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Eva Cassidy — Fields of Gold
Album: Song Bird
Avg rating:
7.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3832









Released: 1998
Length: 4:38
Plays (last 30 days): 3
You'll remember me when the west wind moves upon the fields of barley.
You'll forget the sun in his jealous sky as we walk in fields of gold.
So she took her love for to gaze awhile upon the fields of barley.
In his arms she fell as her hair came down among the fields of gold.

Will you stay with me, will you be my love among the fields of barley?
We'll forget the sun in his jealous sky as we lie in fields of gold.
See the west wind move like a lover so upon the fields of barley.
Feel her body rise when you kiss her mouth among the fields of gold.

I never made promises lightly and there have been some that I've broken,
But I swear in the days still left we'll walk in fields of gold.
We'll walk in fields of gold.

Many years have passed since those summer days among the fields of barley.
See the children run as the sun goes down among the fields of gold.
You'll remember me when the west wind moves upon the fields of barley.
You can tell the sun in his jealous sky when we walked in fields of gold,
When we walked in fields of gold, when we walked in fields of gold.
Comments (436)add comment
 Queue wrote:
11+
   
dirtbagpook wrote:
A haunting, beautiful song to watch northern lights. 8^)
 
William is on a roll this Halloween morning!
A haunting, beautiful song to watch northern lights. 8^)
Such a talent. Gone much too soon.
11+
 Ivo001 wrote:
Crying at my desk to this beautiful song.
Took me back to the funeral of my good friend who ended his life at 30 


Hang in there. Although the pain will never completely fade, it will slowly become more bearable. Time really does heal. 

Peace 
A cover artist?!?  She should be playing college campuses not on the radio
 Ivo001 wrote:
Crying at my desk to this beautiful song.
Took me back to the funeral of my good friend who ended his life at 30 


I understand, friend. Music, the universal healer, huh? Be well.
Crying at my desk to this beautiful song.
Took me back to the funeral of my good friend who ended his life at 30 
 peter.mark wrote:

WHY NOT THE ORIGINAL? 




Why not think before blurting out something ridiculous?
 david927 wrote:

She's singing directly to my soul and ripping my heart out entirely without my permission and I have to sometimes pause it because it's too much and... it's a stupid Sting song? Not even Police-Sting which was often really cool but... Solo-Sting?? The kind that people listen to over Chardonnay? Oh, I hate her. Who does that? Hey, let's just sing this car's extended warranty and bring everyone to tears.



OmGoodness I needed to read this! 
Tears welling in my eyes at these ethereal vocals - and the opportunity to chuckle at the same time? Gold.
 peter.mark wrote:

WHY NOT THE ORIGINAL? 


BECAUSE THIS IS EXQUISITE.
Huh, lyrics are a bit wrong.
THIS should go on that gold album they created for outer space.
WHY NOT THE ORIGINAL? 
In 2019 this beautiful song played at my wife's  funeral. Hundreds cried like l am now. 
The more I hear this, the more I realize it’s a 10. I’ll bet Sting would agree as well. 
Just had to up this to a 10. Lovely.
If there is a better singer, I haven't yet heard them
Eva, taken too soon. We miss you. 
 Highlowsel wrote:

Reading her bio makes one realize that there is no tomorrow.  There is only now.  Don't dicker, don't dawdle in illusory fields thinking you have all the time in the world. 

You don't. 

Act as if this was your last moment.  Act out of your now. 

Stay in the moment and live from it.  Do that, and for however much time is left you just might realize that you are blessed.

Highlow
American Net'Zen


Well said.  Words to live by. Thank you. 
 Highlowsel wrote:

Reading her bio makes one realize that there is no tomorrow.  There is only now.  Don't dicker, don't dawdle in illusory fields thinking you have all the time in the world. 

You don't. 

Act as if this was your last moment.  Act out of your now. 

Stay in the moment and live from it.  Do that, and for however much time is left you just might realize that you are blessed.

Highlow
American Net'Zen


Live every day as if it's your last, because one day you'll be right.
Two days in a row!
A senior performance group recently brought Eva to my attention - she's a local girl and some of the seniors knew her - and RP found me her perfect song.
Thanks
Dammit! I'm trying to get some work done. I cannot hear an Eva Cassidy song without taking time out to listen to her. Tears well up in my eyes from her beautiful voice, her heart, her tragic story. Thank you.
I find this version to be absolutely gorgeous. I stop and listen whenever this comes on.  And Kudos to Sting for writing this song; that caught me off guard.
 Kilgoretrout wrote:

Better than Sting's version.
I guess it's her voice/delivery that makes it.
Brings a tear every time.



We disagree, But this version is lovely.
Better than Sting's version.
I guess it's her voice/delivery that makes it.
Brings a tear every time.
Thanks RP! This artist crushed me on this song...in a good way...I had no knowledge of Eva Cassidy...so awesome...all thanks to RP once again to enlightening me! ...in this case to an artist I had no knowledge of...

