Townes van Zandt - 11 Mr Mudd and Mr. Gold (Private Concert)

[writersblock26]

Thank you for posting this, lapislazuli42.

[lesthom01]

The swinging bass notes grabbed me from the first time I heard this song. I've been obsessively trying to master it ever since. This, to me, is Townes at his best.

[chatless46]

Just one problem: "Mudd he checked and Gold bet all, and Mudd he raised and Gold did call..." - if Gold bet all, why the Mudd raise? All Gold's chips are on the table. Suggestion: "Gold he raised and Mudd bet all, and Gold he grinned and then he called..." Then you may ask how Mudd could be considered the victor when he only captured a fraction of Gold's huge winnings to that point - but it makes more sense than Townes's narrative. As if Townes even cared, what with poetic license and all that.

[iraprusia]

and some say RAP is an urban new groove from the hood....

[erytroboxer]

"I was lucky to be sittin' in that chair at that time" love what he says afterwards ... song cuts of speech

blessed who sits in that chair listening



[dannyknapp]

It makes you wonder who the hell was in this room ? The answer is, one genius, and that is all.

[mircubstation]

Like almost everybody watching these breathtaking videos, I'm deeply moved by Townes music. How do you play this stuff? I know Townes guitar influences were Merle Travis, Lightnin Hopkins, Rev. Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt, Doc Watson. Are there others I should check out? This music is so powerful. So moving. I want to learn how to play it. Is there anything I'm missing?

[afpm7]

Steve Earle said Townes couldn't do this song for the last 10 years of his life.....if this date is accurate he could do it at least within 8-9.

[LastTaboo]

The strange betting at the end, I'm guessing this is not a mistake.

Mud raised the stakes beyond the amount of money either of them had. Perhaps he put up property or possessions.

[shovingwords]

I love Him.

[Krystalxx420x]

I don't believe much has moved me more than Townes Van Zandt....

[willong1000]

Hey there "lapislazuli42",

Thanks to YouTube, I just discovered TVZ less than 2 months ago (and his late friend Blaze Foley, as well). I've since purchased 4 TVZ CD's and 2 of Blaze's. I've watched virtually everything of Townes' posted here. I must thank you for posting the "Private Concert" videos. I feel Townes' singing those 13 songs reflects his most heartfelt performances, his emotional peak. While the bell clarity of his youthful voice had vanished, so to, had the rushed delivery.

[SDscum]

What a well written song. R.I.P Townes

[i3u7n5]

Amazing. The apotheosis of wordsmithing.

[Fonzygirl91]

im only 11 and have it made but townes life,songs,and storeys touch me and my bro nick.

GOD

BLESS

TOWNES

VAN

ZANDIT

[WeAreNowProducing]

Please post comments and likes! youtube.com/watch?v=2uhSnO-ysP­c

[RemoteAbductionArm]

Jebus, that guitar sounds so good, even through the VCR.

[rottal76]

I love Bob Dylan. But I agree with Steve Earle who said: “Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that."

[bangaway]

townes was a genius ,,,, one of my favourite tunes by him

[WipersLegend]

Folk/country/Americana does not get much better than this. Among Townes' best lyrics and songs.

[Alphabex8]

where's his mic

[montezumasrevenge]

I reaslly have no ideas what you've written either Townes

[mckennar]

as townes breaks into the the 1st verse he looks like the king of clubs

[probinson1337]

I've Long had a suspicion that Guy Clark's Instant Coffee Blues was about a typical day in Townes love life between wives, especially after hearin it was about "an un-named, larger than life tragi-comic heroic figure that was one of my closest friends" when some interviewer asked Guy what the song was about. "he was feelin' just the same, but he was tryin' to make it rhyme, sounds like Townes to me.

[probinson1337]

He also clicked a loaded pistol to his temple and Steve Earle wouldn't speak to him for over a year. Watch the documentary "be here to love me" we don't need no fictional adaptation.

[sean64ryan]

theres an article in rolling stone about steve earl he tells a couple of stories about townes. says he ate his last 50 dollar bill and woke up broke

[gurufuttlappele]

so i assume he did a lot of gamble?

