Cowboy Junkies: Townes Van Zandt well covered

a compilation of Townes Van Zandt songs covered live by the Cowboy Junkies


Townes' Blues - Written by Michael Timmins about touring with Townes Van Zandt
Cowboy Junkies Lament - Written by Townes Van Zandt during the time before Black Eyed Man when Townes' was opening for the Junkies shows.
Blue Guitar - Part of the lyrics (Goodbye to the highway, goodbye to the sky, I'm headed out, goodbye, goodbye) are from an unfinished song by Townes Van Zandt(lyrics by Townes Van Zandt and Michael Timmins,music by Michael Timmins ).

'If I Needed You' is listed in the http://www.junkiesfan.com/Song_Database.htm
as 'In Concert Only - Never Released';
no sources with the song are listed in the db.etree database


01.Townes' Blues (The Fillmore, San Francisco 2004-08-15)
02.Cowboy Junkies Lament (Hoyt Sherman Auditorium, Des Moines 2000-02-09)
03.Highway Kind (Kleine Musikhalle, Hamburg 2001-10-26)
04.Waitin' Around To Die (Borders Bookstore, Chicago 2001-05-19)
05.Rake > Flyin' Shoes > Marie (El Rey Theater, Los Angeles 2007-04-11)
06.Lungs (The Kent Stage, Kent 2006-10-26)
07.To Live Is To Fly (The Pageant Theatre, St. Louis 2004-08-03)
08.Blue Guitar (Blue Jordan Music Festival, Sharonville 2000-09-16)

Waitin' Around To Die 2001-05-19 is hissy, it's the only source in circulation

Cowboy Junkies are :

Margo Timmins - vocals
Michael Timmins - guitars
Peter Timmins - drums
Alan Anton - bass

always supported by Jeff Bird - mandolin, electric mandolin, harmonica, percussion
occasional supported by Jaro Czerwinec - accordion
occasional supported by Karin Bergquist - vocals, acoustic guitar and Linford Detweiler - keyboards


Thanks to the Cowboy Junkies for being the Cowboy Junkies and for being taper friendly !
Thanks to all the tapers for recording and sharing the live performances !
Thanks to archive org for hosting the Live Music Archive !
archive.org/details/CowboyJunkies

compilation edited in December 2012 by wobbegong
fade in/out added and different track levels adjusted with wavepad sound editor, sbe fixed with tlh

Never for sale !
Support the artists by attending live shows and buying their official releases and merchandise
latentrecordings.com/cowboyjunkies
townesvanzandt.com

The Nomad Series book and Nomad Series cd and vinyl box sets are now available from
latentrecordings.com/cowboyjunkies
=======================================
01.Townes Blues 2004-08-15 sourced from
archive.org/details/cj2004-08-15.flac16
taped by Steve Brown

02.Cowboy Junkies Lament 2000-02-09 sourced from
archive.org/details/cj2000-02-09.DesMoinesIA
taped by Bryan Roy

03.Highway Kind 2001-10-26 sourced from
archive.org/details/cj2001-10-26.shnf
taped by Christian Spiess

04.Waiting Around To Die 2001-05-19 sourced from
archive.org/details/cj2001-05-19.shnf
WXRT FM source, transfered by Doug Moog

05.Rake-Flyin Shoes-Marie 2007-04-11 sourced from
archive.org/details/cj2007-04-11
taped by Jeff Lester

06.Lungs 2006-10-26 sourced from
archive.org/details/cj2006-10-26.moog.flac16
taped by Doug Moog

07.To Live Is To Fly 2004-08-03 sourced from
archive.org/details/cj2004-08-03.flac16
taped by Shane E. Calhoon

08.Blue Guitar 2000-09-16 sourced from
archive.org/details/cj2000-09-16.flac16
taped by Doug Nawrocki


Thanks to all the tapers !

---

lyrics and info from http://www.junkiesfan.com/Song_Database.htm
---------------------------------------------------------

Townes' Blues
(Michael Timmins )

You're clean as
a widow woman's washboard, son,
stick it in the wind.
Put the mountains to your back
the great plains on your grille
time to take a little spin.
Boulder looks like the type of town
that I could spend some time,
but in Houston they got our name in lights.
You're clean as
a widow woman's washboard, son,
the slab is yours tonight.

