Townes Van Zandt

[fox69]

"Big Country Blues"

"Big Country Blues"


Well, I been up the Mississippi to the Manitoba line
I've been downstream to the Gulf of Mexico
Followed the sun out west to Californ
And there just ain't no place left for me to go
Spent a lonesome month in Maine and a year in Louisian
Packed my bags and hit the Westward Trail
Rambled down through Texas 'til I came to El Paso
Spent a week in a stinkin' Juarez jail
Well, I rambled through Nevada gamblin' most of my life away
I headed north when I heard Dakota call
Well, I stayed until the Northers came rollin' down the line
I headed south when summer turned to fall
I've been north and east, south where the cotton grows
And out in the west where the sun forever shines
Well, I've bent my back for a dollar a day in a Texas sugar field
Labored in a Minnesota mine
Well, I've seen your hungry babies scream, I watched their mamas cry
Seen a worn out prostitute beg for a dime
I've seen men come out of gutters ready to give their lives away
For a slug at a lousy bottle of rot gut wine
I've been up the Mississippi to the Manitoba line
Downstream to the Gulf of Mexico
Followed the sun out west to Californ
And there just ain't no place left for me to go
Well, there just ain't no place left for me to go

 

[fox69]

"Billy, Boney & Ma"

"Billy, Boney & Ma"


Well Billy went down to the battleground
To find a little trinket he could call his own
Didn't see nothin' lying around
He decided he'd dig awhile
Well he dug her up and he dug her down
'Fore too long he found some bones
Poor little Billy couldn't make a sound
When the bones sat up and smiled

Oh Billy you seem like a fine young man
No reason to be a tremblin' soul
Come over here and shake my hand
Make my proud acquaintance
Well Billy he was stunned he could hardly stand
Whether he could move he didn't know
But he knew he had to formulate some kinda plan
Or try the boneman's patience

The first thing he wanted to do was breathe
So he gulped in some of that battleground air
Next thing he wanted to do was leave
But Billy wasn't raised up rude
Well the boneman grunted and he gave a heave
All of a sudden he was loomin' there
Shakin' off dirt and actin' pleased
Things didn't look too good

Well Billy he decided what the hell
You don't meet a boneman every day
A little bit skinny but you never can tell
He might be a pretty good guy
Well they started off with the old soft sell
'Fore too long they were jawin' away
By the time the darkness fell
They were seein' socket to eye

They decided right then on a life of crime
With the Boneman's looks and Billy's brains
They could scare old scrooge out of his last dime
Might as well have a go
Billy he would picked the place and time
From the corner store to the railroad train
Boney'd flash him a smile sublime
And Billy he'd grab the dough

They decided they might as well start right then
Time's awastin' so they say
They headed for the park
Where the lights are dim
And only the foolish tread
He was whistlin' a tune
When they spotted him strollin' along
So plump and gay
Boney gave him a great big grin
And Billy snagged his bread

Next come a lady of the night
Boney sidled up and said hello
Gave the poor thing such a terrible fright
She fainted dead away
Billy lifted her purse and her earrings bright
Diamond rings and watch you know
Couldn't figure out try as they might
Why they'd ever worked the single day

Billy's plans ended up in ruin you know
They were workin' a quaint little neighborhood
Spied an old lady about eighty or so
Almost looked too easy
Boney put on a pretty good show
But the little ol' lady didn't see too good
My kind sir your all bones you know
You need something hot and greasy

Grabbed ol' Boney drug him inside
Billy peeked in through the window sill
She fed him boiled and baked and fried
Ol' Boney he's chewin' like crazy
He gobbled up everything he tried
Pounds added on like you know they will
Billy laid down in the dirt and cried
Watchin' Boney gettin' fat and lazy

Well Billy's back workin' his job by day
Sleepin' nights it ain't so bad
Never liked stealin' anyway
Kinda gives a guy the willies
Boney and ma got a new cafe
Best baked beans you ever had
Ma's expecting any day
And they say they're gonna name him Billy

 

[fox69]

"Black Crow Blues"

"Black Crow Blues"


Oh babe, don't lie lonesome after I'm gone
Don't mourn your young life away
Just lower me down with a prayer and a song
Just 'fore the breaking of day
Just 'fore the breaking of day

Well, it's a life worth the living but we all gotta die
All your crying can't do me no good
Just lower me down with a quick sad goodbye
Pour in the black Texas mud
Pour in the black Texas mud

It's a hard road you're travelin', you can't walk it alone
Find a big man to stand beside you
Take him down to the river, show him my bones
Tell him there lies a friend I once knew
There lies a friend I once knew

Well, the black crow's a-screaming, the yellow sun's warm
And the grass tumbles tall down the hill
There's a cold wind building, it's bringin' a storm
When the call of the black crow goes still
When the call of the black crow goes still

 

[fox69]

"Black Jack Mama"

"Black Jack Mama"


Big blond mama, Lord
Apartment 213
Where she moves like a cobra snake
And she treats me like a king

Roll me over easy, mama
Oh, roll me over slow
Do your best to please me, Lord
And I'm bound to take you with me when I go

I got a Nashville woman, Lord
She called me on the phone
Tells me to leave them
Houston girls alone

Roll me over easy, mama
Oh, roll me over slow
Do your best to please me, Lord
And I'm bound to take you with me when I go

Ah, motorcycle mama, Lord
Monkey on her back
Takes DM from her saddlebags
Cocaine from her sack

Roll me over easy, mama
Oh mama, roll me over slow
Do your best to please me, Lord
And I'm bound to take you with me when I go

I got a blackjack baby, Lord
She lives in New Orleans
Treats me like an orphan
Yeah, she call me Mr. Clean

