Townes is one of the best songwriters to ever live. No one else could write a song that can make me relate to things I haven’t experienced yet in the way he does
I agree, one of the best singer songwriters who ever lived, if not _the_ best. And you would not have wanted his life. He might have been from a wealthy background, he might have been an incredibly intelligent man who effortlessly aced his university entrance exams but he had some serious mental health problems. Those problems lead him into severe alcoholism and heroin addiction. For a great deal of his life he hardly functioned, living in an unheated shack outside Houston Texas, with no electricity and no running water. He had a reckless disregard for his own safety, on one occasion, when very drunk on a hotel roof, at night, he ran around the balustrade several times. He was six storeys up! He died at age 51 and those who knew him were surprised he lived that long.
It is a shame that he doesn't get to see how much he has achieved and how many he has inspired. I have so much love for artists like Townes, because they really pioneer a movement.
Yep. It's called "crossover." Because it is so good, it was also played on Top 40 radio and appeared on all the charts. It's the first hit Kris had, and it was sung by Johnny Cash.
There is a song. An amazing song. Which is considered the Official Unofficial Canadian National Anthem. Probably the greatest song that has ever blessed some speakers. This song is called Northwest Passage by Stan Rogers. There is also a power metal cover of Northwest Passage by Unleash the Archers. Both are good but you have to listen to the original first
What a song and what an artist. Country music has been killing it since the beginning! Love this style and you can see how alot of other artists have taken inspiration from this style. - Ian
A Townes song that's a little less angsty but keeps his wonderful storytelling is "I'll Be Here in the Morning." Another (more modern) singer who is a good storyteller through his songs is Matt Heckler, especially with his song "Haw River Ballad," which is about the Central Piedmont region of North Carolina and "Ain't No Ash Will Burn," which I believe is an old bluegrass song. And Jason Isbell is an outstanding storyteller, especially in his song "Alabama Pines" about the part of the state he grew up in. Always makes me proud to be an Alabama gal!
Nice breakdown! I was glad to see you actually get the meaning of the song,, or at least the same as me :). If you do any more I would recommend Lungs for just a good representation of Townes. If you want a bit of a puzzle listen to Rake.( If you say anything about vampires, I will facepalm for you. If you dont know Pancho and Lefty, the opening lines are just fantastic.
One of the more current singers who sights Townes Van Zant as one of his influencers is Steve Earle. He is a great artist that could be considered as part of the Outlaw Country music scene would be worth a listen. His most commercial hit was “ Copperhead Road ( one of my favorite all time songs) but he has many other wonderful songs as well.
Steve Earle is definitely an artist that should be looked at. He is my biggest influence by far for many reasons, because he really does incredible songs but also because he does songs with great relevance to the things that are going on in this world today.
According to his first wife, this is the first song Townes wrote after they were married and she burst into tears when he played it for her. She was hoping to be happy and he was "just waiting around to die."
To hear TVZ categorized as "classic country" would have made me laugh if it hadn't disappointed me so much! I truly hope nobody thinks that this is what country music sounded like in 1968. This was infinitely better! I hope the person who made this video, as well as others who are fortunate enough to hear this man play and sing, will listen to everything by him that you can get your hands on! This young man was a poet as well as an incredible musician! One of his best albums was "live at Carnegie Hall", which is the name of the album! And he was only 25 or 26 when he appeared there and made the album! Thank you so much for choosing TVZ to react to. Now, do yourself a giant favor by listening to all his other songs! And do us a favor by making reaction videos to some of them! It's fascinating to see and hear what your generation thinks of TVZ's music. You seem like a very caring young man yourself, so I would be very interested in knowing your opinions of other TVZ songs! Thank you for this one!
Mr VanZant had a big fan in Johnny Cash. Mr Cash recorded his song the battle of Ira Hayes. Abt a man who help raise the flag at Iwo gima in world war 2 and what happened later in his life. Mr VanZant didn't get the wide spread support from the counrty music powers that because he won't play nice and moderate his lyrics to be acceptable to them. But he wad much loved by fellow artist.
