Townes Van Zandt, Our Mother The Mountain album cover
One day God touched me on the shoulder
and said…‘SON, WRITE THESE SONGS.’
So I did.
—Townes Van Zandt
Anyone who has heard a Townes Van Zandt song knows that he is singing from a God-ordained place. He chronicles the human condition like no other. He sings with an overarching empathy for the never-ending contradiction between ecstatic joy we are infused with in a moment and the soul-crushing disappointment of just a moment later. When he shows us that hope can persist when all reason for it has fled. When “living on the road” is all a person can sometimes do to get by. Townes spent time in psychiatric hospitals because his wealthy-from-oil parents needed to stop their college student son from bringing shame onto the family name. He took to the road and made his touring circuit a lifestyle. He was a person who knew street life intimately and the vices that came along with it. Townes sang of his own lifestyle and of those he came across. About the hearts he broke. About his struggles with alcohol and other mind-altering substances. About fallen soldiers in unmarked graves.
This is just a very brief bio on Townes from wikipedia:
John Townes Van Zandt (b. 3/7/44 – d. 1/1/97) was an American singer-songwriter. He wrote numerous songs, such as “Pancho and Lefty,” “If I Needed You,” “Snake Mountain Blues,” “Our Mother the Mountain,” “Waitin’ Round to Die,” and “To Live’s to Fly.” His musical style has often been described as melancholic and features rich, poetic lyrics.
There is an excellent documentary film out there, “Be Here to Love Me” that I highly recommend you seek out if you want to learn more about Townes.
In an interesting side note, while looking for info on the song, and the location, I learned that Tecumseh was the name of a Shawnee Chief and Warrior who lived in the Ohio area.
Tecumseh Valley is from Our Mother the Mountain, Townes’ second studio album, released in 1969. Covers have been recorded by Bobby Bare, Nancy Griffith, Matthew Cook and Steve Earle. (Earle’s cover is the first time I heard the song, on his Train A Comin’ album.)
Tecumseh Valley is about “Caroline, the daughter of a miner.” Caroline has been sent by her father, from Spencer (Mountain?) across the hill, with a mission to get a job and send her earnings back to her family to buy coal, which has run low* and is needed to keep them warm for the coming winter. Ironically, even through her father is a miner, they still don’t have coal to heat their home. She finds a job as a bartender that offers room and board with it. Caroline works over the winter, and has money to get back home — and more — to buy coal; but before she goes home, she gets word from Spencer that her father has passed away. Did he freeze to death, or was it something other? It is never said directly, but her Pa could have passed away due to a number of ways connected with his hazardous occupation (e.g. cave-ins, crushing injuries, black lung disease.)
When she learns her Pa has died, she makes poor choices – to stay in this town, and to start prostituting herself. The song is sung from a man’s perspective in that he believes the choice to become a “whore” is based in her lust; yet, the sad reality for Caroline is that she can use the lust of the men to earn enough money to survive. She uses them and they use her — until she is all used up.
There is a lot of tragedy going on in this song. There’s the abject poverty of Caroline and her Pa/family, where the owners of coal mines get wealthy and the workers face freezing to death for lack of coal to heat their winter homes. There’s Pa sending Caroline to parts unknown to try and earn money to send back home. There’s Caroline’s hopes being dashed when she learns her Pa has died. There’s Caroline being forced into prostitution to survive. There’s the men who pay for sexual favors and are delusional in thinking prostitutes lust for them. There is Caroline’s final end, dead under the stairwell of the bar, a mournful farewell scratched onto a piece of paper clutched in her hand.
Tecumseh Valley
The name she gave was Caroline
The daughter of a miner
And her ways were free and it seemed to me
That sunshine walked beside her
She come from Spencer across the hill
She said her paw had sent her
Cause the coal was low and soon the snow
would turn the skies to winter
She said she'd come to look for work
She was not seeking favors
And for a dime a day and a place to stay
She'd turn those hands to labor
But the times were hard, Lord
And the jobs were few
All through Tecumseh Valley
But she asked around and a job she found
Tending bar for Gypsy Sally
She saved enough to get back home
When spring replaced the winter
But her dreams were denied, her pa had died
The word come down from Spencer
She turned to whorin’ out on the street
From all the lust inside her
And it was many a man returned again
To lay himself beside her
They found her down beneath the stairs
That led to Gypsy Sally's
And un her hand when she died was a note that cried
Fare thee well, Tecumseh Valley
The name she gave was Caroline
the daughter of a miner
And her ways were free and it seemed to me
that sunshine walked beside her.
Written by: Townes Van Zandt
Album: Our Mother The Mountain
Released: 1969
Jim Adams is the host of Song Lyric Sunday. This week, Jim wants us to find a song that mentions death, kill, or murder.
*an alternate meaning to the coal running low might mean there was no work for Pa, who was a miner.
Tao Talk 
I have never heard of Townes Van Zandt or his music… I am a sucker for a story and though it a tad depressing I have to admit it a great one. 💜💜
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Willow, delighted to introduce you to him. <3
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thank you I am grateful . 💜💜
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Hi Lisa I have never heard of him before loved the story’s history although I’m not a big Countyy fan I did enjoy listening to it although it’s sad 🩷
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Ange, thanks for giving him a listen. It’s the tragic story of too many :(
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A beautiful, poignant song, from a guy who was very well respected by his peers. They were right.
