Chris Wood - Jerusalem - Live Version
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ธ.ค. 2024
- Recording of Chris Wood Trio playing a live version of Jerusalem during a sound check before a concert in Cambridge, April 27 2013. Track appears on the new album 'None The Wiser', available through www.chriswoodmusic.co.uk. With Chris are Neil Harland (bass) and Justin Mitchell (keyboard) both who played on the album. Video produced by Adam and Mark at abbeypark.co.uk.
The 'thinking man's Billy Bragg' does it again. This time Chris Wood takes on William Blake and man, oh man, does he do it justice. Sublime version of the traditional hymn.
I was fortunate enough to see Chis play this solo on acoustic a couple of years ago, I was deeply moved by the experience. His voice and the sentiments of Blake's words are a marriage made in heaven.
That all being said, I do like this trio version and look forward to seeing him on tour later this month.
I find the sombre beginning brings Blake’s words alive. Watching Chris, Justin & Neil perform this at Cambridge, I was ecstatic as they build to the climax. The mood and lyric fit perfectly in their “None the Wiser” album and set. Thanks.
This was even more moving last night as one man's personal vision. A lovely performance Chris, Neil and Justin! Thank you.
I saw them play this very version at the St Georges in Bristol - brilliant. I particularly like the hammond organ sound. This is the version I sing in my car and vote for it as our national anthem!
Downloaded the album on release and have been enjoying it ever since, really nice. Saw Chris a year or so ago when he sang this accompanied by acoustic guitar and it made a huge impression on me at the time. I also heard Chris play this on Mark Radcliffe's Folk programme, I thought his performance was incredible. Looking forward to catching Chris and the band on Friday (Derby). Chris Wood is the 'thinking man's Billy Bragg' hugely influential someone who deserves a wider audience.
I saw you in Shrewsbury tonight, you were amazing. Thanks Chris
I CRIED! I CRIED!
Too Amazing!!!
Was at this gig! Amazing communicator, beautiful storytelling, and the music wasn't too bad either.
Looking forward to hearing more of Chris and friends tomorrow night in Penzance!
Like it or not different versions of classic songs have the ability of connecting to people who may not have connected to the original version and for this reason cover versions are valid in perpetuating the essence of the classic and potentially reaching a wider audience.
saw him do it live stunning
I find it so odd that people consider this a 'hymn' and sing it in churches (indeed many churches refuse to sing it). It's heavily ironic (and even sarcastic) comment upon English patriotism and English Christian legend. Chris' tune and voice capture this beautifully. Simply by changing the tune he reasserts the original mood of Blake's poem hidden behind the pomp of Parry's (pretty awesome!) tune.
No, it was not in the slightest bit ironic, it was poem by Blake and if you were familiar with and understood his work you would recognise it as a sincere call to arms; but what it is a call to arms for is another matter, and those who treat it as a nationalistic and xenophobic anthem (whether they us it that way or condemn it as such) have not understood what Blake is talking about.
Blake created a mythical narrative to illustrate his ideas. So it pays to delve deep into his world and learn the symbolism. It's a very rewarding study, even if you only ever make to the foothills of his vision. . . Also, he was very much a singer and apparently he used to sing many of his verses.
It seems to me to be quite sincere, but to understand it we have to investigate what Blake meant by "Jerusalem" and why he wanted us to build it.
As a Christian (although, not a conventional one at all) it speaks to me of the desire to bring Heaven closer to Earth (in this instance in England, although not exculsively). Blake was always questing after the divine and I think this song is meant to encourage us to do the same.
Indeed: I saw Chris perform this a couple of times on tour a few years ago, and he introduced the song by saying he rewrote the melody because it seemed to him that Hubert Parry's version was based on an assumption. Blake asks a number of rhetorical questions in the first verse, and the assumption implied by Parry's triumphalist music was that the answer to all those questions was 'yes'; whereas it seemed clear to him that what Blake was actually implying was that the answer is 'no'..
Great version. Brings a different focus to the words of the Blake poem
His guitar at the start is ghostly good...
This is an amazing rendition of Blake's song.
And may it be so…
Haunting! Chris’s voice is reminiscent of the ethereal tones of the great Ewan McColl. My project for the day will be to put some soft saxophone (Hilliard Ensemble style) over the top of this.
I saw Chris perform this a couple of times on tour a few years ago, and he introduced the song by saying he rewrote the melody because it seemed to him that Hubert Parry's version was based on an assumption. Blake asks a number of rhetorical questions in the first verse, and the assumption implied by Parry's triumphalist music was that the answer to all those questions was 'yes'; whereas it seemed clear to him that what Blake was actually implying was that the answer is 'no'..
While I'd agree that Parry's version certainly captures the spirit of Blake's second verse, I'd say that Chris' tune nails the mood of those four rhetorical questions in verse 1...
Celia - they're not hard to find. William Blake. Look him up.
I don't believe Chris Woods is trying to 'improve' anything. Parry's music will always be powerful but I remain deeply moved by this version.
Chris--would you be willing to post the lyrics, please?
Celia Ramsey - long time coming but hopefully still helpful - the lyrics are Blake's poem Jerusalem - which begins "And did those/these feet, in ancient times, walk upon England's ....."
John, you must often be disappointed. Is anyone's opinion so definitive that they would actually hope everyone else would concur without deviation? This is one of those comments that say more about the speaker than the subject matter.
there should be a law against the scribbling classes, making it all dark and dangerous
Your comment is ambiguous in two ways. As it stands, with a comma after "classes", it suggests the law should declare the scribbling classes to be dark and dangerous. But I think you possibly meant "against the scribbling classes' making it all dark and dangerous" (i.e.without a comma and perhaps with an apostrophe). But do you mean the youtube commenters. or the songwriters? After all, Blake's original words - and much of the rest of his poetry - surely contain plenty of darkness and danger already - otherwise he would not say "I will not cease from mental fight", or write elsewhere of the "signs of weakness, signs of woe" or "getting and spending we lay waste our days", and there are plenty more.
Nice, though I feel a little disappointed. I clicked on this hoping to hear something like the performance I heard on Rad 2 once (the folk show I think) which was a thing of pure beauty .
I have been a great admirer of Chris Wood's music for a couple of years now. However, I am disappointed that he has been so moved as to supply us with his version of this classic hymn. I have always considered that the combination of Parry and Blake that manifests itself in 'Jerusalem' to be nothing short of divine inspiration.
I am disappointed that anyone should try to improve on this regardless of how much effort may have gone into the attempt.
_try to improve on_ / _alternate on_ (delete as appropriate)
Each to his own. I've never been keen on Sir Hubert's pompous arrangement, this stripped down version, however, moves me to tears every time.
Sounds like a lament for the Labour Party of old....