The Divine Comedy - Absent Friends

[@PK-sc2vn]

My late father loved this band. Now 4 years on from his death I really wish I could sit and listen to this with him now that I appreciate it. Beautiful song

[@davidflesher3760]

LOST MY MUM RECENTLY KNOW WHAT YOU GOING THROUGH PLAYING IT JUST NOW.I LET HER HEAR IT A FEW MONTHS AGO SHE LOVED IT

[@PK-sc2vn]

@@davidflesher3760 all the best mate

[@mightyamtoc]

Same here my friend

[@denstone111]

When humans work together as a collective we can create such beauty.

[@stevendimmock4791]

Neil Hannon is a class act. A statement that nobody can deny. We love you Neil, keep doing what you do.

[@JMFERIA1]

Neil Hannon is a gentleman. Eternal músic and infinite class

[@davidpyorkshire]

A song with a beginning, middle and an end. A work of genius by Mr Hannon and you can see how much the orchestra love it too. Listen to it over and over.

[@dickieetherton8846]

Makes me cry every time I hear it A truly beautiful piece of work !!

[@davidgriffin1267]

He opened with this when I saw him.

[@robbiechan4916]

how lucky we are for living in an age where a band has been so brilliant!

[@monpetitgraindesel6192]

1.6.2023~🥀🎧J’aime toujours autant et je fonds de bonheur au son des trompettes🎺🎺🎺quant aux violons🎻🎻🎻et à la voix de Neil HANNON, c’est💎💎💎Quel Magnifique Spectacle❣️❣️❣️…💋de France.

[@kwickeb99]

The most innovative singer ,songwriter the 21 century has ever seen...deverse a nighthood ..for his individuality alone..xx

[@keithtimmins8103]

This fella is pure genius.

[@martysouth880]

I completely agree, no one is more deversing a Knighthood more.

[@martysouth880]

David Beckham, he wants one but he doesn't deverse one.

[@colinbassett1303]

When the Coronavirus pandemic is over this song needs to be played very loud every day till the end of time

[@antmo1966]

if only they then played Freedom Road from the same album

[@anthonydevitt3206]

Yoo on drugs??

[@JilleneLuce]

A long lost friend DJ Johnny -- found me (in FB) after 48 years and out of the blue he wrote me today and sent a link to this video. How fitting. My first boyfriend was his best friend back then, but he passed away the meantime. Now, just like back in '74, Johnny turned me on to cool music I hadn't heard before- Divine Comedy. Some days life brings you magic despite the tragic.

[@robertdekiero8020]

The first 100 listens you appreciate the musicality, singing and emotional depth. From then on your googling who the hell Woodbine Willy and little Jean were?! And after you find out you're even more impressed by this masterpiece

[@tyrionlannister6955]

I particularly enjoyed learning about Woodbine Willie from this song. Do you happen to know what "inky blue" refers to in the Laika story because I can't find it.

[@robertdekiero8020]

@@tyrionlannister6955 Laika was a dog sent into space by the Soviet Union. I assume inky blue refers to the colour of the sky.

[@tyrionlannister6955]

@@robertdekiero8020 Fair enough. I thought it might have been something more specific ala Deep Blue the chess computer. Thanks for responding.

[@helenkahajossyova298]

Ehm

[@klausbecker7]

It was Little Jean...Seberg. I guess. The actress who played in Jean Luc Godards "Breathless"

[@peterkelsey5841]

Genius. Cried when I first heard this, not sure why, perhaps I was remembering absent friends, or revelling in the beautifully crafted lyrics, or the Jerome Moross, The Big Country reference, probably all and I still do. Wonderful!

[@lizardlordlordoflizards5096]

' The great escape, he tried to make, was not to be. Maybe next time - Steve '. Classic. This guy's songs are kinda like poems, prose, and comedy all mixed into one.

[@lizardlordlordoflizards5096]

@Talorc MacAllan You're obviously a fan, Mr. MacAllen. What would u say is his best work?

[@kezzachadda8175]

What a brilliant song sung by a brilliant singer 👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@paulh5293]

Neil opened his gig last week in York with this. Thunderous applause and many, many tears. A great song with a whole new meaning.

[@randomtransportguyx4397]

He did the same at the Halifax gig and it's genuinely the most beautiful song I've ever heard

[@pikeybot]

@@randomtransportguyx4397 same at Newcastle and asked the crowd to raise a drink to friends he raised a glass of red wine

[@hamishmctavish7329]

This is just pure class.

[@RK-kn1fg]

How right you are

[@aweescotsdog8358]

I want this to be played at my funeral!

[@Waiting664]

Nooooooooooi I do

[@dogriffiths]

God Bless you, Woodbine Willy. A life well-lived.

