Oh Comely - Neutral Milk Hotel

Neutral Milk Hotel performing Oh Comely at the Knitting Factory in NYC, 1998. This is not my video, I'm uploading it because the old one has been removed from youtube for some reason.

[@ethanpn]

i wish i could see them in some sort of time machine

[@sergiomontoyabriceno5674]

Ethan Nick time machine you say?

[@riverkelly7747]

Use mangums

[@declanwarner4835]

The_Longest_Wave lmao true

[@chepmor]

Save her

[@sawyerlamers1393]

Will they remember me? 20 years later

[@CreepyDude15]

Every time this song ends I get the uncontrollable urge to say HOLY SHIT.

[@grantbeck8482]

Prebuiltpancake once you hear it you can’t unhear it 😂😂

[@DaveAnchovies]

i still think the "holy shit" was a horrified engineer with a Motorhead shirt on frightened by the madman in his studio ;)

[@stevegoodson9022]

Yeah, I missed hearing it, thought I maybe heard someone in the audience shout it, but probably just my imagination filling it in

[@stevegoodson9022]

@@DaveAnchovies Thanks, another weird image in my head when I listen to ITAOTS, along with the jizz-stained mountains

[@russ6541]

me too 😭

[@patrickkinnear8625]

This entire album is some kind of sorcery. Like nothing I ever heard before. Amazing.

[@MrBriller]

patrick kinnear timeless

[@zachlikecookedcrack]

Well said. It gives me chills Seeing them live this year was one of those special experiences you only get a few of in this life...

[@Algernon7]

+Zach Mettler Personally, the first time I listed to this was while on magic mushrooms. While it was an incredible experience in itself, the album improved it 10 fold. Even now the album gives me chills just listening to it. What a masterpiece

[@zachlikecookedcrack]

Definitely. ..my wife passed away on the 27th and I can't even listen to it right now. Not that it has anything to do with it- just the association. Take care..

[@zachlikecookedcrack]

MindFreaksLetsPlays​

[@Tyman103]

I had the honor of seeing Jeff Mangum do an acoustic set five feet from me in Lexington, KY last month. I cried throughout the entire show. He even signed my vinyl of ITAOTS. I'm still not sure what else I'm supposed to do with my life.

[@zoraribari8634]

Where are you now sir? Did you do something with your life? It has been 8 years from your comment and I'm interested. Happy 2021! ;)

[@laurencezemlick1979]

Have you stopped crying yet?

[@poetessbritt]

i have had the same feeling since I saw NMH at Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin...what now? can die and be happy lol

[@jgiraffe3192]

You'll figure it out my friend ✊

[@HeyDan1]

We can says you are a luckyly man

[@sarahm.4926]

This band is magical. I mean, a hand saw that sounds like ghosts crying....come on. How much more magical can it get.

[@DoodleSh1t]

sad saw ;(

[@estebandido4988]

NMH were not the first on using a saw as an instrument, and that's how they sound, based on some KZbin research. But yeah, they made such a beautiful music.

[@stevegoodson9022]

The guy playing it looked a bit pised off to be the only one playing a carpentry tool instead of a ''real' instrument, did an awesome job though.

[@seralouise.]

@@stevegoodson9022 he plays bass on other songs during the set, hes actually fairly commonly associated with the singing saw because of his affinity for it. he did a whole album of christmas songs performed on it.

[@froggie5628]

@@stevegoodson9022 there's a few differences between a singing saw and a plain old sawing saw, mainly being no less than 30 inches and being thinner. But it definitely can still be used as a woodworking tool lol

[@dawnpriest7814]

Singing along to this song alone in your car is a damn near orgasmic experience. I honestly think this is my favorite song in existence.

[@kkoyaanisqatisfy1432]

Sex is vastly overrated when compared to music.

[@stroud9811]

@@kkoyaanisqatisfy1432 how bout both at the same time yo

[@gwkonyoutube]

No Country For Old Men haircut lol

[@TheHandleOnYoutube]

lmao ! lol

[@ajewishgangsta]

+George W Kush whats the most you ever lost on a 2 headed coin toss, boy?

[@jamesjamescamp3]

+George W Kush greatest username ever

[@Goctagon]

Yes! haha

[@augustgreig9420]

How can you people not know Dee Dee Ramone?

[@friendship6668]

imagine having a set of lungs like that. they've always been haunting

[@PaperMonocles]

Julian is the best saw player I ever saw.

