If I Needed You

Townes Van Zandt

Apparently Townes wrote this in his sleep and it was fully formed when he woke up. I think the best songwriters almost excavate their songs — even while they’re awake writing them, they are still finding them. This beautiful track, with its gentle tempo and major chords is so full of love and devotion that the irony and sadness of it sneaks up on you. Fully formed and also perfect. 💙 This live performance is masterful and you get a real sense of the kind of person he was — troubled but also beautiful with a great smile.

Well, the night's forlorn and the morning's born
And the morning's born with the lights of love
And you'll miss sunrise if you close your eyes
And that would break my heart in two

If I needed you, would you come to me?
Would you come to me for to ease my pain?
If you needed me, I would come to you
I would swim the sea for to ease your pain