Called the greatest songwriter ever by Nashville rebel
Steve Earle,
A Far Cry from Dead is a collection of the sharp, insightful writing that led
Earle to make such a bold claim about
Townes Van Zandt. Included are the songs that became hits for others, such as "Pancho & Lefty" (which
Willie Nelson made into a 1983 hit), as well as the material that made
Van Zandt a revered songwriter and performer in his own right. More than anything, though, the album showcases just how honest and revealing
Van Zandt's words are. The blunt reality of the aborted relationships in "Many a Fine Lady," for example, and the exalted freedom of "To Live's to Fly" do more to broadcast his mastery than the magazine covers he always seemed to be overlooked for.