Townes is in the back lounge
with his hands in his pocket
pulls out two dice and says, Let's get at it.

Salina in the headlights, snake eyes on the floor,
Al drops another twenty, Pete heads for the door,
Springer's feeling lucky, sits down for a spell,
Oklahoma City and he's lost his last bill
Jeff is in a bind waiting on sister hicks
seven comes a-calling
as we cross on into Texas.

Townes is in the back lounge
with a fist full of fives
he says, It's a little bit long
but I'm enjoying this ride.

Be careful with the dice
when you're surrounded by others
with boxcars in their eyes.
Never count your winnings at hour 23
of a 24-hour drive.
Remember that you're not the one
calling the tune
that's making those diamonds dance
or you'll be clean as
a widow woman's washboard, son,
and those are the facts.

Townes is in the back lounge
cursing at them bones
he says, ain't this fool ever heard of Raton.
---------------------------------------------
Released on LP/CD :
Black Eyed Man (1992)
Waltz Across America (2000)
BBC Radio One Sessions (2002)
In The Time Before Llamas (2003)
================================

Cowboy Junkies Lament
(Townes Van Zandt - Townes Van Zandt Music ASCAP)

Baby hit the back door
breathin' real heavy
said the boys in the alley
wouldn't leave her alone.
Mama did her make-up in a terrible hurry
she finally got ready
but the boys were gone.
Mama don't you worry,
night's approachin'
there's a hole in heaven
where some sin slips through
just close your eyes and dream real steady
maybe just a little will spill on you.

Dark don't lie
Dreams come true
Could be a few will see you through

Old lady Rose, lookin' down her nose
at lonely Miss Lily hiding in the hall.
Lily's just praying for the trial to be over
lady Rose just waiting for the axe to fall.
Show me off on the way to town
the sky's still shiny
and the earth's still brown.
Tell the judge I'm ready for the vases
gonna dance in their faces
when the guitar sounds.

Won't be long
I won't be gone
Been leaning toward the shadows all along

Those in the know say so it goes
you plan on reapin', you better sow.
You plan on sleepin',
you better keep movin'
sleepin' ain't allowed around here,
you know.

Tell me please when the rolling's over
Me and my baby going to have some fun
Bury our backs in a bed of clover
Smile in style while the sun goes down

Snake eyes cry
Boxcars sigh
Seven's stuck in the middle
just wonderin' why

Dark don't lie
Dreams come true
All it takes is one or two
Maybe just a few will see you through
-------------------------------------
Released on LP/CD :
Black Eyed Man (1992)
Best of Cowboy Junkies (2001)
=============================

Highway Kind
(Townes Van Zandt)

My days they are the highway kind
They only come to leave
But the leavin' I don't mind
It's the comin' that I crave
Pour the sun upon the ground
Stand to throw a shadow
watch it grow into a night
and fill a spinnin' sky.

Time among the pine trees
It felt like breath of air
usually I just walk these streets
and tell myself to care
sometimes I believe me
sometimes I don't hear
sometimes the shape I'm in
Won't let me go.

I don't know too much for true
but my heart knows how to pound
my legs know how to love someone
my voice knows how to sound
shame that it's not enough
shame that it is a shame
follow the circle down
where would you be

You're the only one I want
and I've never heard your name
Let's hope we meet someday
if we don't it's all the same
I'll meet the ones between us
be thinkin' 'bout you
all the places I have seen
and why you were not there.
---------------------------
Released on LP/CD :
POET: a tribute to Townes van Zandt (2001)
Open Road DVD (2002)
'neath your covers, part 2 (2008)
=================================

Waitin' Around To Die
(Townes Van Zandt)

Sometimes I don't know where this dirty road is taking me
Sometimes I can't even see the reason why
I guess I keep on gamblin',
lots of booze and lots of ramblin'
It's easier than just a-waitin' 'round to die.

One-time friends I had a ma, I even had a pa
He beat her with a belt once cause she cried
She told him to take care of me,
she headed down to Tennessee
It's easier than just a-waitin' 'round to die.