[@Elliejoyless]

I love this song so fucking much I can't even stand it.

[@tammyandersonparker4961]

+Ellie Joy Me tooo! :)

[@madspaniardchef5351]

Ellie Joy it breaks my heart in such an exquisite way... perfect.

After all these years of listening to Jeff, I never considered looking up what he looked like, I just enjoyed the music so deeply...Jeff was cute though.

[@watashiwanachodes]

you're cute too

[@watashiwanachodes]

i would be if i cared about what youre saying

[@Pinkiepyro1]

you know what's up

[@irosencrantz882]

I am sad that I missed this when it came out. I didn't discover it until almost 20 years later.

[@user-rx3js1no3s]

IRosencrantz nobody knew about this when it came out my good man, only gained traction a decade later

[@ratbones620]

Very few bands have been able to keep me fully invested in an 8 minute long song, and NMH is certainly one of them. This is arguably their masterpiece.

[@kkoyaanisqatisfy1432]

No need to argue. It is.

[@possum9403]

Neutral Milk Hotel is seriously my favorite band of all time but I will never get to see them live because I WAS TOO LATE GODDAMMIT

[@filth315]

Hold out hope, they're unpredictable

[@sophiab6486]

I would do terrible things for a chance to see them live.

[@DJG_Studios]

I didn’t find out about them until this year, So I really feel this comment

[@sm0lvoicc958]

am i a little late?

[@solaris6096]

He just wants to play his damn saw.

[@jewbo23]

1998 wasn't the year of autofocus.

[@donaldtuck6391]

and more

[@jamiwagner6649]

this song got me through the worst time of my life

[@abig_old_swan]

The entirety of ITAOTS was really helpful during a particularly crappy time in my life.

[@magicconches.]

Abigail Swanson same! It help me through many things

[@FelixRosas10]

Jami Wagner helping me now

[@chasecanady9019]

i tripped DMT to this song

[@bluedelerium]

@@chasecanady9019 Shame on your for not sharing with the rest of the class!

[@jakeorzali]

bands that are more than great and then walk away... well done, boys. thank you for all of it.

[@MrJamhamm]

because bears aren't dragons Well don't hate them when they get up to leave

[@justahumanbeing.709]

like Slint.

[@User-xw6kd]

The lyrics in this song are just...indescribable. The whole album itself. You can't put it into words.

[@sound7846]

Saw guy is the star of the show here

[@AtlanticSpamHammer]

No

[@holdendeez69]

julian koster****

[@stentor9640]

Eric Foreman zoom in YEAH

[@znet9452]

julian koster.

[@zozo-productions7817]

The saw player must've been pissed when he saw that the mic wasn't on

[@kevinmccunemusic]

ZOZO-PROductions nobody dare disrespect mr Julian chocolate

[@willjones8801]

his name is julian koster do not disrespect him like that

[@phildf6922]

Singing in E minor over a E major chord, always so magnetic

[@salvie5]

Can you explain what that means? The root note of his vocals is e minor?

[@bandaralmohsen3339]

how can you sing a chord? u mean Eb?

[@groblezep5548]

He sings the note G alot which is the minor third of E.

[@jesselitrell8359]

@@bandaralmohsen3339 hes singing that scale not that chord

[@Tarpit_]

it works especially due to the mode mixture between E major and C major. The C chord lives in a key that shares many notes with E minor. That's part of how it sounds so natural.

[@inesferretti1628]

Came here because it's sunday and there is nothing more powerfuly breaking than this fucking song. Chills and tears always.

[@fallinggstarr]

how cool would it have been to see them when this album initially came out. Saw them in toronto this year and it was everything i hoped for but still, can time machines exist already? ♥

[@BillyJoe354]

couldn't agree more.

[@TheHandleOnYoutube]

+Christian Armstrong who are we actually talking about?

[@pkm54]

+Anthony Blank anne frank my dude

[@user-rx3js1no3s]

well unfortunately most people are doomed to be trend followers and will never find stuff before its "cool" lol

[@seanmanseau]

I saw NMH play two shows at the Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco in 1998. Jeff opened the first show with this song, and everyone in the place stopped dead and watched in silence the whole time--even the bartenders. Everyone knew real magic when they heard it :)

[@Dalimagnus]

My son recently introduced me to this band. This album is a damn masterpiece! I’m still shocked I had never heard of him/them.

