First of all, I’d like to make one thing clear, I love what the Crows have done to this song.  It has really gone a long way from the furious rocker the Himalayans made it out to be.  Now it’s the emotional high point in a Crows concert.

However, no matter how beautiful all those "full-blown" versions of the song are,  I still prefer the original August version, short and simple.  I guess people are usually blown away by the extended version that they forget about how powerful the original was to begin with.  I know I was, until someone sent me a copy of their performance on the David Letterman show of this song.  It was a straight forward no frills rendition on the song exactly like that in the album, and I tell you, it can match up to ANY extended version of the song.  I didn’t believe it till I heard it for myself, it’s THAT powerful.

Extra note: the solo Storytellers version deserves a special mention, it’s really really exceptional too, if only  Adam opened it up with the lines "go to sleep little angel…" it would have been perfect.
-me
 

I would have to go with the Flying Demo version, although I don’t despise it, I’m not a huge fan of the accordion, while the studio version is still good, I prefer the more edgier sound of the demo, plus as someone else mentioned, that guitar riff in the beginning which creeps in during choice parts of the song, though rather simple, really is cool and gives the song more life and character
-me 

The storytellers version is really nice, I love the way Adam just changes a few key lines like "I just get so confused every day" and "we don’t see each other much anymore" to totally give the song a whole new meaning. Changing the mood from wistfully wishing and fantasizing to one of caution and reflection and very subtle tones of encouragement. HOWEVER…. I fell in love with the original version first with it’s bouncy tempo and upbeat feel. The song is so innocent and unaware of all the "problems" that would eventually come along for Adam and the Crows as a result of this song’s wish coming true. Mr. Jones ultimately is a song about dreams, and although the new version doesn’t contradict that spirit, it sort of limits it. I still like to let go sometimes and just dream with no bounds.
-me
 

Unlike most people, I would have to disagree. At first I really liked the Storytellers more "electric" take on the song, but now, well…. I just think that the present version is too edgy and well…over dramatic. A major reason why I really love this song is because of the song dynamics which interplayed perfectly with Adam’s lyrics and meditative delivery. The original version interpreted the wild exchange of emotions and reasoning going through a person’s mind when going though an important dilemma as is presented in the song. The new version lacks the introspective aspect that made this song quite unique among most songs. Now it just seems to be "just another song".
-me
 

A big reason why I initially liked this song was because as one of the very few fast songs on August, it really stood out. Although the slower acoustic take is pretty, overall, I’d prefer the fast version anyday. Special mention: The 10 spot version is really cool. As well as the Flying demo version which has alternate lyrics for the second verse.
-me  

"No, no ,no ,no it’s everything….it’s everything, it’s everything, it’s everything I need…". Still makes my hair stand until now.
-me  

Storytellers really gave this song new life. While in my opinion, adding more guitars and whatnot didn’t work so well with Anna Begins, it worked wonderfully with Ghost Train, from the creepy ("Dead or Alivish" sounding) guitar intro of Dan Vickery, to Adam’s wailings of "Isn’t everyone alone?" and the final "Hey, how do you do?" to Charlie Gillingham’ powerful hammond organ solo, this song simply grabs you by the b*#lls and wrenches up your heart. I thought the song was just so-so before, but now, it’s got to be one of their best.
-me
 

While I agree with most people that the 15 minute version of this song is a little bit too overdone, it still has some great moments…like when Adam says lines from U2’s Red Hill Mining Town, and Sordid Humor’s Doris Day. In my book, two versions deserve special mention. The 10 spot version although shortened is just pure adrenaline, and when Adam shouts "Get the Hell up", it gives such a rush. Second is the version found in the "Gimme the Thunder, Gimme the Rain" compilation…where Adam and Dan(?) sing the lines "the sunlight bores the daylight out of me" over and over and build it up to the finally. Oh well, this song has so many beautiful moments when it is extended, more so that Round Here in my opinion, I really wish they didn’t cut in down to the "I’ve been to Paris" stuff.
-me