Townes Van Zandt

[fox69]

"To Live Is To Fly"

"To Live Is To Fly"


Won't say I love you, babe,
Won't say I need you, babe,
But I'm gonna get you babe
And I will not do you wrong.
Living's mostly wasting time
And I'll waste my share of mine
But it never feels to good,
So let's don't take to long.
You're soft as glass
And I'm a gentle man;
We got the sky to talk about
And the earth to lie upon.

Days, up and down they come
Like rain on a congadrum
Forget most, remember some
But don't turn none away.
Everything is not enough
And nothin' is to much to bear.
Where you been is good and gone
All you keep is the getting there.

To live is to fly
Low and high,
So shake the dust off of your wings
And the sleep out of your eyes.

Goodbye to all my friends
It's time to go again
Think of all the poetry
And the pickin' down the line
I'll miss the system here
The bottom's low
And the treble's clear
But it don't pay to think to much
On things you leave behind.
I will be gone
But it won't be long
I will be a'bringin' back the melodies
And rhythm that I find.

We all got holes to fill
Them holes are all that's real.
Some fall on you like a storm,
Sometimes you dig your own.
The choice is yours to make,
Time is yours to take;
Some sail upon/dive into the sea,
Some toil upon the stone.

To live is to fly
Low and high,
So shake the dust off of your wings
And the sleep out of your eyes;

Shake the dust off of your wings
And the tears out of your eyes.

 

[fox69]

"Tower Song"

"Tower Song"


So close and yet so far away
And all the things I'd hoped to say
Will have to go unsaid today
Perhaps until tomorrow
Your fear has built a wall between
Our lives and all what lovin' means
Will have to go unfelt it seems
And that leaves only sorrow
You built your tower strong and tall
Can't you see it's got to fall some day
You close your eyes and speak to me
Of faith and love and destiny
As distant as eternity,
Truth and understanding
The wind blows cold outside your door
It whispers words I've tried before
But you don't hear me anymore
Your pride's just too demanding
The end is coming soon, it's plain
A warm bed just ain't worth the pain
And I will go and you'll remain
With the bitterness we tasted
A mother's breast, a newborn child
A poet's tear, and drunken smile
Can't help thinkin' all the while
Their meaning won't be wasted

 

[fox69]

"Turnstyled, Junkpiled"

"Turnstyled, Junkpiled"


Well, I've been turnstyled,
Junkpiled
And railroaded too
I've been laid low
But don't you know
I'm still in love with you
I've been took down many a road
If anybody says I ain't day lie
But ain't got no plans
Except to be your man
And love you till I die
Well you got me under your spell
Won't you tell
Me all 'bout your wonderful charms
I got time to burn
And a lot to learn
Mama, take me in your lovin' arms
Well, I know that probably
You feel quite oddly
'bout you hear say
But if you hold me tight
It's gonna be all right
Mama, chase my blues away

 

[fox69]

"Two Girls"

"Two Girls"


Well, the clouds didn't look like cotton
They didn't even look like clouds
I was underneath the weather
and all my friends looked a crowd
The swimmin' hole was full of rum
I tried to find out why
Well, all I learned was this my friend
You got to swim before you fly

I got two girls
Ones in heaven and ones below
Oh, one I love with all my heart
And one I do not know.

Two lonesome dudes on an ugly horse
Passed by not long ago
They asked me where the action was
I said I did not know
As they disappeared into the brush
I heard the driver say
He's a little slow between the ears
He's always been that way.

Well, Jolly Jane just lays around
And listens with her mouth
She's had about a dozen husbands
But the last one just pulled out
Now, who's gonna bring her dinner
Through the weary years ahead
All she'll get from me is sympathy
Ain't got time to see she's fed.

It's cold down on the bayou
They say it's in your mind
But the moccasins are treadin' ice
And leavin' strange designs
Cajuns say the last time
That this happened they weren't here
All Beaumonts full of penguins
And I'm a-playin it by ear.

 

[fox69]

"Two Hands"

"Two Hands"


I got two hands
I wanna clap my hands together
I got two legs
I wanna dance to heavens door
I got one heart
I gonna fill it up with up Jesus
And I ain't gonna think about trouble anymore
Well now, this old world sometimes it does get lonesome
And it's many a grown man has hung his head and cried
Down in your soul there's one that won't desert you
Ain't it fine to have the saviour by your side
Now the lord resides inside a house of golden
And faith is the door and love is the key
And warm is the light pouring from his mighty windows
And that light, my friend, it shines on you and me
When the wind blows on that faithful morning
And I close my eyes, lord, and fly my body home
I don't want my friends to cry no tears about me
I'll be bathing in the glory of the throne
I got two hands
I wanna clap my hands together
I got two legs
I wanna dance to heavens door
I got one heart
I gonna fill it up with up Jesus
And I ain't gonna think about trouble anymore

 

[fox69]

"Upon My Soul"

"Upon My Soul"


Be my staple and my stay
Jesus help through each day
As I walk this weary way
Upon my soul

