My late wife’s favorite song and one of the few I could play right. Every time I hear it, I remember my wife laying on the couch and clapping after I played it.
@@starrlara2599 so glad to here some people are still finding real music, townes is my favorite American folk msucian. I still love john denver, Ray wylie Hubbard, and james mcmurty. I'm sure youve heard of denver, but you shoud definitely look into the other 2 as well.
People here talk about the booze and alcohol. It was part of what he felt and wrote and sang. There's a genuine humbleness to him and his music that people who "behave right" may not get to. He knew hopelessness and despair and transcendental moments of joy.
This man politely declined to write songs with Bob Dylan. That's how good he was. Here's a cheers for my brokedown, busted hero. Grace and peace...wherever you are sir.
Thank you for this. I think this and If I Needed You are his two greatest songs. I met Townes at an Austin Friends of Traditional Music event in November 1984. He was without a guitar that evening, so I let him play mine. I am still in awe of his greatness as a songwriter and as a human being. RIP Townes Van Zandt.
Is Flying Shoes the greatest song ever written ? It has been that way w me for quite some time, now. "Spring only sighed. Summer had to be satisfied. Fall is a feeling that I just can't lose."
I bought flyin shoes in a bargain album bin at a store in 85 and was mesmerized by the title song. I couldn't stop listening to this. May we always remember this amazing poet and musician and introduce him to as many people as will hear. "days full of rain/sky's comin down again" brilliance.
These six who gave a thumbs down have no idea of Townes' sublimeness and transcendence. It hurts to see him so utterly damaged and I really wonder how he can play in such a beautiful way so drunk and stoned like this.
@@lastnamefirst4035 Of course he is. I'm assuming you've never played and sung drunk, nor been near someone who is. 100%. His journey ended two years later for the same reason he's in bits here.
Che tristezza vedere questo video chi conosce Townes sin dagli anni 60. Mi viene da piangere. Ho sempre adorato Lui e la sua musica. Sicuramente non ci sarà un'altro Townes Van Zandt
To Wendy Blackburn : I also watched this documentary about Townes van Zandt and couldn't sleep after it. He's a real diamond and keeps shining over us... Best regards
I love you Townes, I miss those days waching you play for dollars, just to get a fix. Man he played those morphine reels, those drunken blues, he sang me, u, and mostly for himself, He just couldn't help it. TVZ was a conduit, his songs aren't sad, they are "hopeless"
The documentary about Townes Van Zandt called "Be Here to Love Me" was so enlightening about how he spent his life pursuing "the song" whatever it took to follow the muse Townes was on it. When learned about his family life versus his music career I realized there is a lot about his life I do not agree with but I also appreciate that he dedicated his life to the pursuit of "the song". He has been covered by so many "more famous" musicians; so many people do not know who he is. He is a treasure.
Townes Van Zandt must have written this from deep in his lonely heart. I appreciate you uploading this video. My regret is that I never saw him sing live when I had the chance living in Houston. I was always too busy with all the worries of life. These worries and concerns kept me from following my heart like my fine brother Arthur Byrd
"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 That says it all :-)
Once again Townes explains and illustrates a dim situation with a ballad that both turns the mundane into something both intimate and metaphysical, spiritual and which flies rather than is merely buried. And yes, transcendent.
I think we all got the essential Townes that we always wanted. He's got all the dignity and he's even got the voice. This may have been a swan song. As swan songs go...
When I turned my younger brother onto Townes he came to me and said," bro I thought I had the best songwriters list down the you spring this on me". I'm a drunk myself and get it, he didn't choose to be a drunk. It's just how it was and I hope that wherever his energy is he's smiling. And I bet he'd be proud of all the kids that are adjusting they're best of all times lists!
Rap kid who was given a guitar and discovered what true music was. I'm forever thankful to my grandpa for introducing me to Townes. One of the best songwriters. I'll make sure to tell my kids when I have them and don't let them be influenced by the mainstream artists.
Of course,the very best in the business treat him,and his songs with the utmost respect-Steve Earle,Emmylou etc,know what TVZ was all about and are faithful to his spirit.
