Townes Van Zandt(1944-1997) was a singer-songwriter, born in Texasto a life on the road. Van Zandt was master of the small, intimate folkperformance, such as the July 1973 show that became Live At The Old Quarter Houston, Texas, the double album on Tomato Records. As the Austin Chroniclewrites of the re-released CD, "Alone with a guitar, he hushes the crowd with his visionary tunes that are by turns haunting and eccentric, yet filled with beauty and dark shadows." Despite chronic battles with alcoholism and depression, his songwriting displayed a sense of humour and introspection, truth and beauty. Many artists cite Townes' influence on their music, with covers of his songs recorded by the likes of Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Guy Clark, Steve Earle, Jeffrey Foucault, Cowboy Junkies, The Be Good Tanyasand others. His son John T.
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Fare Thee Well, Miss Carousel Lyrics
Townes Van Zandt
By townes van zandt
The drunken clowns still hanging round
But it plain the laughters all died down
The tears you tried so hard to hide
Are flowin
A blind man with his knife in hand
Has convinced himself that he understands
I wish him well, miss carousel
But I gotta be a-goin
Wont you come and get me when
Youre sure that you dont need me then
I stand outside your window
And proudly call your name
The ladies been told that all of gold
Is worth so much it cant be sold
No time to weep shell need her sleep
Tomorrow
When she carries her face to the market place
And bets it on the opening race
She can ring her bells, miss carousel,
But her singing brings me sorrow
Its always done every mothers son
Is shown that grown men never run
And so they fight with all the might
Inside them
When the battles been fought and they all been taught
That the trick is just not being caught
Will you give them hell, miss carousel,
When theyre begging you to hide them
When the need arose your eyes fell closed
You clamped your fingers round your nose
Would you say thats any way
To judge him
You havent got the authority
To kill him in the first degree
But would you feel compelled, miss carousel,
If you have something to begrudge him
On a velvet beach far beneath the reach
Of those that come to pray and preach
The natural man who tries to stand
Is fallin
How long will it be before he sees
You own his legs but his mind is free
Only you can tell, miss carousel,
How long will he be crawling?
The castle walls has grown so tall
Seem there aint no hope at all
To reach the top even though you stop
For breathin
But I aint gonna try to make you cry
The tear drops couldnt find your eye
Its all been swell, miss carousel,
But the time has come for leavin