Townes Van Zandt’s life touched mine only tangentially until recently. I first heard of Van Zandt through Nanci Griffith’s cover of his song “Tecumseh Valley.” Like many Van Zandt ballads, it tells a tragic and beautifully melodic story about a woman named Caroline. “Techumseh Valley” is about a life, a time, and a place far from the life I’ve led. Yet, it’s a song I’ll never forget. Although Van Zandt never became a big name in the music world during his career, it is because of the depth, emotion, and poignancy of songs like “Tecumseh Valley” that the singer and songwriter is remembered and celebrated today, almost thirty years after his death.
There are two more Van Zandt songs that have really touched me. They are “If I Needed You” and “Pancho and Lefty.” I’m covering “Pancho and Lefty” here. “If I Needed You” will arrive in the near future.
Thanks for listening.
This episode is also available as a blog post: http://davidgittlin.net/2023/02/14/love-found-and-lost/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message
Jackson Browne has always been a brilliant lyricist, singer, guitarist, and songwriter. I have enjoyed playing many of his songs on this blog. All...
This episode is also available as a blog post: http://davidgittlin.net/2021/10/28/vincent-revisited/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message