Roll me over easy, mama
Oh, roll me over slow
Do your best to please me, Lord
And I'm bound to take you with me when I go

Oh, big blond mama, Lord
Apartment 213
Moves like a cobra snake
Treats me like a king

Roll me over easy, mama
Oh, roll me over slow
Do your best to please me, Lord
And I'm bound to take you with me when I go

Do your best to please me, Lord
And I'm bound to take you with me when I go
Do your best to please me, Lord
And I'm bound to take you with me when I go

 

[fox69]

"Black Widow Blues"

"Black Widow Blues"


I got a black widow spider for mama, Lord
Got a diamond-backed rattler for pa
Well, I got me a woman down in New Orleans
Got a friend in Arkansas
Got a morning full of make believe
Got an evening full of time
I've got the hands, pretty lady
Gonna make you grieve
Lovin' gonna make you mine
Ain't never seen your town before
And I won't be back again
I need me a place to hide my face
From the howlin' of the wind
I got the blues sewn into my jacket sleeve
Got a goatskin full of wine
I got the hands, pretty lady
Gonna make you grieve
And the lovin' gonna make you mine
So light the lantern above your door
And hold your curtains wide
Take the ribbon from your hair
And lay it by your side
And I ain't looking for a lie to believe
My own'll do me fine
I got the hands, pretty lady
Gonna make you grieve
And the lovin' gonna make you mine
I got the hands, pretty lady
Gonna make you grieve
The lovin' gonna make you mine
Well, I got the hands, pretty lady
Gonna make you grieve
The lovin' gonna make you mine
Well, I got the hands, pretty lady
Gonna make you grieve

 

[fox69]

"Blaze's Blues"

"Blaze's Blues"


I gotta guitar all my own
I gotta quarter for the telephone
I ain't headed down this highway all alone
One two three and maybe four
Honey they're knockin' on my door
I know you're gonna miss me when I'm gone

Got no daddy but I got a ma
Think she lives in Arkansas
Maybe I'll go see her some old day
It ain't like she'd really care
It ain't like she'd pay no fare
But I might just blow on through there anyway

Headed down to Alabama
Cause some trouble if I can
Aw buddy would you like to come along
It's a place I never been
And you know I could use a friend
They say they'll give us twenty bucks a song

I gotta guitar all my own
I gotta quarter for the telephone
I ain't headed down this highway all alone
One two three and maybe four
Honey they're knockin' on my door
I know I'm gonna miss you when I'm gone

 

[fox69]

"Blue Ridge Mountains"

"Blue Ridge Mountains"


My home is in the blue ridge mountains
My home is in the blue ridge mountains
My home is in the blue ridge mountains
And I ain't comin' back here anymore
I had me a mother that could pray, boys
She prayed for me both night and day, boys
And I tore down every down every prayer that she could say, boys
And I ain't comin' back here anymore
I wanna find me a lady fair and tender
Wanna play her song on my steel strings
Gonna lay her down in a bed of clover
Then I ain't comin' back here anymore
I've seen this whole wide country over
From New York City down to Mexico
And I've seen the joyful and the sorrow
And I ain't comin' back here anymore
So mister (sinby) can you hear me
Down there in (gracel), louisana-o
I'll lay a joint upon your grave, sir
Then I ain't comin' back here anymore
My home is in the blue ridge mountains
My home is in the blue ridge mountains
My home is in the blue ridge mountains
And I ain't comin' back here anymore

 

[fox69]

"Blue Wind Blew"

"Blue Wind Blew"


Blue wind's blown my dreams away
My darling's flown and she's gone to stay
All I got now is yesterday
And I don't know what to do
I guess I'll go downtown and see
Just what downtown can do for me
Maybe set my lonesome free
Or maybe let me go
I loved her true and I told her so
I ask her too and she told me no
She said she had somewhere to go
And then she said good-bye
I wonder how long it can go on
How long I'll sing this same old song
I wonder which one done us wrong
Which one forgot to try
I loved her true and I told her so
I ask her too and she told me no
She said she had somewhere to go
And then she said good-bye

 

[fox69]

"Brand New Companion"

"Brand New Companion"


I got a brand new companion
Man, I'm gonna do my best this time
I got a brand new companion
Man, I'm gonna do my best this time
You know she cools me with her breathin'
Chases away those howlin' bottles of wine

She fits just like my guitar
Man, she's near as tall as me
She fits just like my guitar
She's near as tall as me
She lives way out the d train
But she's Texas as can be

She got a home-spun disposition
Man, she's just as gentle as you please
She got a home-spun disposition
Man, she's just as gentle as you please
She got arms just like two rattle snakes
Legs just like a billow in the breeze

I got a brand new companion
Man, I'm gonna do my best this time
I got a brand new companion
Man, I'm gonna do my best this time
I want to trace her with my body
I want to track her with my mind

 

[fox69]

"Brother Flower"

"Brother Flower"


Brother flower, are you listenin'?
Let me sing a song for you
Brother flower, petals glistenin',
In the bashful mornings dew
Brother flower, when the sun shines
And the dew has flown away
If you don't mind weak and wrong rhymes
Brother flower, may I stay?

Brother flower, you ain't lonely
For you've always been alone
But I haven't been so lucky

I had love and now it's gone
I have arms to hold another
Never to hold her again
I have life to give lover
You have life to give the wind

Brother flower, when the snow flies
And you lay your beauty down
Brother flower, are you sleepin'
There upon the cold, cold ground
Brother flower, please awaken
Show the sky your face of blue
Let me know I ain't forsaken
Seems like all I have is you