"His mind got cluttered and the words rolled off down the gutter..." That is one of the most descriptive lyrics one could have ever written for a conversation with an old man whose mind wasn't quite in the present nor quite sober. What beautiful craftsmanship.
I'm 50 years old and being playing guitar since 94.... Never had heard of Guy until tonight and I can't listen to enough. Just genius, absolute brilliance. Wish I'd got wiser a lot sooner.
Hey Tim. Glad you found him, my favorite is the live performance concert from the Kerrville Folk Festival with his son Travis. I watch it over and over especially when I need some feel good vibes. I had never heard an electric bass before to my knowledge and Travis mastered it and helped me fall in love with the instrument. I think Guy was equally impressed by his talent.. I was an event DJ for many years playing popular recorded music to make people dance and before that I was a country radio jock. Sure I had my favorites that I listened to and compiled a massive library of music of all genres. I knew of Guy Clark, Jerry Jeff Walker, Eddy Raven, Gary Stewart, Dean Dillon, Ray Wiley Hubbard, John Prine and I purposely avoided listening to their stuff at great lengths in order to have a back up for my later years to enjoy “new” music. Think about like this, buy a Harley when you’re 25 and just store it until you’re 55. I’d I’d the right thing. When I semi retired from music in 2016 I had a whole bunch of “new” cool music to listen too and never get tired of . Look for the video of Dean Dillon’s solo concert on you tube, it’s real good. He wrote so many great songs. Eddy Raven too is so great. He wrote so many smash hits it’s crazy. I’m one of those cats that can listen to “Joe Knows How to Live” over and over and get something new from it each time. Hope I steered you into some good enjoyable times.
Great tune. That's a young Eddy Shaver on guitar. He also played with Yoakam, Waylon, Kristofferson, and Willie, as well as his dad Billy Joe. That Strat belonged to Duane Allman; a gift from Dicky Betts. RIP Eddy.
Guy was so very professional. It was an absolute pleasure working with him. You knew you were in the presence of greatness, but he gave no indication that he knew.
Roll on brother Guy. Bless you & Suzanne & Townes too. This drinks for you. The Holy Trio. XXX. All the best from downtown Liverpool U.K. Godspeed guys....
There are damn few artists who carry authenticity with them like their very skin. Guy was one of those rare individuals who was just solid throughout. Rest in peace, you beautiful soul
They say Like a Rolling Stone is the greatest song of all time and I can see why. I could easily see why this song could also be considered one of the best. What a jewel.
@ Tom Logan, Guy was Guy and he sure didn't have to channel Dylan but what you said is funny ID you were joking...hell, funny if you weren't. Townes lived with Guy and Susanna at times and Guy learned some bits and tricks to put to use on guitar and Townes learned a lot from hanging around with Lightnin'. None of those guys copied but a bunch of folks copied them in one form or another. Guy wrote this song after he nailed himself in a room because he thought Townes and Susanna were picking on him!
This is absolute Gold. I have just come across this. I am a Guy Clarke fan. Huge fan. Stunned that I have found this cache. He always came across as giving a lot, asked nothing. I have only ever heard him acoustic. Gold.