Eva. Voice of angel. Taken from us far too early.
Her most popular song I think.  This might be heresy but I actually like Sting's original version better  (which I believe he wrote for Trudi Styler).  Where I think she really hits it out of the  park is with  her slow blues cover of "Stormy Monday" (off the "Live at Blues Alley " album).
What an injustice
I have to consciously stop myself from crying when I hear this lovely tune.

Usually I don't even try stopping myself.
Voice of an angel.  RIP dear Eva 
With rare (rare rare rare) voices like this, for my brain to grasp what's happening, I have to imagine the person standing in a quiet studio, mouth at the microphone, and THIS is coming out. It's like a miracle, like a miracle wave washing over us.
 4lex wrote:

Eleven


Or above 
Richard E Grant chose this version as one of his eight tracks on the BBC Desert Island Discs https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/p... Very touching as he grappled to maintain his composure as it reminded him of his wife who died in 2021 from cancer. Telepathy since I only listened to DID just a few days ago. Respect to Bill & Rebecca for this fantastic station.
Eleven
 bialia wrote:

People laugh a lot at Sting, but I unabashedly love this song, and I love this interpretation.


Sting's solo catalog is as impressive as his one with the Police. Sure there's a couple of lyrical misses but they are few. And he liked this cover
She's singing directly to my soul and ripping my heart out entirely without my permission and I have to sometimes pause it because it's too much and... it's a stupid Sting song? Not even Police-Sting which was often really cool but... Solo-Sting?? The kind that people listen to over Chardonnay? Oh, I hate her. Who does that? Hey, let's just sing this car's extended warranty and bring everyone to tears.
I'm not Crying...You're Crying! 
 Highlowsel wrote:

Reading her bio makes one realize that there is no tomorrow.  There is only now.  Don't dicker, don't dawdle in illusory fields thinking you have all the time in the world. 

You don't. 

Act as if this was your last moment.  Act out of your now. 

Stay in the moment and live from it.  Do that, and for however much time is left you just might realize that you are blessed.

Highlow
American Net'Zen


or in the words of a song, "Enjoy yourself/it's later than you think." 

I'm so glad BillG plays Eva Cassidy, such a lovely voice, taken way too soon.
There will only ever  be one Eva Cassidy
People laugh a lot at Sting, but I unabashedly love this song, and I love this interpretation.
I get goosebumps and shivers down my spine whenever this one comes up.
It's too bad that radio played Sting's (good) version so much that I was ready to PSD this.  I'm so glad I didn't.  What heart, what feeling.  Grabs me.  Then I looked at the notes and saw that she'd passed away.  That started my on my list of souls too beautiful to have left before us before a hundred others far less deserving of this life.  Self included in the hundred.
 TJS wrote:

 4 > 3.  She's a great singer but she just sucked the life out of this song and turned it into boring, monotone tripe.



As of this writing 2,129 listener's disagree with your statement and are in favor, those who rated 6 and above.  Your group totals 363......and by the way, even Sting himself disagrees with your groups assessment...
 ginger wrote:


Wow. This moved me to go read about her. Incredibly sad that she died from MELANOMA(!) at age 33. Wow. Wow...


Get your skin checked regularly, everyone!
 neptunejeff wrote:

Some of Eva Cassidy's covers are very haunting , including 
this classic. Very sad she died so young. Amazing talent.



Wow. This moved me to go read about her. Incredibly sad that she died from MELANOMA(!) at age 33. Wow. Wow...
Incomparable.
 Highlowsel wrote:

Reading her bio makes one realize that there is no tomorrow.  There is only now.  Don't dicker, don't dawdle in illusory fields thinking you have all the time in the world. 

You don't. 

Act as if this was your last moment.  Act out of your now. 

Stay in the moment and live from it.  Do that, and for however much time is left you just might realize that you are blessed.

Highlow
American Net'Zen



I rate your comments a "10"
Wow! That's really beautiful!
Always thought Sting was singing about fields on Bali. Oops. 
1996.  Living in Georgetown - studying at Georgetown.  I am listening to the late night blues/jazz program on local NPR station WAMU.  The host is an older blues musician - he'd been at the show for many years.  He puts on this album.  Music starts and I just tune everything else out. So beautiful, and I didn't know who Eva was.  Knew nothing about her.  The host - with his deep and worn Karo syrup voice started to quietly sob.  Then it became uncontrollable as he wept  and morned.  I followed him over the edge, swamped by emotion as he tried at the end of the song to collect himself by explaining that Eva had just died that week.  I did not ever hear her live.  But I am haunted by her voice, her story, and that night.  Life is here to live fully and with grace while we have the gift of presence. 
 nickshortie wrote:

I'd like to have that song played on my funeral when I die...

