Butch Hancock – To Each His Own

After listening to the Flatlanders…I’ve listened to Joe Ely and Johnnie Dale Gilmore but never Butch Hancock. I was struck by his voice and was reminded a little of Dylan, Prine, Buddy Holly, and a little of Steve Earle at times.

In the early 1970s, Hancock co-founded The Flatlanders with fellow Lubbock musicians Joe Ely and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. The group initially struggled to find commercial success but later became famous within the Americana and alternative country scenes. Hancock has been a very good songwriter. Artists who covered him include Willie Nelson, Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, The Texas Tornados, Emmylou Harris, Jerry Jeff Walker, and more.

This song was on the album Eat Away The Night which was released in 1994. He has released 12 albums since 1978. This man is worth checking out. He will never make the top 40 but he has some quality songs that are worth hearing. This song has his voice and also a twangy guitar that sold it for me.

As I’ve been perusing his catalog…I’ve noticed a lot of storytelling, a sense of humor, good lyrics plus that voice.  The album’s sound is powered by a classic rock ‘n’ roll combination of a Hammond B-3 organ, electric guitars, an acoustic, harmonica, and steel guitar at the edges for country and folk flavorings.

The title song closes the album, and I will include that above To Each His Own. Eats Away the Night sounds like something a musician would play at four in the morning after a six-hour gig. A quiet, restrained, and thoughtful tune to settle down with. A good way to end a night of music-making and an album. It’s almost a solo performance, with only a slide guitar accompanying Hancock’s voice and guitar.

Here is a link to the complete album.

To Each His Own

Down in the pit of my stomach
I knew it couldn’t last…
It left me just as fast…
I tried to blame it on the moon above…
As I walked the beach alone
But all I heard were these few words…
To each his own

Down in the heart of the matter…
I first lost touch with you…
But for rosy and her constant chatter…
There was not much i could do
The world I tried to reach with her…
You can only reach alone
I even heard rose say to herself…
To each his own…

I’ve seen survival’s violent side…
I’ve seen some beast of prey…
Bring down some beasts of burden…
That just got in their way…
Some tore the hide…some chewed the
Flesh…right down to the bone
Some stopped there but some kept going…
To each his own…

I’ve run these things around my mind…
I’ve run ’em through my heart
In the mighty dream of life, i seem…
To play the strangest part
If I’m buried when I die…
Carve this on my stone…
Take a little here and leave a little there but
give…to each his own…

…

Unknown's avatar

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

18 thoughts on “Butch Hancock – To Each His Own”

  1. I have not heard any solo work from him so this was interestings. This is one of those times when you realize sometimes the talent in a band runs deeper than you think. On your suggestion I did check out his discography and had no idea he was such a prolific songwriter! Just an fyi.
    The grandson arrives later today for a two week visit so I will be busy and may fall behind on my reading.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  2. It sounds like with Joe Ely and The Flatlanders you found yourself in a one-thing-leads-to-another situation, which is what I love about music, though it can send you down many rabbit holes.

    Both of these Butch Hancock songs sound pretty sweet. And, yep, I also can hear a bit of a Dylan vibe. Cool stuff!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Yea man…I call it the ricochet effect… I have a lot to catch up on also…I don’t know much of the Flatlanders or much of Butch solo.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

    1. I probably didn’t pick one of his popular ones…but I mostly listened to that one album and this one spoke out to me. Well written, played, and I love his voice with a passion.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      2. I have so much to catch up on by all of them…which is great. You only get this feeling once with an artist and I’m going to enjoy it.

        Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment