If - Rudyard Kipling, Dennis Hopper on Johnny Cash Show

Dennis Hopper on the Johnny Cash Show
Song is The Album Leaf - Window
Thanks to wooderson316

[martinkelly]

The best version I’ve ever heard. Rest in peace Dennis Hopper….you were amazing

[gregkral]

Best poem of all, recited to me by my mother, when I was having so many Thank you mom, this is the best poem I ever heard. I gave that to my son too, when he felt the same.
What a gifft.
Thank you Rudyard Kipling.
That lesson, that poem, that was such a blessing.
Even to this day.

[hisoverlorduponhigh]

I have lived this. After my Dad passed, I stood alone, facing formidable foes, I doubted myself, I had to dig deep to conquer these evil forces. I won. I discovered this wise poem, years later.

[AndrewGraziani-kd]

Am I the only one who feels like we have lost this? Such a pity.

[toriidawdy]

I found copies and copies of this poem in my father's military footlocker. A sharecropper son, mother died in the greenville flood, under the ocean in the Pacific during ww2 at the age of 16 . I think this was my father's education. What a good thing .

[salfmandtheimitationartists]

I was 41 before I ever heard this - better late than never I suppose

[theGiantworm]

My father recited this to me when I was young. He was telling me how to be a man. I just didn't know it at the time.

[stephenburke]

That's probably the best recital I've seen or heard to date .

[toemas]

A poem written for a thirteen year old son, who’d die in world war 1… the last few lines … “fill the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds worth of distance run. Yours will be the earth and all that’s in it. What’s more my son - you’ll be a man. “
This really resonates with me …

[alexlozowskij]

He was going to say IF is the middle word in LIFE

[lordrandolf]

Wow, such powerful words. Would the MSM or entertainment complex ever allow anyone to speak such words on prime time TV today?

[Afib]

I remember having to learn and recite this in senior year of high school. Brings me to tears ❤

[MrKingMEDIA]

It's such a timeless poem that resonates so powerfully in times like these.

[verabauman]

I am Russian, but charmed by British culture..I heard this poem ...Tears, and people over the world want peace. And love

[donnamcgee]

this is art. this is culture. Thank you

[NewsHistorian]

This poem from over a century ago is a direct response to modern 21st Century victimhood culture which is both arrogant, conceited and soul crushing in the guise of compassion.
"IF" is Victorian stoicism better known as the "stiff upper lip".
It basically says don't take bad things too hard or take good things for granted.
Everybody experiences devastating set backs but men have the duty not to complain about it for even a moment and be resilient and determined enough to start over again.

Doing so will be it's own great reward.

[spenn]

It both breaks my heart and gives me life. Every time.

[Uragemdiamond]

So good. Joy. Cash always. If by Caine or Connery are good. This is poetry. First time view. Bit emotional emotional

[jucklowe]

The greatest recitation of this poem I've ever heard, , , , the Michael Caine version is lovely but this is just perfect. This poem had meant so much to so many men and women over the years, , , it's wonderful to see it still rings as true today as it ever did. I would love to hear Owen Wilson recite this.

[johnjones-wvkk]

Got to be the best rendition of an awesome poem. I still get tearful every time I listen to it.