Townes Van Zandt - 04 The Hole (Solo Sessions)

[coolanddark]

so badazz! This cat should be up on mt rushmore!

[saw4fire]

Townes passed on 1/1/97. This may have been his most moving song. Townes earned his legendary status.

[StrongHeartLives]

For me, this is hands down the most powerful and haunting song I've ever heard. I know what he's talking about, I've been there too many times. When you know his personal battles he encountered in life, this song takes on even more dimensions because he's writing from an experience that is hard to encompass in one pass or one sitting. He describes that fear and alienation from being in that hole better than you could ever try to explain. It's a lonely cold place to stay, but a mesmerising spell.

[mat11trick]

If this song doesn't give you chills you are listless. Haunting.

[Aquapello1967]

Is there a face on the fith fret at 1:47? The mother of pearl shows a face. It's almost like a Minatour face.

[human453]

townes didn't need a dress of meat

[earlefan]

who are the 4 morons that disliked this song????? Go listen to gaga...it's so much better...WTF?

[DimentalLabs]

@earlefan No need to bring other artists into this, mate. 4 people disliked the song because 4 people are morons. That simple :D

[BrandonHortman]

This man is art personified. There is a new documentary, I cam't remember what the name of it is though.

[chicoetereo]

4 people didn't like this song? there are 4 people without a heart inside their chests

[pappymcdamnit]

@Tenth12andMajorLift Did you write that?

[tarnish]

This is dark as shit, wow............ Honesty...

[wheelmanstan]

Check out his documentary "be here to love me" and also check out "heartworn highway" they are free on google video, and they may change your life. Beautiful films.

[wheelmanstan]

Sometimes you just gotta do what he did to be the man that he was. You gotta give everything, your heart, soul, body. You sacrifice yourself for more than minimum wage and taxes. You pay the price but on your own terms. I'm like that.

[martinguitar22]

how can someone this incredible still be relatively underground?  I discovered the man about a year ago and i have been deeply affected by his sad happy ugly beautiful music every day since then. He is one of those guys i could listen to forever. so real

[Stumblestrum]

First time I heard this song it scared me. If I think about it, it still scares me.Masterful and compelling.

[StrongHeartLives]

bone chilling and beautiful

[steele917]

Dang...Townes takes us down...to the depths of hell...slowly...enticed...invi­ted abandonedment...and in the end a perfect reaching for Love and all that love offers...in other words hope is our saving emotion. I'm blown away concerning his genious....AMEN Townes and thanks again and again

[steele917]

been there...and am..Doing that...

[steele917]

wonder why every time I find another Townes song..and I take a listen I feel I've found the best song I ever heard? I said it before John Townes van Zandt Wasted no words. All he sang out spoke volumes...All the same, his manager said Townes was plagued by nightmares and had to be held for hours sometimes...me-thinks he could see The Monsters...and the Angels...

[fromthebd]

Ouch, I get it..

[MrCalvinRussell]

Unforgotten Townes ! He is away , but his music lives in our hearts.

Authentic and honest music !

Great!

Beste Grüße aus Schleswig-Holstein an alle Fans . . .

[Realflection]

Jam

[paul2010100]

Thank u Thank u Townes & those who put this up here

[foxyfonzie]

Now.....I have not read Shakespeare up and down...but everytime i listen to Townes he reminds me of him in someway....both have a gift in (real) haunting phrases...? hell if i know

[gwamba]

the music reminds me of steve youngs alabama highway...but slower....the part about payin your father back......on point!!!!

r.i.p T.

u r missed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Crewmannumber6]

Jesus Christ, thanks Townes for tearing my soul out showing it to me.

[StoneyLaTroy]

"what about my little boy? she said he's just like you; let a few short years go by and he'll end up down here too" goddamn nobody will ever be better than townes

[bosshawg187]

Townes was deeper than deep. "If you have to pay your father back, just send him some misery..." it's about depression brought on by heroin addiction and contemplating suicide. Dark souls sing sweet songs.

[matthewwp56]

fake- dies his hair...pops

[Danimalfoster]

You have no idea.... poser

[matthewwp56]

Stage hogs; I fought back their amplifiers for 30 years. True pain.

