I've always said Townes is the greatest songwriter in the world on this blog -

on his best days, Jay Farrar is #2 - better then Jeff Tweedy -

Left A Slide - by Jay Farrar

when the pattern doesn't mend
fixtures fall from their base
pulling out of the race
put up the red flag
for matters close at hand
cross over the plan

it gets so diffused
you want to kiss the ground
and leave no sound
make it up the next year
chalk it up to remember
the wasted lonely fever

the way we've tried
left a slide into harm's way
enough concern to ride it out
it's no surprise that it's a long slow fade
let it rest on past pages and signs
pull the stops out let it unwind
when it's reaching and finding nothing
weighted down the nail below the head

minefield is the word from the start
watching out for the worst
never clear till it hurts
call it off to make amends
this life burns down
from both ends

the way we've tried
left a slide into harm's way
enough concern to ride it out
it's no surprise that it's a long slow fade
let it rest on past pages and signs
pull the stops out let it unwind
enough concern to ride it out
it's no surprise that it's a long slow fade