Let Him Roll He's a wino, tried and true. Done about everything there is to do. He worked on freighters, he worked in bars. He worked on farms, 'n he worked on cars. It was white port, that put that look in his eye That grown men get when they need to cry And he sat down on the curb to rest And his head just fell down on his chest He said "Every single day it gets A little bit harder to handle and yet" And he lost the thread and his mind got cluttered And the words just rolled off down in the gutter Well he was elevator man in a cheap hotel In exchange for the rent on a one room cell He's old in years beyond his time No Thanks to the world, and the white Port wine So he says "Son," he always called me son He said, "Life for you has just begun" And he told me a story that I heard before How he fell in love with a Dallas whore Well he could cut through the years to the very night When it ended, in a whore house fight And she turned his last proposal down In favor of being a girl about town Now it's been seventeen years right in line And he ain't been straight none of the time Too many days of fightin' the weather And too many nights of not being together So he died Well when they went through his personal affects In among the stubs from the welfare checks Was a crumblin' picture of a girl in a door An address in Dallas, and nothin' more The welfare people provided the priest A couple from the mission down the street Sang Amazing Grace, and no one cried 'Cept some lady in black, way off to the side We all left and she was standing there Black veil covering her silver hair And 'ol One-Eyed John said her name was Alice She used to be a whore in Dallas Let him roar, Lord let him roll I bet he's gone to Dallas Rest his soul Just let him roll, Lord let him roar He always said that heaven Was just a Dallas whore. Just let him roll, Lord him roll I bet he's gone to Dallas Rest his soul
Wow. One of the highlights of my personal life was everytime I saw Guy Clark play or grandad play. Never realized either really until the last few years. I bet he’s got a studio jamming with my grandad right now.
My brother introduced me to this song, and while I love Guy Clark, I don't think anyone could do it better. He had a stroke a couple of years ago, and can't remember things any more. But at the point where the old man calls him "son, he always called me son," my brother said it in such a way that you could see the streaks the wrinkles, all caused by the "white ort wine"
There’s something sort of addictive about this song. Don’t know why… I guess it’s sad without being whiny. With touches of simple kindness like listening to the old guys story over and over, and his love coming to his funeral…. And just guys simple way of singing it. I’ve heard others, just not as good. Genius.
I always come to Guy Clark via other musicians doing his songs. This time, Justin Townes Earle, his fav all time song. No surprise there. This is pure poetry in song.
A neighbour lent me a copy of The Old No1when it first came out and he's been my No1 singer songwriter since. I managed to see him twice here in the Uk, once on his own and once with Verlon. I've still not come across anybody to compete. RIP .
Got to see him play with his dad's band in a small saloon in Dallas one Saturday night. He was a helluva guitar player. A few years later he died from an overdose of heroin on New Year's Eve.
Guy was/is my favourite singer/songwriter. We know he wasn't the greatest singer or guitarist, but we know he was the greatest story teller/writer. I had the pleasure of meeting him twice -such a gent. I confess i have an issue seeing him play an out of tune Tele. As Guy would say "whatever..."bless him"
this footage is a gift...back before Guy was "Godfather of Americana" still a little rough around the edges, but the song comes out as smooth it gets...
Johnny Cash covers this in his Austin city limits performance. As much as I love Johnny Cash, there is nothing better than the original. It is thanks to Cash to let me know this, he obviously had good taste in music.
He's a wino, tried and true. Done about everything there is to do. He worked on freighters, he worked in bars. He worked on farms, 'n he worked on cars. It was white port, that put that look in his eye That grown men get when they need to cry And he sat down on the curb to rest And his head just fell down on his chest He said "Every single day it gets A little bit harder to handle and yet" And he lost the thread and his mind got cluttered And the words just rolled off down in the gutter Well he was elevator man in a cheap hotel In exchange for the rent on a one room cell He's old in years beyond his time Thanks to the world, and the white Port wine So he says "Son, " he always called me son He said, "Life for you has just begun" And he told me a story that I heard before How he fell in love with a Dallas whore Well he could cut through the years to the very night When it ended, in a whore house fight And she turned his last proposal down In favor of being a girl about town Now it's been seventeen years right in line And he ain't been straight none of the time Too many days of fightin' the weather And too many nights of not being together So he died Well when they went through his personal affects In among the stubs from the welfare checks Was a crumblin' picture of a girl in a door An address in Dallas, and nothin' more The welfare people provided the priest A couple from the mission down the street Sang Amazing Grace, and no one cried 'Cept some woman in black, way off to the side We all left and she was standing there Black veil covering her silver hair And 'ol One-Eyed John said her name was Alice And she used to be a whore in Dallas Let him roar, Lord let him roll Bet he's gone to Dallas Rest his soul Lord, let him roll, Lord let him roar He always said that heaven Was just a Dallas whore.
jjj I’m going to his show next weekend in Chicago, funny I was wishing he would cover it. His cover of billy joe’s Georgia on a fast train is fantastic
From the beard, I'm guessing it's from around 1981 when The South Coast of Texas was out. I'm also thinking that Guy very rarely ever performed with a full band, at least from what I've heard.
