she's not moving me like she used to... I'm sorry to say.

[@jamesdeeringer6789]

@@petemavus2948 Keep listening. I mean turn off the lights at 1am, turn everything off possible, lay back and breath kind of listening. To quote John Hiatt, " It'll Come To Ya".🤟😎🎶🎵

[@portcullis5622]

@@petemavus2948 I thought the same after the first couple of listens to the album. I loved 'Eye of the Storm' and her cover of 'Hunting the Wren' (despite the rather bleak lyrics) on first hearing them, but I found that songs such as 'Narcissus', 'Guardian Angel' and 'St Valentine' were all slow paced and sounded similar. Quite a difficult album to access, even for long time fans. 'Big Girls' and 'Come on Aphrodite' are OK, but quite similar to one another. 'Tower of Babel' is a good song, but seems to finish all too soon. Having played the album several times while driving, the songs have grown on me. They are good songs, but perhaps a couple more fast paced songs would have helped, but she seems to prefer to be accompanied by strings rather than electric guitars these days. I preferred the self-titled 2014 album, but having read that she has had health problems, I am grateful to hear new material, that she still has a great voice and is touring again. After the pandemic in 2020, it looked unlkely that she would tour Europe again.

[@kathymum1]

I feel like one of my lost angels, soulmates, kindred spirits (thinking she was forever gone) has just re-emerged from her ethereal place and delivered the most exquisite gifts to me...her voice, her songs, her meaning! This is about the most sane, pure, relaxing thing that I have experienced in a very long time! So thankfull....so grateful, Natalie Merchant!

[@rickmartin6817]

Wonderful. In a crazy world that keeps getting crazier by the day, I'm SO happy to see new music from Natalie.

[@jamesdeeringer6789]

I wholeheartedly agree.🤟😎🎵🎶

[@petemavus2948]

Me too yet maybe my expectations were too high.

[@rossmurray6849]

For a couple of decades, my favorite song has been 'Thick as Thieves' from Natalie's album Ophelia. It is now this.

[@portcullis5622]

'Thick as Thieves' is usually overlooked, but it is one of my favourite songs. Wonderful songwriting and a beautiful voice.

[@ReadingsbyDom]

Live in California now. For some reason, I so wish that I was back East. Good things come to those who wait. Love the arrangements but your vocals are astonishing and felt.

[@keithdickens1395]

every time I listen to Natalie I marvel at her voice,sooooo relaxing

[@eddiec1970]

Her voice is absolutely beautiful. ❤❤❤❤❤

[@irisscot101]

❤️Mystic poetry❤️ Set us free❤️

[@BrianHess-g5r]

Natalie contains multitudes! In this song she sings "set us free, set us free...Your song it will be sung, and sung again." It captures some of the spirit of Wittman's poem "Song of Myself", in particular it pulls me back to this part of the poem: With music strong I come, with my cornets and my drums, I play not marches for accepted victors only, I play marches for conquer'd and slain persons. Have you heard that it was good to gain the day? I also say it is good to fall, battles are lost in the same spirit in which they are won. I beat and pound for the dead, I blow through my embouchures my loudest and gayest for them….

[@mabelannand9324]

I am so glad you are back nattily I have all your music you have such a beautiful voice hits the Messageheart 💖 love the new album thank you 😊 god. Bless you 👌🥰🥰🥰🙏🙏🙏

[@MAGAISKLAN]

Get your Grammy, Natalie!

[@karmapolice7768]

I'm an atheist, but the lyrics felt like some goddess speaking to me.

[@mark.J6708]

When you can fall into such a hauntingly beautiful and ethereal song and feel as if she were singing to you, magic and art become one. A song both ancient and from long from now.

[@belovedchild9812]

I love this song. I feel so happy and safe when I hear your voice. You are the bard for the tender hearted. ❤🙏

[@jamesdeeringer6789]

Thank you for more beautiful art. You are part of the soundtrack of so many life's. I hope your life is also filled with joy.🤟😎🎵🎶

[@pattiburton9976]

The new album is so beautiful - see you in Milwaukee May 20

[@BrakingForBurgers]

Great to hear these new songs. I was just listening to Cherry Tree today. Go Natalie!

[@johnthomas2501]

angelic why isnt she being nominated for rock and roll hall of fame......

[@portcullis5622]

As I see it, it is because Natalie Merchant is an authentic artist with a great voice who writes beautiful songs. She also does her own thing and is fiercely independent. The Hall of Fame is mostly full of gimmicks and artists with friends in the right places who have greased the right palms/ kissed the right arses.