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Thanks, Clive, yes it is, and yes, he was, and is.
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Steve Earle paid him the ultimate tribute of recording a whole album of his songs.
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Clive, it seems I remember hearing about that. Is it “Steve Plays Townes” or something like that? Haven’t heard it but I’m sure I’ve heard some of Steve’s covers of Townes’ songs.
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It was simply called ‘Townes.’ There are two versions, the full one and an acoustic set. Both very good.
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Thanks so much, Clive. Will look for them when I can find some time.
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I hope you enjoy them, if you can find that time!
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All things I believe to be true about Townes. Nice song choice Lisa. Not my favorite vocalist and his songs are best heard through others. This one I didn’t know of before I heard this cover back in 2013 or so.
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Thanks for listening and your comment, Randy. Nice cover.
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This was a new one for me, but I do love a good story! Coming from Ohio- which has a huge ‘used to be coal miner’s’ population- your narrative asks the age-old question- why were the miners not supplied with coal? After all they had mining towns where you couldn’t buy anything- food clothes etc except from the coal company- so why not? My answer is- because it was one of capitalisms answers to slavery.
This was a wonderful choice!
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Violet, thank you for asking from an insider’s p.o.v. One of humanity’s worst attributes: enslaving others for personal gain.
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I do like his work, great choice for the prompt Li
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Paul, thanks.
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Very welcome Li ❤️
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Nice selection going with this heartbreaking song Lisa that tells the story of a woman’s tragic life, highlighting themes of poverty, dashed dreams, and resilience.
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Jim, thanks. It’s a good prompt that will generate a lot of good songs.
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Wow, what a great story-telling song, which likely reflects some of Townes Van Zandt’s own experiences. I’ve always loved “Pancho and Lefty” and Emmylou Harris’ incredible cover of that song!
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Yes, it tells a universal story of patriarchy, paternalism, exploitation, and untold sorrows. Pancho and Lefty is one of his best known songs for sure. Thanks Willie! Not really a fan of Emmylou Harris but I’m sure she does a good job of covering it.
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he is new to me Li but what a tragic tale! Like most country songs. Thanks for introducing me to his music. 🥰
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Christine it is about as heartrending as it can get. You are very welcome <3
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🥰
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Sad songs say so much. Especially this one.
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Yes they do, Glyn :(
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I simply love his voice…so soothing singing these story songs….and of course his writing but that goes without saying. This is the music they should be playing on the radio.
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Max, I think if they did there would be a major revolution. People would realize they are not alone in being exploited, and they would rise up.
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I am very cynical, but no one is going to listen unless the song is wrapped up in a dance beat with Computer effects. Period even then they don’t listen to the words.
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You may be right for a large segment of the population, but there are some who would listen and rise up. That said, there is so much to beat us down, to sap our strength :(
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Yea…I’m so cynical that sometimes it’s hard to look past it….but yes you are right…there are some that would listen.
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I haven’t listened to Townes Van zandt for a long time. Thank you for reminding me of him. I know I have one of his CDs. Such a sad song
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Lisa, you’re welcome. He sang his very being.
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I love this song. Nancy Griffith does a wonderful version of it as well.
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Thanks, Dwight. I went out and listened to her version and a couple of others last night and today. Steve Earle’s is my favorite cover of it.
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Great music!
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Interesting song I hadn’t heard before. Tells a sad story, and I’ll bet it is more or less truthful for so many people back then.
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Barbara, I think variations of that theme are playing yet today :(
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I’ve heard this song in several renditions by other artists, but this was my first time hearing Van Zandt’s version. Interesting history!
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Steve, I’m very surprised you hadn’t heard the original before. I feel Townes tells every downtrodden person’s story with his songs.
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Well, it was the first time I remember, but who knows. I’ve just never really followed him and don’t recall hearing him on it. My son used to cover a song or two of his when leading an outlaw country band; that’s my main exposure to Van Zandt’s music.
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Steve, your son doing Townes covers says a lot about him. Props!
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Thank you, Lisa! He’s a very talented man. Does P robably 90% originals, and is judicious about what he picks to cover.
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You’re welcome. Somehow it doesn’t surprise me you have a musician child. Did he have an early interest in music as in listening to what you and Sweety like?
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He did have an early interest in music, and his mom worked as a music teacher, which led him to violin lessons at the age of about four, plus he can play various instruments, thanks to her guidance. He always says his technical skills came from her and his passion for music, from me.
He also enjoys/enjoyed a lot of the music Sweety and I listened to when he was growing up.
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:)
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First time I am hearing him here, Lisa. Great, passionate voice. A complex life, but a straight-forward messenger to be sure. I enjoyed learning about his career and life.
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Bruce, I’m glad to have made the introduction. He’s a special kind individual. Believe it or not, he spoke to me in a labyrinth walk a few years ago. Two words: “don’t judge.”
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What a sad, sad tale Townes Van Zandt weaves in this one. I love songs that tell a good story, and this is definitely one of them. The musician in me was surprised to hear that this song is in a major key, as opposed to a minor key, which is what we would expect for a song so sad, but it works well. Really nice choice Lisa.
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Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Nancy. With Townes, you’re not going to find too many happy songs.
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Most welcome, Lisa. Considering his background, that’s not surprising.
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I love that quote at the start. He wrote so many great songs.
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Me too, Graham. Yes, he did.
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