I recently watched the great Townes Van Zandt documentary Be Here To Love Me again for what seems like the 100th time. It has to be one of the most moving documentaries ever made partially because Townes had such an incredibly sad life and partially because his songs are filled with so much heartache and pain.
The video above contains the most poignant seen in the movie. The clip is Townes’ performance of Waiting Around To Die which amazingly is the first song Townes ever wrote. When the man in the room listening to Townes sing begins to cry I almost lose it every time.
Waiting Around To Die by Townes Van Zandt
Sometimes I don’t know where this dirty road is taking me
Sometimes I can’t even see the reason why
I guess I keep on gamblin’, lots of booze and lots of ramblin’
It’s easier than just a-waitin’ ’round to dieOne-time friends I had a ma, I even had a pa
He beat her with a belt once cause she cried
She told him to take care of me, she headed down to Tennessee
It’s easier than just a-waitin’ ’round to dieI came of age and found a girl in a Tuscaloosa bar
She cleaned me out and hit it on the sly
I tried to kill the pain, I bought some wine and hopped a train
Seemed easier than just a-waitin’ ’round to dieA friend said he knew where some easy money was
We robbed a man and brother did we fly
The posse caught up with me, drug me back to Muskogee
It’s two long years, just a-waitin’ ’round to dieNow I’m out of prison, I got me a friend at last
He don’t steal or cheat or drink or lie
His name’s codeine, he’s the nicest thing I’ve seen
Together we’re gonna wait around and die