Like it even better than Sting's original...



Well let's not hope that is anytime soon.  :)
This song always tears me up instantly no matter who performs it, whether I like it or not. Eva Cassidy did a lovely, understated rendition which I like very much. A lovely voice, lost far too soon.
get those skin tags and moles checked!!! Sad and beautiful 
 Highlowsel wrote:
Reading her bio makes one realize that there is no tomorrow.  There is only now.  Don't dicker, don't dawdle in illusory fields thinking you have all the time in the world. 

You don't. 

Act as if this was your last moment.  Act out of your now. 

Stay in the moment and live from it.  Do that, and for however much time is left you just might realize that you are blessed.

Highlow
American Net'Zen
 

Look after the king of R n R please 
Such a tragic end for this young girl. May she rest in peace. 
Reading her bio makes one realize that there is no tomorrow.  There is only now.  Don't dicker, don't dawdle in illusory fields thinking you have all the time in the world. 

You don't. 

Act as if this was your last moment.  Act out of your now. 

Stay in the moment and live from it.  Do that, and for however much time is left you just might realize that you are blessed.

Highlow
American Net'Zen
 Andrew_C wrote:
When 10 just doesn't do it...
 
I agree
Man, she's giving it a good go, but Sting made this song just boring and simple enough that anyone who tried to cover it would sound like they're just trying too hard.
Listening to this and reading about her short life, I'm smothered in melancholy. Gorgeous song.
Some of Eva Cassidy's covers are very haunting , including 
this classic. Very sad she died so young. Amazing talent.
When 10 just doesn't do it...
I was just overwhelmed with the sudden urge to give my mom a hug.
 andreivanduss wrote:
Wow, she died two years before this was released at age 33. Sad, anyone know what happnened?
 
To answer my own question - skin cancer


Wow, she died two years before this was released at age 33. Sad, anyone know what happnened?
 misterbearbaby wrote:
Stirring, real poetry sung absolutely from the soul. We miss ya' Eva, bone cancer- jeezis! .
 As written on evacassidy.org... it was not bone cancer...her melanoma was the deadliest of SKIN cancer. It is, however, such a disease that can, and does, get into bone. Still a shame, either way.... absolutely stunning voice.
Rest well Eva. Until this eve I had always thought she was British. Ya learn something new every day! Thanks Bill and Rebecca for the great music.
There's beauty in the simplicity. Also, you can understand the lyrics, unlike when Gordon sings it.
+1 for the sweet strong voice Eva left us with after a too soon departure at 33 years of age....and a +1 for the great work on this beautiful song....it's a 9 now...LLRP!!
Beautiful voice covering a magnificent song.  Of course I always think of Sting's original but this gets a 9 from me.
Stirring, real poetry sung absolutely from the soul. We miss ya' Eva, bone cancer- jeezis! .
The first time I heard this I really liked it. But every time it repeats, I lower my opinion of it and just want to hear Sting again. I'm trying to figure out why I'm having that reaction. 
11/10, can't decide which version is better, Eva's or Emi Fujita's:)
Love Eva.  Play Wade in the Water.
 pankman wrote:
I tend to prefer original versions but for some reason this cover hits my heart like an arrow. Maybe it's just that wonderful angelic voice. I'm forced to rate this a 10.
 
Nicely put. I'm not giving it a 10 but I think it's an excellent cover.
{#Wave}
One of the most stunningly beautiful voices ever. just perfect. 
I tend to prefer original versions but for some reason this cover hits my heart like an arrow. Maybe it's just that wonderful angelic voice. I'm forced to rate this a 10.
 aspicer wrote:
Not good!  Pretty lame cover. 

 
By what standards?  Eva Cassidy was so incredible, and so tragically taken so young.  I absolutely love what she did with this song.  Are there better covers?  Who cares!
I'd like to hear Colleen Rennison cover this, she'd blow Eva's version into the weeds.
FOG:EC::H:JB
Not good!  Pretty lame cover. 
I'd like to have that song played on my funeral when I die...

Like it even better than Sting's original...
 Posted: Apr 08, 2012 - 06:37

hayduke2 wrote:
thank you RP for playing Eva on a clear spring morning, her voice was a blessing to all lucky enough to hear it.
Had to wikipedia her sad history, the info is only one part, the recordings are the most important, please play People Get Ready for us 

 
she was quite a beautiful singer
 molson wrote:
{#Yawn}

 
Right.... the original was pleasant enough, but in no way do we need a lame cover of it.

PSD 
A Terry Wogan Maid, in the best sense. She achieved some success several years after the track faded, due to his playing the track.
 fitmartin wrote:
Singing in heaven, with the Angels 
RIP lovely one! 
 

