Forum / Dave Van Ronk's memoir

• 
  Carol Reid

  Apr 25, 11:14pm

  http://www.elijahwald.com/vanronk.html

  The Mayor of MacDougal Street- fun and sometimes hilarious, direct, conversational, flawed, full of stories about the life and times. Perfect weekend reading.

• 
  James Lloyd Davis

  Apr 26, 02:32am

  The man wrote one of my favorite songs, Last Call. Found the lyrics. Still gives me chills, eh? The anthem of the lost nights'a'many'a'man waylaid on the way home from work by thirst:

  And so we’ve had another night
  of poetry and poses,
  and each man knows he’ll be alone
  when the sacred ginmill closes.
  
  And so we’ll drink the final glass
  each to his joy and sorrow
  and hope the numbing drink will last
  til opening tomorrow.
  
  And when we stumble back again
  like paralytic dancers
  each knows the question he must ask
  and each man knows the answer.

  And so we’ll drink the final drink
  that cuts the brain in sections
  where answers do not signify
  and there aren’t any questions.
  
  I broke my heart the other day.
  It will mend again tomorrow.
  If I’d been drunk when I was born
  I’d be ignorant of sorrow.
  
  And so we’ll drink the final toast
  that never can be spoken:
  Here’s to the heart that is wise enough
  to know when it’s better off broken.

  Here it is in his voice, haunting and wild in its way:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaRTvAFIYF4

• 
  whatwouldbukowskido

  Apr 26, 03:30am

  I'd like to read that.

  I had a DVR cassette 837 years ago, the first time I heard this song:

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpFudDAYqxY

  He just killed it (but it's not on utoob).

• 
  James Lloyd Davis

  Apr 26, 05:15am

  https://myspace.com/davevanronk/music/song/river-88098205-97777028

• 
  Barry Basden

  Apr 26, 03:57pm

  Van Ronk on Dylan & HOTRS:

  http://goo.gl/zAbpNf

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