Townes Van Zandt - My Proud Mountains Lyrics

The most beautiful song of all time. If it doesn't effect you emotionally in any way, check your pulse.... you're not alive.

Ironic that the photo is from the eastern US if you know your flora and geology

This song is so beautiful. I left my home (WA state) 15 years ago. I live across an ocean, and will probably never return, save for a brief visit. But I want my ashes sprinkled in the Olympic National Park. I know what it is to leave the place you love to never return.

So beautiful 💙 thank you. I'm a new friend !!!

the saddest song ever

It all depends if you want to listen to real music or plastic music

I’ll be glad when I get back to my Gunnison County home.

Is this picture of putney brook falls in vt?

Wowza! Beginning to see what the fuss is all about. Townes can sing!

Anyone know where the place is in the photo?

Those that don't understand the poet and singer it's your loss.

Timeless classic!

it feels like he`s cradling you

yes it does, and I needed it

Oh yeah,

Beautiful.

Townes van Zandt is the most incredible musical artist and poet . Ever. ever and ever.

I love Townes and the fact that he wrote several great songs about my home state. He was gone much too soon.

Wow. Had only heard a more polished, studio version of this. This is amazing...

what is the tuning

My home is Colorado with their proud mountains tall
Where the rivers like gypsy's down her black canyons fall
I'm a long, long way from Denver with a long way to go
So lend an ear to my singing 'cause I'll be back no more

I left as a young man not full seventeen
With nothin' for company but the wind and a dream
'Bout all the fast ladies and livin' I'd find
When I left my proud mountains and rivers behind

So I rolled and a-rambled like a leaf in the wind
Well, I found my fast ladies and some hard livin' men
Well, I sometimes went hungry with my pockets all bare
Lord, I sometimes had good luck with money to spare

I made me some friends, Lord, that I won't soon forget
Some are down under and some are rambling yet
But as for me I'm headed for home
Back to high Colorado never more for to roam

So friends, when my time comes as surely it will
You just carry my body out to some lonesome hill
And lay me down easy where the cool rivers run
With only my mountains 'tween me and the sun

My home is Colorado

Thanks, mang

Nick wonderful for met, I can See the words

Awesome. .. tear.... miss you brother

Beautiful song and picture. Reminds me of Northern Ontario, though I assume the picture is indeed Colorado (which sounds like the British Columbia of America - full of beautiful landscapes and weed). I love how Townes had the darkest perspective on life, yet he also used his genius and insight to express the peace one can find in the great outdoors. RIP, I wish your spirit (and not just your atoms) could soar through the forests and mountains and flow through the waterfalls.

The Pacific Northwest region of Oregon, Washington, northern California would be basically same as British Columbia. Colorado and the rocky mountain states have their own separate beauty. But yea the way townes sings relaxes your mind body and soul. it's amazing I'm not even from Colorado but I'm missing it because this song haha.

Well spoken... but don’t forget about western Washington... might be the closest place to the ways of BC... Townes embodies the beautiful places we live and he makes this life make more sense than if he hadn’t graced us with his presence and music

Very cool stuff. Our band's lead singer is very influenced by this stuff. Check it out if you get a chance. Peace!!

i thought i had heard em all what a gem man miss you townes love ya to 

there should be another law against people saying what's off key and what's not!
he don't sing for a contest
he sings from his soul and there's no keys

People are used to listening to autotune. I like things a little off key sometimes, it can give this sort of music a more natural sound. Fuck, Bob Dylan hardly ever nailed a key in his life LOL.

thank you so much for uploading heartworn highways! :)

there's no one more soulful than Townes.

mario7frankielee it’s by design and it worked great for Townes!

Not "off-key" at all.....it's called Country Music...it involves employing the yodel as per tradition....."The High Lonesome Sound"....Townes was a master songsmith...

"Bathed in the blood " as Emmylou puts it.

very nice to know..thanks for posting

He's so off key in this one. A shame. Must've been ill or something.

Knowing the eventual end do you not feel his pain?

If you find any fault in this song then his music isn't for you.

Your a dork

Spec sailed right over your head spec

As we say here in Australia....You're a true dickhead.

I'd like to talk to you and hear some stories or hear you recall more about him if you have anything of note to tell. Townes fascinates me as a human being... such beauty inside his soul but so much pain in his heart and mind...

Back to "High" Colorado......yesh...'legal for recreational use'....Fire it up!

Townes was a friend of mine, Back in the early 80s when I was a bouncer at Soap Creek Saloon, in Austin Texas, and he had written Pancho and Lefty not long before. He used to come in often and always was pleasant.

great story, any more to add?

photo is dope

I just love this tune. And I just love this guy. But having survived the High Park fire, the most destructive fire in Larimer County, Colorado history, it just breaks my heart to see my proud mountains hanging their heads. This song makes me cry. Didn't used to.

You guys too huh? This year in Washington, the fires got so bad, the sky was grey.

Thank you for posting this, peterwilliger.

hey HumanAccount the live recording is on the record abnormal, its a shorter version though.

i have'nt heard townes sing in a while. this is one of my favorite old sad nostalgic songs of his. i've never been to colorado though everytime i hear this song its like a colorado "de ja vous", all over again. thanks for posting.

Townes!!!!!!