[gwamba]

@matthewwp56 ?????????????

you tube sucks...but it does have some substabce....this comment however does not. ...not dissin u... but,why wood u watch this....then ...i dunno....just dont get 99.9% of the mindless comments...remove the comments,good or bad,i guess its reaction value...giggles,and showin off to friends?post a vid of yourself,doing somthing..anything that moves people,not provoke,a response to a response....i degress....

[matthewwp56]

Right on. You're right of course. I'm tired of these stage hogs I have performed superior music for 30 years they don't want it; they ONLY HIRE PROGRAMMERS who write the LYRICS SATAN permits. The prophet of God has no stage.

[sillykidssong]

dark, evocative, spiritual

I see the "god of love" as God, the Father and Jesus & The Holy Ghost, which is the only God that can rightly be termed the God of Love.

By turning to the true God after the "gods of men" (interesting that he recognizes the plurality of false gods that men do worship) - yes, it is then an only then that a man lost in sin, pain, addiction, lust, etc. can truly see the "light of day" -

a very powerful song, indeed

[kevin3591]

there are some mucisans you like and there are some you love and i love townes and some people sing a song and sometimes the song sings them

[gdkeen]

and sometime you eat the bar, and sometimes the bar eats you.

in all seriousness, that soundtrack introduced me to townes

[BrandonNorth1120]

@kevin3591 I totally agree. It is so obvious when an artist is way more than someone who sings, paints, writes, etc. They seem to be driven by something other worldly. I think Townes was one of those people.

[plutosunshine]

..could be internet dating.....no i think u got it in one...well done

[subterranean47]

does any one know what this song is about?

[bobwaits]

lucky you if you don't get it???

[dainbramage777]

i've always interpreted it having the old lady in the song represent depression and/or addiction. both of these "crave company" and tells you not to care about your friends and family. that's my interpretation anyway.

peace

[gurufuttlappele]

i think the lady = heroin or some kind of bad experience in his life wich ruined probably his social life

[RollingThunder76]

to me it sounds to be about his addictions...the old woman and the hole is his addiction. The song talks about how it affects his family and things. Maybe anyway.

[gdkeen]

you got it...

to me this is the story of his life, and his addictions, which are intertwined..

even in the end, he says "i heard the earth sigh patiently, as it slid back into place"

as if implying that the grave was just waiting for him, knowing he'd be there soon.

[handymf1]

IMMENSE

[mipeluco]

incredible...

[stahlas]

if you haven't already..watch the townes documentary...Be here to Love Me...it is excellent and you can watch it on youtube...

[rollupandshine67]

are you sure its on youtube? i cant find it..

[futile1981]

I can't find it man! There's just a 2-minute trailer on Youtube...

[stahlas]

i've just recently been awakened to this man's genius....his songs cut me down deep....love it....

[nofish37]

Frigg'n Genius. Beautiful. I once heard a quote from someone saying that Townes was one of the greatest songwriters ever, and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffe table in my cowboy boots and say that. Nice...

[chrisbb33]

yep steve earle said that...

[dp11issosweet]

townes said he wasnt sure how dylans body guards would like that haha :)

[LicoriceTattoo]

I love this man. Sweet mullet too.

[chellerose99]

SO MUCH LOVE AND RESPECT FOR THIS MAN! inspires me so hard!

[RickHempy]

"so walk, my friends, in the light of day" God bless ya Townes

[gurufuttlappele]

too bad u didnt upload all tracks :(

thx anyways

[billybobearlnray]

The lyrics come easy when you live the story.

[briane777666]

its still just kind of mind blowing to me that a video like this, of a talent like townes has only been viewed 3,000 times. I try to tell everyone I know about townes, he was the greatest songwriter. buy, hey I guess townes never wanted the fame

[Realflection]

great

[165blee]

wow a brit thats just been converted real music.

[Wisegeorge]

Townes poured his soul out until it was gone. Now he is gone, but his soul remains.

[mysteria31]

Townes came from somewhere other than this world and while he was here he passed on to the other side and when he returned... he was gone

[kristiantheheathen]

What a singer and what a song! Thanks for posting this - it's got to be one of his very finest. I remember a T.V.Zandt-quote in a CD-booklet: "I gues what I need is an overwhelming amount of love and a nap... mostly a nap." He was/is a giant.

[earlefan]

What a fuckin' genius