"Flyin' Shoes" Days full of rain Skys comin' down again I get so tired Of these same old blues Same old song Baby, it won't be long 'fore I be tyin' on My flyin' shoes Flyin' shoes Till I be tyin' on My flyin' shoes Spring only sighed Summer had to be satisfied Fall is a feelin' that I just can't lose. I'd like to stay Maybe watch a winter day Turn the green water To white and blue Flyin' shoes Flyin' shoes Till I be tyin' on My flyin' shoes The mountain moon Forever sets too soon Bein' alone is all the hills can do Alone and then Her silver sails again And they will follow In their flyin' shoes Flyin' shoes They will follow in their Flyin' shoes Days full of rain Skys comin' down again I get so tired Of the same old blues Same old song Baby, it won't be long Till I be tyin' on My flyin' shoes Flyin' shoes Till I be tyin' on My flyin' shoes
I dont know what to say, I almost like this version better than the recording. Damn he was good. This song and Pancho and Lefty are like legendary, He was such a great writer.
So unfortunate I never got to see him live, since he performed in my home town, but I was way too young. One of the best songwriters ever, a genius really!
I am always amazed to hear Townes. Why did his friends not "hear" him? He wrote allegorically, usually with a variety of meanings of the words. Here he tells a tale of death of soldiers, then launches into a tale of running to some lady. But of course he is talking about death - his own. I have followed this for many years, and as the days wore on, he became more and more fatalistic and, as usual, penned words that told us all what was going on. Townes is a sad, sad case of drug abuse, neglect and enabling of his friends, and a desperate lack of hope that comes from despair. What a cost, eh, for good music. I am sad...
townes went to rehab at least a dozen times from what i've read. i think he did it just to satisfy friends who were trying to help him. that's just my opinion though. i'm convinced that he knew how his life would play out from the late 60s onward. from the beginning of his career he wrote those songs that seemed to be autobiographical. waiting around to die was on his first album after all.
Victor, I met Townes 6 months before he died when he played a club in Alexandria, Va. called the Birchmere . He and his manager sat with me while we listened to the opening act James McMurtry . After a few songs Townes turns to me and said " the kid's pretty good , huh ? " We chatted about places he had played like the " Last Resort " in Athens, Ga. where I first saw Townes in 1976. He was very cordial but when took the stage it was sad that on some of his songs he couldn't remember the lyrics and Townes resorted to telling a lot of jokes. As far as his drug use goes I believe he used to cope with his mental anguish and issues . When he was kicked out of college his parents committed him to a mental institution in Tx. where he underwent shock therapy which affected his memory . Townes eventually regained his memory. The shrinks released him to his parents explaining there was nothing they could do for him. His parents asked the doctors what do we do with him now ? The doctors advised to allow him to roam until he finds himself . And so he did and we're all the more better for it.
You should read "A Deeper Blue"...you'll change your views about him and those surrounding him. They all tried, he wasn't to be saved, sadly. He may have listened to the toxic people more that to those who loved him, for sure, and he suffered a lot of unlucky events, but he wrote his own destiny. Still, I love him and his music beyond words...he was a true poet and singer of the human soul
I saw him in '88 ('89?) in Auckland, accompanied by Chaim Tannenbaum. I consider myself lucky, because he was on great form and played for nearly 2 hours, which I understand was not always the case in the latter part of his life. Maybe he was clean while he was so far from home. I was young at the time, about 20, and probably missed a lot of the gravitas he exuded, but I was still hypnotized by this extraordinary man. By the time this clip was shot, he was obviously much further gone. The voice was giving out and probaly the mind too. It's very sad to see. Nowadays, he would probably be diagnosed as bipolar pretty early on and put on the appropriate drugs. We would have almost certainly been deprived of the songs, but he might have had a better life. Who knows? Music of this depth and quality almost always involves a Faustian pact. I'm grateful for what he gave us, but I'd happily never listen to one of his masterpieces again if it meant he could have found a bit of peace in his life.
That's the way it usually plays out. There's nothing for free in this world. Someone's paying for the delights we take, whether it's ourselves or someone else.