"His mind got cluttered and the words rolled off down the gutter..." That is one of the most descriptive lyrics one could have ever written for a conversation with an old man whose mind wasn't quite in the present nor quite sober. What beautiful craftsmanship.
Always reminded me of schoolhouse rock mixed with sipsey’s son from fried green tomatoes
he did not know he could not fly, so he did.. just a fantastic line for a song..
I'm 50 years old and being playing guitar since 94.... Never had heard of Guy until tonight and I can't listen to enough. Just genius, absolute brilliance. Wish I'd got wiser a lot sooner.
Don't most of us
67 Mando in72
Hey Tim. Glad you found him, my favorite is the live performance concert from the Kerrville Folk Festival with his son Travis. I watch it over and over especially when I need some feel good vibes. I had never heard an electric bass before to my knowledge and Travis mastered it and helped me fall in love with the instrument. I think Guy was equally impressed by his talent..
I was an event DJ for many years playing popular recorded music to make people dance and before that I was a country radio jock.
Sure I had my favorites that I listened to and compiled a massive library of music of all genres.
I knew of Guy Clark, Jerry Jeff Walker, Eddy Raven, Gary Stewart, Dean Dillon, Ray Wiley Hubbard, John Prine and I purposely avoided listening to their stuff at great lengths in order to have a back up for my later years to enjoy “new” music. Think about like this, buy a Harley when you’re 25 and just store it until you’re 55. I’d I’d the right thing. When I semi retired from music in 2016 I had a whole bunch of “new” cool music to listen too and never get tired of .
Look for the video of Dean Dillon’s solo concert on you tube, it’s real good. He wrote so many great songs. Eddy Raven too is so great. He wrote so many smash hits it’s crazy. I’m one of those cats that can listen to “Joe Knows How to Live” over and over and get something new from it each time.
Hope I steered you into some good enjoyable times.
Guy 🤗
Townes Van Zandt
Pancho & Lefty
Heartworn Highways
Great tune. That's a young Eddy Shaver on guitar. He also played with Yoakam, Waylon, Kristofferson, and Willie, as well as his dad Billy Joe. That Strat belonged to Duane Allman; a gift from Dicky Betts. RIP Eddy.
Thanks
Wish I had the chance to see Eddy live. What a picker, so much heart.
You can't make rocks from a rolling stone
RIP EDDY
❤️
For real?
I thought it might be Eddy
"Don't let the sunshine fool ya" - the music they feed you on the radio isn't "music" at all. This is music. This. Don't ever forget that.
Heartworn highway rules..long live guy..
Guy was so very professional. It was an absolute pleasure working with him. You knew you were in the presence of greatness, but he gave no indication that he knew.
Terry Canup funny, I was gonna say how he stood up to shaver at the end.
Almost like he's Playing to good.
Then again, I'm drunk
Let em roll
thanks for posting. That's awesome man. He wouldn't have lived so long if he had kept rolling that hard imo.
If I missed it I'm sorry but what year was this video recorded, any idea ? Thanks great stuff !
Sometime Kerrville
@@jixxxxer17 1980
Roll on brother Guy. Bless you & Suzanne & Townes too. This drinks for you. The Holy Trio. XXX. All the best from downtown Liverpool U.K. Godspeed guys....
Old Number 1 may be my favorite album, and I was 18 in 1970, (In my humble opinion, the best music generation of all time.)
OMG!!
