Comments on: Townes Van Zandt :: Waitin’ Around To Die

By: duke

duke — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 06:55:43 +0000

i’m currently working my way through the recent TVZ biography. so far so good. so many of the songs are just too depressing for me to even listen to.

By: dlt

dlt — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 22:03:53 +0000

You can still get the “out of print” stuff direct at http://townesvanzandt.com

By: triplej

triplej — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 20:28:02 +0000

There’s a live album – don’t remember it off the top of my head. I think it also included Guy Clark. On the album – Townes intros this brilliant song. Said it was about this old guy in Houston, who sat on the porch. Townes used to pass by him every day.

By: Kirk Wheeler

Kirk Wheeler — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 18:07:20 +0000

I went to high school in West Texas. San Angelo. I discovered Townes while I was there and have been listening ever since. I made a record out there two years ago with a friend of mine Graham Weber. Marfa, Alpine, Terlinqua and points in between. It is a special and spooky place.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 15:30:02 +0000

I just picked up some of his earlier stuff — a lot of “talking blues” like someone mentioned, but clearly the talent was there. That Heartworn Highway’s version of “Waitin Around To Die” is my favorite, I think.

By: julio

julio — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 12:08:01 +0000

i grew up in west texas, elpaso to be exact.
things that make me think of home:
jerry jeff walker
robert earl keen
los tigeres del norte

By: SteveR

SteveR — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 02:32:56 +0000

Don’t forget to check out Kimmie Rhodes. She’s from those parts and has some fantastic stuff. She played and wrote some with TVZ as well.

By: swope

swope — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:49:22 +0000

great post about an amazing self-titled record! his then wife says that ‘waitin to die’
was the first song he wrote a few weeks after their marriage. he converted a walk in
closet into a makeshift studio. you don’t sense any optimism coming from her as she
explains having to listen to Townes pen that song as a newlywed… check out the great doc ‘Be Here To Love Me’ if you haven’t already, it’ll bring a grown man to weeping.

By: will

will — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:12:09 +0000

A Townes post is always greatly appreciated.

By: aladambama

aladambama — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:22:05 +0000

Actually, it’s the first *serious* song Townes ever wrote. He wrote several humorous talking blues in the early-to-mid ’60s, but Waitin’ was his first attempt at more serious matters.

By: Cadien

Cadien — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 09:18:45 +0000

Really enjoyed that, Drunkard. Definitely reminds me of West Texas. I can’t believe that’s the first song he wrote.