[@versia2565]

your son has a amazing taste in music

[@Tsureiki]

you're a cool dad. if i showed this to my dad he wouldn't understand it at all. he listens to the same songs by the same bands over and over again; as someone who loves music, it drives me nuts!

[@sugarkandee1]

I saw him on Thursday night and don't think I stopped crying once. It was a once in a lifetime experience. I am forever changed.

[@MrDickdog]

MY DIDN'T THEY HAVE THE SAW DUDES MIC READY TO GO! Pissing me off!

[@tmamone83]

This song always gives me the feels.

[@vasconcelossentimento]

Trav Mamone this album*

[@sammajcher2778]

+Gui Esteves tru

[@sunbather5019]

So perfectly written and performed. Jeff is a near perfect musician in my opinion.

[@juangalobiset925]

near perfect, yes perfection ACQUIRED!! lmao im laughing at you you stupid fuck

[@briancrawford8751]

@@juangalobiset925 I can't tell if these people are serious or not. Jeff Mangum can't sing, play, or write decent lyrics.

[@juangalobiset925]

@@briancrawford8751 ehh. I like his singing and writing. I just find it stupid to think about "perfection".

[@briancrawford8751]

@@juangalobiset925 When a person goes from playing music as a hobby to expecting the public to pay for their work, I expect a certain level of basic competence. I have found out that not everyone does. NMH fans seem to find musical ineptitude charming, earnest, authentic, and "emotional."

[@ChakatAssassin2]

@@briancrawford8751 >can't sing some people might not like his voice-but to try to argue that he can't sing? like, he fails to get his pitch right, or he doesn't have decent enough lung capacity for his work, or he's off-rhythm? you'd be wrong on each of those fronts if you tried to make that argument >can't perform he can perform just fine-especially solo. this is hardly even debatable; i have no idea what you're even referring to here. i've heard more live errors from bands that are scarcely remembered for their errors. the one who seems to perform with the most issues during NMH concerts (or at least is the most noticeable) is scott, who plays horns; i'll certainly agree and say that it'd be great if he never fouled a single note (but that the probable reason as to why he's in the band in the first place are because his contributions to the band's horn arrangements are numerous and of very high quality) >or write decent lyrics flat-out, anytime someone tells me jeff isn't a good lyricist i'm just bewildered i _can't even imagine_ what it would be like to be someone who can listen to the first verse of two headed boy pt. 2 and not feel _anything at all,_ let alone to think _absolutely nothing of it_ GENUINELY curious as to what you consider a song with "good lyrics" to be, because they must just be out of this fucking dimension, man

[@sadieleonard4503]

"Pluck all your silly strings, And bend all your notes for me." Damn. 🤘

[@longlongjohnson9025]

I can't stop looking into Jeff's eyes. Great performance.

[@puppetdesign]

I just discovered this band. Just goes to show, there’s still pleasant surprises around every corner in life.

[@krookiemonster2673]

Wow. Just wow. I loved nmh since I was 14. Now I'm 30.. never knew there was live shit on youtube.. can't wait to show my buddy this.. he got me hooked on nmh

[@gockinmyrari]

I discovered them at 13 and now 16 they are such a great band:) you got good taste

[@EsteePierce-eh1xl]

My husband just walked in and asked if he needed to remove any sharp objects from the room.

[@jameslloyd319]

the songwriting, the instruments the melodies. it’s all wildly impressive and this live performance is so scary but I love it because of that

[@bluedelerium]

I for some reason just read your comment to the tune of this song… It also somehow worked.

[@jameslloyd319]

@@bluedelerium hahaha i guess it does kind of work with the song

[@BL-mf3jp]

Their masterpiece. The last 1 minute with that funeral cry sounding off from the 2nd trumpet always gives me goosebumps.

[@balonypony8408]

Something about this seems so haunting and beautiful that I just can't explain it.

[@Somethingelseentirelydifferent]

Jeff gets emotional and obsessive when he thinks about Anne Frank... i feel the same way about Jeff. 😢

[@thedominomaster101]

tfw my saw is out of tune

[@michaellee6578]

the thing wasn't even plugged in!

[@shayposting]

Holy SHIT!

[@PepsiHotdog]

Julian's face just made my day. Love this whole show, one of their best performances all around.

