Townes Van Zandt - Black Crow Blues Lyrics






Oh babe, don't lie lonesome after I'm gone
Don't mourn your young life away
Just lower me down with a prayer and a song
Just 'fore the breaking of day
Just 'fore the breaking of day

Well, it's a life worth the living but we all gotta die
All your crying can't do me no good
Just lower me down with a quick sad goodbye
Pour in the black Texas mud
Pour in the black Texas mud

It's a hard road you're travelin', you can't walk it alone
Find a big man to stand beside you
Take him down to the river, show him my bones
Tell him there lies a friend I once knew
There lies a friend I once knew

Well, the black crow's a-screaming, the yellow sun's warm
And the grass tumbles tall down the hill
There's a cold wind building, it's bringin' a storm
When the call of the black crow goes still
When the call of the black crow goes still





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Townes Van Zandt Black Crow Blues Comments
  1. M.... -....

    *Pours in the black Texas mud.*

  2. D.... F....

    No one cuts deeper.

  3. J.... A....

    Incredible

  4. L.... O....

    Without pity....

  5. a.... L....

    Beaucoup d'enfants de magnats texans du pétrole ont choisi, un chemin moins difficile ni respectable....

    a.... L....

    Un choix qu’ils ont fait / fait eux-mêmes, souvent pour des raisons que nous ne comprenons pas ......

  6. E.... M....

    Since few days I try to find some new artists. But every evening i return to Van Zandt.

  7. J.... W....

    His pen was a wounding thing to all that is false.

  8. C.... ....

    How in the hell have I never heard of this guy?!? Thank you youtube!

    C.... ....

    Enjoy your journey through his music catalog and you'll find many treasures........

  9. D.... D....

    I remember when the sun was yellow

  10. M.... L....

    Beautifully haunting

  11. s.... m....

    cowboy blues

  12. B.... E....

    Edgar Allan Poe in his brighter times...

  13. B.... R....

    Sorry,got too emotional.Shouldn't drink n txt.But still...such a talent..Heartbreaking...

  14. B.... R....

    Bastard,I can't forgive ,and I do forgive.Why ?

  15. D.... M....

    i listen to him every day; c'est tellement beau:so beautiful and more than beautiful; he haunts me as Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë...his songs are so so sensitive and very sad but unic....

  16. D.... M....

    je l'écoute chaque jour; c'est poignant et très fort

  17. D.... M....

    Merveilleux et si vrai; magnifique. quelle âme , Townes van Zandt

    D.... M....

    Thank you so much for listening and your kind comment dear Diane!! Glad you liked the song!
    ~Marianne...

    D.... M....

    Dear Marianne,
    i am now listening all of his songs; he is a great artist and I love his music; tkank you for your answer; have a good sunday;

    D.... M....

    And I think that his texts are really important with the photos of a certain America in the hard times.
    The the music and th voice of Townes von Zandt are exceptionnal. sorry for my english...

    D.... M....

    the voice and sorry for the repetition

    D.... M....

    There's no need to apologize dear Diane for your english, it's so much better than my French :). Yes, Townes Van Zandt was an exceptional musician and songwriter....The magic of his songs come straight from the kindness of his heart and soul....His lyrics, filled with haunting honesty and beauty, take you places sometimes so sad that they move you to tears or to happier times that make you smile....Enjoy your listening to all his songs and you'll discover that he was indeed an exceptional and brilliant musician! Enjoy your Sunday!!

  18. m.... ....

    What would you call this style exactly??? I love it so much!!! This is my favorite Townes, this and "Lungs" and waitin around to die, etc. Does anyone know what one might call this eerie haunting style??

    m.... ....

    musicisbrilliant country waltz...lol

    m.... ....

    Americana, folk, acoustic

  19. C.... F....

    a hidden gem

  20. T.... m....

    colter wall does this man a alot of justice!!

    T.... m....

    Couldn't agree more. Colter Wall is unique but has everything necessary to cover a TVZ song.

