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Glad This popped up. I was devastated when I heard Harry died. This is good. Brings me way back to another time in my life. Their will never be anyone who can sing like Harry. He was so unique.

Not Harry….pure Steve … and originally written about his wife Ann….who recently passed away - a force of nature …

This is an incredibly beautiful rendition of a classic. Thank you.

Woke up needing this song - 30th+ anniversary the other day - Thanks mom and dad for bringing this wonderful world into my life.

This is just wonderful. I didn't know this band existed. I was fortunate to see Harry live twice in Sheffield England and have always been a massive fan. It's so good to see and hear Big John Wallace again, and to hear a cello in the mix. I came to this video after seeing a video of Tom singing this same song. Tom was in the band in Sheffield. Apologies, I didn't know there was also a Steve. I've subscribed and will be reliving Harry's old stories. Thank you so much, you've made an old man very happy 🙂🎸

Just a wonderful story song. Perfect words and perfect music. Harry was special.

This was one of my favorite songs as a teenager and well into my 20s. I still love it. It's companionship, love, and life all in one song.

Thank you for sharing this with everyone. Such a joy for all the little people--the vast majority of people who would love a little recognition and respect.

Full-time consideration of another endeavour.... might be an hors d'oeuvrrrrrrrrrrrrres... to me it always sounds like Harry sings that instead. Give it up for Big John Wallace, everybody!

At first I did not think it could be you. But you're the only one that got off the train. So you must be my wife Miss Annie Halsey Yes, I guess I am your husband, Hello I'm Harry Crane. Mail Order Annie, never mind your crying. Your tears are sweet rain in my empty life. Mail Order Annie, can't you see I'm trying To tell you that I'm glad you're here, You are the woman who's come to be my wife. You know you're not as pretty as I dreamed you'd be, But then I'm not no handsome fancy Dan. And out here looks are really not important. It's what's inside a woman when she's up against the land. Mail Order Annie, never mind your crying. Your tears are sweet rain in my empty life. Mail Order Annie, can't you see I'm trying To tell you that I'm glad you're here, You are the woman who's come to be my wife. You know it's not no easy life you're entering. The winter wind comes whistling through the cracks there in the sod. You know you'll never have too many neighbors. There's you Girl, and there's me, and there's God. You know I'm just a dirty man from the North Dakota plains. You're one girl from the city who's been thrown out on her own. I'm standing here not sure of what to say to you 'Cepting Mail Order Annie, lets you and me go home. Mail Order Annie, never mind your crying. Your tears are sweet rain in my empty life. Mail Order Annie, can't you see I'm trying To tell you that I'm glad you're here, You are the woman who's come to be my wife.

Mr. tanner was a cleaner from a town in the Midwest And of all the cleaning shops around he'd made his the best But he also was a baritone who sang while hanging clothes He practiced scales while pressing tails and sang at local shows His friends and neighbors praised the voice That poured out from his throat They said that he should use his gift instead of cleaning coats But music was his life, it was not his livelihood And it made him feel so happy and it made him feel so good And he sang from his heart and he sang from his soul He did not know how well he sang, it just made him whole His friends kept working on him to try music out full time A big debut and rave reviews, a great career to climb Finally they got to him, he would take the fling A concert agent in New York agreed to have him sing And there were plane tickets, phone calls, money spent to rent the hall It took most of his savings but he gladly used them all But music was his life, it was not his livelihood And it made him feel so happy and it made him feel so good And he sang from his heart and he sang from his soul He did not know how well he sang, it just made him whole The evening came, he took the stage, his face set in a smile And in the half filled hall the critics sat watching on the aisle But the concert was a blur to him, spatters of applause He did not know how well he sang, he only heard the flaws But the critics were concise, it only took four lines But no one could accuse them of being over kind Mr. Martin Tanner, baritone of Dayton, Ohio Made his town hall debut last night Be came well prepared, but unfortunately his presentation Was not up to contemporary professional standards His voice lacks the range of tonal color Necessary to make it consistently interesting Full time consideration of another endeavor might be in order He came home to Dayton and was questioned by his friends Then he smiled and just said nothing and he never sang again Excepting very late at night when the shop was dark and closed He sang softly to himself as he sorted through the clothes Music was his life, it was not his livelihood And it made him feel so happy, it made him feel so good And he sang from his heart and he sang from his soul And he did not know how well he sang, it just made him whole

That's Big John Wallace, still singing at 75.

Big John still got it! Stevie Chapin good on the keyboards!

My god this song gives me chills every time I hear it.

I am in awe of Big John's voice!