Hey Clubby, JimBo here 'cause I respect anyone seeking understanding. Country music, along with all permutations available to us, is about the search for meaning, understanding what is, celebrating life. It reaches deeper into our emotions, as compared to poetry or prose. Good music has a Groove that reflects the rhythms and patterns of the universe, reality within as well as our relationship with external environment. I enjoy your struggle to find meaning in the artists and the music. It's the same search for me as well.
Since this video is two years old you may have seen it already, but definitely check out the version of this song that Townes sings in the film Heartworn Highways.
This video came up on my feed awesome! Love TVZ. I go thrifting for records here in LA. I find some good stuff but to imagine that I would actually come across TVZ, I just never thought. I found 4 of his OG albums at a thrift store. People says Dylan is the best singer song writer...nooooo TVZ...idk his music is completely different and so amazing. I am beyond happy that I got his albums let alone OG.
Nothing to do with Townes but you should check out Mandolin Orange. Great male/female duo... the Blindfaller album is incredible. It’s going to be on the slower side but I really enjoy their music.
Along the same vein, try John Prine and his song Sam Stone. About a Vietnam Vet coming home to the struggles of the time. John is one of the greatest song writers, passed from Covid. Prine has a knack for picking you up and dropping you in the middle of his songs.
Found some lyrics to this song written on a picnic table. Should I leave lyrics to another one of his songs? Will the person who wrote them ever come back?
For a while he was sick and took Codeine and found he liked it and could write songs on it. Check out some interviews with Townes. He was already alcoholic and on heroin by then. Codeine was just one more layer.
The song isn't biographical but he had a tragic life nonetheless. It would be worth your while to spend 15 min. watching "The Greatest Songwriter You Never Heard."
Townes is one of the best songwriters to ever live. No one else could write a song that can make me relate to things I haven’t experienced yet in the way he does
Not to mention he mentored guy clark and Steve earl👍
I agree, one of the best singer songwriters who ever lived, if not _the_ best. And you would not have wanted his life. He might have been from a wealthy background, he might have been an incredibly intelligent man who effortlessly aced his university entrance exams but he had some serious mental health problems. Those problems lead him into severe alcoholism and heroin addiction. For a great deal of his life he hardly functioned, living in an unheated shack outside Houston Texas, with no electricity and no running water. He had a reckless disregard for his own safety, on one occasion, when very drunk on a hotel roof, at night, he ran around the balustrade several times. He was six storeys up! He died at age 51 and those who knew him were surprised he lived that long.
Townes, for such a short life, seems to have had a lot of influence on many artists.
It is a shame that he doesn't get to see how much he has achieved and how many he has inspired. I have so much love for artists like Townes, because they really pioneer a movement.
Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world, and I’ll
stand on Bob Dylan’s coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that. - Steve Earle
Townes and Bob actually meant once. Townes was actually a pretty big Bob Dylan fan, which makes this quote even better imo
Beat me to it.
I think even Dylan would agree with this statement.
I would recommend Sunday Morning Coming Down by Kris Kristofferson.
Yep. It's called "crossover." Because it is so good, it was also played on Top 40 radio and appeared on all the charts. It's the first hit Kris had, and it was sung by Johnny Cash.
Silver Ships of Andilar is a very interesting story song by Townes and truly utterly different than anything else he did (or any other country singer)
My mother the mountain too. Or like a summer Thursday
Please listen to Pancho and Lefty - Townes Van Zandt!
Townes is the man one of the best song writers ever!!!
Facts brother!!
There is a song. An amazing song. Which is considered the Official Unofficial Canadian National Anthem. Probably the greatest song that has ever blessed some speakers. This song is called Northwest Passage by Stan Rogers. There is also a power metal cover of Northwest Passage by Unleash the Archers. Both are good but you have to listen to the original first
There are as yet no reaction videos to the Stan Rogers version (or any of his other songs) on YT, would be cool to see!
