Denver, John - Whispering Jesse Lyrics






I often have wandered in deep contemplation,
It seems that the mind runs wild when you're all alone.
The way that it could be, the ways that it should be.
Things I'd do differently if I could do them again.
I've always loved spring time, the passing of winter.
The green of the new leaves and life going on.
The promise of morning, The long days of summer,
warm nights of loving her beneath the bright stars.

I'm just an old cowboy from high Colorado, too old to ride anymore, too blind to see.
I sleep in the city now, away from my mountains, away from the cabin we always called home.
I dreamed I left there on an old palomino. Whispering Jesse rode right by my side.
I long to hold her, to hear her soft breathing, the touch of her cool hand on my fevered brow.

Whispering Jesse still rides in the mountains, still sings in the canyons, still lives in my heart.





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Denver, John Whispering Jesse Comments
  1. F.... A....

    It's odd... this song always brings memories of life I have lived when I was younger, and it also brings memories, images, of a life I never lived but certainly would have loved to have lived...

    F.... A....

    I was thinking exactly the same thing Frank.

  2. T.... B....

    The late great John Denver MAGIC

  3. B.... L....

    No One Can ever replace the Magic that was John Denver. I Can't listen to any of his songs without Tears in my Eyes. He was one of the biggest influences in my life. And still is.......

  4. M.... F....

    Good song

  5. l.... f....

    At 68, listening May 25, 2019 ... with tears in my eyes, for all the years, and memories, this song evokes.

  6. S.... ....

    Always thought this song was about Jesse James.

  7. k.... k....

    I listen to him and actually tour Jasper Alberta and see what he said, to see high country learn of people and tell a story should have listen to long ago. How life in mountains is living in danger
    Too many people to many machine

  8. R.... E....

    Just overwhelming

  9. M.... ....

    This is why I love country/folk music :')

  10. X.... L....

    hmmmmmm....love this song very much..brings back so many good mem'ries
    .....thank you john...you're missed....

  11. M.... ....

    Different to the version I heard before but just as heartaching. When I first heard this song it was so incredible I felt sick for a month (I'm not kidding).

  12. C.... F....

    Well done video to one of my favorite JD songs. Thank you.

  13. �.... ....

    One of my favorites from John Denver. Always touches my deep down.

  14. V.... V....

    this is one of my all time fave.

  15. B.... Z....

    I've never heard this song before ..and I cried a lot of tears today ...I loved John Denver and his music ..I truly hope he knows how much he is missed ...I am glad that he shared his talent with us and he will forever remain in our hearts

  16. N.... Y....

    still today it breaks my heart that he is gone in this life, He was truly gifted by God with a voice that is nowhere be found anymore.Those that killed him must pay the price for their actions

    N.... Y....

    "Those that killed him"??? Why does some dumbass like you always show up to piss on everything good?

    N.... Y....

    @James Ritchie My thoughts exactly. JD just had a poorly built plane.

  17. J.... F....

    You can never be tired of John Denver

    J.... F....

    True that.

    J.... F....

    so very true. How much I miss this guy.

  18. K.... H....

    One of the most beautiful  songs he's ever written and sung. Brings tears to my eyes every time. I had the pleasure of seeing him at one of his last concerts and also seeing him on vacation in Hana with his daughter many years ago. Truly miss him!

  19. C.... ....

    Miss you, John.

  20. B.... B....

    IMHO, this is the best version of this song. It was recorded in September, 1996, in Nashville. (thanks Kris O'Conner and Roger Nichols). This song was first recorded in 1988, before Jesse was born, and released on the "Higher Ground" album, on John's Windstar label. For the first few years I cried everytime I heard this song, never understanding why. Then John told us how he wrote this song. He was up at his cabin at the lake and had a dream one night about this elderly couple. He woke up in tears, thought about the dream and fell again. He then dreamed the same dream, and once again woke up in tears. This time he got out of bed, grabbed his guitar, went outside and wrote this nostalgic and achingly beautiful song. This is the slowest version, and IMO, the most heartfelt.

