Townes Blues
Rolling with Townes: A Road Trip through the Heartland
Lyrics
You're clean as a widow woman's washboard, son,
You are pure and untainted, like a widow woman's washboard.
Stick it in the wind
Face challenges boldly.
Put the mountains to your back
Position yourself with the mountains at your back.
The great plains on your grille
Face the vast plains with determination.
Time to take a little spin
Time for a journey or adventure.
Boulder looks like the type of town
Boulder seems like a place worth spending time in.
That I could spend some time,
Expressing the desire to spend time in Boulder.
But in Houston they got our name in lights
In Houston, the protagonist's name is celebrated in lights.
You're clean as a widow woman's washboard, son,
Reiteration of being pure like a widow woman's washboard.
The slab is yours tonight
The protagonist has control over the road (the slab) tonight.
Townes is in the back lounge
Townes Van Zandt is in the back lounge of the vehicle.
With his hands in his pocket
He has his hands in his pocket, indicating a casual demeanor.
Pulls out two dice and says, 'Let's get at it'
Townes suggests playing a game with dice.
Salina in the headlights, snake eyes on the floor,
Salina, a place, is illuminated by headlights; a gambling scenario unfolds.
Al drops another twenty, Pete heads for the door,
Al loses money, and Pete leaves in response.
Springer's feeling lucky, sits down for a spell,
Springer takes a chance but loses in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City and he's lost his last bill
Jeff is in a difficult situation while waiting on someone named Sister Hicks.
Jeff is in a bind waiting on sister hicks
Number seven (luck) plays a role as they enter Texas.
Seven comes a-calling
As we cross on into Texas
Townes is still in the back lounge as the journey continues.
Townes is in the back lounge
Townes has a handful of five-dollar bills, indicating some winnings.
With a fist full of fives
He acknowledges the journey is long but enjoys it.
He says, 'It's a little bit long
But I'm enjoying this ride'
Cautionary advice regarding gambling with others.
Be careful with the dice
Recognize that you are not the one in control of the situation.
When you're surrounded by others
Others around may have a different perspective or agenda.
With boxcars in their eyes
A warning about being overly confident or complacent.
Never count your winnings at hour 23
Be cautious when nearing the end of a prolonged effort.
Of a 24-hour drive
Don't forget that external factors influence outcomes.
Remember that you're not the one
Reminder that you're not the one determining the outcome.
Calling the tune
External forces shape the course of events.
That's making those diamonds dance
Metaphorical language emphasizing the lack of control.
Or you'll be clean as
Reiteration of being pure like a widow woman's washboard.
A widow woman's washboard, son,
Stating the unalterable truth or reality.
And those are the facts
Emphasizing that these are undeniable facts.
Townes is in the back lounge cursing at them bones
Townes is frustrated, expressing discontent or anger.
He says, 'Ain't this fool ever heard of Raton'
Expressing surprise or frustration at someone's lack of knowledge about Raton.
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