Townes Van Zandt - A guide to his songs and recordings Song titles now linked to Chords & Lyrics if available, first letter of song title linked to lyrics only. After each song title, [o] links to Frans and Hans' list of other's recordings and performances for that song [Full List]. These covers of Townes' songs now [July 2017] total around 7,916 recordings (including official and non-official releases, and home tapes). See also the Blue Sky discography page for more album info

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A GUIDE TO TOWNES VAN ZANDT
DISCOGRAPHY 1 For The Sake Of The Song (1968) 2 Our Mother The Mountain (1969) 3 Townes Van Zandt (1969) 4 Delta Mama Blues (1971) 5 High, Low & Inbetween (1972) 6 The Late, Great Townes Van Zandt (1972) 6x 45 rpm single From 6 (1972) 7 Live At The Old Quarter, Houston (rec. 7/1973) (1977) 7x LP, cassette and some reissue CD versions only 8 Flyin' Shoes (1978) 8x Eur. reissue CD Charly (1998) 9 Live & Obscure (1987) 10 At My Window (1987) 11 Rain On A Conga Drum: Live in Berlin (rec. 10/1990) (1991) 12 Road Songs (1992) 12x Eur. version (1992) 13 Rear View Mirror (1993) 13x Eur. version (1996) 14 The Nashville Sessions (rec. 1974; 1st rel. 1993, orig. master not rel. until 2015) 15 No Deeper Blue (1994) 16 The Best of Townes Van Zandt (Eur. rel.)(1996) 17 Abnormal (Eur. rel.)(1996) 17b Eur. reissue (1998) 18 The Highway Kind (1997) 18x Eur. version (1997) 19 Last Rights/Documentary (1997) 20 The Masters (Eur. rel.)(1997) 21 Anthology 1968-1979 (2 CD) (Eur. rel.)(1998) 22 A Far Cry From Dead (1999) 23 In Pain (Eur. rel.)(1999) 24 Drama Falls Like Teardrops (2 CD) (Eur. rel.)(2000) 25 Live At McCabe's (rec. 9/1995,Eur. rel.)(2001) 26 Texas Rain (*) (2001) 27 A Gentle Evening with TVZ (*) (2002) 28 Absolutely Nothing (*) (2002) 29 In The Beginning (2003) 30 Acoustic Blue (*) (2003) 31 Live at the Jester 1966 (2004) 32 Rear View Mirror v2 (*) (2004) 33 Live at Union Chapel (*) (2005) 34 A Private Concert (*) (2005) 35 Sunshine Boy: The Unheard Studio Sessions & Demos 1971-1972 (2013) 36 Down Home: The Classic 1985 Radio Broadcast(*) (2014) (*) Updates to this page pending COMPILATIONS C1 Texas Folk & Outlaw Music(1983) C2 Kerrville Live 1977 (1977) C3 Love Is My Only Crime (1993) C4 Endless Ave, Direction Nashville (1993) C5 Daddies Sing Good Night (1994) C6 KGSR 3rd compil CD (1995) C7 Where Love Goes (1995) C8 Texans Live From Mountain Stage (1996) C9 Fathers of Texas KR Wood (1997) C10 Tribute & Loving Memory, V. 1 Blaze Foley Tribute (1997) OTHER PERFORMERS ALBUMS W/TOWNES ON VOCALS O1 Butch Hancock Tape (1991) O2 CJ Berkman - A Texican Tradi- tion - cassette only (1994) O3 Blue Collar Blues - Richard Dobson+State of the Heart(1995) O4 The Glory Down - The Good Sons - CD (1995) O4x Riding The Range 45 rpm single w/The Calvins (1996) O5 Angelina - Barb Donovan (1996) O6 West Texas Heaven - Kimmie Rhodes (1996) O7 Kenai Dreams - Chris Buhalis - CD (1998) SONGBOOK * For The Sake Of The Song (1977) MICKEY NEWBURY RELEASES N1 Harlequin Melodies (1968) N2 Sings His Own (1972) COWBOY JUNKIES RELEASE J1 Miles From Our Home (1998) PAUL K RELEASE K1 Saratoga (1999) ERIC ANDERSON RELEASE A1 You Can't Relive the Past(2000) DAVID BROZA RELEASE B1 Night Dawn-The Unpublished Poetry of Townes Van Zandt (2010) UNRELEASED U Known from unrel. recordings/ studio sessions W Lyrics only written, unreleased THE RECORDED/PERFORMED SONGS (w/link [o] to RECORDINGS BY OTHER PERFORMERS, YEAR 1ST PERFORMED; xx - NOT KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN RECORDED BY TOWNES) A Song For [o] (92) 