[probinson1337]

@gurufuttlappele if you're fom Texas, 5 card stud and Texas Hold 'em are just facts of life. You're not a grown man until you know how to play and what beats what.

[kylethompson4]

Steve Earle does a great cover of this song on his tribute album "Townes" but nothing beats the original.

[tmalvey]

Honestly, these are some of the best townes videos I've seen. I've you seen "be here to love me" or "heartworn highways" (both great) but this is so intimate. Really hidden gems. They should be put in a museum.

[nirvana9983]

there aren't many songwriters like him anymore.

[rojamey]

And given the little story he tells after his song, I suppose it's really appropriate to think of this song as a Greek myth. Sometimes songwriters, poets, novelists will have to work and experiment to create their song etc. But occassionally they have experiences where they just feel like a whole song is being handed to them by sort of Muse. Not saying this is how it happens but it is a good metaphor for the feeling that a song is just sort of gift or the feeling that it wrote itself.

[rojamey]

In addition to it being a personification of the cards, I think it makes sense to sort of see it to like sort of a Greek myth. Like in the Iliad and Odyssey with the gods of Olympus intervening in human affairs and playing favorites. And at the end, I think the main theme is about a reversal of fortunes. That we can't be sure about our fate. Mudd can end up Gold and vice versa.

[twainism]

I would lo see a movie with Nic Cage as Townes. Townes was an amazing songwriter and I am sure his life was very interesting. I heard he had Steve Earle tie him to a tree to try to stop drinking once

[ArTbYaDoNkEy]

went and saw steve earle at the barbican bout three weeks ago... he didnt sing this but did a lot of townes' songs, like lungs and johnny come lately, absoulutely amazing.

[sealedpandora16]

@twainism Why Nic Cage? He's the worst actor in holiday. What about Daniel Day Lewis! Now that would be a movie.

[MercuryZebra]

What a beatiful song! I hear ya Coner, I play poker and the lyrics don't make perfect sense to me either although I have not sat down and analyzed them at all.

[Neperud]

pure poetry

[coner64]

can I ask... anyone. please explain this song to me. Exactly. I know its a personification of the cards and told from their point of view. . . but explain exactly the plot. That would be great. thanks and good job

[dasilvaec]

Well without analyzing too deeply its not only a personification of the cards, but a poetic reenactment of a game of poker, using the poker game as a metaphor for a medieval battle. Vis versa i think that the medieval battle is a metaphor for the struggles of gambling and addiction.

[cooper539]

I can't explain it exactly but the King and Queen of spades decide that they own 'luck" in the game and command all the cards for a victory for Mr Gold. However, the Aces (the angels in the sky) and the Jack of Diamonds does not listen to them.

The Queen of Diamonds feels sorry for Mudd and begs her husband and the aces to help. Not only do they help but her wandering boy (Jack of Diamonds) also helps.

[cooper539]

sorry-- King and Queen of clubs

[zenmaster72]

@coner64

you cant explain EXACTLY the plot... because even townes didnt know what it exactly meant. He wrote these songs with the listener in mind. Thats what made them so amazing, they had a storyline but when one listens, it can take as varying forms as the listeners minds can create.

[ckoldham]

Thank you so much for this amazing video and audio, I had no idea it existed. " I was lucky to be sitting in that chair". That says it all. The muse comes when it wants, or not at all, and you better, like Townes, be tuned in.

Kenan Oldham

[lastangelman]

If they ever made the Towns van Zandt story, they'd probably cast Nicholas Cage in title role ... but who would play David Card?

[Amethysting]

Thanks Knappy...straight to faves....like the talk at the end.....bet Townes was a great guy too...

[floppyd0g]

Unbelievable, what amazing footage. Thanks for putting these up.

[Jerrod0420]

Damn, so awesome, thank you very much for uploadin' these videos!

[woodyholmes2]

Yeah thanks for the stars, but more, thanks for these vids of townes.

[dpvis]

These are surely one of the most beautiful lyrics i've ever heard, true poetry, he knows it,, more saying then singing, makes it just that bit better and original.

[TeamCannabis]

Hey Lapis, just gotta thank you again. These are incredible. Best I've seen...Reg