69 ...The breakfast of champions
These lyrics arent no lyrics, just pure streetpoetry. Leaves me speechless everytime❤
One of my favorite Guy tunes. Man he can paint.
There are damn few artists who carry authenticity with them like their very skin. Guy was one of those rare individuals who was just solid throughout. Rest in peace, you beautiful soul
Thanks for posting this gem. Ultra rare early footage like this of Guy is hard to find.
Eddy, you were gone before most got to know what a great guitar player you were. I miss Eddy Shaver, RIP
Holy shit that is Eddy Shaver. What a combo right there
He's got a song for every stage of life...the sign of absolute greatness
They say Like a Rolling Stone is the greatest song of all time and I can see why. I could easily see why this song could also be considered one of the best. What a jewel.
yeah and guy was channelin' dylan 's voice on this version...
@ Tom Logan, Guy was Guy and he sure didn't have to channel Dylan but what you said is funny ID you were joking...hell, funny if you weren't. Townes lived with Guy and Susanna at times and Guy learned some bits and tricks to put to use on guitar and Townes learned a lot from hanging around with Lightnin'. None of those guys copied but a bunch of folks copied them in one form or another. Guy wrote this song after he nailed himself in a room because he thought Townes and Susanna were picking on him!
My Hero
This is absolute Gold.
I have just come across this.
I am a Guy Clarke fan.
Huge fan. Stunned that I have found this cache.
He always came across as giving a lot, asked nothing.
I have only ever heard him acoustic.
Gold.
Guy saved my soul a few nights
Rest in Peace if you want to
Rock on if you want to
Well put
This is a truly brilliant song by a brilliant songwriter.
There was only one Guy that's too bad. A true American original. I will miss him.
As fine a song as ever was written.
I fight back tears ever time I hear it
Let Him Roll
He's a wino, tried and true.
Done about everything there is to do.
He worked on freighters, he worked in bars.
He worked on farms, 'n he worked on cars.
It was white port, that put that look in his eye
That grown men get when they need to cry
And he sat down on the curb to rest
And his head just fell down on his chest
He said "Every single day it gets
A little bit harder to handle and yet"
And he lost the thread and his mind got cluttered
And the words just rolled off down in the gutter
Well he was elevator man in a cheap hotel
In exchange for the rent on a one room cell
He's old in years beyond his time No
Thanks to the world, and the white Port wine
So he says "Son," he always called me son
He said, "Life for you has just begun"
And he told me a story that I heard before
How he fell in love with a Dallas whore
Well he could cut through the years to the very night
When it ended, in a whore house fight
And she turned his last proposal down
In favor of being a girl about town
Now it's been seventeen years right in line
And he ain't been straight none of the time
Too many days of fightin' the weather
And too many nights of not being together
So he died
Well when they went through his personal affects
In among the stubs from the welfare checks
Was a crumblin' picture of a girl in a door
An address in Dallas, and nothin' more
The welfare people provided the priest
A couple from the mission down the street
Sang Amazing Grace, and no one cried
'Cept some lady in black, way off to the side
We all left and she was standing there
Black veil covering her silver hair
And 'ol One-Eyed John said her name was Alice
She used to be a whore in Dallas
Let him roar, Lord let him roll
I bet he's gone to Dallas Rest his soul
Just let him roll, Lord let him roar
He always said that heaven
Was just a Dallas whore.
Just let him roll, Lord him roll
I bet he's gone to Dallas
Rest his soul
Brilliant. 'and the words just rolled off down the gutter...'
one of the greatest songs ever written. Incredible!
One of the absolute best writers...ALWAYS loved everything I heard came from Guy Clark
Guy told us what heaven is.
RIP Guy... Thanks for all the music that touched my heart & soul.
The last couple verses gave me chills and even caused some moisture of the eyes.
Don't believe I'd heard this tune before, somehow.
You're not alone on that score.
