"The much-admired Texas minstrel Townes Van Zandt has long enjoyed the kindness of friends and peers who have covered his songs. On Roadsongs he returns the favor with a fine in-concert menu of his favorite cover tunes, with an emphasis on the laconic blues of Lightnin' Hopkins and prairie-ballad bows to Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and Joe Ely."

David Fricke,
Rolling Stone

 
These songs were recorded over a number of years in joints all over America. Iwish I'd written every one. No such luck. This collection represents a lot of love and fun. Cody became a baker. Ruester's going back to school. Mickey's gone straight. Jimmie's laying low. I'm a dad.

 

Ira Hayes
    (Peter La Farge)
A native American from colorado. A rodeo rider, worker, folk singer, and poet. He died on October 7, 1965. His adoptive father, Oliver La Farge, won a Pulitzer Prize for his book "laughing Boy". This song, one of Peter's many, speaks for itself.

Dead Flowers
    (M. Jagger, K. Richards)
Everyone knows the Rolling Stones. That's Jimmie playing bass and singing harmony. Ruester on the other guitar.

Automobile Blues
    (Lightnin' Hopkins)
I had the privilege of meeting Lightnin'. Cody, the violin player, was forced on me. If you see this, Cody, give me a call.

The Coo Coo
    (T.C. Ashley)
I thought this song came from Scotland, but there are no coo coos in Scotland. It comes from South Carolina, where there's plenty. I know a couple.

Fraulein
    (Luther Williams)
I promised my father I would learn this song first if I was to get a guitar for Christmas. I did and I did.

Hello Central
    (Lightnin' Hopkins)
One of my favorite songs. Mickey, Jimmie and me.

Indian Cowboy
    (Joe Ely)
We're from the same part of the country. He picked my up hitchhiking once. He's the only person I ever met who really did run away and join the circus. If I was from Lubbock, I would, too.

 Racing in the Streets
    (Bruce Springsteen)
This is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. I listened to it 30 times in a row at Lomax's house. We drove 300 miles the next day, I played it and somebody recorded it. That's why I didn't know it better. Bruce will understand

My Starter Won't Start This Morning
    (Samuel(Lightnin' Hopkins)
Centerville, Texas
1912 - 1982

Texas River Song
    (Traditional)
It is believed that this song was written by a school teacher for a geography class. I wouldn't have done very well. Angelina is pronounced Angeleena and there is no Nachez River in Texas. It's the Nechez.

Wabash Cannonball
    (A.P. Carter)
One of the first songs I ever heard. Jimmie, Cody, Mickey and me in Indiana somewhere.

Short-Haired Woman Blues
    (Lightnin')
Like most of his songs, Lightnin' made this one up on the spot. God made Lightnin' up on the spot too, I suppose.

Man Gave Names to All the Animals
    (Bob Dylan)
This song is so true and so much fun to sing, you're bound to mix up the words a little. Ruester's playing his guitar. I'm beating on the back of mine.

Little Willie the Gambler
    (Bob Dylan)
This song fills me with hope. It was a diamond flush, not a straight.

Cocaine
    (Traditional)I learned to finger pick from a Hoyt Axton record.

    Take care of yourself

Musicians:
   Owen Cody
   Jimmie Gray
   Mickey White
   Ruester Rowland
   Townes Van Zandt
 
c 1994 Sugar Hill Records
PO Box 55300,
Durham, NC
27717

p 1992 Van Zandt/Eggers
Original license: JLVZ/TVZ/HFE
SH-CD-1402