Yes! I second this. Stan is amazing
Please do this song! Stan Roger's is amazing. I've seen his brother at a house concert and he let me play a guitar that Stan had also played
What a song and what an artist. Country music has been killing it since the beginning! Love this style and you can see how alot of other artists have taken inspiration from this style. - Ian
A Townes song that's a little less angsty but keeps his wonderful storytelling is "I'll Be Here in the Morning." Another (more modern) singer who is a good storyteller through his songs is Matt Heckler, especially with his song "Haw River Ballad," which is about the Central Piedmont region of North Carolina and "Ain't No Ash Will Burn," which I believe is an old bluegrass song. And Jason Isbell is an outstanding storyteller, especially in his song "Alabama Pines" about the part of the state he grew up in. Always makes me proud to be an Alabama gal!
Great review!! I suggest checking out his song Pancho and Lefty. One of his most influential songs that he wrote!
Nice breakdown! I was glad to see you actually get the meaning of the song,, or at least the same as me :). If you do any more I would recommend Lungs for just a good representation of Townes. If you want a bit of a puzzle listen to Rake.( If you say anything about vampires, I will facepalm for you. If you dont know Pancho and Lefty, the opening lines are just fantastic.
One of the more current singers who sights Townes Van Zant as one of his influencers is Steve Earle. He is a great artist that could be considered as part of the Outlaw Country music scene would be worth a listen. His most commercial hit was “ Copperhead Road ( one of my favorite all time songs) but he has many other wonderful songs as well.
Steve Earle is definitely an artist that should be looked at. He is my biggest influence by far for many reasons, because he really does incredible songs but also because he does songs with great relevance to the things that are going on in this world today.
April Medlin also guy clark
According to his first wife, this is the first song Townes wrote after they were married and she burst into tears when he played it for her. She was hoping to be happy and he was "just waiting around to die."
To hear TVZ categorized as "classic country" would have made me laugh if it hadn't disappointed me so much! I truly hope nobody thinks that this is what country music sounded like in 1968. This was infinitely better! I hope the person who made this video, as well as others who are fortunate enough to hear this man play and sing, will listen to everything by him that you can get your hands on! This young man was a poet as well as an incredible musician! One of his best albums was "live at Carnegie Hall", which is the name of the album! And he was only 25 or 26 when he appeared there and made the album! Thank you so much for choosing TVZ to react to. Now, do yourself a giant favor by listening to all his other songs! And do us a favor by making reaction videos to some of them! It's fascinating to see and hear what your generation thinks of TVZ's music. You seem like a very caring young man yourself, so I would be very interested in knowing your opinions of other TVZ songs! Thank you for this one!
Like Hank Williams Sr. who Townes admired and was inspired by, his songs are all gems woven from human emotions and experiences, many his own.
He wrote this song at 19😳😳
Mr VanZant had a big fan in Johnny Cash. Mr Cash recorded his song the battle of Ira Hayes. Abt a man who help raise the flag at Iwo gima in world war 2 and what happened later in his life. Mr VanZant didn't get the wide spread support from the counrty music powers that because he won't play nice and moderate his lyrics to be acceptable to them. But he wad much loved by fellow artist.
I didn’t know Ira Hayes was written by Townes guess you learn something knew everyday
@@Steve_643 - The Ballad of Ira Hayes was written by Peter LaFarge, not Townes.
So many Colter Wall songs have little nods to Townes. For this song it's Codeine Dreams.
Hey Clubby, JimBo here 'cause I respect anyone seeking understanding. Country music, along with all permutations available to us, is about the search for meaning, understanding what is, celebrating life. It reaches deeper into our emotions, as compared to poetry or prose. Good music has a Groove that reflects the rhythms and patterns of the universe, reality within as well as our relationship with external environment. I enjoy your struggle to find meaning in the artists and the music. It's the same search for me as well.
