John Martyn - Can't Turn Back The Years Lyrics

From 2009. Released 2 years after Martyn’s death.

John and Phil's harmonies were a thing of beauty.

Keep coming back....

John Martyn was mumbler. A beautiful one at that. (Just listen to Solid Air!) But as the years passed, his voice also changed. Acquired a patina of a life lived and grew a different kind of beauty. To those who agree, I invite you to look up the Japanese concept of 'wabi sabi'. No, you Can't Turn Back The Years.

His regret is palpable

How can anyone dislike this ???!!! 13 morons .

OMG!!!what a nice voice

Never heard this one ... love how he got the blues for us !! ...he bloody feels this ....

Just prior to his passing...so good !!!!!

This version of this song sucks Phil Collins by himself is way better this guy doesn't sing very good either

Goodbye.

Superb song, thank you for allowing me to listen to my John again ... nobody like him can go straight to my heart! Thank you John for having existed and for having accompanied me many times in my life ..

two giants

Sober up clear your throat and sit up and get out of bed

Feck off

You're an idiot dude. He sang this with breathing machines

Sounds awful

well played Phil for, well, ya know.....

Never ages, heartbreaking to hear the regret in a dying man's voice....he was a genius but had a not so nice side. Guess that is why he wanted to turn back the years to that handsome enigmatic man, whose music from
the heart still brings tears to my eyes. RIP.

Beautiful :)

peerless . .

Phil Collins has played with some of the all time greats, from Robert Plant to Eric Clapton, Phil Bailey EW&F, BrandX and many more but he also played many with the brilliant John Martyn. Collins and John were birds of a feather, the best of friends and both brilliant in their own way and I'm just happy to have been alive at the same time witnessed their incredible work, both together and one their own.

John Martyn was a genius. History should show that! History will show that many less talented musician JM, on his own, wrote, played and sang more beautiful music than most most countries' music industries have produced since the invention of recording. An amazing guitar player who played folk, rock, jazz and many styles all of his own making. He was a better musician than Hendirix; JM wrote better, sang better, and played better. JM is certainly in the running for best all around musician of the modern era (include Richard Thompson and Jerry Garcia in that list!).

"History will show that many less talented musicians made much more money and achieved n=much more fame than JM.

It's sad really....

You people on here actually think this guy can sing he sucks

This song breaks my heart . .as did John Martyn's passing . .

These two really should have formed a band together, or at least regularly did shit together.

They did. Check out Grace and Danger, Glorious Fool.

@M. S. plus many more !!! Check the new "Plays well with others"4cd set !!!!

What bunch of auld sweetie wife's,can ye no listen to this without being mr I know what I'm on about.the big mans ears will be burnt.

Love you Bro.

RIP Big Man your sorely missed

I'm 17 and love this song, go good music tastes!

listen to glory_box it's amazing

What a voice

Read all the comments left on this as relate to 2 of my favourite musicians I've been fortunate enough to see solo or with bands. Must say whilst there are many informed comments but also a load of nonsense. Both JM and PC were masters of their art and great friends, don't think more needs saying. Except of course, RIP big man.

I can think of something more to say: Tearing and Breaking

Amazing

Just a note to let you know that this song was written by Phil for his Both Sides album. John did a great job with this cover version/interpretation.

That is the most stupid of statements. Based on what, record sales? I don't agree with AnimCara's either. What you've both written here is merely opinion.
History will show you to be blinkered in outlook. But hey, thats merely my opinion.

"Obviously" eh? I know plenty about their recording history, how close they became when their respective wives split and how Grace And Danger was made around the same time as Face Value. I know they remained firm friends and John even offered to come over to Switzerland to record with PC after he moved there. What I said was it's a pity they didn't record more together, which it is.

You obviously don't know John Martyn's music history very well - he and Phil Collins collaborated on many many occasions Phil also produced albums for John

History would show that Phil was much better in all styles of music

It is difficult to compare any artist especially two greats. I love Phil's drumming but John was on another planet for depth and soul.

