Townes Van Zandt-If I Needed You from Austin Pickers 1984

[writersblock26]

Thank you for posting this, austinpickers.

[chayton1000]

Tony, it is good to see our old videos again!

[charleshenry1100]

Nobody was able, until now, to cover this beautiful song. It`s very special. It is not only a song, it is a cry for help. The help we all needed today also.

Thank you , to give me the chance to see this Video

[scubager23]

@IGnossos all i can say is that i am super jealous. If i could meet anyone live or dead it would most def be Townes.

[Cinnamombunz]

It's hilarious how folks try to figure Townes out and analyze him. He couldn't figure himself out, and he was 'analyzed' to hell and back. His stories were part of his schtick, and he'd vary them according to his mood or his audience. I think he considered them as much an offering as he did his songs, almost. I certainly did. They were like a gift he made up on the spot just for you. Townes had charm to burn, but I'm sure it wore thin on a day-to-day basis if you had to deal with the rest.

*¬◊

[markpallain]

@irelephant I'm sorry, please excuse my previous post. My response was indeed rude and I would like to correct it by saying that I disagree with you, though your opinion is just as valid as my own. Cheers.

[superskwrl]

Its interesting how he avoids talking directly about his heroin addiction by saying that he was really "sick" with some "asiatic flu" and that they had to go get "cough syrup" every day for it. And at 2:09 he refers to being homeless because of it and having to "sleep on the floor"

[jazzmanchgo]

Townes story No. 1:

I recommended to him that he check out the late Memphis vocalist James Carr, who had one of the most emotionally riveting voices ever.

Townes: "Who was he?"

Me: "Soul singer out of Memphis -- great vocalist, cut some classic sides, but had a nervous breakdown."

Townes (not missing a beat; wide-eyed and disingenuous): "Well, I DON'T BLAME HIM!!

[jazzmanchgo]

Townes story No. 2: Dressing room: he starts shaking, acting as if he's going to cry: 'I don't think . . . I can't . . . I can't DO this tonight. . ." We're all silent, wondering if we're witnessing a "Townes moment."

His manager rolls his eyes and stage-whispers: 'HE'S KIDDING!!!"

Which breaks the spell, and is enough to get Townes out of his act.

Kinda get the feeling he was probably a lot more fun to tell stories about than deal with on a daily basis. Genius, nonetheless.

[grandimagineer]

I think I was misunderstood regardless of how he wrote it. Guy Clark said Townes would work on a song until it was perfect. Then he would act like he just had wrote it and it was brand new.. He was such a charmer his storytelling is just sooo good . He is still one of my hero's

[pinchold]

the interviewer sounds so stupid. what a cow and moron with her "u-hms" and fake giggling and "a-has" She has no clue who she's interviewing.

[lGnossos]

lol he's so right about guns and drinks and everything else in dreams. I fuckin' love him.

[crc778Hypnodoc]

@lGnossos I was lucky enough to interview him on his last visit to the UK, for over an hour just before to took the stage at The Robin R&B club Dudley. He was such a total gentleman and as interested in me as I was in him. He was in recovery at the time and drunk only a Coke, and we talked right up to and still talking as he waked up to the stage, and gave two hours of himself to a captivated audience. Nicest man I ever met

Desi C

[dragonbhoy]

Grandimagineer is right. Townes was winding that girl up. He never dreamt that song. My dad was a very close friend of Townes and I know from him that he did not dream it. Townes is right though, it is a great little story about a song.

[StrongHeartLives]

I've woke up many times with music or melodies in my head from my dreams, but never a complete song that i had memorized already - and no way could i just go back to sleep without forgetting it forever. Truly Amazing!

[superskwrl]

@StrongHeartLives try some heroin and maybe you will!

[symewinston]

Beautiful, sad, heart wrenching. Poetry and music

[SvaStStNO]

"Lupe and Lil were parakeets."

[SvaStStNO]

"Lupe and Lil were parakeets."

[FastWieJesus]

I guess he´s at a better place now...

[mediatenow]

the dream man thinks top is heaven, next purgatory, then hell, then the blues and he wants to at least make it up to purgatory because it is like heaven to him in contrast

[ThreeChordGuitar]

The best there ever was.

[dblcliq]

The flautist is Donny Silverman - he played with Townes' band for a while back then, and is credited on a couple of songs; he still lives around Austin.

