justagirlcalledjess:

COWBOY JUNKIES perform a tiny desk concert for NPR Music.

Make a list of bands with integrity, still highly respected and still making music after 25 years, and that list will have Cowboy Junkies near the top. The band remains prolific, tender and poignant, as evidenced by this performance at the NPR Music offices.

If you don’t listen to Cowboy Junkies on a semi-regular basis, then you don’t really like music.

1. No idea. Although “Flirted With You All My Life” by the Cowboy Junkies would have to be on the list.

2. I don’t use iTunes. Fuck Apple for making everyone use songs that can’t be shared.

3. Nothing. I’m actually watching hockey.

4. Whale Music by the Rheostatics

5. Sloan, in Buffalo over the summer.

6. It varies, but is often the theme to Rocky or “Bleed a Little While Tonight” by Lowest of the Low

7. None - I’m not 12 anymore

8. I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll by Joan Jett was the first album I ever owned, but The Number of the Beast by Iron Maiden was the first one I ever bought myself.

9. I don’t really download singles. I buy albums because I am much more interested in everything an artist has done in a certain period of time than any one-off song which doesn’t really say anything about the artist.

10. Probably The Tragically Hip, but with honorable lifetime mentions for Iron Maiden and U2.

11. Bob Dylan - forever and always

12. Rock - or any music that features people actually writing their own songs and playing their own instruments. 

13. I don’t have that list, nor will I ever make it. I don’t believe in ranking songs. However, if I ever create a list of my 25 favorite songs, it would be an unranked list because, seriously, how can you compare The Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated” with Dylan’s “Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands” with Iron Maiden’s “Hallowed Be Thy Name” with John Coltrane’s “Central Park West”?

14. “We sit here stranded, though we’re all doing our best to deny it” - “Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands” by Bob Dylan

15. Yes.

(via that-goddamn-rock-and-roll)

“Cowboy Junkies Lament” by Townes Van Zandt

Ever wonder where the band got their name? Well now you know. They also covered this song on their Black Eyed Man album and toured with Townes.

“Flirted With You All My Life” by Cowboy Junkies (Vic Chenutt cover)

My favorite song from their Demons album, an album of covers by their late friend Vic Chesnutt, Margo brings an almost peacefulness to it as opposed to the uncomfortable longing found in Chesnutt’s.

It’s also my favorite album of 2011.

“Black Eyed Man” by Cowboy Junkies

And another favorite that reminds me of Faulkner. 

Black eyed man he took the blame
for the poisoning of the well
They found this shoes by the pulley
They found his fingerprints all over the pail

Black eyed man I’m warning you
the people around here
will not be fooled by a simple line or two

Yes your honour I do solemnly swear
that I saw him late last night,
dancing barefoot, bathed in light
and reaching for every star in sight
Yes I did go to him,
but completely against my will
and yes he did things to me
things of which I dream of still

Black eyed man I’m warning you
what I say is what you’ll do
to hell with love and truth

I always meant to say I’m sorry
for all the things I said and did
‘Sorry,’ I feel better now, do you?
But you promised me the sky
and fell short a star or two
What else did you expect me to do?

Black eyed man he took the blame
for the poisoning of the well
They found his shoes by the pulley
They found his fingerprints all over the pail
With a noose around his neck,
cicadas trilling everywhere,
he says to the people gathered round him,
‘it ain’t the water that’s not right around here’

Black eyed man I’m thirsty dear
be a love and bring some water here
drawn fresh from the well

“Southern Rain” by Cowboy Junkies

Listening to the Cowboy Junkies always makes me want to read Faulkner. Here’s why:

The flies have quit their buzzing
Even Bear has stopped his barking
They all sense something brewing
up the James and headed this way

Bobby sips his morning coffee
Says `Have you finished with the funnies?
Looks like a storm’s coming honey
guess we’ll have to stay in bed today’

I’ve heard that into every life
a little of it must fall
If there’s any truth to the saying,
Lord, let it be a southern rain

Marie was born in Macon, Georgia
She met a west coast lawyer
He plucked that sweet magnolia
and carried her to the hills of West L.A.

She says `I never thought I’d tire of a dollar
But this life has grown so hollow
Every night there’s lipstick on his collar
and every morning I wash it away’

She heard that into every life
a little of it must fall
So she spends her evenings praying
for a little of that southern rain

Cars alive on city streets
of sparkling black water
like waves beneath my window
never break just roll away
Tonight, this rain will be my lullaby
these cars, my dreams
to carry me home to stay

The wipers beat a rhythm
Truck spray obscures my vision
But I’m closing in on my destination
Two more hours and I’ll be at your door

And it will never cease to amaze me
how a little rain can drive folks crazy
When I’d trade all my blue skies gladly
for your blue eyes, crooked smile
and a steady downpour

I’ve heard that into every life
a little of it must fall,
but you’ll never catch me complaining
about too much of that southern rain

“Powderfinger” by Cowboy Junkies (Neil Young cover)

I was listening to Neil Young in the car all day and Cowboy Junkies while I was working around the house checking out Tumblr. This seemed like the next natural step.

Also, they’re coming to my little state next week. I think I might go see them. Not sure yet, though. It’s on a school night. 

120memories:

Cowboy Junkies “Sweet Jane” video featured on 120 Minutes, 1988

Cover of the Velvet Underground classic.

(via mhisadj)