I came of age and found a girl in a Tuscaloosa bar
She cleaned me out and hit it on the sly
I tried to kill the pain,
I bought some wine and hopped a train
Seemed easier than just a-waitin' 'round to die.

A friend said he knew where some easy money was
We robbed a man and brother did we fly
The posse caught up with me,
took me back to Muskogee
It's two long years, just a-waitin' 'round to die.

Now I'm out of prison, I got me a friend at last
He don't steal or cheat or drink or lie
His name is codeine, he's the sweetest thing I've seen
Together we're gonna wait around and die.
-----------------------------------------
In Concert Only - Never Released
================================

Rake
(Townes Van Zandt)

I used to wake and run with the moon
I lived like a rake and a young man
I covered my lovers with flowers and wounds
my laughter the devil would frighten
The sun she would come and beat me back down
but every cruel day had its nightfall
I'd welcome the stars with wine and guitars
full of fire and forgetful

My body was sharp the dark air clean
and outrage my joyful companion
whisperin' women how sweet did they seem
kneelin' for me to command them
And time was like water but I was the sea
I'd have never noticed it passin'
except for the turnin' of night into day
and the turnin' of day into cursin'

You look at me now, and don't think I don't know
what all your eyes are a sayin'
Does he want us to believe these ravings and lies
they're just tricks that his brains been a playin'?
A lover of women he can't hardly stand
he trembles he's bent and he's broken
I've fallen it's true but I say unto you
hold your tongues until after I've spoken

I was takin' my pride in the pleasures I'd known
I laughed and thought I'd be forgiven
but my laughter turned 'round eyes blazing and
said my friend, we're holdin' a wedding
I buried my face but it spoke once again
the night to the day we're a bindin'
and now the dark air is like fire on my skin
and even the moonlight is blinding
----------------------------------
Released on LP/CD :
'neath your covers, part 2 (2007)
Acoustic Junk CD (2009)
Acoustic Junk (2009)
====================

Flyin' Shoes
(Townes Van Zandt)

Days full of rain
skys comin' down again
I get so tired
of these same old blues
same old song
Baby, it won't be long
'fore I be tyin' on
my flyin' shoes
flyin' shoes
till I be tyin' on
my flyin' shoes

Spring only sighed
summer had to be satisfied
fall is a feelin' that I just can't lose.
I'd like to stay
maybe watch a winter day
turn the green water
to white and blue
flyin' shoes
flyin' shoes
till I be tyin' on
my flyin' shoes

The mountain moon
forever sets too soon
bein' alone is all the hills can do
alone and then
her silver sails again
and they will follow
in their flyin' shoes
flyin' shoes
they will follow in their
flyin' shoes

Days full of rain
skys comin' down again
I get so tired
of the same old blues
same old song
Baby, it won't be long
till I be tyin' on
my flyin' shoes
flyin' shoes
till I be tyin' on
my flyin' shoes
------------------
Released on LP/CD :
'neath your covers, part 2 (2007)
=================================

Marie
(Townes Van Zandt)


I stood in line and left my name
took about six hours or so
the man just grinned like it was all a game
said they�d let me know
I put in my time till the pocono line
shut down two years ago
I was staying at the mission till I met Marie
Now I can�t stay there no more

Fella �cross town said he�s lookin� for a man
to move some old cars around
Maybe me and Marie could find a burned-out
van and do a little settlin� down
But I�m just dreamin�, I ain�t got no ride
and the junkyard�s a pretty good ways
that job�s about a half week old besides
It�d be gone now anyway

Unemployment said I got no more checks
and they showed me to the hall
My brother died in Georgia some time ago
I got no one left to call
Summer wasn�t bad below the bridge
A little short on food that�s all
Now I gotta get Marie some kind of coat
We�re headed down into fall

I used to play the mouth harp pretty good
used to hustle up a little dough
But I got drunk and I woke up rolled
A couple of months ago
They got my harp and they got my dollar
them low life so and so�s
Harps cost money and I ain�t got it
It�s my own fault I suppose

The pocono�s down but the chesapeak�s runnin�
Two freights everyday
If it was just me I�d be headed south
But Marie can�t catch no train
She�s got some pain and she thinks it�s a baby,
Says we gotta wait and see
In my heart I know it�s a little boy
Hope he don�t end up like me

