Tony Rice ~ Summer Wages

[@Davematheny3000]

It's a brilliant song, both melody and lyrics. And that one line, "So I'll work on them towboats/ In my slippery city shoes/ Which I swore / I would never do again" makes it one of the finest, most evocative pieces of poetry ever written.

[@richardperkins5046]

Great Ian Tyson cover. The greatness of Tony Rice.

[@Canoe571]

What a voice he had!

[@rc6147]

Very calm and stoic appeal to this version

[@safeandsound100]

Randy Moore, to answer your question, this Ian Tyson song that was never a bluegrass song. It was originally a folk song that moved into a country/folk genre. Rice has interpreted it as a great song without a particular genre, that is the genius of his music. IT's what's rattling around in his head. Glen Parker

[@williameddy2826]

Glen Parker - Are you the Glen Parker I knew from Prince Andrew High School , St. Mary`s University , the Lord Nelson tavern , the Mic Mac club , and Windsor ? About 3-4 years ago I saw a comment you made on a Dutchy Mason video , but it was so old by then that I considered it pointless to try to contact you . ( I don`t know what happens to old You Tube comments .) Since 1991 I have only been home 3 times . In 2005 when my mother was very sick. In 2006 when she died . I was also there in 2015 when my half brother , Ron Eddy , died. I had never met him but he was close to 2-3 of my sisters . ---Bill Eddy

[@richardperkins5046]

@@williameddy2826 You may never know.

[@williameddy1662]

@@richardperkins5046 I think that you are right . ( I actually live in Edmonton , Alberta , Canada . The writer of this song , Ian Tyson , is about 87-88 years old , but still alive . He lives about 4.5 hours south of here in Longview , Alberta , on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains . )

[@Ravenscaller]

You are right up to the never a bluegrass song. It was first recorded by Tony on the quintessential JD Crowe and the New South Album which is the album that set the stage for everything bluegrass that came afterwards. Tony did change it a little. Ian uses the words whores and he changes it to gamblers. You can pull Ian Tyson's origional version up on KZbin. It's my second best favorite of my most favorite song. It's also more or less a true story. The girl in Vancouver was real and her name was Joan.

[@Cosmic-Cowboy]

I love the imagery and poetry. As a piano player, I’m impressed to the max. This is art in its’ truest sense of that word. Bravo! 🌞🌜✨

[@als1023]

Tony changes Main St to Yonge St. my guess Main was too common, although the tune refers to Vancouver's Main St where the stevedores, fishermen and loggers crowded the bars like the American, etc. The original ' hookers' is replaced as well, for American audiences. No doubt Ian Tyson was thrilled to hear this version, as he was to receive the royalty cheques from Neil Young recording his 4 Strong Winds. I still cherish this version with everything I have and love how it sounds on my old Martin. It transcends the original but maintains the west coast feel and intention of a song Ian wrote I believe, while living on Ten Mile Point in Victoria. All the best to TR fans all over the world who will no doubt keep the flame burning brightly for his family and all the world to see.

[@TheBasenjiman]

This is a good version, but I prefer the one when he was with J.D. Crowe and the New South.

[@drewby613]

💯

[@billr4164]

😍

[@thepurplecrystalz]

Funny how a song can go from a bluegrass song to a smooth jazz song. (Is that what it is here?)

[@alan4sure]

It was Folk originally, never bluegrass.

[@gregjones8065]

The JD Crowe & The New South version most definitely sounded more like bluegrass than this fine version. Both are excellent interpretations of a wonderfully written song.