John Martyn was a genius. History should show that! History will show that Justin Bieber (JB) outsold them both; tell me all about the accuracy of history. JB is awful, Phil Collins (PC) is excellent, but JM was a genius! JM, on his own, wrote, played and sang more beautiful music than most most countries' music industries have produced since the invention of recording. An amazing guitar player who played folk, rock, jazz and many styles all of his own making. He was a better musician than Hendirix; JM wrote better, sang better, and played better. JM is certainly in the running for best all around musician of the modern era (include Richard Thompson and Jerry Garcia in that list!).

I don't think so. I grew up and lived in Hastings and used to go walking there a lot. I don't remember there being any low walls like that.

obviously his voice changed with time and life but he could stil put any would be pop singer to sae he sang from the heart and touched ours

John spirit will always carry on

is that picture from hastings hill ?

I think it is more likely to be from somewhere in Ireland where he went to live in later years.

thanks for everything you gave us john!

My life

Perfect......never heard of John Martyn until a couple of years ago when I heard a Robert Smith cover of small hours. For me John's music changed

You have a great deal to learn, Angie259. Just because Phil wrote the song doesn't mean he is the best to perform it.

No-one's talking 'crap' about any artist here. respect where respect is due. All I would say is that you kick back and listen to some John Martyn. preferably late at night, on your own. Truly wonderful stuff. Try it.

John Martyn's vocals here are pure, uncut emotion. I find myself welling up every time I hear the regrets in his voice.

One of the best musicians to have ever blessed my ears thank you mr john martyn you made my life better

Mine life has been better, ever since Live at Leeds and solid Air

Just being picky, but he died in 09. I love his aged aching voice here. I saw him a few times in the 70s when I lived in England and he gave everything every time.

If corrective software has been used it's very minimal, I work with autotune and am very sensitive to hearing it, I'm not convinced it's there in any quantity. There are many reasons that tuning could be used on a 'real' artist, Johns recordings may have been made to a guitar that was tuned to it'self and later when you want to add real piano that is at concert pitch you have to pull the vocal in a bit. Not convinced the tone I can hear is autotune though.

agree... his voice is great in this song

phil's voice and drums are fantastic with the albums Grace and Danger (Octobre 1980) and.
Glorious Fool (Septembre 1981.Both worked together with john giblin and it was fantastic.PHil made live songs with john too.

So true, they were fantastic when they worked together, a special chemistry.

What do you mean "the other guy" ,John Martyn is or was THE guy & had more talent & songwriting skill in his little finger than Phil Collins will ever have!

that's just absurd. I love both these musicians artists and if John were still alive he'd nut you for that.

An overlooked song from an overlooked album (Both Sides 1993), John gives it his all here. A pity John and Phil never worked together more but when they did it was mightily impressive.

@purplejash Thank you for setting this straight. John Martyn was a great artist and should be respected as such.

On the same level as Johnny Cash's Hurt. Songs like this need the "late in life" voice of a great artist, it adds a whole load of genuine, believable, convincing emotion.

Johnny Cash didn't write Hurt, NIN did! But I get your point and agree with you!

Can someone give me the lyrics to this song. It isn't the same as the original.

John Martyn .... the deepest depth in music history !!!!!!
Never forget that !!!!!

A genius like John Martyn comes along rarely, someone giving the world a gift as wonderful as his lyrics his musicianship, or his passion, we are not likely to see again.
RIP Big John... If I get to heaven I want to see you doing a duet with Eva Cassidy with Jaco Prestorius on the Bass..

Phil Collins wrote this song...

Genius. He and John are kindred spirits.

Both John Martyn and Phil Collins are excellent musicians, beyond words. There is no need to put either one down. The fact that John often sang with Phil shows that he thought Phil was a good singer, so the people hating on Phil should see that and trust John on it.

Plus I think over a 100 million album sales as both a solo artist and a band member kinda helps prove that too.

I think this is up there with the original. It's a lot rawer and Phil's backing vocals are beautiful - especially towards the end.

@Burbridge92 sorry, my mistake.

quality music right to the end literally, genius!!! R.I.P JM

@AnimCara Exactly. John could never play the game, it wasn't in his nature. Whereas Phil has always been a game player, he's been in showbiz since he was a little sprog. John had the chops and it's frankly infuriating to see people post going 'whose the other guy?' and 'he's crap compared to Phil' Music appreciation lessons required methinks.

