Daniel Johnston - Glen Hansard & The Swell Season - Life in vain

Don't wanna be free of hope
And I'm at the end of my rope
Its so tough just to be alive
When I feel like the living dead
I'm givin' it up so plain
I'm living my life in vain
And where am I going to?
I gotta really try,
Try so hard to get by
And where am I going to?
I don't know where is up or down
And there ain't any love left around
Everybody wearin' a frown
Waiting for santa to come to town
You're giving it up so plain
You're living your lives in vain
And where are you going to?
You gotta really try,
Try so hard to get by
And where are you going to?
Flip on your TV
And try to make sense out of that
If we were all in the movies
Maybe we wouldn't be so bored
We're giving it up so plain
We're living our lives in vain
And where are we going to?
We gotta really try
Try so hard to get by
And where are we going to?
Goodbye...
Goodbye...

[Northernmight]

As a big Daniel Johnston fan, i gotta say, this is the best video out there. Just the fact that someone did this for him. He deserves it and so much more. A thousand thumbs up to every musician in this, taking their time to accompany a true piece of art.

Fuck man. I'm crying like a little bitch. The beauty is real.

[portwain]

He said “Goodbye”, left the stage and now we have to sing his songs by our own.

[CelestialGaruda]

Battling mental illness but still manage to create something beautiful and learn how to express himself against all the suffering he has been dealing on a daily basis. He is a lion, a tiger, a beast battling those dragons and demons in his mind.

[tuodekab]

You can't fuck with these lyrics. Existential sadness described in such a straight forward yet beautiful and fun way. "But where I am I going to" so fucking good it's beyond compare. He is literally more talented to than John lennon. Fuck yeah daniel your the best

[formercanadiancitizen]

It’s sad how the record companies stop people from hearing what they really want to feel and enjoy, this is sooo cool

[patricksjoberg]

I love it that Daniel just walk off the stage: " Goodbye!"
Amazing live performance.

[onewxrldmusic]

If this is from 2011, can you imagine the kids appearing in this iconic performance watching themselves 10 years on.... and Daniel Johnston is sadly gone.

[arrestedeffort]

Seriously brought me to tears. Such an astounding performance.

[thekingtjfortnite]

Come back to this video a couple times a year and it gets me right in the feels every time. So cool of them to perform this with him.

[najjimohammad]

This video is like a movie. Johnston’s voice, the stage set up, the violinist and Kids in the background. I love it so much dog this is powerful RIP bra

[boognish]

Been listening to Daniel Johnston for years but for some reason this version of "Life in Vain" escaped me. Absolutely beautiful!

[chandaakumar]

All this horrible pain we all have to go through day after day year after year. Being human hurts! I love your all. Thanks Daniel.

[nicolewilliams]

it breaks my heart that he looks so nervous on stage, because that's where he belonged

[designer-mama]

I'm a 44 year old woman who used to listen to bright eyes religiously in my angsty years and it's so obvious now that this man inspired Conor oberst, and why am I crying!? 😂

[lelabotoxique]

Right now, my heart aches. My eyes cry. Your music had a deep impact on my life, Daniel. I would even go so far as to say that your talent saved my life at one point. Your sounds, words and drawings always brought me joy. And tears. Your art made me feel alive. And for that very reason, from the bottom of my heavy heart, I want to thank you. Rest in peace, dear artist. I will truly miss you.

[Mrwonderboy]

holy crap, man i'm sitting here almost balling my eyes out.

[papanovembermusic]

Just wow! His voice breaks my heart, beyond moving.

[davecespedes]

You were a kind soul, a giant, a complete Chad, a real and authentic person and definitely someone important to many people. Thank you Daniel, you deserved a better life and somehow, you gave us a lot of masterpieces. Hope you're fine

[PJL]

Today I was making several batches of Bourbon & Rum balls with my sister for Christmas. I was playing Poi Dog Pondering for awhile. She mentioned if I ever heard of Daniel Johnston and I said no. We were discussing concerts we’ve been to like Poi Dog, The Cranberry’s & she saw him in Austin way back then. Anyway… so I’m new to this guy & watching YouTube videos tonight trying to get a better sense of who he was.

[stevefaure]

Daniel managed to transform everyone he was around, for a while anyway. It's incredible to see how nice everyone is when he's there. A special guy