The Nashville Sessions

By townes van zandt

Well, the clouds didn't look like cotton
They didn't even look like clouds
I was underneath the weather
My friends looked a crowd
The swimmin' hole was full of rum
I tried to find out why
All i learned was this my friend
You got to swim before you fly


I got two girls
One's in heaven and one's below
Oh, one i love with all my heart
And one i do not know.


Two lonesome dudes on an ugly horse
Passed by not long ago
They asked me where the action was
I said i did not know
As they disappeared into the brush
I heard the driver say
He's a little slow between the ears
He's always been that way.


Jolly jane just lays around
And listens with her mouth
She's had about a dozen husbands
But the last one pulled out
Now, who's gonna bring her dinner
Through the weary years ahead
All she'll get from me is sympathy
Got no time to see she's fed.


It's cold down on the bayou
They say it's in your mind
But the moccasins are treadin' ice
And leavin strange designs
Cajuns say the last time
That this happend they weren't here
All beaumont's full of penguins
And i'm a-playin' it by ear.

By townes van zandt

At my window
Watching the sun go
Hoping the stars know
It's time to shine
Daydreams
Aloft on dark wings
Soft as the sun streams
At days decline


Living is laughing
Dying says nothing at all
Baby and i are laying here
Watching the evening fall


Time flows
Through brave beginnings
And she leaves her endings
Beneath our feet
Walk lightly
Upon their faces
Leave gentle traces
Upon their sleep


Living is dancing
Dying does nothing at all
Baby and i are laying here
Wathing the evening fall


Three dimes
Hard luck and good times
Fast lines and low rhymes
Ain't much to say
Feel fine
Feel low and lazy
Feel grey and hazy
Feel far away


Living is sighing
Dying ain't flying so high
Baby and i are lying here
Watching the day go by

By townes van zandt

You can't hold me
I'm too slippery
I do no sleepin'
I get lonely
You can touch me
If you want to
I got poison
I just might bite you


Lie in circles
On the sunlight
Shine like diamonds
On a dark night
Ain't no mercy
In my smilin'
Only fangs and
Sweet beguiling


Future, he don't
Try to find me
Skin i been through
Dies behind me
Solid hollow
Wrapped in hatred
Not a drop of
Venom wasted


You can slip in
Try to find me
Hold your breath and
Flat deny me
It makes no difference
To my thinkin'
I'll be here when
You start sinkin'.

By townes van zandt

Be my staple and my stay
Jesus help through each day
As i walk this weary way
Upon my soul


And when judgement falls to me
Through my saviour shall i be
Given peace eternally
Upon my soul


Upon my soul
Upon my free and joyous soul
Given peace eternally
Upon my soul


Jesus shine your light on me
Shine with love and charity
That i might help brothers see
Upon my soul


For temptation let me ply
Be my wings, lord, be my eyes
Guard me when old satan's nigh
Upon my soul


Upon my soul
Upon my free and joyous soul
Guard me when old satan's nigh
Upon my soul


I shall fill each earhly day
With the singing of his praise
Follow in his holy ways
Upon my soul


And when i lay my troubles down
On my brow he'll place a crown
And the trumpets all shall sound
Upon my soul


Upon my soul
Upon my free and joyous soul
And the trumpets all shall sound
Upon my soul

By townes van zandt

I heard her sing in tongues of silver
I heard her cry on a summer storm
I loved her, but she did not know it
So i don't think about her anymore
Now she's gone, and i can't believe it
So i don't think about her anymore


If three and four was seven only
Where would that leave one and two?
If love can be and still be lonely
Where does that leave me and you?
Time there was, and time there will be
Where does that leave me and you?


If i had a buckskin stallion
I'd tame him down and ride away.
If i had a flyin' schooner
I'd sail into the light of day
If i had your love forever
Sail into the light of day


Pretty songs and pretty places
Places that i've never seen
Pretty songs and pretty faces
Tell me what their laughter means
Some look like they'll cry forever
Tell me what their laughter means.


If i had a buckskin stallion
I'd tame him down and ride away.
If i had a golden galleon
I'd sail into the light of day
If i had your love forever
Sail into the light of day

By townes van zandt

I'm goin out on the highway
Listen to them big trucks whine
I'm goin out on the highway
Listen to them big trucks whine


White freight liner
Won't you steal away my mind
Ah, new mexico ain't bad, lord
And the people there they treat you kind
And the people there they treat you kind


Well, it's bad news from houston
Half my friends are dying
Well, it's bad news from houston
Half my friends are dying


Ah, lord, i'm gonna ramble
Till i get back to where i came
Ah, lord, i'm gonna ramble
Till i get back to where i came


I'm goin out on the highway
Listen to them big trucks whine
I'm goin out on the highway
Listen to them big trucks whine