I always thought Blaze was a Texan but I was wrong…but technically that is where he made his mark in music. Blaze Foley (Michael David Fuller) was born in Malvern, Arkansas, but grew to be an important figure in the Texas outlaw country music scene. I started to listen to Foley’s songs and the strength of the lyrics has won me over. This was an interesting man. A documentary was made about him called “Duct Tape Messiah: Blaze Foley.” If you have time at some point, watch it. This documentary is based on a hell of a story.
Foley grew up in a musical family, moving frequently throughout the South. His parents were part of a gospel band, and he was exposed to music from a young age. The family’s traveling lifestyle and deep-rooted religious beliefs influenced Foley’s music.
Foley became a fixture in the Austin music scene in the 1970s and 1980s, where he befriended and collaborated with other songwriters, including Townes Van Zandt (he wrote a song about Foley after his death called Blaze’s Blues). His music was deeply personal, often reflecting his struggles with homelessness, addiction, and relationships. Despite his talent, Foley struggled to gain commercial success during his lifetime, partly due to his unpredictable behavior and refusal to compromise his artistic integrity. I do have a Townes Van Zandt story at the bottom.
This song gained a wider audience after being covered by several artists, most notably John Prine, who included it on his 2005 album Fair & Square. Prine’s version introduced the song to a broader audience and solidified its place in the Americana and folk music canon.
On February 1, 1989, Foley was tragically shot and killed at the age of 39 in Austin, Texas. He was trying to defend a friend, Concho January, from his violent son. Foley accused him of stealing January’s checks. Foley’s death was a big loss to the music community, and his life story has since been the subject of many articles, documentaries, and films.
He didnt’ gain popularity until after his death. He only released one 1984 studio album before his death and those tapes were confiscated by the DEA when the executive producer was caught in a drug bust. He also recorded one in 1980 but the tapes were stolen out of his car. He did get some singles released during the 80s but a lot of live and some studio material came out after he died. Some tribute albums have come out as well with other artists covering his songs. Artists such as Townes Van Zandt, Calvin Russell, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, Timbuk 3 and many more.
Now the Townes Van Zandt Blaze Foley story. Blaze was known as The Duct Tape Messiah for the strappings that held his boots together. His life was disorderly, to say the least. He had said that when he died he wanted Townes to have his guitar. When Foley died, Van Zandt and his friends went for the guitar but found out that the late singer/songwriter had pawned the guitar among other things. Van Zandt told the Pawn Shop clerk that the guitar had been left for him and he was there to collect it. However, the clerk insisted that without a pawn stub, that transaction was impossible. So, along with the rest of Foley’s friends, they searched every possession (which wasn’t much) that the late musician had left behind. The pawn slip was nowhere to be found.
They figured out it must be in Foley’s front pocket in the suit he was buried in. Townes then borrowed a backhoe and dug his friend up. He went through his pockets and there it was…the pawn ticket. Van Zandt went straight to the pawn shop with the freshly dug-up stub and collected Foley’s guitar that he kept in his possession until he, too, passed away.
Now whether this was true or not I don’t know… but that is what the documentary is all about that I mentioned in the first paragraph. Here is a picture of Townes Van Zandt with Foley’s guitar.
Clay Pigeons
I’m goin’ down to the Greyhound stationGonna get a ticket to rideGonna find that lady with two or three kidsAnd sit down by her side
Ride ’til the sun comes up and down around me‘Bout two or three timesSmokin’ cigarettes in the last seatTryin’ to hide my sorrow from the people I meetAnd get along with it all
Go down where the people say y’allSing a song with a friendChange the shape that I’m inAnd get back in the game and start playin’ again
I’d like to stay, but I might have to goTo start over againMight go back down to TexasMight go to somewhere that I’ve never been
And get up in the mornin’ and go out at nightAnd I won’t have to go homeGet used to bein’ aloneChange the words to this songAnd start singin’ again
I’m tired of runnin’ ’roundLookin’ for answers to questions that I already knowI could build me a castle of memoriesJust to have somewhere to go
Count the days and the nights that it takesTo get back in the saddle againFeed the pigeons some clay, turn the night into dayAnd start talkin’ again when I know what to say
I’m goin’ down to the Greyhound stationGonna get a ticket to rideGonna find that lady with two or three kidsAnd sit down by her side
Ride ’til the sun comes up and down around me‘Bout two or three timesSmokin’ cigarettes in the last seatTry to hide my sorrow from the people I meetAnd get along with it all
Go down where the people say y’allFeed the pigeons some clayTurn the night into dayAnd start talkin’ again when I know what to say
ThanksIt’s called “Clay Pigeons”Anywhere I roam, there’s askThat’s rightRoad-hog didWe have a lot of requests, so we’re gonna do it anywayAin’t never had a lesson in his life, alright
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