[@dr0wning36]

damn i can't stop replaying this

[@tammyandersonparker4961]

+raisin bread Same here :)

[@JanuaryWonder]

Get chills every time I think I'll actually see them live this summer in Croatia. Dream come true

[@KauanRMKlein]

Everything about NMH is amazing and awesome, but I'd like to point out one thing in specific in this comment: how the meaning of the lyrics changes from person to person. and by that I mean even the person I was a month ago and the person I am today perceives these lyrics differently. Today, what got into my heart was the stanza that starts with "I know they buried her body with others (...)". That was the part that struck out as the core from which all the rest should be derived, so the feelings evoked by the song today were very different from the last time I listened to it.

[@indiequas]

A man once came up to me after an open mic that I played Oh Comely at, in my drooling, incoherent way I made it through the entire song. He really liked the end, the " Godaline my dear, we will fold and freeze together, far away from here, there is sun and spring and green forever, but now me move to feel for ourselves inside some strangers stomach place your body here, let your skin begin to blend itself with me" partially so beautiful because of the words, but also the only way that the emotion behind it comes out is if you just sang the other 7 minutes

[@bexfrost1359]

Its about anne frank

[@thehappyhomeless]

Wow this is such an on point performance. Jeff keep being your beautiful self. Your music is beyond.

[@GregRainwater-jt8bb]

I grew up with Jeff in Ruston, Louisiana. I love seeing his success!!

[@noamont9936]

wow! thats awesome !!

[@matthewpatterson803]

i wept when i saw this live. truly magical

[@TheYokomolotov]

julian is so cute

[@joemagowan978]

saw them live once. no phones or recording allowed. glad I was able to experience it

[@JosephDutra]

This guy should be in the Rock Hall of Fame if he’s not already!!!

[@mints4997]

His music is extremely mid

[@MrAnguseady]

so weird to think this was 14 years ago. he looked exactly the same when i saw him live in march and the music is just as incomparable to anything today as it was when it came out

[@kappanova1302]

24 years ago now. I was 2 when that was recorded

[@Bizarro69]

Saw man was the purest definition of tragic comedy. I can't breathe.

[@robertlong97]

just saw them in concert tonight and man it was terrific. Jeff looks so different with a beard

[@IwhatFooFoo]

The only 8 minute song I've listen to again and again.

[@quentinsummers2531]

This version made me realise, that the white stripes shouldve done a cover of one of neutral milk hotel's songs.

[@turbotaquitogoogle8095]

Not this one obviously. I'd nominate Gardenhead/Leave Me Alone

[@adelasvabova7296]

band from outer space...gotta love them. august it is!

[@onesixfive]

Just wanted to say hello to all my friends. I have more in common with the strangers in this comment section than anyone else I know, as no one I know gets this song or album or music but it seems everyone here does. May god bless you all, each and everyone.

[@affanfadillah17]

i love how jeff stopped playing guitar just so the singing saw could be heard

[@purpletrash]

This is one of the most perfect songs ever. Amazing! Thanks for sharing.

[@erickcarbajaldelllano3338]

Oh comely I will be with you when you lose your breath Chasing the only Meaningful memory you thought you had left With some pretty bright and bubbly Terrible scene that was doing her thing on your chest But oh comely It isn't as pretty as you'd like to guess In your memory you're Drunk on your awe to me It doesn't mean anything at all Oh comely All of your friends are all letting you blow Bristling and ugly Bursting with fruits falling out from the holes Of some pretty bright and bubbly Friend you could need to say comforting things in your ear But oh comely There isn't such one friend that you could find Here standing next to me only my enemy I'll crush him with everything i own Say what you want to say hang for your hollow ways Moving your mouth to pull out all your miracle for me Your father made fetuses with flesh licking ladies While you and your mother were asleep in the trailer park Thunderous sparks from the dark of the stadiums The music and medicine you needed for comforting So make all your fat fleshy fingers to moving And pluck all your silly strings and bend all your notes for me Soft silly music is meaningful magical The movements were beautiful all in your ovaries All of them milking with green fleshy flowers While powerful pistons were sugary sweet machines Smelling of semen all under the garden was all you were needing When you still believed in me Say what you want to say and hang for your hollow ways Moving your mouth to pull out all your miracle for me I know they buried her body with others Her sister and mother and 500 families And will she remember me 50 years later I wished i could save her in some sort of time machine Know all your enemies We know who our enemies are Know all your enemies We know who our enemies are Goldaline my dear We will fold and freeze together Far away from here There is sun and spring and green forever But now we move to feel For ourselves inside some strangers stomach Place your body here Let your skin begin to blend itself with mine

[@clandestine919]

Let's all take a moment to appreciate that they're using a saw as an instrument

[@Noothgrush420]

Joey Taylor my doppelgänger

[@cteanrftwXBOX360]

3:08 to 3:11 is so sad ...watch his face.. the saw dude :P

[@noahn4336]

Wot

[@SlamdogX]

Jeff Mangum reminds me so much of Trevor Moore in this, looks wise and sound wise when he hits those really high drawn out notes.

