Our Town - Iris DeMent (H.Q.)

[@barrylitchfield8357]

I've listened to this song dozens of times, and I tear up every time. My grandparents lived in a small town, Hillsdale Kansas when I was a kid. It was the early 1950's, and Hillsdale was down to a general store, a pool hall / tavern, and a tarpaper shack that was the Post office. Now it's down to just the tavern. The Cemetery is still going strong there. My grandparents are both there, my mom and dad, my older sister, and my aunt and uncle are all there. I buried my brother there last November. I'm the last one living from my family that I grew up knowing. That little town of Hillsdale, with alll of my relatives buried there, is all I can think of when I hear Iris and Emmy Lou singing this song.

[@eliananichols7584]

I took care of my Mom in the final years of her life, she had Alzheimer's, and I played this song over and over for her. She couldn't run the washing machine, the phone and the computer in her final year, but she loved it when I played my guitar for her, this song particularly. She didn't understand the words and I substituted Town with Mom, she never caught it. I can't listen to this song and certainly not play it anymore due to the emotions, but a thousands thanks and eternal gratitude to Iris Dement for giving it to us. I am an old man now, and still cry when I hear it. I suppose when Iris wrote it, I wonder if she knew how many folks would be effected by it.

[@bebom927]

me too , i also took care of my mother who had alzheimers and can certainly relate to the value of song and music

[@EricGates]

Love you guys. Peter Gabriel's "Mercy Street" & Anneke Van Geirsbergen doing "4 Years & a Day" are good send-offs too. Music heals.

[@wayneveinot2791]

Eliana Nichols h

[@barbarastepien-foad4519]

Eliana Nichols God bless you x

[@michelleschertzer6449]

bebom927 🐳🐬🐡🐠🐟🦂🕷🦀🐍🐢🐜🐞🐌🐛🐝dydyhgj🍵🎂🍻🍾🍩🍸🍿🍹🍷🍹🍸🍮🍮🍧🍚🍥🍨🍪🍬🍹🍼🎾🏏🎿⛸🏑🏉⛸⛹🏿‍♀️🍺🍻🍻☕️🍼🍵🍷🍸🍹🍪🍩🍿🍫🍦🍭🍦🍘🍰🍙🍙🍨🍤🍏🍎🍎🍊🍋🍈🍆🍆🍆🍗🍐🍍☂️☔️🌙🌞🌔🌚🌚🌝🌛🌜

[@moebiusdune1115]

Northern Exposure ❤ Love from Croatia,people 😘☮

[@bripat22]

I heard this song for the first time driving home from my sister's funeral. Tears streaming down my face and although the subject is the ending of small town life , it triggered in me the grief I felt that my old life with my sister and our family had ended in the way I had known it. A life passage.

[@Neptoony]

Heartfelt sympathies for you, and I can see how it would affect you that way. It is saying goodbye to a way of life, and many things can change and make life unrecognizable.

[@StephenB58]

I watched the latest Grammy Awards show. Not a single song came anywhere near as good as this song. This may be the greatest country music song since "You Are My Sunshine." I like lots of music, Gospel, rock, some country, classical. I like lots of music, except rap. I would love to have been in that room watching and listening to this song being recorded. I get choked up listening to this song. It is so sad and so beautiful.

[@searchlight18]

Beautiful song. But now they'll bring in 100 thousand Somalia Muslims refugees into our town.... Obama must be impeached.

[@tubinreo]

searchlight18 Idiot

[@searchlight18]

tubinreo Show me I'm wrong...

[@mosrite60]

Stephen Williams absolutely correct. Full support from mosrite60

[@rondaheppner1935]

Stephen Williams I get choked up, too. That was my town until it grew beyond it's natural boundaries and family dispersed. No one is around to put flowers on the graves every Memorial Day. I used to stress so much about that - a lost way of life.

[@steveroberts8719]

I heard John Davis play this song on his "Heartfelt Music" programme in the early 1990s. The following week a glowing review of her first album appeared the LA Times. Played McCabes in Santa Monica, CA. Drove down to get tickets. She sold out in a few days. I was lucky to secure tickets. Lined up early due to festival seating arrangement. Sat in the front row and me and my date were mesmerized by her singing and playing. Now this real country music. We just fell in love with her. I developed a crush on her immediately. (Of course I didn't tell my date). We saw her many times and i introduced some friends to her music. When she played the Troubadour in West Hollywood the venue was full. She was fantastic. I'm waiting for the day when she is inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Viva La Iris DeMent!!