[@RebelScum312]

"set us free, with words conferred by ghost, by poetry" - all of her songs are in the air & of the air & they are the air, dancing, twirling, spinning & everywhere, all the time & for all time, in sunlight shafts, moonglow rafts, stardust verse, tone & rhyme 💛🎙💚👩🧡💃🤍✍📓💙🔊💜🎶💗🙌😊

[@beboprichie]

Thank you Natalie for always bring me to my happy place Can’t wait to get the album

[@mabelannand9324]

I am so glad you are back nattily I have all your music you have such a beautiful voice hits the heart 💖 love the new album thank you 😊 god. Bless you 👌🥰🥰🥰🙏🙏🙏

[@colleenmeacham1176]

I love her such a voice see you in September ❤❤❤❤❤😊

[@david-uk1jf]

Thanks for sharing your sweetness and poetry with all of us dear Natalie

[@jamiboothe]

This reminds me of, Where I Go, from your first album. Keeping that touch with the subtle and rarely noticed parts of what make us human.

[@lb2145]

This is my favorite! Thank you for the beautiful music; you make us all so happy and full of hope! Love the new album it’s really quite fantastical.❤❤❤❤

[@margaretkelner4168]

Oh, what a magnificent song! I always cry when I listen to it. Not only Natalie's exquisite voice, but her poetry, the way she captures so perfectly Whitman's spirit and his message. I feel she has channeled him (... "by ghost, by poetry") -- she seems to know him personally, deeply. ... When will someone write the "Song of Herself" for Natalie?

[@davidburke2723]

I read she went to the Library of Congress and asked, "Show me everything that Walt Whitman touched." Natalie certainly does her homework!!

[@Aaron-in7lt]

Natalie, you are a bright and beautiful woman. This was definitely worth the wait. We have nothing but the utmost in respect and admiration for you. Thank you for sharing your gift. You have talent with a capital T!❤

[@zeehondje1000]

Pitty, I could'n get a ticket for her show, only expensive places were left. But happy I saw her a few years ago, although I was sitting far away, I was there.

[@helanthros]

::: yes these songs are yours :: as fair and clear as sunrise :: unconditional :: training to drive a school bus :: from one place to another :::

[@TheNOISENOISEZETLAND]

I love this more than I can express. We read Walt Whitman as part of our wedding vows❤and I have a Walt Whitman tattoo. I bawled when I heard this. Love your poetry Natalie. You are one of my lifelong hero’s just like Walt who I had his poems taped to my walls as a teenage moody goth. I imagine Walt would have carried a photo of you like he did his sweetheart. ❤❤❤

[@MatiasUlasik]

LOVE NATALIE❤🙌 thank you🫶

[@leomederos3155]

An instant favorite ❤️ thank you Natalie

[@fanofaestallings]

Lovely. The lyrics roll by like poetry set to an anthem. Thank you!

[@andrescordova4364]

Poesía de primer orden.

[@lynchesters4437]

Absolutely joyous...shades of the old 10000 maniacs, dancing round getting ready to go out for a night. Such beautiful uplifting sounds, lyrics and so very Very life- affirming. What a very special new album and can't wait till Glasgow this year. Thank you natalie ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@TheNOISENOISEZETLAND]

I was at Glasgow too one of the best nights of my life ❤

[@gdoom2018]

Wow! What a great voice! "These are the days ", is my favorite, because it always has spoke to me about the precious value of time with family and friends. PS: From an old metal head! Please don't tell@ lol

[@portcullis5622]

No need to be embarrassed. A great voice is a great voice, whether it is metal, rock, blues or folk. My favourite band is Free and Natalie Merchant's voice reminds me of a female equivalent of Paul Rodgers' voice, with a hint of Sandy Denny. I can't really pay a higher compliment than that. Have you heard the songs 'Tolerance' and 'Hateful Hate' by 10000 Maniacs? They give a glimpse of what a great rock singer Natalie Merchant could be.

[@lunacave]

Stunning great one. These lyrics sunk deep and moved me in a way that is rare and nourishing.

[@andrewholl2108]

SO Very Beautiful, Still

[@beechcoma]

You never disappoint! 😊😊😊 See you in St Augustine 4/28

[@mariaaballa9310]

amazing voice!

[@Machell]

Beautiful ❤️❤️❤️

[@pnw_mainecoons6633]

This song seems to be an answer to a Bob seger song I Love This ❤

[@gabrielgriffin9230]

positive vibes

[@susiefairfield7218]

positive vibes friend 💚

[@peterbelanger2998]

Love

[@Her.HighPriestess]

💕🕊💕🕊💕🕊

[@wildflowerz4me]

Brilliant

[@SusanneHetty]

❤

[@princesstna925]

Why are we getting no airplay

[@anthonygarcia1011]

Ruth eckerd hall clearwater, here we come!!!!

[@mabelannand9324]

I am so glad you are back nattily I have all your music you have such a beautiful voice hits the heart 💖 love the new album thank you 😊 god. Bless you 👌🥰🥰🥰🙏🙏🙏

[@mabelannand9324]

I am so glad you are back nattily I have all your music you have such a beautiful voice hits the heart 💖 love the new album thank you 😊 god. Bless you 👌🥰🥰🥰🙏🙏🙏