Townes Van Zandt - For The Sake Of The Song Lyrics






Oh, why does she sing her sad songs for me,
I'm not the one
Tenderly bring her soft sympathy
I've just begun
To see my way clear
And it's plain,
If I stop I will fall
I can lay down a tear for her pain
Just a tear and that's all

Oh, what does she want me to do?
She says that she knows
That moments are rare
I suppose that it's true
Then on she goes
To say I don't care,
Ah, she knows
That I do

Maybe she just has to sing, for the sake of the song
And who do I think that I am to decide that she's wrong

She'd like to think I was cruel,
But she knows that's a lie
For I would be
No more than a tool
If I allowed her to cry
All over me.

Oh my sorrow is real
Even though
I can't change my plan
If she could see how I feel
Then I know
That she'd understand

Oh does she actually think I'm to blame?
Does she really believe
That some word of mine
Could relieve
All her pain?
Can't she see that she grieves
Just because she's been blindly deceived
By her shame?

Maybe she just has to sing, for the sake of the song
And who do I think that I am to decide that she's wrong

Oh but nothin's what it seems,
Maybe she'll start someday to realize
If she abandons her dreams,
Then all the words she can say are only lies
Why can't she see that to gain
Is only to lose?
All that she offers me are her chains
And I got to refuse

Oh but it's only to herself that she's lied
She likes to pretend
There's something that she should defend,
With her pride
And I don't intend
To stand her and be the friend
From whom she must hide

Maybe she just has to sing, for the sake of the song
And who do I think that I am to decide that she's wrong





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Townes Van Zandt For The Sake Of The Song Comments
  1. I.... H....

    This is beautiful music. I sincerely made a mistake in underestimating country music because this is one of the best songs I've heard in a long while.

  2. M.... ....

    This is brilliant

  3. D.... R....

    An absolutely stellar piece of songwriting.

  4. M.... B....

    I can only lay down a tear for our pain, and thank Townes for sharing his. Peace. Out.

  5. I.... N....

    Wordsmith of songwriting and briliant artist. RIP.

  6. T.... K....

    Seriously, why does this girl have to sing for the Sheik of the Thong?!

  7. t.... ....

    Heartbreaker of a voice....

  8. J.... ....

    Does anyone else relate this song to their mother?

    J.... ....

    Not this song, but I'm going to play Tower Song at my mother's funeral.

    J.... ....

    This song makes me think of a good friend's widow I tried to platonically comfort after he overdosed.

  9. J.... ....

    Are those bongos?

  10. E.... W....

    How do you have all of these bands that I like on your list? Crazy.

    E.... W....

    Who's list?

  11. B.... S....

    Mindbending rhyme scheme

  12. D.... B....

    Thanks for posting the lyrics, Dan Downing! Have you ever been to t Old Quarter Townes Annual Wake on Jan 1st in Galveston, on 20th St. Be there and take in all Towns All Night. Lots of songwriters from all over the world stop in!

    D.... B....

    Douglas Bowman holy shit thanks for this information

  13. J.... M....

    As good as good gets...love this tune.

  14. A.... G....

    Pure songwriting genius. I'm kinda glad that others don't appreciate this stuff. Imagine if the whole world gorged itself on caviar and foie gras...

    A.... G....

    He has great music composition and songwriting partterns, very special melodies.

  15. M.... G....

    Truly masterful songwriting. Love me some Townes. I cover this song on my channel.

  16. S.... G....

    i love you, townes

  17. J.... F....

    Happy Birthday Townes....

  18. R.... P....

    Magical.

  19. m.... ....

    In french : "une pure merveille". Great song from a damaged soul.

    m.... ....

    as life goes on, i understand the term "damaged soul" more than i care to

  20. H.... S....

    I only came across Townes Van Zandt in recent months, just can't get enough of him.

    H.... S....

    This and "None But the Rain" totally do it for me, but there are so many others!

  21. D.... D....

    Why does she sing her sad songs for me, I'm not the one
    To tenderly bring her soft sympathy, I've just begun
    To see my way clear and it's plain if I stop I will fall
    I can lay down a tear for her pain, just a tear and that's all
    What does she want me to do
    She says that she knows that moments are rare
    I suppose that it's true
    Then on she goes to say I don't care and she knows that I do
    Maybe she just has to sing for the sake of the song
    Who do I think that I am to decide that she's wrong

    She'd like to think that I'm cruel but she knows that's a lie for I would be
    No more than a tool if I allowed her to cry all over me
    My sorrow is real even though I can't change my plans
    If she could see how I feel then I know that she'd understand
    Does she actually think I'm to blame
    Does she really believe that some word of mine
    Could relieve all her pain
    Can't she see that she grieves just because she's been blindly deceived
    By her shame
    Maybe she just has to sing for the sake of the song
    Who do I think that I am to decide that she's wrong

    Nothin's what it seems, maybe she'll start someday to realize
    If she abandons her dreams then all the words she can say are only lies
    When will she see that to gain is only to lose
    All that she offers me are her chains, I got to refuse
    It's only to herself that she's lied
    She likes to pretend there's something that she should defend with her pride
    I don't intend to stand her and be the friend from whom she must hide
    Maybe she just has to sing for the sake of the song
    Who do I think that I am to decide that she's wrong

    D.... D....

    Beautiful........

  22. m.... ....

    Can't put into words just what this song means to me. Thanks for posting.

  23. r.... ....

    Superb.  R.

  24. S.... R....

    It took me 3 days, but I got that lick down! Capo 2nd fret btw. Great song, we miss you Townes.

    S.... R....

    Shane Richards Spotted you on a Blaze Foley video as well. Cheers!

  25. M.... H....

    Excellent writing!  A woman's shame deceivers her to feel hurt by others, and she evidently takes this out on the singer.  But the singer expresses acceptance that this is simply how things go:  "Maybe she has to sing for the sake of the song."  I think about emotional healing; we must turn toward the pain and learn that this a part of life, beautiful in its own way.  

    M.... H....

    Townes is a poet

    M.... H....

    Heavyweight lyricist mate..

    M.... H....

    Was a Poet. unfortunately.

    M.... H....

    What kind of shame! It could be faults in general... Why inflicting shame into this!

    M.... H....

    SMT "can't she see that she grieves just because she's been blindly deceived by her shame"

  26. J.... w....

    The phrase " soft as glass" always intrigued me.

  27. S.... M....

    Best songwriter i've ever heard. Truly poetry inside every song!

  28. 2.... ....

    Never heard this song before . Really interesting words written in this . Reminds me of Taxi by Harry Chaphin .

  29. A.... H....

    Simply beautiful songwriting. I could listen to TVZ 24 hours a day.

  30. M.... M....

    The most complex and interesting of his many complex and interesting
    songs.