15; 17; 25 Ain't Leavin' Your Love [o] (87) 10; 11; 22 All Your Young Servants [o] (2/20/68) 1 Apt. 213 (7/18/68 studio session) U At My Window [o] (74) 8x; 10; 18x; * Badly Mistreated Blues (66) 31 Barbarian Polka [o] (??) ?? Be Here To Love Me [o] (7/18/68 studio session) 2; 21; 24 Big Country Blues [o] (67) 29 Billy Boney And Ma [o] (89) 15	Black Crow Blues [o] (66) 29; 31 Black Jack Mama [o] (67) 29 Black Widow Blues [o] (67 & 7/23/69 studio sessions) 29 Blaze's Blues [o] (89) 11; 15; 17; 18; 19 Blue Guitar [o] (xx) J1 Blue March, The [o] (xx) A1 Blue Ridge Mountains [o] (72) 5; 35 Blue Wind Blew [o] (84) 10 Brand New Companion [o] (12/2/70) 4; 7; 16; 19; 21; 24 Brother Flower [o] (2/3/78) 8; 13 Buckskin Stallion Blues [o] (74) 8x; 10; 11; 23; C8; * BW Railroad Blues [o] (91) 15 Carolina [o] B1 Catfish Song, The [o] (80) 10; 11; 17 Colorado Bound [o] (66) 29; 31 Colorado Girl [o] (10/8/69) 3; 13; 16; 20; 21; 24 Columbine [o] (67) 3 Come Tomorrow [o] (71) 4; 21 Cowboy Junkies Lament [o] (91) 15; 19 Diamond Heel Blues (??/?/72) 35 Deer, The [o] B1 Delta Mama Blues [o] (12/2/70) 4; 16; 20; 21; 24 Dollar Bill Blues [o] (78) 8; 9; 11; 13; 17b; 22; 25 Don't You Take It Too Bad [o] (7/18/68 studio session) 3; 7; 13; 16; 20; 21; 24; 35 Fare Thee Well, Miss Carousel [o] (7/23/68 studio session) 3 Flyin' Shoes [o] (78) 8; 13; 16; 17; 20; 21 For The Sake Of The Song [o] (2/20/68) 1; 3; 7; 10; 13; 20; 21; 22; 24; * Fraternity Blues [o] (68) 7x; 13x; 21 German Mustard (72) 6 Going Down To Memphis (94) 15 Gone, Gone Blues (81) [o] 10 Gone Too Long [o] (93) 15; 23 Greensboro Woman [o] (72) 5; 22; 35 Gypsy Friday [o] (67) 29 Harm's Swift Way [o] (xx) K1 B1 Heavenly Houseboat Blues [o] (10/20/72) 6; 16; 21; 35 Hey Willie Boy [o] (92) 15, C5 High, Low And In Between [o] (72) 5; 12x; 21; 24 Highway Kind [o] (72) 5; 18; 23; 24; 35 Hole, The [o] (88) 15; 18; 19; 25 Holes In My Soul [o] B1 Hunger Child Blues [o] (67 & 7/23/68 studio sessions) 29 If I Needed You [o] (72) 6; 7; 11; 13; 16; 17; 19; 20; 21; 24; C2; C7; * If I Was Washington [o] (72) 15 I'll Be Here In The Morning [o](68) 1; 3; 16; 19; 20; 21; 24; 05 Jeanene [o] B1 Kathleen [o] (68) 2; 7; 16; 17; 21; 24 Kathleen's Strings (7/23/68 studio session) U Katie Belle Blue [o] (94) 15; 23; 25; C6 Like A Summer Thursday [o] (7/23/68 studio session) 2 Little Sundance #2 (87) 10 Long Ball Hitter [o] B1 Loretta [o] (73) 7; 8; 9; 14; 16; 20; 21; 23 Louisiana Girl Blues (66) 31 Lovers' Lullaby [o] (89) 15; 18; 23 Lungs [o] (10/8/69) 3; 7; 11; 13; 17; 21; 35; * Many A Fine Lady [o] (2/20/68) 1; 9; 22; 24 Marie [o] (88) 15; 17; 19; 25 Maryetta's Song [o] (67) 29 Meadowlark, The [o] (xx) A1 Mister, Can't You See [o] (8/30/68) N1 Mr Mudd And Mr Gold [o] (72) 5; 7; 11; 21; 23; 24; 35 Mustang Blues (66) 31 My Proud Mountains [o] (7/22/68 studio sessions) 2; 18 Night Dawn (Silver Dollar) [o] B1 Night Train [o] (xx) A1 Niles River Blues [o] (92) 15 No Deal [o] (72) 5; 16; 18; 21; 24; 35 No Lonesome Tune [o] (72) 6; 16; 21; 24 No Place To Fall [o] (73) 7; 8; 11; 13; 14; 16; 20; 21; 24; * None But The Rain [o] (70) 3; 21; 24 Nothin' [o] (12/2/70) 4; 11; 23 Old Satan [o] B1 Only Him Or Me [o] (12/2/70) 4; 7x; 21; 24 Our Mother The Mountain [o] (7/22/69 studio session) 2; 12; 21; 24 Pancho & Lefty [o] (72) 6; 7; 9; 11; 13; 16; 17; 19; 20; 21; 22; 24; 25; 35; C1; * Pueblo Waltz [o] (74) 8; 9; 14; 25 Queen, The [o] (xx) N2 Quicksilver Daydreams of Maria [o] (68) 1; 3; 20; * Rake [o] (71) 4; 18 Rex's Blues [o] (7/2/73) 7; 8; 9; 13; 14; 20; 22; 23 Road, The [o] (xx) A1 Ruester's Blues (xx, written 90) W Sad Cinderella [o] (2/20/68) 1; 6; 24; 35 Sanitarium Blues [o] (96) 22 Second Lover's Song [o] (67 & 7/23/68) 2; * She Came And She Touched Me [o] (7/23/68 studio session) 2; 7x; 24; * Sheriff of Crested Butte, The (72)U Silver Ships Of Andilar, The [o] Sky Blue (72)Studio only 7 comes 11	Sixteen Summers, Fifteen Falls [o] (2/20/68) 1 Snake Mountain Blues [o] (7/18/68 studio sess.) 2; 9; 17; 21; 22; 24 Snake Song, The [o] (7/2/73) 8; 14; 21 Snow Don't Fall [o] (73) 6 Snowin' On Raton [o] (80) 10; 23; 25 Soul To Soul [o] B1 Southern Cross [o] B1 Spider Song, The [o] (74) 8x; 14 Squash (96) 22 St. John The Gambler [o] (8/22/68 studio sessions) 2; 16; 20; 21; 24; * Standin' [o] (72) 5; 16; 21; 35 Still Lookin' For You [o] (84) 10; 18 Sunshine Boy (72) 6x; 35 Talking Birth Control Blues (66) 31 Talking Karate Blues (66) 1; 31 Talking KKK Blues (70) 27 Talking Thunderbird Blues [o] (66) 7; 9; 13x; 31 Tecumseh Valley [o] (2/20/68 also 7/22/68 studio session) 1; 2; 7; 9; 11; 13; 17; 19; 21; 24; C1 To Live Is To Fly [o] (10/12/71) 5; 7; 11; 13; 16; 21; 22; 23; 24; 35; * Tower Song [o] (67 & 7/23/68 studio session) 4; 7; 13; 16; 21; 22; 35; * Turnstyled, Junkpiled [o] (7/23/68 studio session) 4; 21; 24 Two Girls [o] (73) 7; 14; 17 Two Hands [o] (2/12/71) 5; 16; 21; 35 Upon My Soul (74) 8x; 14 Untitled [o] B1 Untitled Poem (xx, written 96) W Velvet Voices, The (2/20/68) 1 Waitin' Around To Die [o] (2/20/68) 1; 3; 7; 9; 13; 16; 17; 19; 20; 21; 22; 24 Waitin' For The Day [o] (67) C3; 29 When He Offers His Hand [o] (72) 5; 35; 12x When She Don't Need Me [o] (74) 8; 14; 20; 21 When Your Dream Lovers Die [o] (67) 29 Where I Lead Me [o] (12/2/70) 4; 21; 35 White Freightliner Blues [o] (74) 7; 9; 11; 13; 14; 20; 23; 24; 35 Why She's Acting This Way [o] (7/18/68 studio session) 2; 7x; 20; 24 You Are Not Needed Now [o] (72) 5; 9; 23; 24; 35 OTHER MATERIAL Alone and Forsaken (H Williams) 23 Automobile Blues (L Hopkins) 12 Banks of the Ohio (Trad) 18x; 25 Cannonball Blues (Carter Family) 31 Chauffeur's Blues (L Hopkins) 7x Cocaine Blues (Trad) 7x; 12; 24 Coo-Coo (TC Ashley) (70) 12; 17b Darcy Farrow (S Gillette/ T E Campbell) 18 Dead Flowers (Jagger/Richards) 11; 12; 17; 35 Dirty Old Town (E MacColl) O4x Don't Let The Sunshine Fool You (G Clark) 6; 21; 24 Dublin Blues (G Clark) 18 FFV (Trad) 4; 24 Fraulein (L Williams) 6; 11; 12; 21; 24 Hello Central (L Hopkins)(70)12; 31 Hobo's Lullabye (G Reeves) (70) C4 Honky Tonkin' (H Williams) 6; 16; 20; 21; 24 Jole Blon (Trad) 32 I'm Gonna Fly (K Rhodes) O6 I'm So Lonesome (I Could Cry) (H Williams) 31 I Heard That Lonesome Whistle (H Williams/J Davis) 18 Indian Cowboy (J Ely) (80) 12 Ira Hayes (P LaFarge) 12; 18 Kenai Dreams (C Buhalis) O7 Little Willie The Gambler (B Dylan) 12 Lost Highway (L Payne) 18 Man Gave Names To The Animals (B Dylan) 12 My Starter Won't Start (L Hopkins) 12 Nine Pound Hammer (M Travis) 7x; 20 Old Shep (R Foley) 17 Old Paint (Trad.) 35 Racing In The Streets (B Springsteen) 12 Riding the Range (M W King) 13x; O4; O4x Sage (E Eggenberger) C4 San Antone (verse CJ Berkman) O3 Short-haired Woman Blues (L Hopkins) 11; 12; 25 Shrimp Song (R Bennett & S Tepper) 11; 17b; 25 Springtime in Uganda (B. Foley) C10 Stopping Off Place (C Eckman) 23 T for Texas (J Rogers) 31; 35 Texas River Song (Trad) 12 Trouble In Mind (R Jones) 31 Uncertain Texas (R Dobson/ R Crowell) O3 Wabash Cannonball (AP Carter)12; 25 Who Do You Love (E McDaniel) 7; 8; 20; 21; 35 Will You Come To The Bower (trad) C9 Wouldn't That Be Nice (B Foley) C10 Wreck On the Highway (D Dixon) 18 You Gotta Move (F McDowell) 23 You Win Again (H Williams) 12x