[jlnosnews]

flautist, we don't need you. no, still don't. stop it. okay. no, really. stop. stop all that trilly bullshit. it's country music. go back to jazz school.

[drivebytruckerz]

I was just thinking the EXACT same thing.. ruins everything!

[gringotroller]

@jlnosnews Go fuck yourself

[tablooze]

It's Ryan Bingham. Not Ryan Wingham.

[grandimagineer]

He was so full of it...best lie I have heard in a long time...and she fell for it.

Great song...but if you believe that is how he wrote it I have a bridge on the coast of Arizona. LOL He loved doing that..LOL

[800MileMonday]

@grandimagineer maybe he did or did not tell the truth, but songs, chords, melodies, and guitar parts come to me in dreams often and I don't see why it would not be the same with Townes.

[mrwildace]

"If I needed you", is the theme song for move "Crazy Heart" Jeff Bridges

[rangel917]

Actually the theme sone is "Weary Kind" by Ryan Wingham.

[TheRaconteur333]

The Man. I wish i had a medium throwing ax for that flutist, though, what a jerk.

[makavelishaman]

heroin? wtf?

[able421]

He was an alcoholic. but a hell of a song writer while it lasted.

[Ben5284]

why the flute? seriously.

[eniac78]

Flute totally effed it up. Takes the edge off. The songs better without any of those other chuckle heads. This isn't the mama's and the papa's.

[6eeyore9]

wow he's almost incoherent

[Panzon300]

A legend....RIP.

[kevkerry]

guys, heroin, medication, dreams, so what ? - it matters that the song came from a special place, not tin pan alley.

[buckbuck666]

the interview girl is cute lol

[primoozar]

he is so drunk in that interview

[Conine2525]

Beautiful song about a mans love for heroin

[markpallain]

you're wrong

[danielearp1]

It's Townes, get some knowledge.

[jmoss35976]

we'll never know but this really seems to be pure classic tvz bs

[newfiebygarge]

very nice,thanks for posting.

[DavidSpain69]

i wonder was this story one of his famous "tall tales" ..it sounds like a bit of an Irish ramble!

[stablejelly]

I think its all true, except the part about the dream..

[seau2007]

Many exceptional artists perform this song. What a tribute that is to Townes. But, I prefer his version which is pure and with his grace. Like Willy, Towne is the only one who can really sing his own songs.

[Thomasbox180]

Such a beautiful song - Love Lyle Lovetts version though it's magic to hear Townes perform it...

[miatoad727]

Townes must have felt the pain of life so strongly, the alcohol, etc. was his desperate escape from the pain. Just hearing his music pains my soul, I can't imagine having that music inside me. I can forgive him his vices.

[ladywharton]

Thanks for this.  I saw Townes live twice at Godfrey Daniel's in Bethlehem, PA. Such a humble man. People are not humble anymore and that is one thing wrong with our society today.

[crc778Hypnodoc]

I met Townes in England in 1984 when I interviewed him, most inspiring hour of my musical life, he was clean at the time from both drugs and alcohol though he often relapsed. He was without doubt the most unassuming gentlest human being I ever met, and his concert that night was recieved in total silence by a spellbound audience, lovely man and an incredible if tortured talent r.i.p Townes. I now do some of his songs as a tribute

[seau2007]

You are so fortunate to have met Townes. Many many thanks for this. Last year I discovered this song in the movie "Off the Black" with Nick Nolte. Love the picture but when they played the credits I had a connection to Townes song. So much so that when my father (87) passed last year I created a visual tribute to his life and career. This was the music i used to accompany it. Many thanks again for posting it.

[studiogorilla]

Guy Clark, that Townes was staying with when he wrote this song, just cut this song for his upcoming album. Should come out sometime this summer ('09).

[christinesshadows]

Fact of the matter is everyone has to die and some point. It's a part of life.

Towns was a complex soul and a beautiful complex soul. Yes, he was an alcoholic

but Townes the alcoholic did more for me musically that any tea-totaler I'd ever met.

You don't think being on the Internet 40 hours a week ain't self-medication?

[christinesshadows]

Loop and Lill (in the last verse) were two little parakeets Towns took everywhere. One day Loop flew out the window and Towns was distraught because he could not find him anywhere. Lill dies a couple weeks later, Townes said od a broken heart.