[@talkback225]

The first time I heard this song, I was a single young man back in Colorado and it made me cry my eyes out that night, listening to it on NPR. Since then, I had tried to find the music and never found it till today--almost twenty years later. Have been replaying it tonight for over ten times and each time, drenched in tears! I love this song. Thank you for uploading it!

[@philmelnick6736]

I absolutely love this song especially sung by the lovely Iris Dement. It always reminds me of my year round vacation/ski house in the New York State Catskill Mountains back in the 60s and 70s when I was single. Guess what ? The town was Fleischmanns !

[@troublecat1]

If you can judge an artist by the other artists they associate with Iris Dement is a national treasure. Truly a great artist.

[@stevewilliams3850]

I can't understand how and why anyone would not like this song. Personally, I believe this is the greatest Country music song since Jimmy Davis' "You Are My Sunshine". My father died in January, 2016, just six days after turning 94. He loved this song. For his visitation, we had a video made up with three songs, three songs Daddy liked. The video starts out with "Canto Della Terra" by Andrea Bocelli, then switched to "The Living Years" by Mike And The Mechanics; and finished with this song, "Our Town". I watched the video a few weeks ago for the first time since Daddy's funeral. Iris DeMent can really touch a nerve with this song.

[@ForestMyths]

Lovely song...I live in the north of England, and while listening to Iris DeMent sing it I realized that many people here In Lancashire and Yorkshire share the same feelings about their changing villages... Iris DeMent brings a tenderness to this song that makes it timeless and universal.

[@alexwardle8108]

Spot on , take care fromt tuther side ov road 🤞🌞

[@JacobAnaya369]

Holy smokes! Emmylou and Iris singing a duet together…. WOW my two favorites what a beautiful combination!

[@mrpeterpotts5106]

Hate to say Emmylou really didn't add anything. She looked unsure of the lines.

[@AztecCamera2]

@@mrpeterpotts5106 Harris was (is) a huge star. In this moment, I choose to believe she wanted to be gracious and not distract from DeMent's performance.

[@ForeverAuzzie]

this song was played at my uncles funeral yesterday and my nanas a few yrs ago...its guna be played at all our funerals!!! beautiful song!! makes me cry!!!

[@josephcrowriley1584]

I will give this the best compliment one writer can extend to another: I wish I wrote that.

[@NewarkGuy]

what a beautiful, sad song & awesome performance ....brought tears to my eyes...

[@tourlestrane1]

Can`t blame you for that Warren.What great memories we have had from childhood when we thought they would never end.We were never prepared for the sadness of a changing world.That lovely song sung by two beautiful ladies brings it all home to us what a sad place the world can be..

[@larrymclarnon-pd8xf]

Just gorgeous, absolutely wonderful. Beautiful.

[@lochas9901]

My goodness, Iris sure attracts talent on this video. Not only Emmylou, but the fiddler Aly Bain -- the revered Scottish musician thought by critics to be the best on the continent.

[@theronwillis7904]

My wife used to shed tears to this song... Almost made me cry too.

[@drychaf]

I remember this broadcast. I was in heaven. Iris, Emmylou, Aly, Jerry, Molly? Come on! We are not worthy. Life hardly gets better.

[@johncohechee4729]

it doesn't get any better than this. True country music that we are slowly loosing. This song can make me cry too. All her songs tell wonderful stories.

[@StephenB58]

I think this is the most perfect song to have played at the end of the last episode of Northern Exposure.

[@thomasmoore4223]

P0 p0

[@biffbowers99]

Totally agree! It was perfect!

[@jamesakamensky7383]

Yeah that last episode of northern exposure great tv

[@78tag]

This could easily be our new national anthem. What a great song performed by the best.

[@ErieBoy62]

This song always reminds me of my dad's hometown, Homestead, PA right outside of Pittsburgh. I grew up in Erie but we would go down there all the time. My grandfather worked at the Homestead Works steel mill for forty years. At one time Homestead was practically the steel capital of the world. When the mill went down in '86 Homestead itself just died. I haven't been back to Homestead, since my grandfather's funeral in '92. The sun did set fast on Homestead but part of me will always be there.