Notes:
1. Dates or years after songs may only be approximate and are based mostly on either 
the earliest performance from tape archives, or from published copyright dates.  A 
more authoritative listing of dates may result following Jeanene's copyright search 
on all the songs. Recently published studio logs and archives are gradually pushing 
back some dates of earliest performance.

2. All songs from Best of Townes Van Zandt are from the early (Poppy & Tomato)
studio albums from the 60's and 70's, and none are the versions from First
Album/For the Sake of the Song or from the Old Quarter live album. All songs
from The Masters also from early albums, particularly 6 were from Townes Van 
Zandt, 5 from Flying Shoes, 4 from Old Quarter, 2 from Our Mother the Mountain,
2 from Late Great, and 1 from Delta Momma Blues. Songs from Townes Van Zandt 
Anthology 1968-1979 and Drama Falls Like Teardrops are also exclusively from 
the early albums, including several from the Old Quarter album, and from 
Nashville Sessions (Anthology only). More reissues include "The Best of Townes
Van Zandt", a "Very Best of Townes Van Zandt", "Singer Songwriter", "Texas 
Troubadour", "Legend", and "Be Here To Love Me" (None included above, see 
discography page for more information on these endless reissues).

3. Mister, Can't You See by Van Zandt and Mickey Newbury, Delta Momma Blues by 
Van Zandt, Studdard and Moore. Heavenly Houseboat Blues by Van Zandt and Susanna 
Clark. German Mustard co-written by Van Zandt and Rocky Hill. Gone Gone Blues 
by Van Zandt and Mickey White.  Blue Guitar by Van Zandt and Michael Timmins.

The Meadowlark, The Road, The Blue March, and Night Train all co-written with Eric 
Andersen in 1986 and released on Andersen's album "You Can't Relive the past" on 
Appleseed Records in 2000.

4. The 1977 songbook, For The Sake Of The Song, is sometimes not available, but
check Jeanene Van Zandt's Webpage Catalog, also for CDs, posters, and T-shirts.

5. Links [o] to other performers after each song by Frans and Hans, with ca. 
3,618 entries total (Mar 2010), 6,648 entries (Mar 2013), 7,916 entries (July 2017).

6. The songs "Maybe, Maybe Not", "Sky Blue", "Black as Lightnin' Blues", "Darling, 
Dont You Leave Me Here", "Breakfast Blues", "Little D", "Dream Spider", "Moon Blues", 
"Soldier In the Army of The Lord", "Traditional" were all registered for copyrights on
8/15/73 and again 1/2/2001 as Writing and Music by Townes Van Zandt; these are suspected 
to be outtakes from "Nashville Sessions" aka "7 Comes 11". 

7. The song "If I was Washington", released on the 1994 album "No Deeper Blue", was 
performed as early as 1972 as part of the Bill Hedgepeth recordings, 1972-73. 
So it took 20+ years to officially release the song. 

8. The song "Sky Blue" was never released or played live (as far as known) other
than the 1972/73 Bill Hedgepeth home recordings. He said after playing "thats a pretty
song". Another reason (not known until 2018) why I named this website "TVZ Blue Sky
Home Page" back in 1996, no? (also see note 6 above).

Originally by John Conquest, this version maintained by
Len Coop coopl@bcc.orst.edu since Jan 1996

With corrections from Patrick Hurley, members of the Townes Van Zandt Mail-list 
and others.