Townes Van Zandt’s lyrical skills rank among the very best. And we’re not limiting that to just those in his genre, which could be roughly characterized as Americana. We’re saying that Van Zandt’s way with words can stand up to just about anyone who’s ever written a song in any style.
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“Tower Song”, a heartbreaking beauty found on Van Zandt’s 1971 album Delta Momma Blues, displays those skills in abundance. Songs about the end of a relationship aren’t hard to find. But good luck finding any that are as eloquent and nuanced as what Van Zandt delivered on this track.
Building the “Tower”
The way a given Townes Van Zandt song sounded on record didn’t always have much to do with Van Zandt himself. He saw himself more as a songwriter than a record-maker. His records behaved like a necessary evil so he could go out, perform, and make a living.
To that end, how his albums and songs sounded largely relied on the contributions of his various producers. After the fact, Townes would often lament that his songs weren’t done proper justice. But he truthfully didn’t take much initiative while recording them in the first place. Others in the studio had no choice but to add their touches.
On the 1971 album Delta Momma Blues, producers Kevin Eggers and Ronald Frangipane did an excellent job. They didn’t try to force Van Zandt’s songs into a country framework, like some predecessors had done. Instead, they went for more of a hands-off approach, letting the tone of the songs dictate the style.
In the case of “Tower Song”, they wisely let the gorgeous melody do much of the work. The pair only added some delicate touches that don’t get in the way. It’s one of Van Zandt’s most piercing songs about relationship difficulties, shot through with honesty and pain.
Exploring the Lyrics of “Tower Song”
“Tower Song” features a narrator who can clearly see the end of the romance to which he’s clinging. He knows the reasons why it’s falling apart, both because of his own failings and his lover’s inability to let him in completely. But he’s powerless to stop any of it, meaning that his insight is ultimately futile.
At the beginning of the song, he explains that they’re putting off the ultimate argument, “perhaps until tomorrow.” He rues that they can’t completely trust each other: “Fears have built a wall between / Our lives and all that loving means.”
The end result: “That leaves only sorrow.”
Van Zandt’s poetic touch starts to come to the fore in the second verse. “Close your eyes and speak to me,” he sings. “Of faith and love and destiny/As distant as eternity.”
While their dreams recede, they still can’t find a way to communicate. “But you don’t hear me anymore,” he complains. “Your pride’s just too demanding.”
In the final verse, the narrator attempts to assess what will be left behind when the end arrives. Will it be the “bitterness we tasted?” Or can they salvage some positive memory?
“I can’t help feeling all the while / Their meaning won’t be wasted.”
The refrains come from the perspective of someone who wants this girl’s life to improve, even if he won’t be around when the benefits arrive.
“You built your tower strong and tall / Can’t you see it’s got to fall/Some day.”
“Tower Song” oozes with beauty and sadness. In other words, it’s your typical Townes Van Zandt joint.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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