    T.... m....

    Colter’s “Nothing” cover is somehow even more haunting than TVZs original. And I’ve never said that about anyone in reference to Townes.

    Miss you TVZ. Love Colter.

    Real songs from real people.

  21. S.... ....

    Makes me breathless. Fantastic song and brilliant performance. Missing a great poet and musician.
    Thank you so much, TvZ!

  22. R.... P....

    I'm 67 and he still brings me to tears.

  23. S.... M....

    Townes, in his attitude, especially as filmed in Heartworn Highways, reminds me achingly of my dear friend who passed away when we were 19. I'll never forget you Andreas

  24. Y.... F....

    You I meant

  25. k.... ....

    it`s just me n him for the next while!!

  26. L.... L....

    best bottle of whisky i never drank.....

  27. J.... W....

    Dear God I wish Townes would have been with us longer. He is a music genius and will live forever. RIP Townes

  28. N.... L....

    Oh babe, don't lie lonesome after I'm gone
    Don't mourn your young life away
    Just lower me down with a prayer and a song
    Just 'fore the breaking of day
    Just 'fore the breaking of day

    Well, it's a life worth the living but we all gotta die
    All your crying can't do me no good
    Just lower me down with a quick sad goodbye
    Pour in the black Texas mud
    Pour in the black Texas mud

    It's a hard road you're travelin', you can't walk it alone
    Find a big man to stand beside you
    Take him down to the river, show him my bones
    Tell him there lies a friend I once knew
    There lies a friend I once knew

    Well, the black crow's a-screaming, the yellow sun's warm
    And the grass tumbles tall down the hill
    There's a cold wind building, it's bringin' a storm
    When the call of the black crow goes still
    When the call of the black crow goes still

    N.... L....

    Thank for lyrics !

  29. S.... S....

    I love it

    S.... S....

    Thank you :) Glad you do, it's a great song!!!!
    ~Marianne...

  30. M.... J....

    beautiful original pure and real Heartbreak 💚

  31. p.... p....

    he was an amazing artist..i love him so much

  32. m.... ....

    Townes forever...

  33. Z.... O....

    He carried a dark and beautiful presence. Once you've heard him, and really sat down and had a few evenings with him and a bottle of bourbon, man to man... You can't ever escape his melancholy again. Hell, this comment is downright melodramatic bullshit but it sure is real to this ole boy tonight hahaha

    Z.... O....

    you're damn right

    Z.... O....

    You did this?

  34. N.... E....

    Truly, one of the greatest song writers of country folk to have ever graced this world.... Fuck Bob Dylan.... this man had grit and truth and rawness and will always be a great influence and was truly an iconic song writer that the world should never forget or underrate. His talent and depth are unparalleled and there will never be another like him..... Happy Birthday Townes!!

  35. P.... ....

    quicksand goodbye

  36. J.... C....

    I picture Edgar Allan Poe stumbling through the streets of Austin in his waning days. I don't know why.

  37. J.... W....

    Great sound! Visuals: done quite stupidly.

  38. N.... ....

    Beautiful...

  39. R.... ....

    his music resurrects that something that used to be interesting about america, still today

    R.... ....

    Wow. Exactly.

  40. R.... B....

    I guess there are prople who don't like Townes
    Or his poetry
    Whatever happened to their souls?

    R.... B....

    i've played his music for many different people and most of em say something along the lines of it's just too intense or bleak for them to enjoy. none of them ever tell me it's not good though. i think maybe it just takes a certain type of person to really enjoy his music.

    R.... B....

    Depends on what you've gone through in life. Mine seems to be a TVZ song so I thoroughly enjoy him.

  41. N.... I....

    maestro grazie

  42. p.... p....

    if only they played Townes on the radio today instead of that trash people call country

    p.... p....

    Same chord shapes. Three steps higher.
    So maybe?

  43. G.... H....

    So much respect and love for this man's music.