A genuine classic. The master at the top of his game.
and now his father has passed aswell... RIP Billy Joe
Guy was a national treasure!!!
before my memories of Guy... is this in the 80's?... he's so young but could be older than i am now, and I feel old...
Wow. One of the highlights of my personal life was everytime I saw Guy Clark play or grandad play. Never realized either really until the last few years. I bet he’s got a studio jamming with my grandad right now.
By far the best playing of this song. He pours it on thick this time.
RIP Guy... deeply touched by your being here!
My brother introduced me to this song, and while I love Guy Clark, I don't think anyone could do it better. He had a stroke a couple of years ago, and can't remember things any more. But at the point where the old man calls him "son, he always called me son," my brother said it in such a way that you could see the streaks the wrinkles, all caused by the "white ort wine"
Stunning song from a great artist
Peter Jo
RIP Guy Clark. Sad to lose him
There’s something sort of addictive about this song. Don’t know why… I guess it’s sad without being whiny. With touches of simple kindness like listening to the old guys story over and over, and his love coming to his funeral…. And just guys simple way of singing it. I’ve heard others, just not as good. Genius.
I saw Guy Clark for the first time at Kerrville, around 1976. Thanks for the memories.
I always come to Guy Clark via other musicians doing his songs. This time, Justin Townes Earle, his fav all time song. No surprise there. This is pure poetry in song.
R.I.P. Guy... Your songs changed the way all songwriters should write songs!
Cool MD I just lost brain cells reading your “inane” comment lol
Cool MD Maybe you go back to school the 2nd Grade and maybe you’ll learn how to spell, I don’t want to say anything “inane” you dumb duck 😂
Kelton king “inane” is definitely a word man, even if the other guy was a bit rude
jwollheim “Dumbass” is too.
Cool MD do you really not understand what he’s saying?
Wow Terry, What a gift!! It is like finding buried treasure coming across your stuff. Thanks so very much!!
WowWwWwW....look how cashed he is!
It's amazing how this old crew could still perform in the middle of a bender of some sort.
What ??? How can anyone give a dislike to this ?? Thats pure stuff of best music
if you walk into a room of 550 people 2 of them are probably idiots :P
legit outlaw country hero will be missed RIP
Beyond perfect.
Beautiful,great folks out there playing some great music.Guy Clark,needs a purple necklace from President.
The sound on your videos is just fantastic. Thank you so much for making these great videos available.
Bloody awesome! RIP Guy.
Pure poetry, just amazing.
A neighbour lent me a copy of The Old No1when it first came out and he's been my No1 singer songwriter since. I managed to see him twice here in the Uk, once on his own and once with Verlon. I've still not come across anybody to compete. RIP .
Absolute beauty.
I loved this. I'll leave it at that.
My Grandfather loved his white port,one time when I was 8 he offered me a glass I drank with my Grandfather!
Mine too!
Just found his music wished I'd listened to this years ago
Jeff Scott If you haven’t yet you should check out Dublin blues
Yup, said the same when I discovered John Prine.
Would have been a pure blessing to hear these two play together.
The greatest story song ever sung.
Good ole Bobby Bare also covered this song, and it is also well worth a listen.
Stunning iconic man
That is little Eddie Shaver on lead guitar.
Got to see him play with his dad's band in a small saloon in Dallas one Saturday night. He was a helluva guitar player. A few years later he died from an overdose of heroin on New Year's Eve.
Tim Parker He couldn't have been out of his teenage years in this clip. Todd Snider wrote Waco Moon after Eddy Shaver died.
Holy shit it was! The cross pollination here!
Eddie was living in Boerne then.
Thanks Rick. I hadn't noticed.
Classic just classic..
God damn Guy.....I swear...
This song got sadder the longer Guy lived.....must have been as his voice got older....
The song crafter!
Ricky's got a request... Ha, it ain't easy being greasy...
