Subject: TVZ Date: Thu, 31 Dec 98 12:39:18 -0800 From: Dallas Denny Organization: MindSpring Enterprises, Inc. To: coopl@ava.bcc.orst.edu, aegis@mindspring.com Len: I've been a fan of Townes Van Zandt since the seventies, when I played At My Window while at a friend's house. About a year ago I heard that he had died, but because he was not a media darling I wasn't able to find out for sure until I saw your site. Thanks. I saw TVZ a number of times in the late '80s at the Down Home in Johnson City, TN. At that time he was touring with Guy Clark, who is absolutely my fave. The first three or so times TVZ was really messed up, the last time straight. Once guy was messed up, too, no doubt partly because of Townes' influence, TVZ's performances were, I thought, actually better when he wasn't straight, although he tended to talk (ramble, really) rather than play. He kept saying "My Mama told me, 'Townes, sing. Don't talk,'" and would start to play and then stop and talk again. The audience (myself included) loved him nonetheless. I found that amazing, because most performers would have been booed from thh stage. Every time except the last, when he was straight, TVZ told a story about going to 4th of July, CA with Guy. It wasn't completely cohenerent. The whole experience caused me to write the following song. It's honest about Townes, I think. I sing it in a Townes-like manner. Feel free to share it on your site. Ms. Dallas Denny aegis@mindspring.com Townes Copyright 1990 by Dallas Denny Key of C Townes is tryin' to sing again He thinks all the audience is his friend He will talk for half a minute or more And then play a single guitar chord His Mama told him, "Townes, sing-- don't talk" But it's hard to sing when you can hardly walk He thinks all the audience is his friend Townes is tryin' to sing again Townes is doin' gigs again Yeah, they set him up like a bowling pin To face temptations of the road And try to keep his self control But the guitar's heavy and the tuning's wrong And he forgets the words to all his songs He thinks all the audience is his friend Townes is tryin' to sing again (Bridge, start with F) Townes is on the road with Guy Coming back from Fourth of July And Guy writes the L.A. Freeway song And Townes is glad he came along So Townes writes a song in self-defense He's been apologizin' for it ever since He thinks all the audience is his friend Townes is tryin' to sing again Townes is tryin' to sing again He thinks all the audience is his friend He will talk for half a minute or more And then play a single guitar chord And his Mama told him, "Townes, sing-- don't talk" But it's hard to sing when you can hardly walk He thinks all the audience is his friend Townes is tryin' to sing again. Townes is tryin' to sing again Townes is tryin' to sing again