"I See A Darkness"- Bonnie Prince Billy/Johnny Cash

[enigmatic]

This (along w/ "You Will Miss Me When I Burn" and "Ohio River Boat Song") is my favorite by Will Oldham, otherwise known as Bonnie Prince Billy/Palace.

The lyrics are just amazing; a fractured hymn buffeted by Will's cracked voice and otherworldly, mimimalist backing. Johnny Cash's version (w/ Will singing backup vocals) actually improves on the original version, w/ Johnny giving it a world-weary, resigned vocal that's just devastaing.

It's really a perfect "Nighthawks" song...



Well, you're my friend
And can you see
Many times we've been out drinking
Many times we've shared our thoughts
But did you ever, ever notice, the kind of thoughts I got
Well you know I have a love, a love for everyone I know
And you know I have a drive, to live I won't let go
But can you see this opposition, comes rising up sometimes
That dreadful imposition, comes blacking in my mind


And then I see a darkness
And then I see a darkness
And then I see a darkness
And then I see a darkness
Did you know how much I love you
Is there hope that somehow you
Can save me from this darkness


Well I hope that someday buddy
We'll have peace in our lives
Together or apart
Alone or with our wives
And we can stop our whoring
And pull the smiles inside
And light it up forever
And never go to sleep
My best unbeaten brother
This isn't all I see


I know, I see a darkness
I know, I see a darkness
I know, I see a darkness
I know, I see a darkness
Did you know how much I love you
Is there hope that somehow you
Can save me from this darkness....

[Heidi]

1. Oo, Oo, Oo, Mr. Kottah . . . can I make a request? (nt)

[enigmatic]

2. you KNOW you can

:) what'll it be?

[Heidi]

3. "Pancho and Lefty."

Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. :thumbsup:

(I've really been enjoying Merle Haggard lately, and I don't like country music at all. It's a mystery. :shrug: )

Living on the road my friend, is gonna keep you free and clean.
Now you wear your skin like iron, and your breath is hard as kerosene.
You weren't your mama's only boy, but her favourite one it seems.
She began to cry when you said goodbye, and sank into your dreams.

Pancho was a bandit boy, his horse was fast as polished steel.
He wore his gun outside his pants, for all the honest world to feel.
Pancho met his match, you know, on the deserts down in Mexico.
Nobody heard his dying words; ah, but that's the way it goes.

All the Federales say,
They could have had him any day.
They only let him slip away,
Out of kindness, I suppose.

Lefty, he can't sing the blues all night long like he used to.
The dust that Pancho bit down south ended up in Lefty's mouth.
The day they laid poor Pancho low, Lefty split for Ohio.
Where he got the bread to go, there ain't nobody knows.

All the Federales say,
They could have had him any day.
They only let him slip away,
Out of kindness, I suppose.

The poets tell how Pancho fell, and Lefty's living in cheap hotels.
The desert's quiet, Cleveland's cold, and so the story ends we're told.
Pancho needs your prayers it's true, but save a few for Lefty too.
He only did what he had to do, and now he's growing old.

(All the Federales say,
They could have had him any day.)
They only go so long,
Out of kindness, I suppose.

A few grey Federales say
They could have had him any day.
They only let him go so long,
Out of kindness, I suppose.

[enigmatic]

4. Merle's another original

I love the guy, and he was one of Johnny's best friends.

I've got the original by Townes Van Zandt, will that do?

[Heidi]

5. Go for it.

I totally love that song. It sort of reminds me of the Grateful Dead's "Me and My Uncle," which I also really, really love. :thumbsup:

(Thank you, my friend.)

[enigmatic]

6. anything for you Heidi

you know that:)