Townes Van Zandt - To Live Is To Fly (live)

[snakey973]

Wow...powerful songwriting--

[Wampusdude]

The penultimate verse is quoted in the 1/1/12 Houston Chronicle section G...a story about the Big Tree, the big Live Oak on Lamar Peninsula. it's worth looking up for the sideways perspective from Townses soul. "chron dot com"  Story name is "Firmly Rooted"

[Wampusdude]

The penultimate verse is quoted in the 1/1/1q

[tubeyas57]

Please, don't be hatin'

[matoler]

This is an amazing song! But I wish that YouTube had a way to indicate which videos were simply sound over an unchanging image or, for that matter, sound over random slides, vs. performance or actual official music videos or narrative music videos.

[Ferretsong]

1 Person has Dust in his Soul

[guitarhead2k2]

pro·lif·ic/prəˈlifik/

Adjective:

(of a plant, animal, or person) Producing much fruit or foliage or many offspring.

(of an artist, author, or composer) Producing many works

[writersblock26]

Thank you for posting this, timhart25.

[MrCrossley29]

You gotta admit its a little frustrating especially for anyone who has ever dabbled in songwriting. Townes has like 10 lines in this one song that you could buy and start a new song with but for him its not wasteful because it flows so easy through him. I am so thankful the Avett Brothers turned me on to him as one of their influences. I used to listen to the radio and think I knew what music was.

[Skwerrlly]

This is the song that made me fall in love with his music,a simple melody and awesome lyrics!I've been trying to find a video of him singing this song,if anybody can steer me to one,let me know

[a77white]

NOSTRA 1999 DAMUS 9111 ~“Feeling”~ ~“led”~ almost ~“compelled”~ to ~“write”~ my(free)~“book”~ ~”DIVINE 9/11 INTERVENTON”~@ LOVEGODISLOVEdotORG ~“thusly”~ I ~“discovered”~ a ~“77”~ ~“alignment”~ of ~“seven...”~'s ~“hidden”~ in the book of ~“Revelation”~! Do you think ~“this”~ ~“physical evidence”~ of ~“Spiritual Intelligence”~(i.e.~“God”~)mig­ht cause more of ~“us”~ to sit up and take notice of what it ~“truly”~ means to ~“Love thy neighbour as thyself.”~! Watch “The Curtain is Moving Again” here

[LJH70122]

Hauntingly beautiful. Pure poetry .

[ZechariahFive]

Back in '97 this came on the folk station and I picked up my guitar and started playing along with it, but the song ended and another one came on and I had to leave, so I never found out who it was, but that one song influenced me for the next 10 years, until my buddy said "hey come to SE Texas, their playing your music down here." I did..we heard Townes' name around soon after and picked up Live @ Old 1/4 and I heard this again. it was never my music.. we were all playing Townes.God bless TVZ..

[morleydotes666]

a man alone. when the end comes, that's all we are.

[mmgb26]

My favourite song of all time

[weegleflip]

forget most, remember some, but don't turn none away...

[textech00]

another great one from TVZ

[Caper1986]

quite possibly the best song ever

[Caper1986]

quite possibly the best song ever

[Aleesh123]

@Caper1986 You might be right. Pretty special.

[fergmc]

beautiful

[FallenAngelCorp]

My uncle townes! great to see the love being given to him here on youtube!

[TWolf7000]

one of my favs ever... :)

[flatonia]

For me this is Townes at his best. It's the intimate setting of a live solo concert where TVZ comes through most clearly. Is this from Live at the Old Quarter?

[brucethehack]

We got the sky to talk about

and the earth to lie upon.

[verbaud]

In the bar, you can be Iron Maiden, or Elvis, or Mick Jagger, whatever..., but when you stumble home alone, and grab your guitar, and write a song at 3am at the kitchen table, you're always going to be somewhere between Mickey Newbury and Townes van Zandt or Lyle Lovett and John Prine, because it's only you and your heart sitting there and nobody else to brag to, and then your dreams take flight.

[LRooster4Prez]

@verbaud well said.

[LRooster4Prez]

@verbaud You forgot ian Tyson, and a bottle of bourbon on the kitchen table

[DurbanpoisonXskunk]

@verbaud Very very Profound, no pun intended... love This Artist

[TheWarped45s]

One of our biggest influences . I was at a friends wedding reception last night and author Ray Robertson recited this song as a toast and half the room joined in . That's the sign of it's greatness. Musicians will keep this song around forever.

[TallFastLoud]

He has a way of saying cliched, even mundane things, in a way that's so pretty and just...not eloquent but just like "I know exactly what he means but I can't put it so succinctly and poetically." The line "shake the dust off your wings and the sleep out of your eyes" sounds like the best epitaph ever

[wassupyall]

amazing. what a talent. wow.

