Townes van Zandt released an album called For the Sake of the Song” in 1968.    There are some memorable songs on the album like “Tecumseh Valley”, “Waitin’ Around to Die”,  “Maria”,  “Sad Cinderella”, and “I’ll be Here in the Morning.”      The album is named after the first song.     It is a pleading call for understanding from a lifetime of sorrow and loss, but also some regets from a life of missteps.    He had abused alcohol and drugs, spoiled some relationships, and ended up dying young.    The crafting of the song is a conscious effort to reconcile one part of his life.    It is sung with a stripped-down, plaintive style, touched with melancholy and remorse.   It is autobiographical in nature, but it has universal connections to other past mistakes, lost opportunities, and missteps that we all have had.    It is not an easy song to hear, but it is an honest one.

Oh, my sorrow is real
Even though I can’t change my plans
If she could see how I feel
Then I know that she’d understand

Listen to the song, but then go on to also listen to the other songs of Townes van Zandt.   4.8 out of 5.0 stars4.8