Meaning - Loretta (Townes van Zandt)

Subject: RE: Meaning - Loretta (Townes van Zandt)
From: GUEST,Noone Real
Date: 16 Jan 24 - 03:43 AM

I read the same post from the woman saying she was the real Loretta and that the line about the sevens is about how he used to say to her that she liked to "push her luck".

Subject: RE: Meaning - Loretta -Townes van Zandt
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 01 Nov 23 - 12:53 PM

.... Hm: if you roll two dice, seven is the least unlikely outcome (one chance in six with fair dice). But don't let the loose guy roll them in his hat where nobody else can see.

Subject: ADD: Loretta (Townes van Zandt)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Nov 23 - 12:26 AM

LORETTA
(Townes van Zandt)

Oh Loretta she's a barroom girl
Wears them sevens on her sleeve
Dances like a diamond shines
Tell me lies I love to believe
Her age is always 22
Her laughing eyes a hazel hue
Spends my money like water falls
Loves me like I want her to

Oh, Loretta, won't you say to me
Darling, put your guitar on
Have a little shot of booze
Play a blue a and wailing song
My guitar rings a melody
My guitar sings, Loretta's fine
Long and lazy, blonde and free
And I can have her any time

Sweetest at the break of day
Prettiest in the setting sun
She don't cry when I can't stay
'Least not 'til she's all alone
Loretta, I won't be gone long
Keep your dancing slippers on
Keep me on your mind a while
I'll be back, babe, to make you smile


Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Townes Van Zandt

"Loretta" from Townes Van Zandt's album Flyin' Shoes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcSjHHVX9ko

"Loretta" from Townes Van Zandt's album In Pain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LiLmOnu7wk

Subject: RE: Meaning - Loretta -Townes van Zandt
From: GUEST,FrankieV123
Date: 15 Oct 23 - 10:05 AM

I’ve seen a post from a Lorreta that claims she had an on an off relationship with Townes in the Early seventies…she said that she tended bar while in college when she met him…
I believe that the phrase “wears them sevens on her sleeve” is a poetic way to say she served liquor… as in Seagram’s Seven..
She would hand them out as if they were on her sleeve…
Probably my dead interpretation of an obscure phrase..

Subject: ADD: Loretta (Townes van Zandt)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Nov 23 - 12:26 AM

LORETTA
(Townes van Zandt)

Oh Loretta she's a barroom girl
Wears them sevens on her sleeve
Dances like a diamond shines
Tell me lies I love to believe
Her age is always 22
Her laughing eyes a hazel hue
Spends my money like water falls
Loves me like I want her to

Oh, Loretta, won't you say to me
Darling, put your guitar on
Have a little shot of booze
Play a blue a and wailing song
My guitar rings a melody
My guitar sings, Loretta's fine
Long and lazy, blonde and free
And I can have her any time

Sweetest at the break of day
Prettiest in the setting sun
She don't cry when I can't stay
'Least not 'til she's all alone
Loretta, I won't be gone long
Keep your dancing slippers on
Keep me on your mind a while
I'll be back, babe, to make you smile


Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Townes Van Zandt

"Loretta" from Townes Van Zandt's album Flyin' Shoes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcSjHHVX9ko

"Loretta" from Townes Van Zandt's album In Pain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LiLmOnu7wk

Subject: RE: Meaning - Loretta -Townes van Zandt
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 01 Nov 23 - 12:53 PM

.... Hm: if you roll two dice, seven is the least unlikely outcome (one chance in six with fair dice). But don't let the loose guy roll them in his hat where nobody else can see.

Subject: RE: Meaning - Loretta -Townes van Zandt
From: GUEST,FrankieV123
Date: 15 Oct 23 - 10:05 AM

I’ve seen a post from a Lorreta that claims she had an on an off relationship with Townes in the Early seventies…she said that she tended bar while in college when she met him…
I believe that the phrase “wears them sevens on her sleeve” is a poetic way to say she served liquor… as in Seagram’s Seven..
She would hand them out as if they were on her sleeve…
Probably my dead interpretation of an obscure phrase..

Subject: RE: Meaning - Loretta -Townes van Zandt
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Apr 15 - 11:32 AM

such a direct and straight forwardly open emotional song. Love to hear a Tom Waits version of it.

Subject: RE: Meaning - Loretta -Townes van Zandt
From: GUEST,999
Date: 15 Jan 12 - 09:19 PM

Look into a dice game called Craps.

Subject: RE: Meaning - Loretta -Townes van Zandt
From: GUEST,David E.
Date: 15 Jan 12 - 09:08 PM

"Wears those sevens on her sleeve..." Seven is a lucky number in gambling, dice especially. I've heard that in a bar that Townes frequented the waitress' wore a lucky seven emblem on the shoulder of their work uniforms.

David E.

Subject: Meaning - Loretta -Townes van Zandt
From: AnneMC
Date: 15 Jan 12 - 07:17 PM

Curious as to what "wears those sevens on her arm" means.
Can anyone explain?


Well Loretta she's my barroom girl
Wears them sevens on her sleeves
Dances like a diamond shines
Tells me lies I love to b'lieve