  44. J.... L....

    dose anyone hear working class hero

    J.... L....

    yeah. a bit.

    J.... L....

    On that note, check out Marianne Faithfull's version--John Lennon done proud.

  45. K.... D....

    Townes Van Zandt can bring the toughest and strongest men to tears man i love this guy

  46. M.... D....

    when I go,this needs to be played.

  47. s.... s....

    This song is deep  really deep.

  48. d.... ....

    Is this his best? I don't know. Just the best yet, today.

  49. H.... ....

    Reading through the comments here, I am pretty sure from what I have read over the years that Townes pretty much lived the kind of life he wanted to. That is to say, maybe not exactly to a T, but pretty much. I of course could be wrong, but just going by the record that is left not knowing the man personally.

  50. F.... ....

    No one will ever replace him.

    F.... ....

    I hate to share it cuz its make me unique, but there is one, Angry Johnny and the Killbillies

  51. j.... n....

    Townes encompasses all f the feelings of life! Yeah and some of it is a bitch.

  52. A.... N....

    Listening to this song, and thought, this would sound absolutely great on Vinyl.. So, that's what I bought the album on :)

  53. T.... #....

    Brilliant!! My friend thinks he's depressing, but he doesn't know shit

    T.... #....

    From the Marie interview. I caught it.Really liked it when Townes said He Thought Life Was Sad...Great Stuff....

    T.... #....

    TownesJames # 1 fan funniest comment ever

    T.... #....

    Théâtre IS true
    Il have discover him a few weeks ago ans I listen the music
    Extaordinery. Thanks a lot Marriane
    Diane

    T.... #....

    That IS true sorry

  54. J.... S....

    amazing!

  55. p.... ....

    This is where i come to escape....

    p.... ....

    me too!

    p.... ....

    A true genius. RIP TVZ.

  56. E.... W....

    Awesome stuff. Our group's lead singer is largely influenced by this stuff. Check it out if you get a chance. Cheers!

    E.... W....

    yeah like its just stuff hey? good stuff

  57. J.... R....

    I was born to late to know Townes I heard of him in 1997 the year he died. Even then his legend was massive in Texas underground ciricles. I love his songs as a follow musian.

  58. J.... R....

    townes had a wonderful knack for blending music with his lyrics to create outstanding songs

  59. A.... W....

    Happy.birthday Townes , he would have turned 70 yesterday .

    A.... W....

    Thank you Art, Yes he would have been 70 on March 7th 2014......

    A.... W....

    +ART WILMETH Now 72.....he lived one hell of a hard life.

    A.... W....

    Happy birthday to you The Black Crow's

  60. C.... B....

    I believe this was written in 68? Doesn't anyone hear the striking resemblance to this in Lennon's Working Class Hero? (1970!)...just saying....

    C.... B....

    If Lennon had heard Townes, he probably would have taken a bow to the greatest. But I doubt it

    C.... B....

    That and North Country Blues.

    C.... B....

    Check out Marianne Faithfull's version of "Working Class Hero"--more powerful than John Lennon, in my opinion.

    C.... B....

    Good catch

    C.... B....

    @Norbit CleaverHookI don't Connect Lennon with humbleness

  61. B.... B....

    beautiful song...Townes was amazing...Thank you Marianne.

  62. s.... ....

    Love the echo...so haunting...A true poet and singer...

  63. c.... ....

    If only Townes was still with us. I was just a kid when he died. Can only imagine what it would have been like to see him play live.

    c.... ....

    I saw him perform live in a small bar called The Horseshoe Tavern, shortly before his death. There were maybe thirty or forty people in the audience, so he was basically right in front of me, just him and his guitar. One of the best concerts I've ever seen.

  64. M.... M....

    Thank you for your heartfelt comment...glad you did find this song,as the saying goes better late than never! This is Townes Van Zandt, devasting, haunting, the song lyrics holding poignant beauty.........
    ~Marianne...

  65. c.... ....