[SvendBosanvovski]

Some of mankinds greatest achievements were accomplished by people who didn't feel quite right at the time', either becuase of physical or mental disability, or dependency on physical substances. Without them, our world would be so much poorer. I don't drink or takes drugs, and dont consider myself 'superiro to those who do either to excess. It is apparent that Townes was an exceptionally gifted song writer, and others will maintain his legacy when the rest of us have followed him to the grave.

[hill1916]

Sean keane is the only singer to make justice foe this song.

[doggskull]

I didn't mean it as an insult - So take your chill-pill and have a Shirley Temple on me.

[doggskull]

Drunks always make the best singer-songwriters, they seem to dig a bit deeper than normal.

[CliveBarnesMusic]

That is the most bullshit thing to say ever...I can't even begin to tell you where your wrong............

[KoroOutbreak]

He didn't exactly say it right. What he meant is that people who drink tend to do so to cope with the difficulty of being immensely creative people in a society that generally doesn't give a shit, and to deal with the inherent neuroses that comes with being a good writer. That's just the truth of it. There's a lot of ways to deal with it, drugs, alcohol, therapy, God, but it never goes away.

[ewoldt]

Thank you for your explanation. Some of the smartest and most creative people I know are alcoholics. They drink to "normalize" themselves.

[jakobbattick]

This is foolishness, drunks and sober people can both be equally adept at songwriting, and "normalizing" yourself is foolishness, is takes true strength to just stand up and accept yourself for who you are, and then to let the rest of the world do the same thing.

[KoroOutbreak]

Self-medicating is often a tragic part of the artist's life, though not the process of making art, as you've interpreted it. You are taking this to mean that drunk people are good at songwriting because they drink, which is wrong. It's that certain kinds of people engage in these activities out of a feeling of inner necessity. You might call it "self-medication," the fact is that neuroses, which sometimes goes so well with substance abuse, is very often part of the creative process.

[ApplebaumHorselover]

Well no one want to here you moan like a bitch for 6 minutes and 16 seconds.....

[parafleet]

poor guy.  we're all gifted in some way. i'd rather hendrix became the best garbage man than a dead young artist; i'd rather townes became anything than a dead-drunk-hurt musician. god bless him, god heal him-not hurt him.

[RussellK9]

great comment Ariel, ♫♪♫♪☺

[OsvaldoPaese]

I don't know man...i mean...they weren't just musician's..they were excellent at what they did...therefore the music is timeless....  I don't think it's fair to make a comment like that.

[parafleet]

maybe live a few more years and you'll get what i'm saying. you're a miracle; your art is a miracle. don't kill yourself for your art. godbless.

[Dippides]

Townes didn't kill himself.

[FreshWaterOtters]

Townes is all over the place here.....strange..

what a tallent though...

[devofromoslo]

Townes is the real thing!

Ugh!

[zep790]

townes is great because (among many reasons) regardless of how you like the accompaniment, his voice just refuses to sing a bad song. he always sounds great! how is that possible??

[evegpt]

A great talent gone too soon.

[birdiejoehoaks]

this is probably my least favourite recording of this song.

such a talented writer though

[samuelbiehl]

He is pretty drunk at the time. His words are slightly slurred.

[mrlowdangle]

is it just me? or does having really bad flu and taking it in turns to go and get 'medicine' sound like a TV interview friendly way of saying 'taking it in turns to go meet the dealer and get what we so badly need' ?

fantastic song

[ronrutherford]

The cough syrup he's referring to had codeine in it, which was still legal over the counter at the time. References his love for it in Waiting Around to Die also...

[jbbutterfield]

thanx 4 the comment jkoff. how do u mean " tell the truth"? Do u mean write songs about the bigots that infest the music industry a la sex pistols, or let the bitterness fuel my writing? I await your reply.

[medicinesocks]

i sure hope you got some further truths than those to tell with your music... is bitterness the only taste that's real to you? have you known no sweetness in your life? no salt of the earth for you? no spice of life? nothing but sour grapes? nothing true that wasn't angry?

[jbbutterfield]

somebody asked me the other day, who my favourite songwriter was! I was wasting my time!your average music listener where i live only react 2 chart stuff. one can perform the finest of songs but if the audience don't know it they won't even try 2 understand!

[karmafix68]

that's the pop infested world we live in. sometimes the best things are virtually ignored.

