Townes Van Zandt
Townes Van Zandt (1969)I discovered Townes Van Zandt in college after a friend posted “For the Sake of the Song” on Facebook, embarrassingly enough. After listening to it, I downloaded the whole self-titled album.
It was a weird time in Birmingham, Ala. There was a stretch of months where a surprising amount of people I knew died, leaving a sad haze over the whole city. From the first listen, I knew that’s what Townes Van Zandt would remind me of – this lonely time in Birmingham.
Even though I’d never been to Texas, after listening to Townes Van Zandt I thought I knew what it felt like to be there. His version of it was like a road movie: mysterious, romantic, exciting, and isolated at the same time. A place where he couldn’t stay, but didn’t want to leave.
And even though all the songs were from the perspective of a disheveled and troubled and self-depreciative alcoholic man, I was still somehow jealous I hadn’t written them. He sang his poetry with an air of effortlessness. His lyrics sounded like the regrets of a ghost, and made me feel nostalgic for memories that hadn’t happened yet.
“I’ve got to kiss these lonesome Texas blues goodbye,” he sings in “Colorado Girl.”
Since moving here in August of 2013, I haven’t felt the mystery and gloominess Townes Van Zandt portrays in his songs. In my mind, I still see the skyline out of my Birmingham apartment window when I listen to him. I haven’t gotten the Texas blues by living in Texas, but I get them every time I listen to Townes Van Zandt.
The reissue of Caroline Says’ debut 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong was rated four stars in the Chronicle last month.
This article appears in September 1 • 2017.