Townes Van Zandt: At My Window

Here is Townes Van Zandt's "At My Window" (album by same name - 1987). Townes was one of the best songwriters in 20th century America. He was a Texas romantic poet in his musical work. His songs are original to the core and speak to the heart. Townes died at a relatively young age, but he seemed to have lived to the fullest. He influenced musicians such as Willie Nelson, Guy Clark, Steve Earle, Jerry Jeff Walker, Emmylou Harris, Nanci Griffith and the Lubbock/Austin singer/songwriters - Joe Ely, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock as well as many others. He had the soul of a blue's singer (Lightnin' Hopkins was his friend and influenced his work) translated into the hard living country musician life such as known by Blaze Foley or Hank Williams. He is my favorite musician. I believe it is the combination of mournfulness and laughter in his work that speaks so strongly to me. I feel I have greater empathy for others and for my own life because of his music. Perhaps his most well known song is "Poncho & Lefty" recorded by many but most popularly by Willie Nelson.