Waiting 'Round to Die
Encyclopedia
Waiting Round to Die is a folk/country song written and performed by the country singer/songwriter Townes Van Zandt
. The song appears first on Townes' 1968 debut album, For The Sake of the Song.
One of Van Zandt's more famous songs, Waiting 'Round to Die chronicles the life of a fictional drifter as he passes sadly through the experiences of an abusive father, the abandonment of his mother, drug and alcohol abuse, fast women, and even prison.
The song appears on the classic documentary of 1970's outlaw country music, Heartworn Highways, where Townes Van Zandt is seen performing in his Austin, Texas home with his girlfriend Cindy, who later became his second wife, and his good friend the "Walking Blacksmith" Seymore Washington. At one point during the performance, Washington, a 75 year old man, is visibly seen crying as Van Zandt plays.
In a biographical documentary about the life and work of Townes Van Zandt, Be Here To Love Me Townes' first wife is seen informing the audience that "Waiting 'Round To Die" was the first song Van Zandt composed during their marriage in his small apartment shoe closet/rehearsal space in Houston, Texas.
Lyrics:
Townes Van Zandt
John Townes Van Zandt , best known as Townes Van Zandt, was an American Texas Country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, and poet...
. The song appears first on Townes' 1968 debut album, For The Sake of the Song.
One of Van Zandt's more famous songs, Waiting 'Round to Die chronicles the life of a fictional drifter as he passes sadly through the experiences of an abusive father, the abandonment of his mother, drug and alcohol abuse, fast women, and even prison.
The song appears on the classic documentary of 1970's outlaw country music, Heartworn Highways, where Townes Van Zandt is seen performing in his Austin, Texas home with his girlfriend Cindy, who later became his second wife, and his good friend the "Walking Blacksmith" Seymore Washington. At one point during the performance, Washington, a 75 year old man, is visibly seen crying as Van Zandt plays.
In a biographical documentary about the life and work of Townes Van Zandt, Be Here To Love Me Townes' first wife is seen informing the audience that "Waiting 'Round To Die" was the first song Van Zandt composed during their marriage in his small apartment shoe closet/rehearsal space in Houston, Texas.
Lyrics:
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
Cultural references
- The song was covered by The LemonheadsThe LemonheadsThe Lemonheads are an American alternative rock band first formed in 1986 by Evan Dando, Ben Deily and Jesse Peretz. Dando has remained the band's only constant member....
, The Be Good TanyasThe Be Good TanyasThe Be Good Tanyas are a Canadian traditional music group, whose influences included folk, country, and bluegrass. The style of music they performed can be referred to as alt-country or Americana.-Career:...
and featured in an episode of Breaking BadBreaking BadBreaking Bad is an American television drama series created and produced by Vince Gilligan. Set and produced in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Breaking Bad is the story of Walter White , a struggling high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with advanced lung cancer at the beginning of the series...
.