[lizzyvance]

I just found out week ago who he is. I really like him a lot. His music is really touching.

[annielaurie66]

What another great Fort Worth,Texas talent. His family was won of the great developers / Pioneer's of Fort Worth. A real Cattle Baron who put Fort Worth on the map! Were so proud of the late, great Mr. Townes Van Zandt!

[amytyree503]

you played a beautiful song and showed a picture, wow, give townes his own

[pkallen58]

This song's title is on his grave. Please don't comment if you don't respect the man and what a gift his music was and still is!

[CTFeil]

@pkallen58 I've also been blessed with the opportunity to pay my respects to Townes. Had to leave a guitar pick as a token of my appreciation for everything that he has done for quality music.

[pkallen58]

I saw him open for the Cowboy Junkies in Springfield, Mass. He's an unknown legend, and his songs were all covered by his admirers. RIP TVZ. :'-(

[brucethehack]

I'm learning this. Gonna play it at the Old Quarter in Galveston

[cbkspa]

.... : )

[TheKingzCastle]

To live's to fly low and high!!!!!! Somebody rub my back if I start to cry, I love this soooooong!!!

[Alphabex8]

my favorite acoustic singers are Townes and Mason Jennings. i wouldn't be surprised if mason glued his ears to his singing

[GJI90]

ive just discovered Townes van Zandt, Im twenty years old and its almost like I can feel his life experiences when i hear this song. His passion is unmatched, and his music has made so many things that have already happened in my life sink in even more, im not saying that I cant do this myself but we all know how music can change our perspective on our surroundings. Beautiful song, its my song for my girlfriend as well as myself.

[grg34b]

@GJI90 i hear ya man i heard live at the old quarter for the first time when i was in school. Then didn't listen to it again for like five years and it basically changed my life.

[dubbedcrazy]

@GJI90 you're a better man than i...i'm 41 and just recently discovered him!

you've restored my faith in young people thanks! *_*

p.s. i like Dylan a lot too

[maggiesfolkfarm]

where you been is good and gone

all you keep is the gettin' there

Blew me away

[mepaleoindian]

It's goodbye to all my friends It's time to leave again Here's to all the poetry And the pickin' down the line I'll miss the system here The bottom's low and the trebble's clear But it don't pay to think too much On things you leave behind Well, I may be gone, awe, 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

[sinsilverpiano]

pure genius. Only getting to know Townes and he continues to blow my mind.

[everydog9]

Townes sits at the side of God now. I miss my friend and poet.

[efbeckley]

take that bob dylan- townes is the best there ever will be!

[zimmyfan115]

Thanks for this song on YouTube. I really like Townes. He died too young. Great talent.

Ron

[bdrawers]

Unfortunately for many the gentle simplicity of the lyrics will be lost...........Not surprising in a world that requires a 'mask of complexity' to help support an overwhelming need to feel important......m

[gdkeen]

every line in this song is composed of the most beautifully honest words ever spoken.

this song makes me want to believe in god, or at least have faith in humanity or some kind of sappy bullshit like that.

townes van zandt was a prophet of something, anyway, and i believe in that...

[TheBlackrobin]

@gdkeen Ha-Ha! Totally agree I just get wet eyes like a big sissy

[mysmellydog]

@gdkeen Just believe in people. More are decent than not.

[dewittguero]

Couldn't agree with you more gdkeen!! EVERY line in this song could easily be some of the deepest, and yet the most simplest lines EVER written in ANY song!! Is there even another singer/songwriter, dead or alive, close enough to Townes' level to fairly compare him to? John Prine? Guy Clark? Steve Goodman?

[msstevie1951]

Rocker53zero,this is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard in my life.Thank you for sharing it with me,it means more than you know. The words are deep and very gentle ,like you are xo

[jumpin0]

...<3 Thanks!

[Pickininvt]

"Where you been is good and gone, all you keep is the getting there"....that my friends is prolific songwriting.

[jkiparsk]

@Pickininvt

No, that's good songwriting. Prolific is easy, even Dylan manages that. Good is another thing entirely.

[harshtimey]

@Pickininvt While Townes was a prolific songwriter, a line is not an example of being prolific. If you need a dictionary I can loan you one?

[DookNun]

@harshtimey I was just thinking the same thing!!!

[leebuchanan]

@harshtimey And "If you need a dictionary I can loan you one?" doesn't take a question mark. It's a statement. Sorry, but you need to be more careful if you're going to correct grammar.

[Jwo32]

@leebuchanan its not a question of grammar - he misunderstood the definition of 'prolific'.

[medicineman319]

@harshtimey I tihnk the implication is, being such a prolific songwriter has allowed him to hone his skills to the point where he can drop such simple and masterful lines with ease.

