The performance is a clear nod to the commercial success of folk groups like , who would eventually take a version of this very song to the top of the charts. While Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac) struggles with his uncompromising, often abrasive solo career, this trio represents the polished, harmonious side of folk that was finding a mainstream audience. A Brief History of the Song
Though widely popularized in the 1960s, "500 Miles" is a folk standard with deep roots: 500 Miles - Inside Llewyn Davis
In the film, the song is performed at the legendary by a trio of Llewyn’s contemporaries: Jim Berkey ( Justin Timberlake ), Jean Berkey ( Carey Mulligan ), and Troy Nelson ( Stark Sands ). The performance is a clear nod to the