Would love to see you reviewing Casper Allen “carving creases” is a great one to start on. Loving these videos, keep on keeping on man!
amazing song. discovered it a few weeks back. have listened to it about 100 times since
Since this video is two years old you may have seen it already, but definitely check out the version of this song that Townes sings in the film Heartworn Highways.
“My songs aren’t necessarily sad, they’re hopeless.”- Townes Van Zandt
This video came up on my feed awesome! Love TVZ. I go thrifting for records here in LA. I find some good stuff but to imagine that I would actually come across TVZ, I just never thought. I found 4 of his OG albums at a thrift store. People says Dylan is the best singer song writer...nooooo TVZ...idk his music is completely different and so amazing. I am beyond happy that I got his albums let alone OG.
You should have played the live version from heartworn highways a documentary on musicians from Austin!
One of the great songwriters of our time, but I have to say The Be Good Tanyas do an absolutely breathtaking killer cover of this song!
The video will make you cry lol
Nothing to do with Townes but you should check out Mandolin Orange. Great male/female duo... the Blindfaller album is incredible. It’s going to be on the slower side but I really enjoy their music.
I like them a lot too. Try Wildfire and Golden Embers, Boots of Spanish Leather.
His song "Marie"
Great video 👍 check out Lost dog street band "sorry for the things" or hill county devil "glory" keep on keeping on brother!
in my opinion best songwriter of all time
Townes in my opinion isn't a songwriter, he's more of a poet, all his songs are so poetic and beautiful... 👍👍👍
Check out his song Marie. It's a song about a homeless family just trying to make it with tragic consequences.
Do "Marie" by him
Along the same vein, try John Prine and his song Sam Stone. About a Vietnam Vet coming home to the struggles of the time. John is one of the greatest song writers, passed from Covid. Prine has a knack for picking you up and dropping you in the middle of his songs.
Best lyricist in American history. You should check out his song 'lungs'
Of course the is great covers of this song, Be Good Tanyas do a great version.
If you want to hear his pain try the song “Nothin’ “ makes my eyes leak every time. Especially watching the video.
"lungs" is bleak and passionate too
Where does 94 club come from? If we’re talking about the year, then baby can I join?
Welcome to REAL TEXAS COUNTY BROTHER
sturgill simpson - living the dream is definitely another to check out 🙂
Found some lyrics to this song written on a picnic table. Should I leave lyrics to another one of his songs? Will the person who wrote them ever come back?
Only one way to find out!
A wonderfully-named band called the Be Good Tanyas (3 women from the west coast of Canada do a great update to this song...check it out on You-Tube
Hank Williams I’m so lonesome I could cry - react to that
Check out Whitey Morgan version.
brett Robinson steel guitar on Whitey's version is just haunting,Love Whitey Morgan and the 78's.this song got me turned on to Whitey
I’d recommend Sam Riggs and Flatland Cavalry as some artists to check out. Texas Country
I am here for any Texas country right now.
This is not my philosophy for life. He did die in his 50's. I like "Pancho and Lefty". Good reaction.
Casper Allen, carving creases
Check out Chris stapleton and hank williams sr Jr and the third
Great song, but you really need to listen to Whitey Morgan’s version of this song
Check out These days I barely get by by George jones
Marie.
Does anyone else think that his friend "codeine", refers to pain killers?
Absolutely, I used to think the song was about heroin and a friend called Cody! I finally realised it was his friend "Codine"
Oh course it did! Addiction was one of his demons.
For a while he was sick and took Codeine and found he liked it and could write songs on it. Check out some interviews with Townes. He was already alcoholic and on heroin by then. Codeine was just one more layer.
The song isn't biographical but he had a tragic life nonetheless. It would be worth your while to spend 15 min. watching "The Greatest Songwriter You Never Heard."
Listen to dollar bill blues by townes... I'll send you the link in a sec of the better version
th-cam.com/video/EaqKdl_T3ak/w-d-xo.html
just my opinion, but most of his music sounds better live.
They're not all sad songs... Some of em are just.... Hopeless.