    God damn! That was the first time I've ever heard this song. 29 years down the drain!
    So hard to know where to look with Townes as most of his studio albums were ruined by horrible production. This is proper Townes Van Zandt. Devastating.

  66. A.... ....

    Dylan wrote a completely different song with the same title.

  67. r.... ....

    I think you are very right. He was suicidal and an addict for most of his life, and with the real love of real people around him he was barely able to keep that at bay. When a person like that becomes rich, everyone around them becomes fake and evil, and that gives such a person even less faith in humanity with which to sustain his or her self.

  68. A.... A....

    Who knows what fortune and fame would have brought Mr Van Zandt? I think he was blessed to have the career he had. Very rarely does fortune and fame ever change people for the better.

  69. A.... A....

    Dylan didn't write this.

  70. i.... ....

    I don't think it's an insult to Dylan; it's just saying who you think's better. Dylan was targeted because he's considered by most people to be one of the best song writers. I personally think it's not even close. I think townes is great and Dylan is rather overrated and faked it a bit much.... now that's some what of an insult.

  71. M.... M....

    Devastating, but sheer genius nonetheless.

  72. T.... ....

    Earle,called Van Zandt "the best songwriter in the whole world and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that" The quote was printed on the packing of At My Window, much to Van Zandt's displeasure. In the years following, the quote was often cited by the press, much to Van Zandt and Earle's embarrassment;in 2009, Earle told the NY Times,"Did I ever believe that Townes was better than Dylan? No" But he later concluded, "As a songwriter, you won’t find anybody better."

  73. j.... (....

    ..."just pour in the black Texas mud.....pour in the black Texas mud"...

  74. A.... J....

    Some what of an insult to Bob Dylan really. Didn't Townes cover some of Dylan's tunes?.I think both were equally as good. Such a tragic life he lived.What a shame.

    A.... J....

    I stand corrected, I just listened to Dylan's "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" by Townes. He didn't do a lot of covers...very few.

    A.... J....

    townes does a great version of
    "man gave names to all the animals"

  75. M.... M....

    And I do agree with you too Steve..He was an incredible poet! I apologize for the very late reply but like to say Thank You for your kind words! I appreciate it!
    ~Marianne...

  76. M.... M....

    I agree wholeheartedly!! Thank you for your nice comment!
    ~Marianne...

  77. p.... l....

    Steve Earle couldn't have said it better.

    ”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.” - Steve Earle

  78. C.... ....

    for sure! Thanks for uploading, good work

  79. M.... M....

    @c0lumb037 Thank you for commenting....I truly hope you are right!...TVZ was much more deserving than he was given credit for...Yes, he was a brilliant songwriter and performer, greatly missed....

  80. C.... ....

    One day this song will be used in a movie/tv show, and it will get the fame it deserves. Townes was a genius

  81. M.... M....

    @1952banjo Absolutely Virginia!!! Thank you!!

  82. M.... M....

    @beannaichte123 ~~ I knew you'd like it~~ Thank you my friend ♥~

  83. M.... M....

    @IWASBINDCANTUC Yes, Townes was quite the singer of "sad" poignant songs...indeed making us appreciate even more what we have....A great philosophy Steve...Thank you for your nice comment and it is always a pleasure to share!
    ~Marianne...

  84. M.... M....

    @JackGAdams Townes Van Zandt was a brilliant talent, poet and songwriter...His life was complicated, he was diagnosed as being bi-polar...Drugs and alcohol were his demons ...making it difficult to manage a career..So Sad..... I am glad you enjoyed his strumming, he has so his own style lol...TY Jack!!!
    ~Marianne...

  85. J.... A....

    Not familiar with this gentleman at all but enjoyed his strumming and singing ...thank you Marianne.
    Jack

  86. I.... ....

    You can all ways relay on Townes to cheer you up !! he make you appreciate what we have.
    Steve in York Thank you for sharing.

  87. A.... O....

    ~Incredibly beautiful! Poignant lyrics...5*****