It takes a lot to know a man
 

Does anyone else feel that there is audible audio clipping in the vocals in the album version? From start to finish it sounds a bit scratchy to my ears, having used several media and devices (CD through amp, Apple Lossless with three different headphones). It might be on purpose and for effect, but I'd like to confirm if it's just me or if anyone else hears it.

(I searched for an existing thread on the song, but couldn't find one. Hence the general title for a rather specific question.)

You should have named this thread "It Takes A Lot To Know A Song." Missed opportunity!

:-) Wasn't witty enough on the spot. I'm still trying to figure out if it takes other ears than mine to not hear traces of clipping.

Can you give me examples? Specific parts of the song.

I sense it too (first obvious clip is in the word "sage"), especially when I listen to it on headphones. Maybe it didn't happen on purpose, but they (Rick Rubin & Damien Rice) decided to go with it because the take was the best they got, or they think it helps the character of the song which I think it does. I can't imagine one of them not noticing when they listened to the final mix.

I do not hear any clipping. Is there any alive version of this song? I have not seen any video of this song neither his concerts nor in his interviews. I do not understand why he does not play this song as frequently as the other ones.

Probably because you can't really do the arrangement as a solo act. Okay, there are ways, but it would be really different. It's a band song to me. Maybe it takes trained ears to hear the clipping.:D

I noticed it as well the first time I listened to the album. Almost sounds to me like a toned-down version of the distortion mic he uses live. I assumed they were definitely going for that vocal effect there, whether it was recorded that way on purpose or added in the mixing process.

Good thinking! I agree that they can't have missed it listening to the final mix and must have left or even put it in deliberately. I'm glad I wasn't hallucinating, then! :-)

live Montreal's version
 

Could please anyone help me to find out the word that I am missing of the improvisation part that he played in Montreal?

Is he using "live" in start "give" in some of the verses? or it is just my impression?

Please feel free to correct anything that needs to be corrected.

It takes a lot to know a man
It takes a lot to understand
The warrior, the sage
The little boy enraged

It takes a lot to know a woman
A lot to understand what's humming
The honeybee, the sting
The little girl with wings

It takes a lot to live, to ask for help
To be yourself, to know and love what you live with
It takes a lot to breathe, to touch, to feel
The slow reveal of what another body needs

It takes a lot to know a man
A lot to know, to understand
The father and the son
The hunter and the gun

It takes a lot to know a woman
A lot to understand what's coming
The mother and the child
The muse and the beguiled

It takes a lot to give, to ask for help
To be yourself, to know and love what you live with
It takes a lot to breathe, to touch, to feel
The slow reveal of what another body needs

It takes a lot to live, to ask for help
To be yourself, to know and love what you live with
It takes a lot to breathe, to touch, to feel
The slow reveal of what another body needs

What is it you so afraid to lose?
What is it you're thinking that will happen if you do?
What is it you so afraid to lose?
What is it you're thinking that will happen if you do?
What is it you are carrying on your back
What is it your notice when you know you can't relax
What is it your are carrying on your back
What is it your notice when you know you can't relax

You wrote me, to tell me, you're nervous and you're sorry
Crying like, a baby, saying "this thing is killing me"
You wrote me, to tell me, you're nervous and you're sorry
Crying like, a baby, saying "this thing is killing me"
Killing me, killing me, killing me, killing me
Killing me, killing me, killing me,

----------

What is it you are so afraid to lose?
What is it you so afraid?
What is it you so?
What is it you so afraid to lose?
What is it you so afraid to?
What is it?
What is it?
What is it?

You can hold yourself in knots
And you can keep yourself to the knots
You can say no, when you really mean yes
You can look at others, when you want to be best
You can hold your hand in the air, when you wanna be
someone else, but you just too scared
You can lose when you wanna win

XXXX nobody here who was
Nobody here who was
XXXX nobody here who is better than you
Nobody else can do what you do
There is no one else, just remember that
There is a line that I love to remember to forget:
Always remember and never forget
You are unique just like everyone else

All it takes is let go, let go
about that you think you know
All it takes is let go, let go
about that you think you know

--------

It takes a lot to know a man
It takes a lot to understand
The warrior, the sage
The little boy enraged

It takes a lot to know a women
A lot to understand what's humming
The honeybee, the sting
The little girl with wings

Takes a lot to live, to ask for help
To be yourself, to know and love what you live with
It takes a lot to breathe, to touch, to feel
To slow reveal of what another body needs.

I thought he sang - hold yourself in 'knots' - here's a link to the video.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YKaiH_ioI2w

sure knots not nuts ;)

Yes, "knots" makes more sense. Thank you!