    B.... B....

    @Barbara Barrish Actually - there is a ski run in Snowmass, Colorado - just outside Windstar - named "Whispering Jesse"!!!!

    B.... B....

    My favorite song! I wish Spotify had his unplugged album...😥

  21. M.... K....

    FAVORITENSONG - WILDLIFE CONCERT - 1995 - STARKER LIVESONG

  22. C.... M....

    This sounds as though it could be live; it's quite different from the version released in 1988 on the "Higher Ground" cd, but John always was sheer perfection w/ just his voice and guitar.

  23. G.... W....

    My absolute favorite of John's songs -- and I love so many of them.  The best version I've heard is on the Wildlife Concert soundtrack -- it's not included in the DVD.

  24. J.... S....

    The man will never be replaced

  25. e.... ....

    I know the guy who worked on Windstar (the jet). He told me of a few times that he told JD to be extra cautious, about the homemade Long-EZ, as they were not regulated, and used scary things in vital sections. I will always miss you John. But I just wish you were a bit more careful.

    e.... ....

    There was a switch to change from one fuel tank to another. It was in a very hard to reach location over his shoulder and behind him. Either it didn't work, or he simply couldn't reach it in time.

    I met John a few times, and had four or five long conversations with him. Somehow, I believe he knew it was his time to go. I think he welcomed it, though with sadness for what he would leave behind. We all get selfish and think about how much we miss John, how much we wish he were still with us, but we should be thinking about him.

    He was ready to go, to move on to whatever awaited. There was always, even in his happiest times, an unfulfilled longing in John. He always thought there must be something more, and he knew there were important questions he couldn't answer.


    He screwed up his life in many ways during the last twenty years that he lived. He made mistakes, he did stupid things in an effort to correct those mistakes, and then his record company dumped him. From there it was all downhill.

    In my mind there has been no better voice, no greater talent, but John, like us all, was a human with feet of clay.



    He has his answers now. I pray they were the ones he needed.

  26. D.... W....

    Please check our channel for version of this song. We are a John Denver tribute band in Nebraska.

  27. l.... f....

    This song always makes me cry ..... I'm 62, and feel as old as the old cowboy.

  28. m.... r....

    Can you tell me when im going to 'leave'? Do you have a life timer? A warehouse full of hour glasses individually named. One for everyone thats ever lived or will have ever going to be living. That would be handy. Why was it time for John to leave anyway? What malevolent caretaker made that decision? Id have doubts over his management skills and lack of thought on a grand scale. Just wondering. May your god go with you.

  29. P.... M....

    It was time for John to leave.

  30. B.... ....

    this video is simply perfect....lovely song with wonderful music....Thank you very much!!!

  31. E.... ....

    NOPE!!!!!!!! His wife Annie was/is a psychologist - John Denver was NOT bipolar.

  32. D.... J....

    "It seems that the mind runs wild when you're all alone." Truest statement I've ever came across

  33. D.... J....

    "It seems that the mind runs wild when you're all alone."

  34. L.... F....

    @Earthlinked I never believed it myself, but my thoughts were: Oh my god, how?? No, I don´t believe it...News reporters say what ever they like and they don´t think about his family and friends or fans... I am so happy to hear that he will never be forgotten this man was the most wonderful singer ever. My husband is a very huge fan too, and he will be happy to read what you just wrote. Thanks man.

  35. E.... ....

    @Louisefalk78 The cornorers final report found no alcohol or drugs in his body. There were many incorrect news reports - one reported the accident was a suicide - becasue he could not get a recording contract. (RCA and SONY/BMG were offering millions to get him under contract - his last album the "The WildLife Concert" was a double LP - (by SONY/BMG) - and sold over 5,000,000 copies!) His brother, Ron, said "Anyone that thinks that John Denver committed suicide - has their head up their ass!"

    E.... ....

