Doctor Mooney's 115th Dream: The Lone Star Seduction of Townes Van Zandt’s “Waiting Around To Die”

Those who kneel before the altar of Townes Van Zandt know that “Waiting Around To Die” is an unquestioned masterstroke, an eerie ballad of 190 proof cowboy soul and dusty prairie romance. If you are unfamiliar with the celebrated bare-boned gutbucket balladeer, he can be best summed up by Steve Earle, "Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world. And I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that." Of course, Townes later said, "I've met Bob Dylan and his bodyguards, and I don't think Steve [Earle] could get anywhere near his coffee table."

After penning a varied assortment of talking blues ditties, “Waiting Around To Die” was Townes’ first attempt at writing a serious song. Originally appearing on his debut LP, For The Sake of the Song in 1968, the tune, along with two others were rerecorded for his stunning self-titled set in 1969.

The magic of Townes Van Zandt reads like a roadmap to the dusty backroads of excess and heartbreak. Townes recalls the inspiration for the song: “I talked to this old man for a while,” continuing, “and he kinda put out these vibrations. I was sitting at the bar of the Jester Lounge one afternoon drinking beer, thinking about him, and just wrote it down.” On “Waiting Around To Die” Townes subscribes to the life of a drifter, never up for pardon from his boxcar; where shadows are your friend and booze and codeine are his muse. The haunting beauty, mournful finger picking and ten-gallon, weather-beaten Texas groan on “Waiting Around To Die” offers a straightforward and revealing look at a dark side of life. Put simply, a one-of-a-kind tune, one of the finest cuts that TVZ laid down, an essential listen.

“Waiting Around To Die”
Written by: Townes Van Zandt

Sometimes I don't know where this dirty road is taking me
Sometimes I can't even see the reason why
I guess I keep on gamblin', lots of booze and lots of ramblin'
It's easier than just a-waitin' 'round to die

One-time friends I had a ma, I even had a pa
He beat her with a belt once cause she cried
She told him to take care of me, she headed down to Tennessee
It's easier than just a-waitin' 'round to die

I came of age and found a girl in a Tuscaloosa bar
She cleaned me out and hit it on the sly
I tried to kill the pain, I bought some wine and hopped a train
Seemed easier than just a-waitin' 'round to die

A friend said he knew where some easy money was
We robbed a man and brother did we fly
The posse caught up with me, drug me back to Muskogee
It's two long years, just a-waitin' 'round to die

Now I'm out of prison, I got me a friend at last
He don't steal or cheat or drink or lie
His name's codeine, he's the nicest thing I've seen
Together we're gonna wait around and die

Take Up Thy Rock 'N Roll Stethoscope and Walk,