Well, the man�s still grinnin� says he lost my file
I gotta stand in line again
I want to kill him but I just say no
I had enough of that line my friend
I head back to the bridge, it�s getting kinda cold
I�m feelin� too low down to lie
I guess I�ll just tell Marie the truth
Hope she don�t break down and cry

Marie she didn�t wake up this morning
She didn�t even try
She just rolled over and went to heaven
My little boy safe inside
I laid them in the sun where somebody�d find them
Caught a chesapeak on the fly
Marie will know I�m headed south
So�s to meet me by and by

Marie will know I�m headed south
So to meet me by and by
-----------------------
Released on LP/CD :
'neath your covers, part 2 (2007)
=================================

Lungs
(Townes Van Zandt)

Won't you lend your lungs to me?
Mine are collapsing.
Plant my feet and bitterly breathe
up the time that's passing.
Breath I'll take and breath I'll give
pray the day's not poison
stand among the ones that live
in lonely indecision.

Fingers walk the darkness down
mind is on the midnight.
Gather up the gold you've found
you fool, it's only moonlight.
If you try to take it home
your hands will turn to butter.
You better leave this dream alone
try to find another.

Salvation sat and crossed herself
and called the devil partner.
Wisdom burned upon a shelf
who'll kill the raging cancer.
Seal the river at its mouth
take the water prisoner.
Fill the sky with screams and cries
bathe in fiery answers.

Jesus was an only son
and love his only concept.
Strangers talk in foreign tongues
and dirty up the doorstep
and I for one, and you for two
ain't got the time for outside.
Just keep your injured looks to you
we'll tell the world we tried

Keep your injured looks to you
we'll tell the world we tried.
------------------------------
Released on LP/CD :
First Recollection CD Single (1994)
'neath your covers, part 1 (2004)
'neath your covers, part 2 (2008)
=================================

To Live is to Fly
(Townes Van Zandt -Columbine Music ASCAP)

Won't say I love you babe.
Won't say I need you babe.
But I'm going to get you babe
and I will not do you wrong.
Living's mostly wasting time
and I waste my share of mine
but it never feels too good
so let's not take too long.
You're as soft as glass and I'm a gentle man
we got the sky to talk about
and the world to lie upon.

Days up and down they come
like rain on a conga drum
forget most, remember some
but don't turn none away.
Everything is not enough
nothing is too much to bear
where you been is good and gone
all you keep's the getting there.
To live is to fly low and high
so shake the dust off of your wings
and the sleep out of your eyes.

It's goodbye to all my friends.
It's time to go again.
Think of all the poetry
and the pickin' down the line.
I'll miss the system here
the bottom's low and the treble's clear
but it don't pay to think too much
on the things you leave behind.
I may be gone but I won't be long
I'll be bringing back the melody
and the rhythm that I find.

We all got holes to fill
and them holes are all that's real
some fall on you like a storm
sometimes you dig your own.
But choice is yours to make
time is yours to take
some dive into the sea
some toil upon the stone.
To live is to fly low and high
so shake the dust off of your wings
the sleep out of your eyes.
---------------------------
Released on LP/CD :
Black Eyed Man (1992)
Best of Cowboy Junkies (2001)
=============================

Blue Guitar
(lyrics by Townes Van Zandt and Michael Timmins,
music by Michael Timmins )

I wish I had a blue guitar,
a blue guitar to play all night long.
Singing songs of loss and love
Singing songs till morning comes.

Ghosts in the basement
screams from the kitchen
I tell you folks I think I'm leaving.
Seems I can already here the door slammin'
I tell you folks I think I'm leavin'.

Goodbye to the highway
goodbye to the sky
I'm headed out goodbye, goodbye.
Goodbye to the highway
goodbye to the sky
I'm headed out goodbye, goodbye.

I wish I had a blue guitar,
a blue guitar to play all night long.
I wish I had a blue guitar,
a blue guitar to let you know somehow
you are not needed now.
-----------------------
Released on LP/CD :
Miles From Our Home (1998)
Waltz Across America (2000)
Live in Toronto 10 17 2000 VHS (2001)
Open (Japan Only) (2001)
============================
all records are available at

latentrecordings.com/cowboyjunkies