[@daveb6214]

To All our Absent Friends, we have lost along the way Godspeed to Them All

[@annmc8392]

Let the light shine on them.

[@neilrobinson5115]

Neil Hannon,wordsmith extraordinaire,brilliant as always

[@silviasettle1128]

I fell in love with the Divine Comedy with this song (and the whole album)

[@richardosullivan8102]

That would lead to the question, for fans which song then album by The Divine Comedy hooked you in. Mine was Something for the Weekend and then the album Casanova, to be honest I did put the album to one side intially but when I went back to it, WOW, Hooked!

[@malcolmprice9545]

What a beautiful story beautifully sung

[@Koshirozation]

Oscar Wilde was a lonely child He fought and won acceptance from the world They smiled, they laughed, they praised They drove poor Oscar to his grave

[@benoitraymond4066]

The comedy is so divine.

[@brigittefilippetto6422]

C'est toujours un grand plaisir d'écouter ce grand monsieur

[@Channel-ld9ip]

Writing from Marshalltown, Iowa, and as one who shares your admiration of 'Little Jean'- THANK you for remembering her in this most moving tribute. For the record, and thank Goddess, in the years since this recording, M'town as a whole has now embraced, and is celebrating, and honoring, she who was Jean Seberg. As, it should...

[@andrewleyden2752]

This is eternal. Thank you Neil.

[@patatructruc3607]

British pop music is so hight upon the other ones."Hey you neighbours ! Could you please put your radio louder, please ?" (A french musician)

[@andrewmckenna4563]

Its Irish - not British, there is a difference defined by history

[@andrewmckenna4563]

@Talorc MacAllan There is only one Ireland, and although born in Derry Neil has lived in Dublin for many years, where he feels most comfortable. I suspect within 10 years Ireland will be one country again.

[@pr9062]

@@andrewmckenna4563 Does it matter?

[@pauljones1808]

What a song ❤

[@iancamone]

Brill arrangement as usual, takes us all somewhere else, cheers for this!

[@kingodin660]

This is such a beautiful masterpiece effortlessly sung

[@drawingsbydave7794]

Definitely one of Neil’s finest. I love the arrangement, the lyrics and the production, but I also love the cheeky bit of “The Big Country” theme tune near the end 🥰🥰

[@Lars-p6n]

Best! Much Love from Berlin

[@ronnieparkerscott6223]

pure genius, my heart melts every time I hear this... and I love Puccini too!

[@martysouth880]

I also like Puccini but Pikachu is my very favourite.

[@monpetitgraindesel6192]

🥀Quelle classe! SPECTACULAIRE❣️A Gentleman, Neil HANNON🌹 🇫🇷...12.9.2022

[@victorberquez3254]

Great voice voice, and a wonderful song. Victor from Australia

[@sdry1688]

Among the best of his generation....make Oasis look pedestrian for sure

[@Buckblacket]

Wonderful orchestration. Goes a bit Elmer Bernstein at 1:22, absolute genius!

[@jamesadm2557]

Heard on Radio 2 today. Forgot about this fantastic song

[@TheANDYURRY]

Same here .... :-)

[@robertdekiero8020]

"Hey, I've written a song" "Is it any good?" .......🤯

[@stevetivey3786]

This was used as the opening to an Alan Ayckbourn play called Absent Friends. It fitted very well.

[@julienducellier8075]

Beautiful...

[@cruisingfanatic]

Beautiful Track pure class

[@nickpalmer3076]

The Best. What a great song.

[@colinjohnrudd]

Simply wonderful!

[@extradescant]

Amazing song ! Deserve more !

[@debbiejones2105]

Superb, thank god for you tube

[@paulinavarjao4872]

esta musica me lembra quando nós, meu marido e eu moramos na espanha (valencia) na casa um grande amigo.... ele ouvia muito Divine Comedy e a gente aprendeu a gostar muito, fomos até em um show deles lá.... Amo 🤩

[@DPK12]

Pure brilliance

[@jeffreylawrence6928]

Definitely channelling Scott Walker vibes here… superb though

[@hermanthetosser4219]

Remember this on cd single... was special song what stuck with me for years... probably thanks to father ted as well

[@trishahammond5578]

Neil Hannon and #TheDiveneComedy 🥰🥰🥰🥰 every song is #perfect lyrcally, vocally and not #politically but I would say #profoundly #thoughtfully #provoking xxx

[@tonyjohno7570]

Brilliant song 🤩

[@pogues1]

Watched this to remember you playing the feile an phobail in Belfast 10 years ago, Falls leisure centre, Genius appreciated.