[jbbutterfield]

iv'e got a record deal and reviews in national magazines, american tours under my belt ( inc texas), i'm not saying i'm the best but i can't get a kick of the ball in my home town and surrounding area.2 much cartel/ pop mentality... thanx 4 the comment

[jkoff76]

why don't you just focus on writing songs that tell the truth, and youll be fine

[HIGRecords]

I had a dream that I showed Townes how to play this song. And when I woke up, it was the right chords. I'd never known how to play it before I had that dream last summer.

[TheMasterDisney]

Doc Watson recorded it but Townes wrote it.

[Heavyg76]

I thought doc watson wrote that song? anybody now?

[Agamenticus]

Get counseling ?, LOL, there's never been a great poem/song written while levelled out on xanex or wellbutrin.

it's the high, low, and in betweens that tell the story.

[slompappy]

adreatic flu lol

[Skyhawk808]

interesting to watch him make this up as he goes along...lupe and lil were parakeets in his Houston apartment

[dukemarlow]

im pretty sure he is telling the truth

[ftwelve12]

Guy Clark has said the story's true

[Skyhawk808]

I heard about the parakeets from Townes, on a porch in Austin about 73. Who's to say...

[dca9385]

Always my favorite Townes song.

I have had dream like this and I am sure you have too.  But honestly, just watching and listening to this seems like a dream to me! I love you Townes!

I do need you!

[Rhondalove]

What a treasure. Thank you for sharing.

[barflew]

The fabulous singer,songwriter Mickey Newbury said "Townes VanZandt will one day be recognized as the greatest American songwriter".

[amistars]

No, not a mental case...just another friend of the demon rum and the devil opiate. "there but for the grace of God go I"- No?

[RossM3838]

Its a tragedy that Townes never got it together. But his best songs reflect his deep psychiatric problems. That was also the case with Tim Hardin, Gene Clark, Gram Parsons and Tim Buckley.

[rayrgm9]

It is what it is.... one of the greatest song writers and performers. No one would ever tell Van Gogh to get counselling, the fine line between genius and madness should be constantly blurred.

[criticalmass1234]

man love him but such a mental case tho

[Froike]

Agreed...one of the great song writers!

[Plinblox]

'Highway Kind' is one of the most valuable songs ever written for humanity. I'm sorry, Townes, that you couldn't find a way to bear it here.

[hollywoodhayride]

yes, he surely needed something. and it never came.

[invs762724]

anybody know if he wrote something called the talking candy bar blues?

[starlight1946]

This is my favorite song.

[ReaganD]

If I Needed You is one of personal loves when it comes to songs. Townes I hope where ever you are that you can see and hear all the love that folks like me have for you.

[SLEEPY7070]

I love Townes Van Zandt, but he needed some counseling.

[ReaganD]

Townes is my favorite singer/songwriter of the last 43 years. I play folksongs and write them as he does. Yet, I pray to God above that I can write one just one half as good as he did on his worest days.

Your life was hard Townes I hope you know where ever you are now how much love you gave to us all here on earth!

[emangevine]

I love Townes. Too bad he couldn't hold it together.

[arno1914]

A poet , a musician , a great guy -

thanks a lot for posting !

[christianward]

So beautiful as is his Spirit he will always be with us and so beautiful how this came about He truly was and always will be special

[bluepianocat]

I adore this man! The best music I've ever listened to!

Oh, and by the way, I was born in 1980 :-)

[mikejohn99]

check out don williams and emmy lou,s version does justice

[tnb35]

tis is my favorite song nowdays

thanks

[RussellK9]

Wow, what a gem to see Townes Van Zandt here. This song is his anthem in my view,(with Pancho & Lefty 2nd). Van Zandt was a great songwriter/folksinger of the older tradition, and left a legacy of great songs and inspired musicians of all ilks. I particularly like Lyle Lovett doing justice to this song too :)

[jpostelnek]

townes on youtube...i can't get my jaw off the floor. what a privelege to see this. thanks.

[htownaloha]

I LIKE HBOMB!

[jam1109]

Im convinced that all todays stupid Nashville "hat acts" secretly know that on their best day they couldnt write a song one onehundreth as good as Townes' worst song.

[irateleshi]

Great version of the song, and an interesting interview.

Thanks so much for this.

[cotterperson]

FIP, Townes. Thanks for this austinpickers.

[OmarTheEconomist]

Thank you for all your footage, it is great.