What happened in that room never ended. Uncle Seymour is still sharing some old tales and knowledge, the woman is still shy and wishes she could sing louder, Townes is still searching, and the dog is still barking outside.
This is so beautiful and so sad. nothing jerks my emotions like the tears of an old cowboy, born before the turn of the century, still handing down good advice to a brash young man on a self-destructive path.
@rotarybone You're not wasting your emotions on anything, you're allowing yourself to have compassion on someone who might as well have been yourself, had we been in his shoes.
When i was a kid in the 70's we often had elderly black men like "Uncle" come and fish in our catfish lake in rural Georgia. They talked to me and took time with me and offered me life lessons like he does here. They were a huge part of my childhood. I would take nothing for those memories and men. Thank God for men like "Uncle" Seymour Washington.
why do you suppose he cried? thinking about dying ? Townes told a story that made him feel like a drunkard? or was the song so moving? we may never know.
You can tell Seymore is as genuine as they come. A good kind soul. The world would be a better place if we had more people like him. Wish I could've spent time with him. RIP.
Then become like him. No hard to do, he is right there. If you are sociopath forget about being good. If you know right from wrong then you know what to do.
Damn. You know you've got real country shit when you get an old black southern man to cry. Brother Townes never got his due. But that's the lesson of life: we all get through.
@@roomofidiots He was a different breed of man, part of the greatest generations in my opinion. My grandfather always told me about how no matter what happens to you, don’t ever let yourself become a victim, don’t let that mind state get indoctrinated.
The old guy was trying to tell Townes something... you don't have to drink the whole barrel... My God I wish Townes would still be here today I wish I could have met him
I'm pleased to say I did meet Townes. He was fragile and humble and very polite even though he was dealing with a stupid English guy (myself) who at that time didn't know much of his output (I do now!)
@Chatham Mulligan I feel the same, it’s almost as if the way people live and communicate today is not right/healthy. You can feel the emotion and passion in every second of this, makes me sad thinking about where our society is now with technology and all this politically correct bs.
The context before this song is so important. Unc was telling Townes about going easy on booze, and Townes responded in a juvenile way, but then also sang this song that cut him in an emotional way. I think he might have been thinking about some of his past, but more so I think he was cut because he realized Townes wasn’t going to change no matter how much advice he gave him.
Absolutely, I've always just watched the clip of the song and could wonder as to what brought his tears out, but now i have a much better idea. I think his words Townes beforehand will always stay with me whenever i listen to the song or play it myself. I must watch the whole movie one day soon
The Reason Seymour was so emotional listening to this song is that he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness,and knew his time was short.The guy filming this footage speaks about this in an interview with Otis Gibbs,it's on RU-vid.
Same here. My grandad was born the same year as this man (1000s of miles away on the other side of theAtlantic) and in many ways he reminds me of him. Especially about the horses and the whiskey.
Anyone would be lucky to have a friend like Uncle Seymour. Someone who cares enough to shed a tear over you, but also cares enough to call out your bullshit. That said, I could listen to Uncle all day.
There’s still good old boys like this all over the South and rural America. Take the time to listen and learn from them so you can be just as wise one day too.
@@birdlives55 - yup - seems you are very correct - just got a copy of Heartworn Highways and Cindy Morgan is introduced earlier in the film as Townes's girlfriend, and is not the person we see in this scene at all. But I did know that wasn't Susanna.
You can always walk away. Unc was tryna tell townes somethin there. Thats why he cries when townes sings. He cries like a father who failed at setting his son straight.
Wow you nailed it. Love Townes - can't believe it took me so long to find him - unraveling his biography on the internet bit by bit, this clip (plus your comment) is part of the jigsaw.
He cried because he had just been diagnosed with a fatal illness. It's a song about death, and unc knew he was gonna die. Don't make it into something it isnt.
I live just around the corner from where this was filmed in Clarksville in Austin, I walk over by there sometimes and just use my imagination thinking about the BBQs that Uncle Seymour held and the music that went on there...
Lived in Clarksville on the 70s, in a shack with holes big enough for birds to get inside. Great spot, dirt road, the first Whole Food store down the street.
Thanks for posting this and letting this be shared for generations to come. Seeing Uncle Seymour cry like that while Townes plays really hit me hard for some reason. Beautiful song and video. Thank you.
Townes is the BEST. He's a little immature here when the old man was sharing his precious wisdom. But he made up for it by giving back a beautiful/powerful song, which obviously cut the old man deep (in the best possible way). Thank you for this clip, I watch it often.
I think he said that about how Unc needed to be carried because Townes knew what Seymour was saying. He knew Seymour was speaking to him directly and telling him to slow down. and I think it was a defensive comment, I think what looks immature was him acting defensive- pretending not to listen, talking to someone out of frame.. Townes heard every word I believe. I love that this clip exists.
I believe the song cut deep for him not because of it's inherent quality, but it's essentially a rejection of all that Seymour said before Townes started playing. Not to denegrate the song itself, its obviously one of the best folkish songs ever written.
He("Uncle"Seymour Washington) was waiting around to die himself,he'd just been diagnosed with a terminal illness and got emotional thinking about dying while listening to Townes sing.
