Townes Van Zandt — Lungs (live)
Album: Live At The Old QuarterAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 412
Length: 2:29
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Well, won't you lend your lungs to me?
Mine are collapsing
Plant my feet and bitterly breathe
Up the time that's passing.
Breath I'll take and breath I'll give
Pray the day ain't poison
Stand among the ones that live
In lonely indecision.
Fingers walk the darkness down
Mind is on the midnight
Gather up the gold you've found
You fool, it's only moonlight.
If you try to take it home
Your hands will turn to butter
You better leave this dream alone
Try to find another.
Salvation sat and crossed herself
Called the devil partner
Wisdom burned upon a shelf
Who'll kill the raging cancer
Seal the river at it's mouth
Take the water prisoner
Fill the sky with screams and cries
Bathe in fiery answers
Jesus was an only son
And love his only concept
Strangers cry in foreign tongues
And dirty up the doorstep
And I for one, and you for two
Ai'nt got the time for outside
Just keep your injured looks to you
We'll tell the world we tried
Mine are collapsing
Plant my feet and bitterly breathe
Up the time that's passing.
Breath I'll take and breath I'll give
Pray the day ain't poison
Stand among the ones that live
In lonely indecision.
Fingers walk the darkness down
Mind is on the midnight
Gather up the gold you've found
You fool, it's only moonlight.
If you try to take it home
Your hands will turn to butter
You better leave this dream alone
Try to find another.
Salvation sat and crossed herself
Called the devil partner
Wisdom burned upon a shelf
Who'll kill the raging cancer
Seal the river at it's mouth
Take the water prisoner
Fill the sky with screams and cries
Bathe in fiery answers
Jesus was an only son
And love his only concept
Strangers cry in foreign tongues
And dirty up the doorstep
And I for one, and you for two
Ai'nt got the time for outside
Just keep your injured looks to you
We'll tell the world we tried
Comments (47)add comment
I wouldn't complain if we heard more Townes on RP. Thanks, Bill and Rebecca!
steuss wrote:
Yes, gone too soon. Steve Earle named his son Townes out of respect for the great songwriter.
Steve Earle said that Van Zandt was a better song writer than Bob Dylan
Yes, gone too soon. Steve Earle named his son Townes out of respect for the great songwriter.
Steve Earle said that Van Zandt was a better song writer than Bob Dylan
This is a good pick off this double live album. But by far the best tracks on it are "If I Needed You" and "Pancho and Lefty", his best versions of those two classic gems of songwriting, IMO. He is clear and concise, just Van Zandt and his guitar and the audience. The album also includes his banter and joking with the Old Quarter audience, and even picks up some traffic noise outside the club.
Yes, gone too soon. Steve Earle named his son Townes out of respect for the great songwriter.
Yes, gone too soon. Steve Earle named his son Townes out of respect for the great songwriter.
There aren't many songs played on here that I don't like, but this is one of them.
Brilliant songwriting.
Not great writing.
soul awakening music from this man
Bleyfusz wrote:weird just listening to dire straights track now but I don't get the connection, tvz is so much stronger
catsoup wrote:
Is anyone else hearing Dire Straits "The Man's Too Strong" here?
Hannio wrote:
Most definitely.
This song being recorded first: what do you here where? In any case?
Is anyone else hearing Dire Straits "The Man's Too Strong" here?
Hannio wrote:
Most definitely.
This song being recorded first: what do you here where? In any case?
Not often heard except through others. Incredibly influential
Is the Russian Woodpecker out there! Look! 
Great song !!!
Great song !!!
gone way to soon.............
It most countries, you would be sectioned for talking like this. Fingers of butter, WTF?
Excellent! was so lucky to meet Townes once, in a dressingroom after a concert in Holland.
cool tune, and a good ripper from Black321 thank you Sir!
This is one of the best TVZ recordings I've heard. Just him, some great picking, in a dead quiet room. If you sort of like him, get this one and you'll be hooked in.
catsoup wrote:
Is anyone else hearing Dire Straits "The Man's Too Strong" here?
Hannio wrote:
Most definitely.
This song being recorded first: what do you here where? In any case?
Is anyone else hearing Dire Straits "The Man's Too Strong" here?
Hannio wrote:
Most definitely.
This song being recorded first: what do you here where? In any case?
Wow, I really like this.
sajitjacob wrote:
It's Townes Van Zandt. Steve Earle said once 'Townes Van Zandt is the greatest songwriter ever. And I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots to say it.'
Is this Wilson Dixon?
It's Townes Van Zandt. Steve Earle said once 'Townes Van Zandt is the greatest songwriter ever. And I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots to say it.'
LizK wrote:
I'm not familiar with 'Mr. Gold & Mr. Mud" Is that like firing up "Pancho & Lefty"?
Similar vein. Mr. Gold and Mr. Mud is another fairly famous Townes tune. Steve Earle can probably play most of TVZ's catalog.
I'm not familiar with 'Mr. Gold & Mr. Mud" Is that like firing up "Pancho & Lefty"?
Is this Wilson Dixon?
