Who else is listening to this beautiful song in January 2024?

My husband passed away yesterday morning after a short battle with Lewy Body dementia. He was only 67 years Young. He loved Townes Van Zandt. I thought I knew a lot about music and musicians, being in the music business myself. My husband introduced me to so many wonderful singer-songwriters, some of whom were obscure. He introduced me to Townes. This song was one of his favorites, and became one of ours. I played it over and over to him in hospice. Before hospice, when he was first admitted to the hospital, he could mouth the lyrics. Every single word. Rest easy now, my love. If I needed you, you would come to me. 💔🙏😪

Ah, how many nights have I stayed up drinking, crying, listening to Townes Van Zandt? Either too many or not enough.

Here it is 2023, and I had never heard this before. Now I will fall into the rabbit hole, listening to all I can find!

This man lived. He suffered and sang and rejoiced and helped others. Gentle souls. Appreciate them.

There are a lot of people in this cruel world that have not listened to enough townes and it shows

Just listened to a Townes interview from 1993 where he said that he wrote this song in his sleep. He was staying at guy Clark’s house and they all had the flu so they were drinking a lot of Codeine cough syrup. He said he had the most vivid dreams and woke up one night after dreaming the song. He wrote down the lyrics and already knew the chords without grabbing his guitar. The next morning he played it for guy and never changed the song.

"You will miss sunrise if you close your eyes and that would break my heart in two." - Townes Van Zandt Prettiest lyric ever written...

I'm convinced those 3 million views are just me re watching this over and over and over again

Yes a treasure. I have to be ready to hear him, he can bring tears to my eyes, like John Prine and others. We're so fortunate 💫💝

This was Townes Van Zandt at the peak of his life, and it's beautiful.

One of the most beautiful songs ever written

I sang this song at my mothers funeral 2021.

Townes was ( and remains ) one of the great songwriters and performers. I discovered Townes in the early 1970's and became a lifelong fan. Townes had his demons but he was a unique talent. I was lucky enough to meet him 3 times, the last time just a couple of months before he passed away. He was always gracious, willing to talk and very funny - he always had stories to tell ! My life has been enriched by his songs.

Townes Van Zandt would have been 71 today. The greatest songwriter who ever walked the earth, and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that.

He is not only an underrated song writer, but he is one of the most underrated guitar players. His finger picking and flat picking skills are second to none.

Townes Van Zant & John Prime in my opinion are the greatest American songwriters of all time, the conveyance of feeling from words they've written are unparalleled

one of the simplest, most beautiful songs ever.

Damn , here it is freaking 2022 & this’ll still bring a tear Killer tune

If I Needed You -- Lyrics Well, if I needed you Would you come to me Would you come to me And ease my pain? If you needed me I would come to you I would swim the seas For to ease your pain Well, in the night forlorn Oh, the morning's born And the morning shines With the lights of love And you will miss sunrise If you close your eyes And that would break My heart in two The lady's with me now Since I showed her how To lay her lily Hand in mine Loop and Lil agree She's a sight to see A treasure for The poor to find Well, if I needed you Would you come to me Would you come to me And ease my pain? If you needed me I would come to you I would swim the seas For to ease your pain

You very rarely see a true spirit,townes was the real deal and a real nice guy.

He struggled with heroin addiction, he sadly lost his battle. My bestfriend used to sing his songs to me, I didn't know at the time how hard she was trying to tell me about how her addiction felt. I lost her 1 year ago yesterday.

One of the most beautiful song in the world. 🙏🏼🌟

I am an 88' model. I was lucky enough to be introduced to Mr. Townes Van Zandt's music at a fairly early age. I have a hard time with thinking anyone musician/person is better or the best, but I will show my love for the man! TOWNES VAN ZANDT IS THE GREATEST SONGWRITER THAT EVER LIVED!! LONG LIVE HIS MUSIC AND BY GOD, LONG LIVE HIS LEGACY!

If you don't see how wonderful this is there's something really wrong with you.

Thankyou Father in Jesus name for Towns VanZant and Guy Clark and Raywylie Hubbard

The purity of him and his guitar singing this is heavenly.

I can't believe I just stumbled upon Townes van Zandt 20 years after his death. Thank God for KZfaq.

He has touched my soul more than any other musician. thank you for all the smiles through my darkest days, Townes.

One of the most beatiful songs (+performance!) for me.

I may have said this before. What a handsome man. Such an incredible voice,and the lyrics were heart breaking. Such an early loss xxx

Ich sah Townes vanZandt in Schorndorf in der Manufaktur. Es war mein schlimmstes und traurigste Konzert. Er war in so einem schlechten Zustand, verspielte sich, vergaß seinen Text, brach ab und kam wieder und beendete sein Konzert. 2-3 Wochen später ist er gestorben. Es war so traurig.