Amen.  
 AvoidingWork wrote:
averybadcat wrote:

Excuse me but this is not the sole or original property of sting. Although lovely, and as much as I admire sting, it knowingly references 400 year old songs from when people knew what fields of barley were and where theirs were located.
The flaw in this performance for me is that it is too slow and plainly arranged, so becomes boring.

 

 
I know what fields of barley are for....   Making BEER!  And Scotch!  2 row and 6 row!  Malted heaven!

{#Cheers}  Cheers!

 
bread
Thank you...
{#Yawn}
Singing in heaven, with the Angels 
RIP lovely one! 
averybadcat wrote:

Excuse me but this is not the sole or original property of sting. Although lovely, and as much as I admire sting, it knowingly references 400 year old songs from when people knew what fields of barley were and where theirs were located.
The flaw in this performance for me is that it is too slow and plainly arranged, so becomes boring.

 

 
I know what fields of barley are for....   Making BEER!  And Scotch!  2 row and 6 row!  Malted heaven!

{#Cheers}  Cheers!
moving 5 > 4 ... too slow ... 
 otaznick wrote:
Poor copy of Sting's masterpiece. {#Rolleyes}

 
Excuse me but this is not the sole or original property of sting. Although lovely, and as much as I admire sting, it knowingly references 400 year old songs from when people knew what fields of barley were and where theirs were located.
The flaw in this performance for me is that it is too slow and plainly arranged, so becomes boring.

 
.....lovely Eva - best rendition of this song ever .....with all due respect to Sting.

Now having said that I wonder why I need to make a comparison anyway.. This just happens to be my favourite version. 
Perhaps these two versions are a beautifully matched pair
I know I'm going to get slammed for this, but upon hearing this I thought, "Wow!  Annie Lennox just didn't try when she made this song."  But I see how horribly wrong I was.  Sorry Annie.
 otaznick wrote:
Poor copy of Sting's masterpiece. {#Rolleyes}

 
I politely disagree as as far as I am concerned neither rendition is better than the other , both sang with equal passion and clarity
Thank you, RP.... 
Poor copy of Sting's masterpiece. {#Rolleyes}
Beautiful.
Better than the original says this observer! 
 TJS wrote:
 4 > 3.  She's a great singer but she just sucked the life out of this song and turned it into boring, monotone tripe.

  Would you say the same about Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah?" Because this, to me, is a slightly lesser singer doing a moderately lesser song, which is not a knock as it's still nice, though not on a par with Buckley's H-a.

 bentonian wrote:
It may be terrible, but it is long!

 

This is funny. : )
This might qualify as "good music", but it just doesn't do it for me. 
 simorich wrote:

I like her voice! She sings like an angel!



 
......... oh yes, voice from the Gods
 TJS wrote:
 4 > 3.  She's a great singer but she just sucked the life out of this song and turned it into boring, monotone tripe.

 
agree

I like her voice! She sings like an angel!


There's no one quite like Eva Cassidy.
 Toke wrote:


Yes jgruesen I was just about to post the same.. its just ''Simply Beautiful'' and I bet Sting gets the shivers as well as it must be a great feeling from his point being the author listening to Eva.

 
I was just thinking the same thing!
 
The ring in that voice 

that sound really stays with you 
As I woke up to this today, this one inspired me to turn off RP and dig out all her MP3's.  Bill, play some of other cuts, like Wade in the Water when they fit.  Truly Great.

I first hear of her when the network newscasters were reporting on their experiences covering the Kosovo war.  They couldn't get broadcast radio, and someone had her albums.  They played them incessantly and fell in love with her.  With such a glowing report, I looked her up, and collected all that I could find after agreeing with their report.  One of my favorite artists now.
 TJS wrote:
 4 > 3.  She's a great singer but she just sucked the life out of this song and turned it into boring, monotone tripe.

 
Oh dear o dear such an unmusical comment, makes me wonder sometimes on comments like yours if we are listening to the same artist and track. 
 jgruesen wrote:
Never did like this song when Sting did it (and wrote it). But Eva hits it out of the park. Gives you shivers.

 

Yes jgruesen I was just about to post the same.. its just ''Simply Beautiful'' and I bet Sting gets the shivers as well as it must be a great feeling from his point being the author listening to Eva.
Never did like this song when Sting did it (and wrote it). But Eva hits it out of the park. Gives you shivers.
Now that is really good. Love it - and I'm a sucker for the original.
It may be terrible, but it is long!
 4 > 3.  She's a great singer but she just sucked the life out of this song and turned it into boring, monotone tripe.
 I think the fact that I'm an idiot is well established.
  However,my dissatisfaction about Sting not being an awesome bass player anymore and a pretentious guy turned me off from this song originally.

 However,this version is totally,completely awesome beyond belief.

I mean, this chick could sing. What a loss. {#Cry}


 jagdriver wrote:

Because she completely destroyed his excellent original?
 
No, he liked it and he doesn't normally care for covers of his music.