Hard Times Come Again No More | The Longest Johns Music Video | First Single from Smoke & Oakum

Join us after the stream for a bit of an afterparty and talk about the preorder campaign! The video should automatically link over there, but just in case... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wsFzu1H3cI

11 years ago, stuck in the Great Recession and on the verge of losing our house (retained by an employment miracle), my boyfriend and I dared to get married. Our friends basically threw us a party. The band at our wedding played for tips/donations, and this was one of the songs they played. And everyone danced, and said it was a great wedding. Our anniversary is on the 23rd. This video made me cry happy tears of nostalgia to find it, making me think back on those times.

“I’ve got banjo” “I’ll get drums” “I call violin” “BEANS”

Amazing how a song that is 167 years old feels so appropriate especially after the last two years or so.

Stephen Foster died in his mid 30's with 36 cents to his name, yet his songs are stillbeing sung 100 years later. This is one of his best.

We found this song while preparing our one-and-a-half year old for palate reconstruction. The Longrdt John’s was his favorite band at the time we stayed up many long late nights during the 12 week post-op healing process. That was two years ago and we still listen to Longest John’s all the time. My 9 year old regularly checks for shoes near us, hoping we can get tickets if they ever come to Michigan or Ohio

I love the symbolism in this video. Andy is in a small cabin furnished with nothing but pallets, haybales, a couple seats, and a thick layer of grime. Dave is in a similarly empty and dirty building. JD is sitting outside a long overgrown building that seems to be partially missing a wall. Robbie is next to a tree stump and a chunk of wood with no more limbs to chop off. They are all alone. But then JD joins Andy, and sits down with a smile. Soon, they are joined by the rest of the band, including some other musicians. Then some more friends come in and start to tidy up: Sweep the floor, straighten the bales, right a chair. More friends join in, and as they add pillows to the bales, flower vases to the sills, and lights hanging along the walls, the empty stone cabin is transformed into the coziest gathering of friendship I have ever seen. As more people come, the room is filled with both possessions and joy.

I am an old man, but can play my guitar to this piece... and I get enormouse pleasure watching these young happy people. THANK YOU ALL.

This song plays in Sid Meyers Civilization VI and I get goosebumps whenever I hear it play. Cannot think of another song to better represent perseverance and the American spirit. Great job guys.

This should be a national anthem.

In my opinion, the best song ever written by Stephen Collins Foster - rightly regarded as the wellspring of American folk music. As someone who's studied his life in exquisite detail, and is currently writing a biography of him, I adore this version. And I'm sure Stephen would as well - it's just the right mix of reflective, melancholy, and yet hopeful for a brighter future.

Well that was delish! Top job, lads. Video was sick, too!

So, I was originally introduced to this song by the video game Far Cry 5, where you can occasionally hear it drifting through the Montana wilderness, leading you to a man with a guitar, playing as two Militia fighters dance gently around a campfire... Your rendition very nearly drove me to tears. It sounds victorious, and joyful, and it reminds me of those two dancing soldiers. It is extremely folksy, both full-blooded American and extraordinarily British, and, well... Thank you so much!

I wasn't expecting an American Folk song any day soon from you, lads. But I absolutely glad you did it, most adequate! Definitely made me smile today!

Made me weirdly emotional, in a good way Also this dropped on my birthday that's sick

When you released this I was on day 15 of an 18 day hospital stay and I just want you guys to know how much this song helped me power through those last few days and gave me joy and hope when I really felt there was none left. I hope you all see how much your music impacts people. Keep up the great work!! ❤️

The main theme sounds like the Hobbit Shire theme. This is some kind of melancholic, country fashioned, deeply hopeful masterpiece. You guys are the answer to the question "who's your favourite Artist?". Cheers to you and everybody around here!

You know it's gonna be good when they pull out the banjo for the start

I just realized that this is Teddy's theme in Civilization. Mind. Blown. Awayyy

Another great rendition of this great song is the civ VI america theme. Wonderful rendition boys, this is such a beautiful song, and you really did it honour.