[@JoshIde]

Doom84 Thank you I didn’t realize that I have subconsciously been thinking this for so long

[@veronicas3387]

rip trevor ❤️

[@almondmilkhotel4386]

saw them on wednesday. it was beyond magical

[@matthewpatterson803]

my best friend in the whole world hates me, i can't listen to this song without thinking about her. sometimes crystal clear memories are a burden, especially when atteched to this piece of art

[@VKHSD]

Matthew Patterson :(

[@ebbtide4233]

Im sorry :(

[@MsMiguel70]

I doubt I'm going to "heaven', but I wish the power of this song stays with me beyond today.

[@Clodd1]

This is the best song ever made.

[@Yuriding]

No

[@Clodd1]

@@Yuriding In my opinion.

[@positive.juice.apartment]

this is one of the most important videos in history

[@creeper1003]

if time travelers exist, they probably stop for rest and drink at a neutral milk hotel show

[@TimaScribbles]

I think I prefer this to the studio version. So good!

[@intiaraya9459]

Such a haunting song and video.

[@brenyahoward]

Goosebumps before he even starts singing

[@sabrinahutz5189]

the lyrics really translates the discust and detatchent you have with some of the people around you when you go through changes and Anne Frank as well lol

[@thepug991]

Wow, this song has so much emotion when played live. So good

[@toikissa8734]

ARE YOU RECORDING ME?

[@lueblobster2881]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIque2Nrgqlgh7M

[@jorp_the_pauper_porpoise]

Hello from 2024. This is a treasure that needs to be preserved.

[@Passionoverlust]

i tried to think of something clever to say about how great this is but holy shit this is just amazing. End.

[@kellenmurphy5420]

you can clearly see that he doesn't like being recorded in this.

[@cabz9097]

Kellen Murphy ARE YOU RECORDING MEEEEEEEEEEE

[@holdendeez69]

yeah but only because he doesn't know why he's being recorded. for the recorders personal use? there wasn't a video-posting internet platform in 98'

[@LONDONFIELDS2001]

There was somethign so beautiful about that period just before smart phones took over our lives and our psyches. you can see the space, mental and emotional, in their eyes. so much more mystery.

[@mhub3576]

Great tune off an amazing and timeless album. Haunting doesn't begin to describe it. One of the greatest albums of all time.

[@kitpalmer1583]

holy SHITalso, at 5:50 Julian is *feeling* it

[@friskerswiskers5203]

They're so young

[@steevreeves]

Jeff sings with so much presence and authenticity.. very genuine emotions are conveyed without a shred of self indulgence. I will never not be impressed.

[@nattyb5204]

Jeff Mangum’s voice is so magical to me, and this song is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard.

[@maddyjackson9821]

Jeff looks like he was pissed at the camera man for recording lol

[@TitusReviews]

jeff hates being recorded

[@maddyjackson9821]

TitusArdronicus i can tell

[@alexpast1882]

THE FUCKING LOOK IN HIS EYES AT THE BEGINNING

[@bmpearson1]

Julian Koster. What a stud.

[@noamont9936]

whoever filmed this was sooo fascinated with julian and thats so real

[@tophat4489]

Jeff's voice is so haunting wow

[@maurofer]

Pure Art. Welcome back on the stage.

[@lordofwar528]

this just may be the greatest song ever made

[@eliz49]

Never get tired of them. Love.

[@GuillotineGirl6663]

Thank you so much! I love this live performance and was annoyed when it got removed >.

[@elyh2159]

Listening to this one bc it’s the only one with comments turned on

[@bbannach24]

Best live performance ever

[@gauchefish_]

god bless this footage

[@brittanyyoung-rp6rz]

he's very attractive in this video, in talent and appearance.

[@ismaelgustave9563]

Been needing a Ned Flanders version of this song for a while now.

[@Pepper-cd9yr]

what's the most you ever lost on a coin toss?

[@jaredking8690]

I pray that this is the last relic of humanity a superior species ( unearthly or other) finds to remember us by. God bless you Jeff…

[@LemonWedgeinc]

7:50 all hell breaks loose and it sounds amazing