[@michaelbyrnee9584]

One of the sweetest renditions you will ever hear - every voice, every note...backup by Emmylou, Jerry Douglas and Aly Bain is incredible. If you do not break down and cry, or question your deepest beliefs listening to this song, I am sorry, but you ain't human.

[@sanfranciscoprofessor2577]

No, you'd just be Woke.

[@gibberconfirm425]

Wow I didn't even see this wasn't the album version again (I was down reading comments), I'm going the non-controversial opinion of praising the audio engineers for these sessions. These performances are captured so well I have no idea if the album versions of "Sweet is the Melody," "Our Town" and "Let the Mystery Be" are even on KZbin.

[@BastognePitBull]

3 chords and the truth. Shivers.

[@springhill64]

I first remeber hearing Iris singing with John Prine. My God she has a lovely voice and delivery, simple raw emotion and here with Emmylou......impossible to top!

[@michaelbyrnee9584]

Imagine telling somebody: "Emmylou is my backup, Ely and Jerry are in my band".

[@johnthomas6914]

I heard this as the closing song on the last episode of the TV show "Northern Exposure". I missed seeing who sang it on the closing credits, so spent an hour in the record store the next day searching for the singer and the song. Found it, played it, and have been a fan ever since. Her voice and her songs burrow into my soul.

[@Bgmac1951]

+John Thomas Same here John. I just love the music she puts out. Check out her & John Prine together.

[@johnthomas6914]

Greg McIntee I have seen a couple of Iris/John videos online. Enjoyed.

[@BradBrassman]

+John Thomas Old timey and righteous! Especially this version with Emmylou Harris, fiddle and National Guitar!

[@johncooper5991]

John Thomas b

[@Neptoony]

Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas, as well as Molly Mason, are GIANTS on their respective instruments, incredibly well-respected in the community. Iris truly assembled an all-star cast for this recording.

[@bripat22]

Heard this song for the first time on A Prairie Home Companion driving home from my sister's Celebration of Life with tears streaming down my face. It captured all of my emotions

[@sgraffwriter]

One of my favorite songs of all time. This is the perfect mesh of lyrics and music--a song that is sad and wise, but that earns every tear it conjures from the listener. And the video--with the great Emmylou Harris joining in--is majestic!

[@mario7frankielee]

and emmylou .... two angels! what a sight for my sore eyes

[@dlc1119]

I loved the original of this song since I saw the ending of 'Northern Exposure. This version is even better. Everyone who *thinks* they know 'country' should listen to this.

[@MichaelJohnson-su6eu]

Is that Emmylou Harris singing harmony? She just turned 75, and I'm still in love with her 😍 ❤ ❤ 😍

[@stevewilliams3850]

That's EmmyLou Harris.

[@ernstbecker1]

Many of us have moved from "our town" because of economic reasons. In my mind's eye I'll return -- often. The elders have passed on ; however, the memories never fade. It always remains pleasing to the eye when one returns to "our town". Thanks Iris !

[@annalyon8443]

Clear and true. Iris Dement. Just discovered you this week. Fan forever. Going to pay for all of your crystal-clear, beautiful, painful, and lyrical songs. Every one. Thank you.

[@mfmazurek]

Hey "Lawrance," shove your opinion up your ass. If it can get past your head, that is . . .

[@dpoland]

I have loved Iris for 25 years now. Some call her voice "quirky" but wonderfully sentimental. I never grow tired of her music and especially this well crafted song. To me It is the story of my home town in New England. There are times that I just can't listen to it as it hits me to the core and it hurts. Anna....you have great taste.

[@picofish96]

Pretty sure I can say for a fact she sings better than you and has more people that remember her music than yours you dishrag fuck! Come to Ky and talk shit! till then stay in your basement!

[@Gloryboy4]

What a beautiful song, performed beautifully by Iris, and Emmylou's wonderfully subtle harmonies are perfect. I had no idea this was played over the last ever episode of 'Northern Exposure'. If I'd watched that and heard this playing, it would just about have killed me.

[@TheDwstewart]

Iris Dement has the most beautiful voice I have ever heard. You can see that she believes every word she says from the concentration on her face, she is not doing this for her glory but to tell a story that she believes in.

[@Chrisjude100]

It's actually the soul that's beautiful, the voice comes as a natural consequence ..

