Townes Van Zandt lyrics--Dumb Question.

02 Sep 06 - 02:21 PM (#1825494)
Subject: Townes Van Zandt lyrics--Dumb Question.
From: Don Firth

In the Townes Van Zandt song "If I Needed You," the last verse goes

The lady's with me now since I showed her how
To lay her lily hand in mine.
Loop and Lil agree she's a sight to see,
And a treasure for the poor to find.

My question is . . . who are Loop and Lil?

Don Firth

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02 Sep 06 - 02:30 PM (#1825496)
Subject: RE: Townes Van Zandt lyrics--Dumb Question.
From: C. Ham

Loop and Lil were a pair of pet birds that Townes had back in the day.

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02 Sep 06 - 03:18 PM (#1825519)
Subject: RE: Townes Van Zandt lyrics--Dumb Question.
From: Don Firth

Ye gods, really!?? Okay. I figured someone would probably know.

Thank you, C. Ham.

Don Firth

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02 Sep 06 - 03:36 PM (#1825524)
Subject: RE: Townes Van Zandt lyrics--Dumb Question.
From: gnu

This place never ceases to amaze me. Ask a question, get an answer, or more... in nine minutes!

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02 Sep 06 - 04:20 PM (#1825552)
Subject: RE: Townes Van Zandt lyrics--Dumb Question.
From: Don Firth

Amazes me, too. I knew there would be someone out there who knew.

I had this whole scenario built up, but . . . pet birds?   Who'd a thunk it!???

Don Firth

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03 Sep 06 - 12:15 AM (#1825731)
Subject: RE: Townes Van Zandt lyrics--Dumb Question.
From: Dan Schatz

Parakeets, specifically. Emmylou Harrish changed the words to "Who would ill agree" when she recorded the song with Don Williams.

Dan Schatz

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03 Sep 06 - 12:35 AM (#1825735)
Subject: RE: Townes Van Zandt lyrics--Dumb Question.
From: 12-stringer

Sheet music (in the 1977 TVZ compilation "For the Sake of the Song") has a headnote:

"This is the only song I have ever written while sleeping. I dreamed about being a songwriter and this was the song I was writing. I woke up long enough to scribble it down in a notebook by my bed and went back to sleep. Loop and Lil are parakeets."

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