Townes Van Zandt - Tower Song Lyrics






So close and yet so far away
And all the things I'd hoped to say
Will have to go unsaid today
Perhaps until tomorrow
Your fear has built a wall between
Our lives and all what lovin' means
Will have to go unfelt it seems
And that leaves only sorrow

You built your tower strong and tall
Can't you see it's got to fall some day

You close your eyes and speak to me

Of faith and love and destiny
As distant as eternity,
Truth and understanding
The wind blows cold outside your door
It whispers words I've tried before
But you don't hear me anymore
Your pride's just too demanding

The end is coming soon, it's plain
A warm bed just ain't worth the pain
And I will go and you'll remain
With the bitterness we tasted
A mother's breast, a newborn child
A poet's tear, and drunken smile
Can't help thinkin' all the while
Their meaning won't be wasted





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Townes Van Zandt Tower Song Comments
  1. N.... N....

    Look folks, I was driving today more than 200 kilometers, with listening Tower Song at least 10 times, or even more. Astonishing power of his lyrics and astral music.

  2. m.... p....

    I’m not saying Townes is better than Dylan, but I’m not saying Dylan is better than Townes.

  3. M.... R....

    Absolutely beautiful, what a songwriter

  4. P.... ....

    He sounds so different in this song from Kathleen, & Nothin’. None of the country twang...

  5. T.... H....

    So close and yet so far away
    And all the things I'd hoped to say
    Will have to go unsaid today
    Perhaps until tomorrow
    Your fear has built a wall between
    Our lives and all what lovin' means
    Will have to go unfelt it seems
    And that leaves only sorrow

    You built your tower strong and tall
    Can't you see it's got to fall some day

    You close your eyes and speak to me
    Of faith and love and destiny
    As distant as eternity,
    Truth and understanding
    The wind blows cold outside your door
    It whispers words I've tried before
    But you don't hear me anymore
    Your pride's just too demanding

    The end is coming soon, it's plain
    A warm bed just ain't worth the pain
    And I will go and you'll remain
    With the bitterness we tasted
    A mother's breast, a newborn child
    A poet's tear, and drunken smile
    Can't help thinkin' all the while
    Their meaning won't be wasted

  6. a.... d....

    I want this song played at my funeral

    a.... d....

    And 'Flyin shoes' and 'to lives to fly'

  7. M.... B....

    I believe Townes was an angel on loan ... he stayed awhile and filled our soul ... then the good lord brought him home

    M.... B....

    Sounds like a lyric

    M.... B....

    Add Nick Drake and Elliott Smith to the list man...

    M.... B....

    Not sure if he was an angel! He was kind of a crazy son of a bitch! Haha. Love him.

    M.... B....

    Againan Again who for the grace of God go we. A crazy son of a ___ is a perfect candidate ....

  8. T.... R....

    beautiful just beautiful. shockingly touching

  9. J.... I....

    This one's for you Kitten,  and dedicated to who I once was and left behind

  10. L.... V....

    one of the best songs ever written..............

  11. T.... U....

    I first heard this song from a film "Zurich" sung bij Wende. It touched me, but this Original performance brought me to tears.

  12. R.... C....

    "A warm bed just ain't worth the pain". Amazing.

  13. J.... D....

    Really think that he meant the tower tarot card when he was explaining how something looks strong everything and anyone can fall

  14. S.... ....

    Such an amazing songs, beautiful words

  15. L.... M....

    SImply unbelievable. TVZ is the only songwriter whom when I listen to I just tear up. Dylan is great, possibly even a better songwriter than zandt, but never has Dylan's music emotionally effected me as much as zandt's has.

    L.... M....

    +Leo M True this, perhaps "If you see her say hello", but there`s always that indignant streak of pride even in Dylan`s saddest writing, a `how dare you` hiding behind every line, he never seems to fully let go.

    L.... M....

    Perhaps Townes is better able to reach and explain that depth of sadness without anger that Bob hasn't quite gotten to...(he has come quite close, though) but Bob can make you laugh, tremble, quake, think, feel the city and its fear. He can prophesy with a hypnotizing, spell-binding power. He has predicted the future, painted dissolving pictures, cleared the morning fog, freed the prisoner, and cinematically squeezed American history in five minutes (Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts)...Tom Waites was right when he said that Bob Dylan is like a planet to be explored......

    L.... M....

    Bob Dylan is not better; he is overrated. Townes is so much better.

    L.... M....

    Townes is able to express deep emotion without pretentiousness. Something the world seems to lack is the ability to express or explain deep concepts without relying on pretension.

    L.... M....

    Townes lived it.

  16. J.... G....

    Long days and Pleasant nights, Sai.

  17. 1.... ....

    stupenda

  18. L.... G....

    Can't you see it's got to fall someday..

  19. J.... S....

    I think he means that she built her defenses high to protect herself (that she won't be vulnerable), but in the end, it will come tumbling down when she realizes the life she created for herself. In, essence, her pride and closed heart will cause her to lose him and keep her from knowing what love is.

  20. L.... M....

    I build my tower strong and tall, and always forget it will always fall... RIP Townes, your music has forever touched my soul

  21. N.... ....

    Townes is the only artist other than Paul McCartney and John Lennon (only a couple songs), who as ever brought a tear to my eye.. Almost all his songs can, they just hit you..

  22. O.... ....

    really really good.

  23. O.... ....

    about himself, someone else, or anyone. about love, expectation, personal relations... i believe it's any and all those. truth = happiness.

  24. T.... ....

    Ok, I a huge towns fan, the lyric.. Ya built your tower strong and tall, can't ya see its got to fall.... Is a metaphor for expectations? So her expectations/ tower were to high, it had to fall/fail??? Thatsj ust my takePlease reply :)

  25. j.... ....

    One of the most beautiful songs ever written by a tortured man who carried his demons in a bottle.