@AnimCara I'm not a fan of Phil at all (well except Genesis drumming era) and I'm saddened that there are people out there only coming to John's music because Phil is included. Phil was John's friend yes, and vice versa, but I think truly we all know that Phil was John's fan too. John lived and breathed his art in a way Phil could never ever do. RIP Big Man, and thanks for leaving us one last gift.

They both loved their music and art, that's why they were such good mates.

@AnimCara Do we really have evidence that JM was "willing to sacrifice the gratification of immediate financial returns"? Many people seem to think JM wanted to suffer artistically and didn't seek financial reward. I'm not so sure. He was commercially fairly successful, not averse to people covering his songs, and prepared to work with a range of other musicians, some of them quite mainstream (like Phil Collins and Kathy Mattea). He didn't starve in a garret. Nor did he want to.

He may not have starved in a garret, but his estate at time of death was only £80K, and I think that was tied up in his cottage in Ireland. Whatever money he made from music he no doubt enjoyed spending in vicarious ways, and I don't ever think that he could have been a mainstream success...he was always too sophisticated for mass consumption and that's why music lovers (as opposed to casual listeners) love him so much.

Oh man I just started weeping like a kid. How I miss this wonderful musician who gave me so much joy at so many live gigs and so many albums of genius dimensions. John Martyn was a musical God incarnate.

Fully agree miss him

To me John's voice is perfect !

@Angie259 actually,they didn't turn up together in one song..they did 2 albums together...check it out :-) on the
music radar.com/news/guitars/phil-collins-pays-tribute-to-john-martyn

Sooo excited , my copy is due to fall on my doormat tomorrow...tinged with sadness that it will be the last album of new material...but he will never leave me. J.M is, and will always remain my first love...a true genius and a real character. See yah in the bar when its my time for last orders.....oh, and .it'll be your round Big Man! xx

Oh very, very nice! What a sweet song!
btw: I've prepared a channel for John! Take a look inside! KlickmyNick!

SO GOOD SO FINE SUPREME THIS IS FOREVER AND ALWAYS

What a sweet ,sweet song. Heart -wrenchingly beautiful.

Yes and a perfect duet. Written by P. COLLINS

Hearing this makes me want to mourne the great man all over again. Can't wait to get my copy of this much anticipated album. God Bless Big Man.

I envy you the opportunity to hear JM's music for the first time. It's been the soundrack to my life for such a long time. The man was a genius and I don't use that word lightly. Many of us miss him hugely and I have to say that I thought very uncharitable thoughts about you when I read "the other guy is crap". Go listen. And keep listening. I'm no Phil Collins fan but he is a fine musician and he was - by all accounts - a great JM fan. So he's ok by me.

Indeed he is still very, very much missed. Album on order. Not expecting the greatest but JM's OK is still leagues ahead of most people's best.

@Angie259 I have waited a long time for this new album. Dont need stupid comments about Johns voice..how rude, get your fact straight before you start dissing a genius like John. They were good friends and greatly respected each other. R.I.P Big Man, you are still very much missed. xxxx

@AnimCara Phil Collins John Martyn were very good friends and apparently Martyn respected Phil. I think you should find a little more information of Phil Collins.

Brilliant *soul* music from John. This is his final album, released after his death 2 years ago. An aged voice, but full of atmosphere, and feeling. People either loved or hated J Martyns music when he was alive. Many musicians loved him, including Phil Collins & Clapton. A man whose music refuses to be categorised, and hybridised aspects of folk, blues and jazz, as well as being one of the finest acoustic guitarists of all time. He leaves an incredible legacy. *Good to hear this*, Ta v much.

@Angie259 The other guy is late John Martyn who died 2008 at the age of 60. He was finishing this record just before his death and he was very bad condition at the time, so who can blame him not sounding same than when he was young. Btw. Phil wanted to do a tribute to this guy when he was finishing this song (and Phil sounds really good IMHO),
RIP-John Martyn

@eranmaoz I agree with you on that. Phil is 60years old but in this song he still sounds great and fresh. One more solo album with new material, that would be wonderful.

Phil collins is the best singer and song writer ever,we shouold not let it go without one more tout and one more album.legend