hearsay

I’ve been keen on Townes Van Zandt ever since a Texan friend of mine introduced him to me as a figure not to be missed if I was into folk and country. I picked up Anthology 1968-1979, and love it, with the exception of a song or two that have campy country feel… hell, maybe its western, but anyway, there’s a couple on there that stray from my interests. I was at a video store the other day and saw the documentary on him, Be Here To Love Me, that I had heard about and checked it out. Its a far better introduction to his music, and a better selection of songs than Anthology.

The movie, as well, matches the honesty of Townes’ music in an unrestrained portrait of his persona. You can tell he could be quite awful, cruelly indifferent to those that loved him. Instead, his focus was on his music. Not his career, but on his craft and songwriting. The documentary seems to allude to the tragedy that Townes career never took off in the way that it should have considering his talent. Some of the blame goes to his management: Tomato certainly didn’t have the pull to get his music out there in a way like Columbia aided Dylan or even as Sun established Cash. But Townes himself is also put to blame; his alcoholism getting in the way of most opportunities that others created for him. I got the impression that Townes’ rambling lifestyle was part of what made his music. His cult legend status was certainly fueled by the his obscurity, but I don’t know that an entirely successful lifestyle would have allowed his music to be as poignant.

He comes off as a goofy, but charming character. But his outward persona must have been intentionally designed to hide his genius. His lyrics, poetic and brilliant, stretch much deeper than the simple personality that he greeted people with. “Flyin’ Shoes” is one of my newfound favorites. There is a verse where he begins talking about the seasons passing, and turns it into a way to describe his ever-lurking depression:

Spring on the side
Summer had to be satisfied
Fall is a feeling that I just can’t lose

“Rake” is another of my favorites, and figures early into the movie. It is a slow, brooding song that seems to wander while fleshing out the mistakes of a troubled youth. It is amazing to get such an honest explanation of life’s difficulties from such a troubled personality.

: Townes Van Zandt - Flyin’ Shoes : (1978)
: Townes Van Zandt - Rake : (1971)