Townes Van Zandt - Rake: youtube.com/watch?v=sx4PsxUvMqY
This is the first Townes Van Zandt song I ever heard. I should have written this song. It was glorious, it got me right from the first note, the first words.
I was on a shitty tour I'd planned alone, went through with alone, drove to Halifax and back in late January in a giant empty van that could have carried 8 people at least, all myself, a guitar, an amp and a bag of clothes. It was foolish and mostly a failure, though wonderful all the same. Fredericton was the best show I'd yet played, was asked to sign autographs even. Ottawa was embarrassingly terrible; opening for a cover band, started with no audience at all, no PA, just sat on my amp and played to the bartender who ignored me. Nirupama came with me to Ottawa, a 16 hour drive straight and kept me alive, we celebrated my birthday in an empty cafe in the middle of nowhere Quebec. I met a girl in Halifax, thought she was cute, German studying physics, tried with her to find a bed and a place to stay. No luck. Made it back to Toronto a time later broke and opened for Hamilton Trading Co at The Boat, liked them, asked to join. Drunk near every Sunday following because of.
I was staying with Laura in Halifax in her bachelor sublet for a few days and we drank a bit, watched the Townes Van Zandt documentary Be Here to Love Me. I'd heard the name but never heard his songs. I became obsessed for months after.
And I still retain this song could be played at any point and ring true. Most days.
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