Townes Van Zandt

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Sometimes I don't know where
This dirty road is taking me
Sometimes I can't even see the reason why
I guess I keep a-gamblin'
Lots of booze and lots of ramblin'
It's easier than just waitin' around to die
One time, friends, I had a ma
I even had a pa
He beat her with a belt once 'cause she cried
She told him to take care of me
Headed down to Tennessee
It's easier than just waitin' around to die
I came of age and I found a girl
In a Tuscaloosa bar
She cleaned me out and hit in on the sly
I tried to kill the pain, bought some wine
And hopped a train
Seemed easier than just waitin' around to die
A friend said he knew
Where some easy money was
We robbed a man, and brother did we fly
The posse caught up with me
And drug me back to Muskogee
It's two long years I've been waitin' around to die
Now I'm out of prison
I got me a friend at last
He don't drink or steal or cheat or lie
His name's Codine
He's the nicest thing I've seen
Together we're gonna wait around and die
Together we're gonna wait around and die

I'm a Christian, and Townes Van Zandt couldn't put it into perspective any better than Jesus.

God bless you and yours - I hope all of you get the fire in your heart that I have as a believer in this modern age.

Soli Deo Gloria.

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Well, I no longer can recall
F c
All the times you made me crawl
(f) g g7
All the times you made me hang my head and cry
C
But still the teardrops fall
F c
And lord what's worst of all
G f c
I just ain't got the nerve to say goodbye

F
I'm waitin' for the day
C
When I can hide my love away
(f) g g7
And stand up like a man so tall and free
F
Then you'll be the one to say
C C/b Am
Oh darlin', can't you stay
G f c
I don't know what I'd do if you should leave me

Oh girl, I don't know why
You always have to try
To hurt me to make me feel ashamed
Oh, but someday by and by
You're gonna be the one to cry
And walk the floor and sadly call my name

Oh, I'm waitin' for the day
When I can hide my love away
And stand up like a man so tall and free
Then you'll be the one to say
Oh darlin', can't you stay
I don't know what I'd do if you should leave me

Oh, but it looks like until then
I'll throw pride to the wind
And try to make believe that I don't know
That a day is comin' when
You won't do me wrong again
And I will be the one to turn and go

I'm waitin' for the day
When I can hide my love away
And stand up like a man so tall and free
Then you'll be the one to say
Oh darlin', can't you stay
I don't know what I'd do if you should leave me

a reply to: JamesCookieIII

Um.. Little or no comment, intent, description nor footnote.. as generally required here in Ts n Cs... So... What's your point, idea, thought, comparison?

Without you having one... we are just gona have to move on!

a reply to: mysterioustranger

Are you actually serious? It's not my words that you should be seeking. This is art. Take it as you will.

I've always liked this Townes Van Zandt version of 'Dead Flowers', it plays over the last few minutes of The Big Lebowski.

a reply to: JamesCookieIII

It always irritated me how Steve Earle made his famous comment about how he would stand on bob dylans coffee table and say townes was better, then backtracked on that statement years later.

Steve also reckoned he did mudd and gold better than townes...It was Townes song!

Not fond of musical backstabbers.

Lungs:

Well, won't you lend your lungs to me?
Mine are collapsing
Plant my feet and bitterly breathe
Up the time that's passing.
Breath I'll take and breath I'll give
Pray the day ain't poison
Stand among the ones that live
In lonely indecision.

Fingers walk the darkness down
Mind is on the midnight
Gather up the gold you've found
You fool, it's only moonlight.
If you try to take it home
Your hands will turn to butter
You better leave this dream alone
Try to find another.

Salvation sat and crossed herself
Called the devil partner
Wisdom burned upon a shelf
Who'll kill the raging cancer
Seal the river at it's mouth
Take the water prisoner
Fill the sky with screams and cries
Bathe in fiery answers

Jesus was an only son
And love his only concept
Strangers cry in foreign tongues
And dirty up the doorstep
And I for one, and you for two
Ain't got the time for outside
Just keep your injured looks to you
We'll tell the world we tried

I am non religious and Townes has always spoken to me too.

a reply to: JamesCookieIII

I take it as both musician and copyrighted song writer. 50 + years worth. I'd say that should exhibit and explain my points.... I understand yours...

originally posted by: mysterioustranger
a reply to: JamesCookieIII

I take it as both musician and copyrighted song writer. 50 + years worth. I'd say that should exhibit and explain my points.... I understand yours...

My point is that Townes kept faith through so much doubt and depression. He's an example to many of us in that regard nowadays, and his music is just real, it reminds me of Job yelling at God, and God loving him for being genuine.

a reply to: JamesCookieIII

Townes suffered from terrible production. Live at the old quarter is the only one I truly enjoy.

He was his own worst enemy, booze, drugs, and that held him back.

The electric shock therapy didn't help much either. Poor townes. He is a great songwriter, but seemed like a lousy human being.

a reply to: JamesCookieIII

Yes, he did. And with all he went through....

a reply to: mysterioustranger

Self inflicted for the most part. Kept faith?, I see no evidence he was Christian or spiritual. He just was too tough to die for a while, he gave it a long concerted effort thats for sure.

a reply to: Wulfrida

I personally always liked the guy. Another pained, bruised-from-life songwriter I get into is Tom Waits

a reply to: mysterioustranger

Waits is cool..."whats he building" is genius
Townes has good songs, but he was no saint.
Being tortured by mental illness and eloquent writing about that experience doesn't make you anything more than flawed like the rest of us. Though I suspect an element of patti Smith's "those who understand suffering extend our hands". Townes gets it. Life hurts and kicks ya when you are down. Or in his words:

Your back ain't strong enough for burdens double fold. They'll crush you down, into nuthin'


I do wish he had not been too drunk to stop the ridiculous over production of his music....and the duet of Marie with willie nelson was just wrong.

I see Townes as a fellow suffering loser, with a good turn of phrase and some nice guitar work. Cohen, now there was man who understood the mystery of God.

However hard I try I cannot get into nick cave, or mark lanegan.

a reply to: Wulfrida

I have about 30 Wait's tunes in my player. He exhibits such diversity...its as though he's lived in the skin of 50 other people, both male and female.Tortured soul....

Cave's not bad...but not deep enough for me!

Thanks, M.S.

a reply to: mysterioustranger

Cave is a bit pretentious, his Birthday party stuff was better.

I listen to a lot of tvz, but a spiritual, Christian messenger, an innocent Job?

Ill let townes answer...

g.co...