    Earthlinked. I've got my head up my ass then.

  36. L.... F....

    @Earthlinked You are right we will never know, I was horrified when I heard the news telling that he went flying in his airplane with alcohol in his blood. I know in my heart that whatever happened he will fill our hearts and souls with his wonderful music. Bless his soul.....

    L.... F....

    There was NO alcohol or drugs in his body. Autopsy report stated this.

  37. E.... ....

    @Louisefalk78 ANd THAT is the million $ question: Why did this pilot with over 2400 hours of flying - take off in an airplane he was NOT famaliar with - that had half empty tanks? He had $2400 cash in his pocket!! When he called for the airport to "ready" his airplane - they asked if they should fill the tanks. Denver answered "No"! (this was recorded)!!! He knew to never leave without full gas tanks? Why he took off flying with half full gas tanks - we will never know!!!! He knew better!!

    E.... ....

    Earthlinked suicide.

  38. L.... F....

    @Earthlinked I know but it´s still kinda sad. But again if you fly fill the tanks..... But he died doing what he loved and that´s a fine thought

  39. E.... ....

    @Louisefalk78 He went there to fly his new airplane - period! He also told Clint Eastwood (his new next door neighbor) that he would "buzz" his house when he got his new airplane in the air!!!

  40. L.... F....

    @Earthlinked that´s my question too, why didn´t he leave the damm plane on the ground? Or took a walk or something else.

  41. e.... v....

    I love this version, which was recorded in the mid-nineties. It just sounds more mature and bittersweet.

  42. E.... ....

    "Whispering Jesse" is also a ski run on Snowmass, Colorado!!!!!!!

  43. t.... ....

    @Canuckchick52
    Makes me want to cry too, sing this as I'm driving my van, wonderful beautiful song x.

  44. w.... ....

    @Canuckchick52 amen

  45. V.... V....

    i will always love this song...

  46. E.... M....

    @APoorMaggotSack I remember seeing John in concert and he spoke about the dream he had and how this song came to him. He said the Jesse in the song was his daughter.

  47. T.... ....

    Wow.... I've almost lived this song.... Except it was in the West Texas mountains.... And I'm only in my 20's.... And it wasn't a palemeno I rode there.... Never mind it wasn't as close as I thought but I still love this song! John was a great singer. :D

  48. k.... ....

    ive seen pictures af Anna, Zachaery,and Jesse

  49. E.... ....

    To live in the hearts of those you have left behind - is to never die!! But when my time comes - I can only hope that I am doing something I really love to do - like flying!!! Then again, my first question to JD will be "WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST FILL UP THE DAMN GAS TANKS?!!!"

    E.... ....

    Yes, ask him that question from all JD admirers!

  50. R.... ....

    You are absolutely right! It's been a while since I have heard that song! I sure do miss John!

  51. E.... ....

    That explains why she was named Jesse!! But then again - he wrote a song early on named "Zachary and Jennifer" - but named his first daughter Anna Kate!!!! I agree - early on - there had to be a Jesse in his heart - he mentioned the name Jesse in 4 different songs - over a 25 year span - she must have been one hell of a woman!!!

  52. E.... ....

    "Aspen, Colorado on a Saturday night" - isn't it amazing how hard they fall?!?!?!??!

  53. R.... ....

    The song was written before Jesse Belle was born, but thre must have been a signifcant person named "Jesse" in John's life. I just wanted to tell you that your video was absolutely beuatiful!! Very well done!!

  54. R.... ....

    1. "I"d Rather be a Cowboy" on Farewell Andromeda album 2. "Jesse Dreamed of Trains" on All Aboard album. I know I have probably heard the song, but I can't think of the 3rd song. Can I have a hint?

  55. E.... ....

    This was probably written about his daughter - but there is a ski run in Aspen called "Whispering Jesse". Denver never said where he got the name - but he used the name "Jesse" in 3 other songs during his career. Can you name them???

  56. 0.... ....

    awesome