This is not a music video, but an excerpt from a documentary film. The elderly crying man, a friend of Townes’s, had been recently diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The friend was Seymour Washington ("Uncle Seymour"). Townes was living here in an Austin, TX neighborhood called Clarksville. Clarksville was where black servants who worked for rich people in the adjacent neighborhoods traditionally lived. By the 70's it was a mix of African Americans and hippies. Uncle Seymour was a travelling blacksmith and preacher and, yes, he was dying when this segment was filmed.
Townes was a great talent. Literally drank and drugged himself to death. 52 years old i believe is when he passed. He wrote that great song pancho and lefty sang by Wille Nelson and Merle Haggard. Great reaction Sarah.
Glad you've found Townes. This version is from a documentary called heartworn highways. But if you want to watch one just about Townes, its called be here to love me and is superb. He once leaned out of a 2 story window to 'know what it felt like' which sadly lef to him having to have electric shock treatment for his depression and lost all of his childhood memories. His girlfriend was also killed by a serial killer and so he went off to the mountains and came back with about 80 songs a few years later and everyone of them will break your heart. People call them sad songs, Townes called them songs of hopelessness. Guy's a genius.
Sarah. Your beautiful empathy to the human condition would make you a wonderful counsellor. You could help a lot of troubled people see that there is hope. Wonderful reaction as usual.
The old man's name is Seymour, he was a blacksmith and born in the 1800's.He died a year after this from cancer. Townes was treated with insulin shock therapy when he was younger and it erased a lot of his childhood memories. He struggled with it but loved writing songs and even wrote songs in his sleep. Townes lived with Seymour and they played music on his porch often. Great to see your reaction!
My favorite from this same documentary is the song 'Pancho and Lefty', here it is: ua-cam.com/video/zprRZ2wFQD4/v-deo.html Emmylou Harris & the Hot Band has my favorite live cover of 'Pancho and Lefty', from 1977 on Old Grey Whistle Test: ua-cam.com/video/scX50O2hDkI/v-deo.html Another favorite by Townes Van Zandt is his live cover of a song by the Rolling Stones, called 'Dead Flowers' (I think it was used in the film 'The Big Lebowski'). Here it is: ua-cam.com/video/2VgdtTRZhag/v-deo.html
The old man just found out he was dying. His friend came to play him the blues. Blues saves.
This is not a music video, but an excerpt from a documentary film. The elderly crying man, a friend of Townes’s, had been recently diagnosed with terminal cancer.
😢
He died a few months after this was filmed , they called him Uncle Seamore.
@@hogrotten6897 😢
The friend was Seymour Washington ("Uncle Seymour"). Townes was living here in an Austin, TX neighborhood called Clarksville. Clarksville was where black servants who worked for rich people in the adjacent neighborhoods traditionally lived. By the 70's it was a mix of African Americans and hippies. Uncle Seymour was a travelling blacksmith and preacher and, yes, he was dying when this segment was filmed.
Townes was a great talent. Literally drank and drugged himself to death. 52 years old i believe is when he passed. He wrote that great song pancho and lefty sang by Wille Nelson and Merle Haggard. Great reaction Sarah.
Glad you've found Townes. This version is from a documentary called heartworn highways. But if you want to watch one just about Townes, its called be here to love me and is superb. He once leaned out of a 2 story window to 'know what it felt like' which sadly lef to him having to have electric shock treatment for his depression and lost all of his childhood memories. His girlfriend was also killed by a serial killer and so he went off to the mountains and came back with about 80 songs a few years later and everyone of them will break your heart. People call them sad songs, Townes called them songs of hopelessness. Guy's a genius.
Beautiful to see someone react to Townes.
Your reactions are invariably touching and heartfelt. You are just wonderful!
Thank you! 😊
Yes youre right
Townes ia a fantastic rabbit hole..expert at mixing beautifully simple music with hauntingly real lyrics
Beautiful song.❤❤
Sarah. Your beautiful empathy to the human condition would make you a wonderful counsellor. You could help a lot of troubled people see that there is hope. Wonderful reaction as usual.
Townes and John Prine. Will get you right in the tummy.
The Bob Dylan of Country.. I love him!
The old man's name is Seymour, he was a blacksmith and born in the 1800's.He died a year after this from cancer. Townes was treated with insulin shock therapy when he was younger and it erased a lot of his childhood memories. He struggled with it but loved writing songs and even wrote songs in his sleep. Townes lived with Seymour and they played music on his porch often. Great to see your reaction!
Loves Townes. Try "My Mother the Mountain." Amazing imagery and haunting lyrics.
A very profound and heartfelt song
ThecMusic of the West is the best!
HEARTWORN HIGHWAYS
Walking On The Sunshine - Katrina And The Waves 🌊
My favorite from this same documentary is the song 'Pancho and Lefty', here it is: ua-cam.com/video/zprRZ2wFQD4/v-deo.html
Emmylou Harris & the Hot Band has my favorite live cover of 'Pancho and Lefty', from 1977 on Old Grey Whistle Test: ua-cam.com/video/scX50O2hDkI/v-deo.html
Another favorite by Townes Van Zandt is his live cover of a song by the Rolling Stones, called 'Dead Flowers' (I think it was used in the film 'The Big Lebowski'). Here it is: ua-cam.com/video/2VgdtTRZhag/v-deo.html
Check out ‘Tanya Be Good’ for the same version.
The Be Good Tanyas is the correct name.
GUY CLARK FIRST AND LAST VOICE