He did write the song; the popular version featured in The Big Lewbowski was sang by Kenny Rogers & The First Edition, his early hippy-dippy band that few know was his start long before he went country.
god bless Mickey....it was a loss when he died Sept 29th in '02. His son Chris came into my studio about a year ago and played one of his dad's songs for me on my old gut string guitar. This song was one of my favorites though I have songs of his that never were released.
Amazing song. I got to know the song- like most other people I think- through the awesome Coen movie, and I loved it. But now that I listened to this one, with its message transported in a completely different way, I have a new favorite version ;)
not just drugs there are many inspiration In the human condition for the blues, and this is absolutely blues, oh lord no matter how bad it gets it is still good to be alive, welcome back Mickey, glad you made to share.
I was SO happy when HBO used it in “true detective”. I heard this version in 2012 and fell in love with the deepness of it. Thought it would always be great for a movie or series. Thank you for spreading the dark love
Mickey Newbury's "An American Trilogy" is one of the greatest historical/patriotic songs ever performed. Never mind Elvis Presley's cover: You haven't truly heard the song until you hear Mickey sing it.
Saw him in concert in Houston at the First Unitarian Church, using oxygen while he was singing, feeling pretty puny, but he gave a great performance. What a guy! My mother was a great fan.
Hayley, you have every right to be proud of your uncle. I think he was one of the greatest. His passing was a loss for all of us. So you hold your head high and pay no mind to those who are jealous as some people are. I'm sure your Uncle Mickey would probably find a song somewhere in this.
Woke up this mornin' The sundown shinin' in I found my broken mind In a brown paper bag of Zen Tripped on a cloud I fell eight miles high Tore my mind upon a jagged sky I just dropped in to see what condition My condition was in Ah, ah Pushed my soul in a Deep dark hole, followed it in Met myself crawlin' out As I was crawlin' in I woke up so tight I said "I never will unwind." Saw too much I broke my mind I just dropped in to see what condition My condition was in Woh, Lord, Lord What condition my condition was in [Whistling Chorus.] Ah, ah, ah-ha Somebody painted "April Fool," In big black letters on a Dead End sign I had my foot in the gas As I left the road and blew out my mind Eight miles outta Memphis Lord, I got no spare Eight miles straight up Downtown somewhere I just dropped in to see what condition My condition was in Oh, Lord, Lord, Lawd What condition my condition was in [Humming to end.]
Most people tend to think the first person they heard singing a song is the person who wrote it. I have always had an interest in reading liner notes and, in the old days, record labels to see who was actually writing the songs. Any writer who composes quality tunes will be recorded by many different artists and a lot of "big artists" got their first break writing for other people, (eg, Carole King, John Mellencamp, Kris Kristofferson, Neil Diamond, Willie Nelson, etc).
I've been a fan of this song since it was a hit by The First Edition in the winter of 1968. I heard Newbury's recording for the first time today. Damn! He did it right and should have had the hit 43 years ago, but I guess it was just too dark for top 40 radio.
I am so thankful of some of these comments. It's is quite ironic that I have to view a song written about drugs to read coherent viewpoints and interesting snippets. Thanks
@ichihentai Very well said! I will remember a guy I met some years ago. When we started talking we found out that we both loved country and folk music. Just to get an impression of what he was into I asked him his top ten songs. The list was brilliant and I was delighted to hear it was three Townes Van Zandt songs on it!. -"Great list stranger, Mr. van Zandt is actually my all-time favourite"I told him. -That E-Street dude just plays the guitar, he answered. The guy hadn't even heard of Townes!
@ichihentai I remember a guy I met some years ago. When we started talking we found out that we both loved country and folk music. Just to get an impression of what he was into I asked him his top ten songs. The list was brilliant and I was delighted to hear it was three Townes Van Zandt songs on it!. "Great list stranger, Mr. van Zandt is actually my all-time favourite" I told him. "That E-Street dude just plays the guitar" he answered. The guy hadn't even heard of Townes!
This makes Kenny Rogers/First Edition version seem like Sesame Street. And as good as this version is, the one on youtube from The Triad Sessions is even darker. I found the comment about Hendrix liking the song really interesting. Can't fathom how he would have covered it. WOW! Thanks for the upload.
If you don't like Mickey Newbury, it's because you don't have a clue . He has a recorded version on I tunes thats actually better than this version, but thats not to take away from this one. He was an awesome performer. If you don't think so, go give it a try and see how far YOU get .
@S1S1lver That is a philosophical illusion. Rodgers always puts on a large, wide, and deep polished show with supporting cast. I enjoy him. But Mickey was not a mere entertainer. And he reveals inner pain. He did not need "Affects". His "take" on the meaning of a phrase is special.
aahwhooaahhoowah well I woke up this mornin' with the sundown shinin' in I found my broken mind in a brown paper bag, and then I tripped on a cloud and fell-a eight miles high I tore up my mind on a jagged sky I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in well I pushed my soul in a deep dark hole and then I followed it in I met myself crawlin' out as I was a-crawlin' in I woke up so tight I said I'd never unwind I saw so much I broke my mind I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in ohh, oh, my condition, my condition was in Someone painted "April Fool" in big black letters on a "Dead End" sign I had my foot on the gas when I left the road and blew out my mind Eight miles outta Memphis lord I got no spare Eight miles straight up downtown somewhere and I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in I said I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in Yeah yeah oh-yeah Songwriters: Mickey Newbury
@kemmcg Its a superb song . I'm not sure that I should 'love' the drug references but it is definitely a great song. Bettye Lavette did a fine, fine soul verson of this tune which can be found on this site.
Actually the only drugs inspiring this songs were the ones the hospital shot him up with when he was in great pain after the accident involving the train. In that sense, it is not a song about drug "addiction" at all. It could easily be applied to that, but that's not what it's about. Read the story of how the song came about.
It is a song about descent into the darkness of drug addiction. The pop version done by his friend Kenny Rogers is not as correct as this one. Mickey wrote it. It "is" what he makes it. Can't be a more accurate interpretation than the songwriter's. Like Kris' 'Me and Bobby Magee'. I always prefer the song as it was written.
@ichihentai Very well said! I will remember a guy I met some years ago. When we started talking we found out that we both loved country and folk music. Just to get an impression of what he was into I asked him his top ten songs. The list was brilliant and I was delighted to hear it was three Townes Van Zandt songs on it!. -"Great list stranger, Mr. van Zandt is actually my all-time favourite"I told him. -That E-Street dude just plays the guitar, he answered. The guy hadn't even heard of Townes!
