Move Over Steve Goodman, Jason Isbell Pens “The Saddest Song Ever”
Most of Americana songwriter Jason Isbell’s songs tend to be on the severe and depressing side, but it’s good to know he can show a sense of humor about it. Fans hoping for new music from Isbell post his Grammy-winning Something More Than Free effort got their wish today (sort of) when Late Show host Stephen Colbert debuted an infomercial for a fictitious, “180-minute, four chord song” upcoming from Isbell called “The Saddest Song Ever.”
“In my new song we cover such diverse tragic country topics as unemployment, the troops, reliable trucks gone done breakin’ down, the devil’s brown liquor, and the no-good bankerman knocking on the door with papers,” Isbell says in the fictitious infomercial. “My new 180-minute four chord song also covers new cartoonishly tragic down home scenarios that my fellow singer songwriters are much too cowardly to tackle.”
Colbert released the video Tuesday (3-8) through his Twitter page, and it also showed up on YouTube through the Late Show‘s official channel. Perhaps it’s something Isbell recorded when he played the Late Show on the 25th of February, but for whatever reason they decided not to broadcast it, possibly because the general public may not know that many of Jason’s songs are about “breakups, addiction, fatal diseases,” and it’s sort of an inside joke, or maybe producers though Isbell could loosen up a bit.
READ: Jason Isbell’s Long Lost Twin Clyde is Jealous of Brother’s Success
Either way, it shows a different side to Jason Isbell we rarely see, and once again shows that Stephen Colbert has taken up supporting roots artists where David Letterman left off.
musicfan
March 8, 2016 @ 7:37 pm
It’s brilliant! Loved it!
Able
March 8, 2016 @ 7:45 pm
Well, it’s a good thing acting isn’t his day job.
mike2
March 8, 2016 @ 7:47 pm
A side of jason we rarely see? Ever heard of “jason isbell reads me the news”?
Trigger
March 8, 2016 @ 8:30 pm
Pretty funny too. Deadpan is definitely his comedic style.
Jace
March 8, 2016 @ 7:54 pm
Ha! Martha? Where’s that ol’ cassette deck we useta have?
RoadHog
March 8, 2016 @ 8:28 pm
I wish this was a real song
hoptowntiger94
March 8, 2016 @ 8:50 pm
I wonder if this was supposed to be in response to Stapleton and Kimmel’s “cringeworthy” bit.
Gena R.
March 9, 2016 @ 9:21 am
I dunno, but I thought both of them were a real hoot. 🙂
ElectricOutcast
March 8, 2016 @ 9:39 pm
I think he’s adapting the old days of not only singing good songs but also making jokes in-between songs. I once saw clips with Marty Stuart and Travis Tritt making some very funny jokes with the audience and I think even Vince Gill has a tendency to do the same thing.
If I’m missing anybody, my apologies.
Megan
March 9, 2016 @ 8:14 am
He’s pretty funny in concert. He opened his show in Chicago a couple weeks ago by saying “The best thing about never having a hit record is you can play whatever the f— you want to open the show”. I enjoy someone with a good sense of humor.
Jack Williams
March 9, 2016 @ 9:09 am
He had the best response to a Free Bird request I’ve ever heard. It went something like this:
No, we don’t need any more reverb. If you feel you need some more reverb, take an empty beer glass and put the bottom of it up to your ear. And then put another one over your mouth.
Applejack
March 8, 2016 @ 10:29 pm
Ha ha. Those cassettes actually looked real!
Yeah, I like how Colbert has his musical guests do comedy bits like this from time to time (specifically for Youtube, as far as I can tell), though it’s not really clear why they waited so long to release this one.
By the way, here’s the one Stapleton did a while back:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79fGLalhZWM
Frank the Tank
March 8, 2016 @ 10:50 pm
This is awesome! My favourite part is the seamless transition from single mother with money problems to tragic cannon accident.
ActivePuck
March 9, 2016 @ 1:19 am
That part is inspired.
Also like the man who outlived his lawn mower. XD
Stork
March 9, 2016 @ 9:39 pm
“Honor Roll student experiments with liberalism”
NCW
March 9, 2016 @ 6:32 am
Stupid parody! I was trying to find the number when I realized it wasn’t real. The cassettes threw me off for a second. My old tape player quit working last week and I doubt the pawn shop has any new ones. The struggle is real.
Jack Williams
March 9, 2016 @ 7:43 am
Oh, hi. I’m alt-country troubadour Jason Isbell. You may know me from music.
That line just cracks me up.
I’ve probably watched this video about 10 times. Well done, Jason.
Red Headed Danger
March 9, 2016 @ 8:47 am
I’m so happy I paused it to read the scrolling list of other sad topics. “Sentient Tractor Wishes It Could Work Harder” made my day.
Armstrong
March 9, 2016 @ 9:18 am
“Toothless dog can’t bite burglar” had me rolling.
Nate
March 9, 2016 @ 5:21 pm
Ah Jason Isbell! I know him…from music
SteveG
March 9, 2016 @ 5:49 pm
“The Saddest Song Ever” – still better than nearly everything else on country radio.
Eric
March 9, 2016 @ 10:17 pm
I would be hesitant to assert that Colbert is taking up where Letterman left off when it comes to supporting roots artists. As I have mentioned before, Colbert did not have a single country guest between Don Henley in September of last year and Kacey Musgraves this January. During that period, Fallon had at least 8 country/bluegrass musical guests.
Colbert has stepped up to some extent after the Kacey Musgraves appearance, but Fallon is still beating him when it comes to inviting country/roots artists. Just last week, for example, Loretta Lynn gave a beautiful performance on his show.
When it comes to music, the real successor to Letterman is Jimmy Fallon.
Cool Lester Smooth
March 9, 2016 @ 10:39 pm
But when it comes to music+having a funny show, rather than a consecutive string of YouTube videos, Colbert definitely has the edge.
Cool Lester Smooth
March 9, 2016 @ 10:35 pm
…I would definitely buy this song, if Jason Isbell sang it.
stinky
March 10, 2016 @ 8:49 am
poor stevie was a cubs fan, trigger. jason can never reach those depths.
Nash Fargoâ„¢
March 14, 2016 @ 10:31 am
This man’s poetry is exceptional. Even as a parody, his writing here blew me away. I’ve watched this silly thing over and over again because I am so envious of such highly developed skill, which he makes look so easy.
I’ve been writing all my life, so I understand the gift this man has with words.