The true embodiment of the tortured genius . . . Townes will always be in my heart and soul . . . this song in particular . . . and yes . . . the power of this performance is in the soul of the man . . . not in the vocal quality
just like steve earle said townes was absolutely one of te best. he said the best but there were countles best. so i say one of the best. i wish i could have met him. he died in smyrna tn. most of the videos of him do not show him hammered and wasted. what an excellent musician. the really talented musicians were unfortunately so great due to or in spite of their demons what a loss
The “connection” he couldn’t seem to get right with the guitar “progression” after all these learning years we STILL find ourselves divided over silly reasons to keep us not UNITED. Be KIND. WE ARE ALL fighting inner battles too proud to accept the TRUTH Life is now. Old keys won’t open New Doors. Hopefully the ability for everyone to get global news will Enlighten our heavy feet. And carry us TOGETHER into a more perfect Union to achieve PROGRESS four our Great Nation. Amen And God Bless those who lack the Eyes to realize, REAL lies. Teamwork makes LIGHTWORK (when we heal each other is Light work but at the same time lightens the burden we ALL share. )
@@robertdonaldson2316 the first song he wrote was "Waiting around to Die". He's definitely suffered from depression & addiction for most of his life. Hell on earth
@@omairsh8 And yet so many pictures and interviews he was smiling and laughing. That's what I love about Townes! He embraced his difficulties with grace and did his best . I don't know what more we can do than that.
@@robertdonaldson2316 and his sense of humor. I unfortunately was born after he died but people who were lucky enough to see him perform live always tell me about how he could get a few laughs from the audience with his jokes and stories
WilliesWarriorPoets - Nope. When Doc Watson sang If I Needed You, it was a cover of Townes Van Zandt's original version. By the way, I loved and admire Doc Watson, but he was known to do an excellent job of covering some other people's songs. For example, he did one of the best versions ever of Tennessee Stud, but my dear late friend, Jimmie Driftwood wrote that song.
Mr. Slater, songs are made. This is true. Then people know art and they grow. That is the function of art. I was a student of Doc Watson's mentor, Jerry Ricks. Jerry taught me some things about Robert Johnson. I also became a better person (different) knowing Shakespeare and Juan Gris. It is a pity many people do not know art. Elvis touched many people's lives, too. . . no songwriter.
one of the few Townes songs that I actually prefer on record than this particular live version. He seems spent and weary.....but dammit if he don't make you cry
Hi Grandma Patty. Hope you are doing well? Just a hello from the Wicklow mountains here in Ireland.I love this song and always wonder what would Townes think of this would we live in now? Anyway hope this find you happy and well.Jamie.
That is precisely how I feel. I love everything that Towne's has written, though sometimes I wish all the production on some of the albums weren't there, that it was more like this. I don't enjoy this just for the sake of it being a haggard performance, I genuinely think this sounds beautiful
I have to agree with many others that it's not the voice, it's the soul. That said, I actually think that his later recordings capture the essence of his being. While his early recordings may have been a lot more organized, neat, and aesthetically appealing to most, it is these later recordings that really show us Townes' beauty and ability as a performer, and artist, struggling through, and (usually) making it work.
@Weatherbyrd in a way I believe you have probally lived the essence of this song. The loss, the longing, the passing of our own life times. we who wern't even there have our own flyin shoes too........this song is to us............
This man is probably the closest to Jesus you'all will ever see. You see a drunk; I see a man following the voice of the heaven's, and he's thirsty for the streams of living water.
I don't think i could ever in my 48 years have ever have put it as well as Grandma patty has just put it. I truly believe there should be a Townes van Zandt day and i live in Co Wicklow Ireland. Good on ya Grandma Patty but i suspect thats not your real name LOL xx
It is very beautiful indeed. You should really put it on your to do list and if it ever happens for you make sure and look me up.I live in up in the Wicklow mountains near a place called Sally gap.
Actually I feel the same way. I knew the name. I knew of the Van Zants from Fla. and another that was a song writer singer. I made the connection. Maybe because when John Prine passed. I spent a lot of time listening and anyway. Townes was the real deal best I didn't know...