[@JoGray1987]

classic divine comedy

[@keithtimmins8103]

Magical band and genius lyrics.

[@JoGray1987]

@Talorc MacAllan they are a class act love them live, Neil's voice is always perfect!

[@una_10bananas]

Not me crying over this song and how much I miss my friends =)

[@trishahammond5578]

Still loving them 😂❤

[@mopbrush1]

Lovely

[@davidflett8107]

Yer something else my friend. Thank you so much.

[@GiulioBaroffio]

Immenso Neil Hannon sono pazzo per te

[@petrab.5253]

What a perfect voice😊

[@MrGeoffHilton]

I love this but it is sad.

[@jonathantite2634]

The album is a lovely sad and happy album - give it a go! :)

[@martysouth880]

Harry Stiles "As it Was" = 723 million views / This masterpiece = 334 thousand. What has gone wrong with this world?!

[@MerylKeioskie]

Because we are the lucky few. 😊

[@kwickeb99]

Brilliant...just brilliant..x

[@kwickeb99]

Most amazing song ever wtiten..x

[@Sunshinepati]

This is England ! 💖👌✨😀

[@jhammond64]

Powerful stuff!

[@oldsongsnew8797]

So unusual , this is a great song.

[@lordbucko]

amazing

[@supergonogo2469]

Quand un morceau d'un compositeur peut-être joué par un orchestre philarharmonique, c'est que c'est une grande composition.

[@simonwillis1529]

To me workmates I worked with for years now gone this is for you

[@adammoore251]

It'll only be temporary.

[@anawiesenberger5285]

Absent Friends Absent friends, here's to them And happy days, we thought that they would never end. Here's to absent friends. Little Jean Seberg seemed So full of life, but in those eyes such troubled dreams. Poor little Jean.Woodbine Willie couldn't rest until he'd Given every bloke a final smoke before the killing. Old Woodbine Willie. Steve McQueen jumped the first one clean But the great escape he'd tried to make was not to be. Maybe next time Steve. Laika flew through inky blue 'Til Laika neared the atmosphere and Laika knew Laika's life was through. Oscar Wilde was a lonely child. He fought and won acceptance from the world. They smiled, they laughed, they praised, They drove poor Oscar to his grave. Absent friends, here's to them, And happy days, we thought that they would never end, But they always end. Raise your glasses then to absent friends.

[@colinbassett1303]

Absent friends Here's to them ......

[@christinepower7973]

Beautiful

[@shaxop-eaamusicnetworks463]

To them ALL Sx

[@foxearth1]

Watching this and I cant breath 🤪

[@beldarin]

Great stuff :)

[@jrb1802uk]

The great escape, he tried to make, was not to be. Maybe next time Steve. Really hits me hard ☹

[@iancamone]

it was watching brideshead or listening to this, guess who won? escapism from dc touches my soul or maybe br was just tooo lonnngggg

[@ericcrawford9827]

Genius goes unrecognised. Sycophancy just is.

[@nunolopes6204]

This is almost like listening "Metal". Powerful as f...

[@dinagalhoz5599]

Love it. Just love it...

[@Herbinhaler]

i loooooooooove it (: Neal met my Bro whooooooooooo

[@Herbinhaler]

Saw him at a gig this time last year

[@fraserconnell21]

Much more sincere than Bowie and with that being said Mick Ronson would of slept so much more easy😊😊😊

[@thomaswelch-dr5gn]

To all my absent friends 😢

[@djeffreydowney6736]

To be or not to be...He is

[@amandaworbey2091]

Great

[@TripleDes1]

Sherry in a cup ❤️❤️❤️

[@tuyyo3961]

Bonita canción compuesta por Coque malla y cantada por esta voz tan bonita😍

[@lunapgonz9476]

Compuesta por Neil Hannon querida

[@tuyyo3961]

@@lunapgonz9476 perdón pensé que esta canción la compuso Coque malla Pero esta sí👇 y alguna más también CHAPO 🎩 My Beautiful Monster.. https ://KZbin.be/phyMpnpUtdw

[@Skaitania]

Perfect.

[@Alice-wk6gt]

Divine

[@Nanonic001]

Poor Laika :(

[@janedonaldson2224]

I uses to smoke woodbine!lol

[@silviasi1753]

♡

[@mikevaughan4594]

I didn't think it was a bit funny , in fact the opposite it's a beautiful song

[@trishahammond5578]

Ya like 😂❤ #always

[@johnwall2000]

Is that Steve Albini at 1:34

[@veganvocalist4782]

phenominal artist

[@simoncollett4524]

🐶 "Laika flew through inky blue 'Til Laika neared the atmosphere and Laika knew Laika's life was through."