[armiller4215]

@Pickininvt prolific means many. I think you are confused.

[Pickininvt]

@armiller4215 pro·lif·ic/prəˈlifik/

Adjective: 1. (of a plant, animal, or person) Producing much fruit or foliage or many offspring. 2. (of an artist, author, or composer) Producing many works.

[ppaisley]

A masterpiece!

[carstens001]

Every-time I hear this it sends shivers down my spine

[jimdlu]

Hey timhart25,could you put on "Rex's blues"from the 'live at the old quarter',thanks

[paleo52]

Townes---you went away to soon----RIP bro----we miss you

[jaybowcott]

this dude rulez.

[joac01]

The best of all time in writing meaningful lyrics.

[1994g0]

@joac01 Gettin` a little carried away aren`t ya`?A good songster yes.But nowhere near the best of all time at writing lyrics.

[LovetheVayne]

"Well i maybe gone, but wont be long. i'll be bringin back the melody and the rythm that i find"

Can you believe his father wanted him to be a lawyer. I am so thankful that he followed his own path.

There is no science to explain how he came up with this music. It's once in a great while lightning strikes. Just wish i could have know before he moved on down the road.

[princessofhesse]

townes came from a very prominent family in Texas, his grandfather was governor and Van Zandt County is named for his family, i imagine they had plans for him the, in their opinion, reflected better on their family history.....i was born and raised in TX, a state that has given us many musical joys...

[LovetheVayne]

Simple AMAZING.

Just heard about Townes tonight.

This guys up there with Dylan on lyrical genius. The words twist and turn and end up back where he started. Just freakin poetic. I am totally going to start name dropping Van Zandt to all my friends.

Legendary and genius indeed.

[gdkeen]

townes is a poet, beautiful words...this is his best song, to me.

i think to compare him to dylan is faulty, in terms of the content of their lyrics. maybe you'll see that.

[LovetheVayne]

I would say to not see a resemblance between Townes and Dylan would indicate your need to study more Dylan..especially EARLY dylan....Very simple content and most always about the people living the ups and downs of life. Alot of minor chord stuff. Dylan came from and was influenced by folk music. Dylan has quoted that he was a fan of Townes. Im not implying EXACT match. But certainly more then COMPLETELY different.

[dvs1572]

Well appreciated

thanks for the recommendation.

[efbeckley]

townes wrote a song called 'cowboy junkies lament' or maybe it's just 'lament', but he wrote it for the junkies and it's absolutely perfect. i can't find it on yt- i'm so happy to have it on cd.

[Sue71]

@efbeckley - I just listened to Cowboy Junkies' Black Eyed Man on CASSETTE! I was searching on YouTube for the CJ version of this & am sad to say it took me 17 years to realize they didn't write this AMAZING song. "Cowboy Junkies Lament" is the song he wrote on the CJ album.

[princessofhesse]

if you love townes, be sure and get Steve Earle's "Townes" album out now, incredible...Townes was a friend and mentor of Steve's and this album is such a gift to fands of both these incredible artists...

[princessofhesse]

RIP townes...we miss you, sweetie...

[lynage1]

perfect example of why a legend lives on..he left us some much unforgettable music....

[DeathOrGlory83]

one of the saddest, most beautiful and moving songs ive ever heard

[princessofhesse]

steve earle does this song with such bittersweet way that you will have a hard time deciding who is better, himm, or townes...i have to go with Steve..

[PrincessPignatelli]

original always best, princess.

[princessofhesse]

to each his own, my friend, but we can agree they both are very special in different ways...

[97MARGARITADAVE]

they are both genius to debate the level, borders on moronic

[princessofhesse]

that's a pretty big word to be tossing around these pages my friend..but, to each his town....

[MisterBagg]

Your post makes no sense.

[rosesredvioletsblue]

Such a great song! Lyrics are brilliant. Excellent video! Thank you, timhart25.

[gonzobuc1]

You can't bottle and drink the water. You have to dance naked in the high hill country rain.

Miss you, Townes.

[booksteve]

Townes Van Zandt is a fantastic songwriter. Be sure to check out Guy Clark too. There must be something in the water in Texas.

[blockisland12345]

true that

[eyesoftheworld0]

That Texas water has given us the most incredible music. Townes, Guy Clark, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Robert Keen, Lyle Lovett, Janis Joplin, Buddy Holly.....the list goes on. Someone needs to bottle that water!

[thamuddler]

dont forget James Mcmurtry

[pierangela69]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS SONG AND EVERY OTHER SONG HE WROTE !!! ... Thank you for putting this on Youtube ..:-)

[Creekdud]

Been looking for this version for years. Thank you so much. Your timing was quite....special. Be safe.