Townes joke from this set:
A cop sees a drunk stumbling down the street. He says, "Hey, Buddy, you look a little drunk, you ok?." The drunk says, "Man, I sure am glad to see you officer. See, somebody just stole my car." The cop says, "Stole your car? Where was the car when you last saw it?" The guy says, "Right on the end of this key." The cop looks at the key and looks at the drunk and says, "Well, go two blocks down to the Station and report it to the desk sergeant." The drunk says, "Thanks, officer. You been a big help." As the drunk start stumbling towards the station, the cop looks down at the guys pants and says, "Hey buddy, before you go, you better zip up your fly." The guy looks down at his pants and says, "Aw man, they got my girl too."
A cop sees a drunk stumbling down the street. He says, "Hey, Buddy, you look a little drunk, you ok?." The drunk says, "Man, I sure am glad to see you officer. See, somebody just stole my car." The cop says, "Stole your car? Where was the car when you last saw it?" The guy says, "Right on the end of this key." The cop looks at the key and looks at the drunk and says, "Well, go two blocks down to the Station and report it to the desk sergeant." The drunk says, "Thanks, officer. You been a big help." As the drunk start stumbling towards the station, the cop looks down at the guys pants and says, "Hey buddy, before you go, you better zip up your fly." The guy looks down at his pants and says, "Aw man, they got my girl too."
This is an easy eleven!
cc_rider wrote:
I'm not familiar with 'Mr. Gold & Mr. Mud" Is that like firing up "Pancho & Lefty"?
Recently heard an interview with Steve Earle. He was playing some small place, and Townes was in the front row, drunk as a skunk (I know!), and heckling Steve mercilessly. So finally Steve broke into a high-speed version of 'Mr Gold and Mr Mud' or whatever the title is. I doubt it actually shut ol' Townes up, but I'm sure he got a kick out of it.
I'm not familiar with 'Mr. Gold & Mr. Mud" Is that like firing up "Pancho & Lefty"?
catsoup wrote:
Most definitely.
Is anyone else hearing Dire Straits "The Man's Too Strong" here?
Most definitely.
I was in the middle of something when this came on, so I couldn't switch applications to see who it was. I should have known it was Townes Van Zandt... Who else could make my fingers freeze on the keyboard and my brain zing from work to this music?
Spectacle indeed! John Prine, Elvis Costello, Lyle Lovett, Ray LaMontagne sing Townes Van Zandt's "Loretta"
I Like, I Buy.
Townes! Right on Bill!
mark knofler meets neil young?
Niel Young....
cc_rider wrote:
Recently heard an interview with Steve Earle. He was playing some small place, and Townes was in the front row, drunk as a skunk (I know!), and heckling Steve mercilessly. So finally Steve broke into a high-speed version of 'Mr Gold and Mr Mud' or whatever the title is. I doubt it actually shut ol' Townes up, but I'm sure he got a kick out of it.
That's a great scene, I'd feel humbled and honored to have had Townes throwing ‘em back in the front row heckling my show. And as effortless as S.E could play that song in normal time, Townes Wrote that song with even less. I heard him say he didn't have anything to do with the writing, he just held the pencil down and it poured out through his arm on to the page. le_colonel wrote:
They play his version of "Dead Flowers" at the end of the movie, don't they? Does y'all know he was allegedly the Cowboy Junkie that the band named themselves after?
Every time I hear Townes Van Zandt, I think The Big Lebowski.
They play his version of "Dead Flowers" at the end of the movie, don't they? Does y'all know he was allegedly the Cowboy Junkie that the band named themselves after?
Man, great songwriter, but he has a bad voice even for a male country, americana singer and that is saying something!!
whtahtefcuk wrote:
Today too.
Jane's Addiction with some Townes after it... very good!!!
Today too.
Is anyone else hearing Dire Straits "The Man's Too Strong" here?
Recently heard an interview with Steve Earle. He was playing some small place, and Townes was in the front row, drunk as a skunk (I know!), and heckling Steve mercilessly. So finally Steve broke into a high-speed version of 'Mr Gold and Mr Mud' or whatever the title is. I doubt it actually shut ol' Townes up, but I'm sure he got a kick out of it.
It's truly a shame that as a young girl growing up in Houston I couldn't appreciate him when he was alive and kickin' there. In fact I could not STAND his voice...funny how that's changed.
sings Townes Van Zant
"Beautiful song by a beautiful women, thanks Margo Timmins, thanks Townes"
"breaks my heart, so beautiful..."
"One of the truly great unvarnished American songwriters"
"I don´t know what I feel when i listen this man singing."
This is great.
midreaming wrote:
I agree. He was a brilliant songwriter, though generally ignored by or unknown to mainstream radio. Perhaps if they used one of his tunes in a Volkswagen commercial.........
this man's music and his voice are priceless, an american treasure. always a rock in the storm for me
I agree. He was a brilliant songwriter, though generally ignored by or unknown to mainstream radio. Perhaps if they used one of his tunes in a Volkswagen commercial.........
this man's music and his voice are priceless, an american treasure. always a rock in the storm for me
Not doing a whole lot for me on first listen, but I'll keep an open mind.
Every time I hear Townes Van Zandt, I think The Big Lebowski.
Jane's Addiction with some Townes after it... very good!!!
I've been waiting to hear Townes on here for years. Way to go.