I come back to this video about once a week after a pint or so and every time I just think god bless uncle seymour and of course god bless TVZ. Rest in peace to the both of them
If I ain't mistaken Uncle Seymour had got purty bad news concerning his health not long before this was filmed.. I was playing some blues in under ground Atlanta one night..an old black fella and me got to talking and playing his guitar was in bad shape and so was he..we say out done a few songs together then went to my house my group thought me crazy..him and me done ever kinda blues song you could think of all night ..just two guitar pickers swapping guitar licks..come morning he had stuff to do.. coupla my buddy's were heading to Atlanta so he caught a ride with em..as they was about to leave I said hold up for a second he started saying I can't take that I said at least listen to how I wanna trade.. told for the delta blues he'd taught me I owed him $20 but I want swap guitars and I Know mines new ain't got no mojo on it but I'd swap guitar for guitar and $50 to boot...he looked at me he was cryin I said it's in your guitar the sound I'm wantin is in your guitar..we made the deal he was cryin over a new guitar I was crying because I knew he was the real deal on hard times..we played together a number of times..he didn't show a few weeks but a cop asked ain't you the fella used to play blues with the old guy that's when he told me Henry had passed..damn them ol story's get me to crying but like Henry said we gonna play some songs for everybody to cry to...he was a helluva blues player made the guitar in our swap ring like a dinner bell.
Seymour , there used to be one of those legends in every village once , a prince of wisdom, a beast of strength , a heart full of compassion . I had the good fortune to know a few back in the '70's & '80's , but the sad thing now is even the villages have disappeared 😢
I just found this amazing artist , after watching true detective . During his time I was a heavy metal kid from Finland . His music lives forever and will alway find new fans , I am a living proof .
The organic nature of this video is so amazing. Uncle seymour crying, townes cryptic lyrics, the old run down house, and the dogs barking in the background.
I've never seen the full version of this, living in pain, I'm used to pain killers, something in this touches my soul, but the old guys story, man, I shouldn't complain
The reaction and sentiment of folks sitting around listening are something else. The emotion evoked...Townes truly had a gift in his ability to conjure that through his writing and playing.
Amazing. I'd like to think Townes intentionally sang this to Unc right after messing around as Unc gave him the advice to show that he still did take in the message, and knew it was of no use. And both of them knew that Townes wasn't gonna change.
Good advice, from our black intelligent man. People who work with a horse have more sense of course, they call it horse sense. Daddy had a black horse from the RO ranch in Texas that had more sense than I did.
I love this! So raw and real! Seymour tears up listening to the song makes me tear up to. Truly an fantastic song and story! Love it when Townes girlfriend takes Seymours hand an consoles him
Most things in modesty. Few things are endowed for exceeding a modest limit, but they are especially important. Townes was pivotal in more than a few musician's development. R.I.P.
I cant post the link but if you google 'heartworn highways the pirate bay' you should be able to find the torrent, ill make sure im still seeding it for ya
Clarksville, where they lived, still had dirt roads back then. Before MoPac. Before gentrification. Back then, there was space here to be an artist or to be a friend to artists such as Uncle Seymour was. He said something one night which I've never forgotten. TVZ was starting to become well known ~ he'd made a bunch of records with Cowboy Clement up in Nashville, and being on vinyl was a Big Deal back then ~ at a big-enough Austin club. He was himself on stage, then came offstage looking like he'd rather be anywhere else than there. Between sets the band room was packed. Journalists & coke dealers, glitterati & wannabes, all sorts of self-important people, buzzing with the ethos of the times. I sat like an invisible observer in the corner at a small table with Uncle Seymour. Brief lull in the hive-like buzz of a hundred hipper-than-thou conversations. Seymour looked up from his drink and ~ normal voice, not snide or mean or loud ~ he said, "Huh. Smart as we are, who are *we*?" You could've heard a pin drop. I've always said that was the most brilliant thing I ever heard. ~ L. Gracey
This a very amazing and powerful music film. It demonstrate the power of Music's words on the human race and the love and compassion we should carry for each person regardless of our cultural identity. This is beautiful from start to finish with a terrific message for everyone. What a great song. Thank you !❤
William, Thank you for posting this scene from the documentary. It's the most moving moment in the film for me: the wise old man both loving & attempting to simultaneously sooth his own mind and send a cautionary note to your father. You've inherited a beautiful and damn heavy legacy. Wear it as lightly as you can.
@@goldsmithstudent yes he reminds me of my dad who was also a old time black cowboy and black smith born in 1921,he would shed a tear when he wittnessed true beauty and that was the best thing i learned from him.how to recognize and appreaciate truely good things 🙏
My father gave me advice only once... don’t drink, don’t smoke and don’t get into trouble. I didn’t completely listen, but I didn’t forget either. I didn’t smoke and I was really careful with the alcohol. I won’t say I didn’t get into any trouble, but not as much as I could have done.
Unc lived in austin and would open up his home to drifters ,music folk and hippies. He always would give them a place to a stay and a bite to eat. Austin sure has changed alot these days.
Finally got the back story on this clip as the gal says it's beautiful. .... Greetings from IRELAND 😉 salamat for the memories Townes van Sandt is much respected here.....
I have just bought this Album on Discogs. I have been after this version for years, Even though im pissed now there will be no hangover tomorrorw only happinesss that i finally have this album in my collection..
