Townes Van Zandt and Blaze Foley from Austin Pickers 1984

townes suffered from depression. it's all over his face in this performance. it's almost painful to watch. he barely opens his eyes, his voice quivers, near tears, the guitar gets sloppy. through this, he creates a moment of unbearable beauty. i almost wish it hadn't been taped. but his voice with blaze foleys' is perfection.

Dee Dee Sharp-Goodnight My Love

i hum this song at least once a day.

Ronnie Lane. Ooh la la

i picked up a faces best of today and quickly learned that ronnie lane is the songwriter i've been looking for all my life.
really?
ronnie lane?

p.s. i know it cuts off a touch early but it's a great performance. isn't it?

townes van zandt-she came and she touched me

i had a series of bad dreams last night. i woke in a hateful mood.

i went for a walk in the park near me. my brain scanned and found this song.

She came and she touched me with hands made of heaven

reflections sent spinnin 'through a face laced in mist

Now I stand where she left me

buried deep 'neath her shadow

and the mirror plead sadly does it all come to this

and I wonder: Will she call my name?

The wind careens madly

through wide windows paneless

fragrancies mingle in a room full of shade

The peons pick partners

and waltz cross the ceilings

but the violins whisper that I've been betrayed

tryin not to look ashamed

The drunkards drink deeply

from cups full of nothingness

ghost lovers laugh at the games that they play

the moments do somersaults

into eternity

cling to their coattails and beg them to stay

saying I got nothing to hide

Illusions projected on walls made of Tiffany

mad menuets to a sad satin song

A harlequin mandolins

harmonize helplessly hoping that endlessly won't last for long

Praying that their God ain't dying

Then I turn and I see her

in a dress made of moonlight

teardrops like diamonds run slow down her face

her arms surround me

like chains made of velvet

and the demons fall faithfully into their place

and the rivers run with jewels

Now the morning lies open

the night went quite quickly

memory harmlessly fractures and fades

All the poets do push-ups on carpets of rubber foam

loudly they laugh at some joke that's been made

and the wise men speak like fools.

and i've felt better the rest of the day.

Richard Thompson - Shoot Out the Lights

i love a good breakup album, and "shoot out the lights" is one of the finest!
this song is harrowing. the solo is mind blowing. very un-thompson, noisy and angry. like his fingers are working against him, but he's still making a beautiful racket.
crazy.

They Might Be Giants - Lucky Ball and Chain

my fave tmbg song! no one makes you feel so good while making you feel so rotten. fellas after my own heart!

Clancy Brothers - The Band Played Waltzing Matilda

sometimes it's easy to forget we're at war.
a beautiful song. listen to it.