Townes has literally been the soundtrack of my PhD for several years. No other artist has captured my thoughts/feelings to the level that he has. I visited his grave in Fort Worth last summer with a buddy. We sat down there and played to lives to fly which is written out on the stone. What a great experience. Cheers

I'm so sorry to hear that my love. The man was incredible xxxx

Straight up musician. Nothing but heart and selfless giving. What music was always supposed to be.

Five song writers can break my heart in a single line. They are, in no particular order, Warren Zevon, Tom Waits, Harry Chapin, Randy Newman, and , of course Townes Van Zandt. They all write from experienced pain, that is common to all of us.

Townes just needed his voice and his guitar to fill up every room he ever played in. Such an aura

Still listening daily in December 2019.

"You will miss (the) sunrise if you close your eyes and that would break my heart into" (Townes Van Zandt) Rest in Peace, 1944-1997

Texas song writers are another level. Townes, willie, Robert earl, lyle, and so many others wrote the soundtrack of the American spirit.

Oh I love this song so much it was a favorite of my husband and me, sadly I lost him in 2008 after 49 years together. That guitar is the best.

Wow, 63 and never heard of TVZ. This is my fifth song and I am thoroughly impressed.

One of my very favourite songs, from my favourite songwriter. This is the first time I’ve seen him perform it live. Thank you.

Simply brilliant. I had never heard of him till watching Episode 4 of Sonic Highways. I heard the first few bars of this song, grabbed my guitar, and knew this artist was going to be a favourite of mine.

Loop and Lill - townes’ parakeets...I love that.

One of the most perfect songs ever written!!

i love ya jaz, you are my friend and my lover and you are a lifeline when i am drowning, this song says more than i could find words to say. xoxm

such a shame! one of the most underrated great artist on his time

"Loop and Lil agree she's a sight to see" (loop and lil were townes' parakeets) For years I wondered who they were

This is probably my favorite love song of all time! Full of pain and pathos, drawn from a life that had more than its share of both.

I am. Beautiful ghost projectile that brings back memories of world long gone but not forgotten.

Listening with my kiddo 13 June 2024 !!

How did I spend so many years without discovering this awesome talent..absolutely brilliant

Austin City Limits. 1st season. Me and my buddy were there. RIP TVZ

Named my first boy Townes. After this legend.

This song means so much to me. Townes is my all time favorite and I love all his music, but this simple song always spoke to me like no other. I haven't figured out why yet.

So many supremely talented and unappreciated, so many who perceived the ultimate futility of it all.

I was just watching Ken Burns's "Country Music" series, and I caught him singing this song, for not even a full minute, and it struck a cord so deep in my heart. He makes me feel. Music can be so amazingly beautiful, and should speak to our humanity. (The good and bad, we all have it)

He was one of the best at playing and writing ,He still touches my soul,This man had style, Sadly missed.

Spellbinding ! This was Townes at the peak of his powers.

adiction got my teens my twentys my 30s and most of my 40s but thank god im in my 50s now and alcohal is nobodys friend. i live day to day now and have been sober for nearly 9 years, im not preaching but if you can beet the cycle of having to get some sort of high every day you can live for many years longer. my point is we were robed of one of the greatest tallent because of adiction. RIP TVZ miss you always. 1 of the first 1997 . i will never forget.

I was about 17 when I first heard this song, it was on a Doc Watson LP, one of the many of my great late brother's amazing collection of country, jazz, folk, classical, flamenco etc etc. I learned If I Needed You and sang it to a woman a few times. Eventually she preferred to rip my heart out instead, but that's another story. ;-) I had no idea it was written by Townes Van Zandt until recently, well maybe I read his name on the credits, it was a long time ago, I don't remember. To my annoyance and puzzlement, I still haven't thought out why I hadnt', what's the words, wasn't opened to more of this man's talent sooner. Anyway, I'm gonna stay home one weekend soon, one of those a 72 hour weekends, (write it!), turn off the phone first, fill my small bar with my favourite, find as many songs by Townes as I can, and do a 72 hours non stop until I hear every one of them, (including repeats) and hope I'll be an even better man on the other side. I love this man's honesty and realism, it jumps out very soon after you hear and see him. He gives it out from the depths of himself. Roll on next weekend, all 72 hours of it!

My beloved father died almost a year ago. One of the funeral directors was asking us about suggestions for a looped song list for the memorial service and I mentioned Townes and he really liked that. Said something like an unrecognized hero of American music. I just said, well I like him and dad would have liked him. So we had For the Sake of the Song in there. It was nice.

I discovered Townes in 1980. 10 years later in 1990 I finally got to hear him sing live in Cafe Tom Tom in Heythuysen. If I needed you he played there. That same year I got divorced... and this song has given me great comfort. And it still has that effect on me when I'm sad. A time that I have never understood why it had to be this way.