One of the greatest classic troubadours in the classic American story tellers
Guy was/is my favourite singer/songwriter. We know he wasn't the greatest singer or guitarist, but we know he was the greatest story teller/writer. I had the pleasure of meeting him twice -such a gent. I confess i have an issue seeing him play an out of tune Tele. As Guy would say "whatever..."bless him"
GOAT
A Texas Treasure!!
Pure poetry!
this footage is a gift...back before Guy was "Godfather of Americana" still a little rough around the edges, but the song comes out as smooth it gets...
Johnny Cash covers this in his Austin city limits performance. As much as I love Johnny Cash, there is nothing better than the original. It is thanks to Cash to let me know this, he obviously had good taste in music.
Awesome story through song !!!
THANKS
That is f*cking brilliant
great find man
Was the best
Just magic
great live version
Doesn't get much better!
This song is VERY much like "If that ain't country" by D.A.C.
Anyone else? The melody and song structure is virtually the same. Its probably just one of them ol songs
He's a wino, tried and true.
Done about everything there is to do.
He worked on freighters, he worked in bars.
He worked on farms, 'n he worked on cars.
It was white port, that put that look in his eye
That grown men get when they need to cry
And he sat down on the curb to rest
And his head just fell down on his chest
He said "Every single day it gets
A little bit harder to handle and yet"
And he lost the thread and his mind got cluttered
And the words just rolled off down in the gutter
Well he was elevator man in a cheap hotel
In exchange for the rent on a one room cell
He's old in years beyond his time
Thanks to the world, and the white Port wine
So he says "Son, " he always called me son
He said, "Life for you has just begun"
And he told me a story that I heard before
How he fell in love with a Dallas whore
Well he could cut through the years to the very night
When it ended, in a whore house fight
And she turned his last proposal down
In favor of being a girl about town
Now it's been seventeen years right in line
And he ain't been straight none of the time
Too many days of fightin' the weather
And too many nights of not being together
So he died
Well when they went through his personal affects
In among the stubs from the welfare checks
Was a crumblin' picture of a girl in a door
An address in Dallas, and nothin' more
The welfare people provided the priest
A couple from the mission down the street
Sang Amazing Grace, and no one cried
'Cept some woman in black, way off to the side
We all left and she was standing there
Black veil covering her silver hair
And 'ol One-Eyed John said her name was Alice
And she used to be a whore in Dallas
Let him roar, Lord let him roll
Bet he's gone to Dallas Rest his soul
Lord, let him roll, Lord let him roar
He always said that heaven
Was just a Dallas whore.
I LOVE this! Any other footage from this show? Thx in advance.
legends
How could the band not laugh after that last outro!?
💙
It was the heaviness of the story Jeffy
This song is just like the outlaw version on harry Chapin’s Corey’s coming still a great song
Exactly what I thought when I first heard this song. I actually wonder if one inspired the other, but I suppose it is a classic archetype for a story.
Let It Roll!👍
"My Father had a Randall knife, my mother gave it too him..." O wait...
Same tune both great songs.
He was an inspiration and a conspirator. I joined in long ago and return to Guy's songs often. Hope you do, too.
Better than Bob Dylan
Good bye my Shakespeare
Or as Steve Earle said, 'Goodbye, Michelangelo'
This one is great for open mics
Damn
"Bet he's gone to Dallas ! Rest his soul !"
colter wall should cover this
jjj I’m going to his show next weekend in Chicago, funny I was wishing he would cover it.
His cover of billy joe’s Georgia on a fast train is fantastic
Kerrville is my spiritual home. I'm sure it is overrun by out-of-staters. You can NEVER go home.
You of all people know - (especially "open-minded" kerverts) - real Texans welcome everyone.
Change your soul, lady.
You can hear the Townes infuence on this!.
Probably the other way round....
Best
From the beard, I'm guessing it's from around 1981 when The South Coast of Texas was out. I'm also thinking that Guy very rarely ever performed with a full band, at least from what I've heard.
Wow
Who are the idiots that gave this a 👎? #Legend