Handwritten lyrics for the song "For the Sake of the Song" by Townes Van Zandt, taken from Van Zandt's personal touring notebook.
John Townes Van Zandt, singer and songwriter, better known as Townes Van Zandt, was born in Fort Worth on March 7, 1944. He wrote songs about his experiences in life, including alcoholism, depression, and life on the road. He wrote in a narrative style, and his songs often were autobiographical. His best-known piece, "Pancho and Lefty," made popular through a duet featuring Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, speaks of life on the road and hope for redemption.Van Zandt died of an apparent heart attack in Smyrna, Tennessee, on January 1, 1997.
[from
Townes Van Zandt Song Lyrics, ca. 1968, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.