[@Scotty432]

@@Chrisjude100 thats a great statement. A lady called Jill Purce once said, “ to liberate the voice is to liberate the soul”

[@renatewallner5302]

i dont understand english very well but im listening to Iris dement every night even if i dont understand what she is singing.. just you wanna listen ..again again and one more again all night..

[@StsFiveOneLima]

So long, Northern Exposure... And so long to so many other things. Nothing good ever lasts.That is, indeed true. So very sad.My soul bleeds with this.

[@gustavogill3147]

So long..Northern Exposure...so long Doctor en Alaska..

[@StephenB58]

This is one of the most beautiful songs ever written and recorded. Why haven't more people ever heard of it?

[@StephenB58]

dic1119 : I'm not that big a fan of country music; but I sincerely do believe this is the greatest country music song since "You Are My Sunshine."

[@piniped]

I first heard this on the very last episode of "Northern Exposure." A perfect song for the end of a perfect series.

[@thomasromano9321]

Northern Exposure, one of the few good series in mostly crappy TV series at the time.

[@flamencoprof]

This is on my playlist for music at my funeral. It makes me cry every time I hear it. Maybe someone else will cry an undeserved tear for me. :-)

[@spiritluv2012]

First her Iris Dement on the last episode of Northern Exposure (last song played as the show left the air). Fell in love with her and listen to her often.

[@BubbaTxx]

Love this song. So much reminds me of the small town in Texas I grew up in. Wouldn't trade it for nothing. The memories this song generates makes me well-up with tears. Oh how I miss those days...

[@joerexlily]

driving across country, through the midwest, this song fit a thousand of the towns whose day had passed

[@eightapeach2861]

My little hometown is long since gone.

[@MrBudhowl]

aint never had a hometown of my own my family fell on hard times durring the great depression and we been wanderers ever since, but i love the idea of giving my kids a hometown, love this song love iris

[@annalyon8443]

I know. I think about the South I grew up in: I recall the United States I grew up within (I grew up all over). We waved to everybody when we were driving. Truck drivers were courteous. We had a shared ethic and all felt united on the road. We trusted strangers. Now I know that was not true for black people, except for their own, to trust. That makes me sad. If I had known then when I was a little girl, it would have made me sad then, too.

[@richdorak1547]

One of the best accompaniments ever. Iris n Emmy Lou. Beautiful.

[@nickyork8901]

Nothing good ever lasts...but this is good, and it is eternal. What a heavenly combination.

[@seanryan5591]

Beautiful, sad, but beautiful... ❤

[@snakemansnakes1]

What an excellent and heartbreaking live performance. A wonder to behold. Just perfect. Many thanks for sharing

[@birdthompson]

like so many others I cry when I hear this...also Walking Home

[@sergbustam]

Iris and Emmylou sound great together ! ! !

[@LaSabrinaSabrosa]

Mmmm, I couldn't listen to this for a long time after Katrina. It's so nice to finally be able to get through this loevely song again :) Thanks for posting~

[@jayelliottcarter]

Iris and these musicians crush it on this song! Tremendous! Definitely a stranded on an island top 100 pick for me.

[@michaelbyrnee9584]

I love your comment! (As long as there is a lifetime supply of batteries on that island!)

[@MrDesalex]

Not American; grew up in a city. Still love this performance.

[@XEFairmont]

That hits a strong cord , growing up in a small town it's all relevant. Beautiful .

[@StephenB58]

If there was some way to go back in time and witness certain events, watching this song being recorded here would be at the top of my list.

[@jeffmuzzi854]

This song really hits home to those of us who have lived in rural areas all of our lives and we see our towns dying...beautiful voice, poignant song.

[@OhSusannah63]

I first heard Iris' version of this song on the last episode of Northern exposure- suited that show fabulously.Unforgettable.

[@araimharry]

I saw Lamont, Iowa disappeared and reappear. Thanks neighbors. Love you.

[@MSMac8084]

you are so right. this said it all when it came to Northern exposure. the best show ever to grace the small screen !!

[@StephenB58]

Greatest and most beautiful country music song since "You Are My Sunshine."

[@garyraines7511]

I was just there, in Cicely AK the other day---All those folks are still Waiting for Us ....Ja..Wohl..glr

[@yuyewu4699]

What a tearjerking song...

[@reneferron4945]

this lady has a very unique voice...i like it......very nice song, if you listen to the words...wow!

