Sporting black framed glasses and a long gabardine woollen coat he seemed every bit the ‘Sixties hip English professor. On first seeing Townes Van Zandt outside of his performing habitat – he was climbing out of the taxi – I was struck by how urbane and gentle (almost genteel) he looked. I think I was a big disappointment to them,” he laughs. “They had pretty big ideas for me too but as soon as I got that guitar in my hand I knew I wasn’t gonna ever do anything else. “My people along with some others were the founders of Fort Worth,” he continues. “Actually I was all set up by my folks to go into real estate but then I saw Elvis Presley on television and so that Christmas I asked and got an electric guitar and that was that really.” Townes Van Zandt is telling me how he first became hooked to music. Townes orders a second vodka and I swop my coffee for a Guinness. It comes in large bottles and goes by the name of Pernod.”Īt that, Townes Van Zandt breaks up with laughter and starts to nod his head affirmatively. I venture to ask what colour this miraculous potion might be. He looks me straight in the eye and for one deadly moment there’s an awkward silence. Ask a stupid question, have the urine deservedly taken out of you I suppose. I’m from the Bayou, you see,” replies Townes Van Zandt with the faintest hint of contempt in his voice.
“No, ahm, actually I like crocodile piss and alligator sperm. “Is vodka your preferred tipple Mr Van Zandt?” wonders your innocent awe-struck hack. As the first draught steadies him, Townes unhesitatingly orders another. Townes Van Zandt, living legend, has just ordered a vodka.
The Harcourt Hotel bar has a few late lunch stragglers scattered here and there. It’s two thirty on a wet and windy afternoon in Dublin.
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