Loretta by Townes Van Zandt and its million covers.

I pulled up to a bar one night with Townes playing in my truck. Evidently this hipster heard it, and said he loved him because he was so raw and truthful. I politely told him to "frick off". PBR drinking mother frickers

I first heard Loretta (John Prine cover) when this album came out: Poet - Tribute to TVZ

Every track on it is great.

I heard the Prine version on the tribute album. That's a fairly recent album? Sounds like it is post surgery John Prine.

It sounds like the type of sing along song my friends and I would have loved and wailed drunkenly at any bar or to any bartender or waitress we found attractive but rough in 1992-2000.

quote:

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I heard the Prine version on the tribute album. That's a fairly recent album? Sounds like it is post surgery John Prine.

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Weirdly enough the release date is 9/11/2001. So yes, it is after Prine's surgery. But he does a great version of Loretta on it.

But back to 9/11 - that is an odd coincidence because Tower Song always makes me think of 9/11. And I had no idea until today that was was the release date.

quote:

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You built your tower strong and tall
Can't you see it's got to fall some day?

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I love Townes' lyrics. He pulls no punches at all, except when he's trying to make you think. A lot of times he's playing word/idea games and you'd better pay attention.

"When the wind don't blow in Amarillo, and the moon along the Gunnison don't rise"

"You're as soft as glass, and I'm a gentle man"

"They only left him hang around - out of kindness I suppose"

There isn't a song writer I like better. Prine isn't far behind.

OK - a couple of videos from the Cowboy Junkies tribute. Townes toured with them near his end.

Lungs

To Live's to Fly

I wish late 1970's John Prine did the song. Of course I'm not sure when the song was written.