And when judgement falls to me
Through my saviour shall I be
Given peace eternally
Upon my soul

Upon my soul
Upon my free and joyous soul
Given peace eternally
Upon my soul

Jesus shine your light on me
Shine with love and charity
That I might help brothers see
Upon my soul

For temptation let me ply

Be my wings, lord, be my eyes
Guard me when old satan's nigh
Upon my soul

Upon my soul
Upon my free and joyous soul
Guard me when old satan's nigh
Upon my soul

I shall fill each earhly day
With the singing of his praise
Follow in his holy ways
Upon my soul

And when I lay my troubles down
On my brow he'll place a crown
And the trumpets all shall sound
Upon my soul

Upon my soul
Upon my free and joyous soul
And the trumpets all shall sound
Upon my soul

 

[fox69]

"Wabash Cannonball"

"Wabash Cannonball"


Well, listen to the rumble, the rattle, and the roar She glides along the woodlands, down the hills and by the shore.
Hear the mighty rush of engine, hear the lonesome hobo call Ride the rosin, break a bead on the Wabash Cannonball.
Well, she rode into Birmingham on a cold December day, All around the station, you could hear the people say.
She’s a girl from Tennessee. She’s long. She’s tall. No changes can be taken on the Wabash Cannonball.
Well, the eastern states are dandy, so the people always say New York, by the harbor, to Chicago, by the way.
Now to Minnesota, where the rippling waters fall, Ride the rosin, break a bead on the Wabash Cannonball.
Well, now she goes to Memphis, to New Mexico, Flies through East St. Louie lord. She never does it slow.
Sails to Colorado, lettin’ out an awful squall You can tell her by her whistle, she’s the Wabash Cannonball.
Well, here's to Denny Claxton, may his name forever stand Always be remember in the courts of Alabam’.
When his earthly reign is over and his curtain ‘round him falls We’ll carry him home in glory on the Wabash Cannonball.

 

[fox69]

"Waitin' For The Day"

"Waitin' For The Day"


Well, I no longer can recall
All the times you made me crawl
All the times you made me hang my head and cry
But still the teardrops fall
And lord what's worst of all
I just ain't got the nerve to say goodbye
I'm waitin' for the day
When I can hide my love away
And stand up like a man so tall and free
Then you'll be the one to say
Oh darlin', can't you stay
I don't know what I'd do if you should leave me
Oh girl, I don't know why
You always have to try
To hurt me to make me feel ashamed
Oh, but someday by and by
You're gonna be the one to cry
And walk the floor and sadly call my name
Oh, I'm waitin' for the day
When I can hide my love away
And stand up like a man so tall and free
Then you'll be the one to say
Oh darlin', can't you stay
I don't know what I'd do if you should leave me
Oh, but it looks like until then
I'll throw pride to the wind
And try to make believe that I don't know
That a day is comin' when
You won't do me wrong again
And I will be the one to turn and go
I'm waitin' for the day
When I can hide my love away
And stand up like a man so tall and free
Then you'll be the one to say
Oh darlin', can't you stay
I don't know what I'd do if you should leave me

 

[fox69]

"Waiting 'Round To Die"

"Waiting 'Round To Die"


Sometimes I don't know where
This dirty road is taking me
Sometimes I don't even know the reason why
But I guess I keep a-gamblin'
Lots of booze and lots of ramblin'
Well it's easier than just a-waitin' around to die

One time, friends, I had a ma
I even had a pa
Well he beat her with a belt once 'cause she cried
She told him to take care of me
Headed down to Tennessee
Well it's easier than just a-waitin' around to die

Well I came of age and I found a girl in a Tuscaloosa bar
She cleaned me out and hit in on the sly
I tried to hide the pain, I bought some wine and hopped a train
Well it's easier than just waitin' around to die

A friend said he knew
Where some easy money was
We robbed a man, and brother did we fly
The posse caught up with me
And drug me back to Muskogee
Two long years waitin' around to die

Well, now I'm out of prison
I got me a friend at last
Well he don't drink or steal or cheat or lie
His name's codeine
He's the nicest thing I've seen
Yah, together we're gonna wait around and die
Yah together we're gonna wait around and die

 

[fox69]

"When He Offers His Hand"

"When He Offers His Hand"


When he offers his hand
Don't you turn him away
He can lead you to light
Through the darkest of days
With his love wrapped around you
You can't go astray
When he offers his hand
Don't you turn him away

In a world full of sorrow
A world full of hate
You can't wait for tomorrow
'cause tomorrow's to late
Come and stand amongst the pilgrims
In their golden array
When he offers his hand
Don't you turn him away

I am no Simon,
No Matthew, no Paul
It don't take an apostle
To answer his call
And it don't take a prophet
To stand up and say
When he offers his hand
Don't you turn him away

I hope as I'm leavin'
My message is clear
It's a fool that would turn down
A gift that's so dear
When he offers his blood
Your depts to repay
Now he offers his hand
Don't you turn him away