Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Codeine (Live on KEXP)

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit perform "Codeine" live in the KEXP studio. Recorded 6/14/2011

Host: Cheryl Waters
Audio: Kevin Suggs
Cameras: Jim Beckmann, Shelly Corbett & Scott Holpainen
Edits: Ellen Wixted

[kevinclothier]

He ain't pretty, no cowboy hat or tight jeans just a pitch perfect rendering of the best damn songs being written today - luv this guy!

[matthewmulkey]

Jason Isbell is the best songwriter of the past 20 years

[kevingillis]

Jason is one of the classiest poets, musicians on the planet...even garnered more class leaving the CMA When they didn’t recognize John Prine and his Music after he died....Jason and wife are pure Class.

[ck]

Huge fan of Jason's music. I don't think you can write music like this without going where he's gone. I'm glad he is healthy now.

[cherrysimpson]

Sounds like a dude talking at a local bar in my neighborhood. I love it.

[howdydoo]

I gotta say, as someone who's been through a bad divorce and had to pick up the pieces, the line "if there's two things that I hate, it's having to cook, and trying to date" hits home.

[BamaPewPew]

Man, I can’t stand you sometimes Jason, you don’t know me, but you can put words to my life when I’m living it and I can’t. Sometimes I just want to scream your lyrics from the top of my lungs, but I’d just be stealing them from you. Maybe part of life is realizing your unique and special existence is not so unique or special after all, but the special part is when you find you’re not alone. Castles made of but fragile. Damn you

[kevinkingrey]

Damn Isbell, here he is again, just makin it hard to keep up. He really is one of the best singer songwriters ever to walk the planet. Plus, he plays guitar better than any other singer/songwriter I've ever heard.

[Sluggo-quir]

Sometimes music fans get lucky enough to witness a highly talented artist performing at the absolute top of his game. Friends, this is one of those times. Savor it. (Repeat watchings highly recommended.)

[howdydoo]

"Wish we knew how to fight but we dont" is so raw and true

[FodderMoosie]

Imagine the irony of covering this song in a bar band... wish I could.

[azizs]

Knock knock knocking on heaven's door

[gergb]

Dang I don’t know how I missed this one but I’m grateful I found it now. I can’t stop listening to it. It’s beautiful and tragic and perfect.

[heatherleighstage]

I love this song
“It’s this bar and this cover band…trying to fake their way through castles made of sand”. SERIOUSLY

[randellgeuy]

Just discovered this today, what a fantastic songwriter, how does he paraphrase my relationship so well, “you won’t sleep til dawn if it don’t rain... sounds so funny when you say my name...” he speaks so clearly about living with and amid addiction. Amazing song.

[letstalktruecrime]

have you ever heard that sound?? the sound that a woman makes, about five seconds after her heart begins to break?? its a sound most of us women carry around deep down inside every day of our lives.

[sammyscotch]

I wish one of my friends would take me in and give me codeine

[cmmnsenserules]

A little to country for rock, a little to rock for country 👍

[keepitreal]

this song makes me want to dance and cry in the same moment.  

[AustinSkyline]

Just saw him in Memphis with John Prine: the past, present, and future of great American song-writing in one show. Extraordinary music laid down by extraordinary musicians and song-writers.