This song of his absolutely melts my ❤️! RIP Townes 🙏🏼🕯️🙏🏼

How can anyone dislike this? Unreal. THIS is talent, a true musician and a great tune. Close your eyes and take it all in.

We were robbed of the rest of his life. He would have added so much more beauty to the world

I'm 18 years old and I just found this amazing man. this is way better then new music

this is one of the best songs ever written

Townes and I were buddies. We hung out in NYC bars and apartments, passed the guitar and swapped songs. I miss that sombitch like a brother.

This whole concert really needs to be available, even if behind a paywall.

What a poet ,a master wordsmith ,his gifts were unworldly...

Great song and I miss you Townes.

omg...an unknown legend, i love this guy....soooooo frickin awesome

30 years ago a friend named Jerry lent me his car for a month or so and he’d grown up in Texas. Found this on a cassette,nearly wore it out. This Canadian is a huge fan of Townes,Jerry Jeff and Prine because of that missionary’s son who I had the great opportunity to work with and call a friend. God bless Texas!!!

Townes Van Zandt's artistry will live on as long as there are people who are truly touched by what he was trying to communicate.He IS a treasure!

He will always be with us, he's to good to be left behind.

I love this ❤soo beautiful song/lyrics ❤

It is strangely amazing how Townes can make grown men cry.

Happy Birthday Townes.... so thankful that you graced us with your words, wisdom, and melodies 💖

💜Rest in Peace Towes Van Zandt and Thank you for the beautiful Music!💜🙏

He is one of the best country song writers ever. Thank goodness he let others sing them for him too. They are true treasures.

Did not know of this great artist until I started following AZB vlogs. Wow.!!!

Townes was a hell of a song writer and fantastic picker and singer

I love his face, his sweet smile, his beautiful voice. It's so sad, but so perfect.

This Masterpiece is one man's pain , accompanied by a guitar . Absolutely Heartbreaking if you know anything about his life and what these words truly mean .

I heard this on Crazy Heart last night. I'm going to learn it and play it for my wife when she gets back to Australia from Ireland, after this pandemic lockdown. Beautiful song.

I was so fortunate to grow up in Austin and Houston & Ft. Worth. Saw Townes like a regular day would go, Lightnin Hopkins, and so many great artists. Thanks Townes, you have always been a huge part of my life & stay in my heart. Another gone too soon at least for me. We don't have a say, I believe Townes accepted it all and was "ready"...So many thanks..

He was about 5 yrs older than me. I did a little playing myself in the Village in NY in the 60s, but never heard of him. I guess he was playing in Texas at the time. I was introduced to him through other artists singing his songs much later, perhaps in the 80s. I most remember Pancho and Lefty covered by Emmy Lou, Willie and Merle. Like so many of that era, he was a troubled person addicted to the demons of the times and he died too young. He wrote some powerful lyrics that have stood up well over the years. I am grateful that KZfaq has let me view his performances. Thanks for posting this. We live in a marvelous age.

Beautiful guy with a beautiful voice and beautiful soul.

Sicuramente non avremo più' un'altro Townes Van Zandt . Da ascoltare all'infinito

One of Townes’ many beautiful songs. Love it. ❤❤❤❤❤

He is authentic and doesn't write to sell. It's from his heart. I forgot about and recently rediscovered this fantastic artist.

One of the best melodic pickers I have ever heard….and he wrote “don’t take it too bad” and of course Pancho and lefty….but check the melody in “at my window”…..beautiful.

I was walking home one night in Portland, ME. It was a few years back now. I found out about TVZ after asking a decrepit drunk sprawled beneath an underpass, who was humming a garbled melody, what the tune was. The man was impossibly depressed and sodden. He asked for a cigarette and I said yes, if only he would tell me what song he was humming. All I caught was Townes name. It being followed by the obligatory yelling, cussing and basic nonsensical dribblings of a man whose mind was soured by booze. However, I did learn the name of a fantastic musician in the exchange, one that I cherish now more than ever, and so , I hope your not still there weary traveler, but thank you. True story.

The honest music of a thoughtful songwriter, his voice and acoustic guitar, we always return here.

Dude!! Masterpiece!! Touches My Soul!!

Townes' songs have certainly added depth & perspective to my life

I watched Be Here To Love Me (TVZ doc) during the pinnacle of my alcohol abuse. I listens to TVZ tunes every night, tumbler in bourbon in hand and tears. I saw his pain and found it similar to mine. I rarely watch TVZ videos, hurts me to see him...to see me....so-to-speak. RIP Townes.

Nearing 74, many visits to USA since 1980, just returned from first visit to Texas. Austin and San Antonio. A close friend introduced me to Townes around 1987. Have listened to him ever since. I love every version of this song. The version with violin accompanist is very moving. Beautiful guitar. Beautiful song. Beautiful man. R.I.P..