Townes Van Zandt and his band thought they might be in for a night at the Washington County Jail in Brenham, Texas, until they realized the officers who pulled their two-car caravan over proudly ...

Earle included the song on his 2009 Van Zandt tribute album, Townes; the story goes that Earle left his family home in San Antonio when he was 14, heading to Houston to find his musical hero.

In honor of his birthday, we take a look at three Townes Van Zandt songs that are each a masterclass in profound songwriting.

The seeds in Townes Van Zandt’s hand are ground. What cannot be remembered can be remembered, the seeds are pulverized and bitterly soaked in beer. Glug glug is a sound, left in the throat by the ...