This song has very special meaning for me. Of course, it helps that it is a Harry Chapin song, since he is my favorite singer/songwriter. But there is more to it. A little more than 6 years ago, I was using an online dating site, and I had been having great conversations with one particular woman. I was asked by my church to provide some music for a health fair at the church, so I invited this woman to come to the event so we could meet in person, she could hear me sing, and then we could go out on a date. I figured that mail order brides were (roughly) the 1870's equivalence of online dating, so I sang this for her, among other songs. Well, it turned out to be such a great date that, 4 weeks later, I asked her to marry me, and she accepted. It was just about that time that I realized something strange but wonderful. You see, the two characters in this song are Annie and Harry. Well, my middle name is Harry and her middle name is Ann (which is close enough to Annie), so we must have been meant for each other, as proposed by Harry Chapin. With 5 1/2 years of marriage, we are still madly in love. Thanks, Harry.

Amazing musicians

No one wrote songs and performed like Harry. So glad to see his beautiful music is kept alive with this video. Big John hasn’t lost anything.

Veryy well done! You guys have not missed a beat through all these years.

Harry would be proud, what an incredible rendition.

Incredible, wow! X

Back in the mid 1970s I would hold my first love and sing this to her (for her sake the album was playing) I miss her I miss Harry

This was one of Harry’s best still brings tears to my heart

Great memories created by some fantastic musicians

I miss Harry

From someone such as I , that clung to a notion that one day I might become a successful songwriter but with no reason other than the pleasure of writing and singing my own songs , I continue with my trade as a carpenter and still out of necessity to try and explain the world to myself , continue to do so …

So so. Miss Harry and all

What a song. What a performance. Steve’s voice, Big John (Mr. Tanner) and Arlen on the cello bring an old song back beautifully.

Has this song been performed elsewhere that we can view on the internet? This is an amazing song but I wasn't able to find it on any album of Harry Chapin's...

I finally heard Harry himself say that the best song on the live album is "I Let Time Go Lightly."

Wonderful song...Harry once said, "Damn! I wished I'd-a' wrote that"...Luv it!

Big John sounds like he did 40 years ago. I remember Harry saying many times that Steve made him sound better than he had any right to. Steve continues to earn that compliment from his big brother. So much love that makes these guys still perform this great music. Beautiful job by the cello player who seems reverent in her performance of this classic.

Gorgeous.

Beautifully sung! Harry would have been proud of this presentation of one of his classic songs.

The first time I heard this I cried....and then I wrote a song called Annie's Reply....her response to all of this...Her story needed to be told.

This space can't hold all my thoughts of Harry and his music. I got to see him with the full band and once by himself. I awoke to my radio alarm clock in London with one of his songs playing, it was the day he died, only a few months the last time i saw him. I raised my daughter on Greatest Stories Live and now my granddaughter. I looked years ago for Steve's version of this song, glad it finally was video. I once called a radio station to play this in 1978, the deejay was amazed. Here's to all those fans in the cheap seats.

Such a beautiful song. ❤️

I know nobody will see this but is there anywhere I can learn how to play this on piano!

Steve did well with Harry's part, and Big John was still the greatest Mr. Tanner, just as he has been for the past 50 years.

A classic that lives on after many other artists are forgotten.

So touching sound of a band.. amazing!! I specifically in love with this bass & his voice! Love you guys!!

"Old friends, they mean much more to me than a new friend, 'cause they can see where you are, and they know where you've been". I love that line, and have used it as a toast many a time! I saw Harry and his brothers in concert twice, at Alpine Valley in Wisconsin, in the late 70's. Still gives me the chills. Keith

Steve Chapin cant sing like Harry did, but Big John Wallace can still sing the part of Mr. Tanner just like he did 40 years ago. Big John!

A wonderful tribute to one of the greats. Everything good, takes me back 40 years and the tears are there again.

Proud to have worked with the band as their lighting company through most of the 70's. Big John and I became good friends. What a wonderful rendition of Harry's song, brought tears to my eyes. Thanks.

You can alllways count on the cheap seats. This brought a tear of joy to my eye.

That was awesome!!! Done so well. Such a great song !!!

A lovely rendition of Harry's sweet poignant song. Still miss Harry's harp intro and his rough voice, which sounded like a "dirt farmer". But Steve has a great range, Big John still, and the cello playing is superb!

I saw Big John Wallace in Calgary, in the 70's. Some times talent and love of music transcends us all. Thank you for the sound tract of my life.Eternal blessings to all.

it brought me to tears, I still remember the original from years ago