[@susukomabristol]

i loved this so much when i heard this in the finale of northern exposure....

[@craigpittman5346]

\This song song as she does it accompanied by Emmylou still moves me.

[@Broblem12]

This is perfect to me. Iris and Emmylou singing together on such an awesome song. Like a big hug in song, a bear hug at that. :{ )

[@VicDeHaven]

I have one of two reactions every time I view/listen to this video, I either get really misty eyed, or I cry like a baby.

[@fuzzarelly57]

I just love Iris's quirky voice. I cry every time I hear this song.

[@asheain1]

Love the voice and facial expressions j

[@jerrycounts4482]

Beautiful voices and ladies also!

[@sanctuarywoods77]

Finale of Northern exposure always puts me into tears this song.

[@jac.stasse1288]

What can i say,its so beautiful.

[@MsKimupton]

The American TV show "Northern Exposure" played this tune at the end of the final episode. 💔 "Just like they say, nothing good ever lasts."

[@dustinreid597]

Breath taking. I teared up. I miss my friends and my home. Beautiful song

[@ejb5659]

Wouldn't mind passing away with this song in the background...

[@roycoffeysteve]

As with small towns so it is with our lives the sun sets .

[@StephenB58]

I would love to have been there to listen to and watch this recording of this incredibly beautiful song. My father died in January of 2016, just six days after turning 94. He was a World War II veteran. Daddy loved this song, so for visitation, we had a video made which played this song, along with two others he also loved...Canto Della Terra, by Andrea Bocelli, and "The Living Years" by Mike and the Mechanics.

[@YeshuaKingsKid]

Soooo excellent, oooh and what a treat to see Emmylou :) think I stumbled onto your channel because I was listening to other dobro players and that led me to Jerry Douglas.... Merry Christmas, seems there are presents and miracles everywhere!

[@FromHolbergsTime]

A lovely Artist and a memorable song!

[@tetsuokuroiwa]

Thank you!

[@johncamp9392]

just brill first herd this in 1992 still as good today as then iris has got a voice like an angel

[@DieTomateTom]

What I really like about this version is the expression of her feelings. You can really see that there's a story behind that story that touches her.

[@rugmop]

One of the few examples, in any form of art, that makes you proud to be human. Yep, one of ours did that.

[@danzinski1]

Within three seconds of hearing Iris Dement sing, mysteriously, water starts leaking from my eyes.

[@yvonneking833]

Yes!!! What a gift!

[@bazthehandyman]

Always loved Iris since I was young.

[@rdstroud1]

I heard Iris perform Our Town in Athens, GA on 3/29/13. This is one of my favorites but she has recently written some awesome songs available on her new album Sing the Delta. I rate these new songs up there with all of her famous standards. Iris is very special. I hope that God will bless us with her continued performances. I will drive as far as I can to see her whenever possible.

[@HungryEars]

Listening to sister Iris testify helps to renew my hope that somehow, somewhere there is a chance for humanity to improve and become better than it currently is.

[@ineedtostopwatchingyoutube5211]

There isn’t. The people like Iris are reviled now.

[@kiltman59]

I remember hearing this on the final episode of Northern Exposure, great song...I've been listening to Iris ever since

[@john9944]

Emmylou and Iris seem like the same person. They both have that high lonesome. Pretty nice duet....putting it lightly and politely.

[@rainkatt]

I still get choked up when I hear this, I still see every scene from that ending episode of NoEx......*sniffles*.......

[@RoNSantiago-ot7vn]

Legends voice are enthralling👍🎸🎶❤

[@chericandream]

Love Emmylou Harris!!! Iris ain't so bad her self!!!

[@92951]

always makes me cry too. It's a very touching song.

[@StephenB58]

Hey, everybody who watches this video, send it to everyone in your e-mail address book. I bet in no time, this song will become one of the most beloved songs of the twentieth century. It already ranks right up there with "You Are My Sunshine." You just can't get any better than this.

[@easong2148]

Song most likely to bring me to tears every f'ing time.

[@talkback222]

It gets thinking of my dad whom I lost, then followed by my brother and then my wife--the latter just within six months of each other!

[@arkyron1947]

Once heard- never forgotten.

[@thinkofme14344]

Ms ID and EH r legends. Awesome👍🎸🎶

[@irishroverandthecrew]

Brilliant beyond words, love it !