Mickey Newbury
Mickey Newbury (May 19, 1940 - September 29, 2002) was an American singer-songwriter for Acuff-Rose Music, a critically acclaimed recording artist, and a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Born Milton Sims Newbury, Jr. in Houston, Texas. As a teenager, Mickey Newbury sang tenor in a moderately successful vocal group called The Embers. The group opened for several famous performers, such as Sam Cooke and Johnny Cash. Although Mickey tried to make a living off of his music by singing in clubs Read Full BioMickey Newbury (May 19, 1940 - September 29, 2002) was an American singer-songwriter for Acuff-Rose Music, a critically acclaimed recording artist, and a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Born Milton Sims Newbury, Jr. in Houston, Texas. As a teenager, Mickey Newbury sang tenor in a moderately successful vocal group called The Embers. The group opened for several famous performers, such as Sam Cooke and Johnny Cash. Although Mickey tried to make a living off of his music by singing in clubs, he put his musical career on hold at age 19 when he joined the Air Force. After four years in the military, Mickey again set his sights on making a living as a songwriter. Before long, he moved to Nashville and signed to the prestigious publishing company Acuff-Rose Music.
For a time, he was one of the most influential creative minds in Nashville and it's arguable that he was the first real "outlaw" of the outlaw country movement of the 1970s. Ralph Emery referred to him as the first "hippie-cowboy" and along with Johnny Cash and Roger Miller, he was one of the first to rebel against the conventions of the Nashville music society. After being disappointed by the production methods used by Felton Jarvis on his debut album, Mickey got himself released from his contract with RCA and signed the first offer he received to comply with his condition that he could either produce his own albums or hire a producer of his choice.
He went on to record three musically revolutionary albums in Wayne Moss's garage-turned-studio just outside of Nashville. The influence of the production methods can be heard in the albums Waylon Jennings went on to record in the 1970s (with instrumentation highly unconventional for country music) and his poetically sophisticated style of songwriting was highly influential on Kris Kristofferson.[citation needed] It was Newbury who convinced Roger Miller to record Kristofferson's "Me & Bobby McGee", which went on to launch Kristofferson as country music's top songwriter. Newbury is also responsible for getting Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark to move to Nashville and pursue careers as songwriters. However, he had no desire to cash-in on the Outlaw movement.[citation needed]
In 1974, he moved to a house on the McKenzie River in Oregon with his wife, Susan, and new born son, Chris, where they welcomed three more children over the years. He recorded several albums throughout the 1970s for Elektra and ABC/Hickory, all of them critically praised, but financially unsuccessful. In 1980, he was given the distinction of being the youngest songwriter ever inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Although he spent much of the 1980s retired from performing and recording music, he returned both to recording and touring in the late 1980s before he died following a prolonged battle with pulmonary fibrosis on September 29, 2002, aged 62.
Born Milton Sims Newbury, Jr. in Houston, Texas. As a teenager, Mickey Newbury sang tenor in a moderately successful vocal group called The Embers. The group opened for several famous performers, such as Sam Cooke and Johnny Cash. Although Mickey tried to make a living off of his music by singing in clubs Read Full BioMickey Newbury (May 19, 1940 - September 29, 2002) was an American singer-songwriter for Acuff-Rose Music, a critically acclaimed recording artist, and a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Born Milton Sims Newbury, Jr. in Houston, Texas. As a teenager, Mickey Newbury sang tenor in a moderately successful vocal group called The Embers. The group opened for several famous performers, such as Sam Cooke and Johnny Cash. Although Mickey tried to make a living off of his music by singing in clubs, he put his musical career on hold at age 19 when he joined the Air Force. After four years in the military, Mickey again set his sights on making a living as a songwriter. Before long, he moved to Nashville and signed to the prestigious publishing company Acuff-Rose Music.
For a time, he was one of the most influential creative minds in Nashville and it's arguable that he was the first real "outlaw" of the outlaw country movement of the 1970s. Ralph Emery referred to him as the first "hippie-cowboy" and along with Johnny Cash and Roger Miller, he was one of the first to rebel against the conventions of the Nashville music society. After being disappointed by the production methods used by Felton Jarvis on his debut album, Mickey got himself released from his contract with RCA and signed the first offer he received to comply with his condition that he could either produce his own albums or hire a producer of his choice.
He went on to record three musically revolutionary albums in Wayne Moss's garage-turned-studio just outside of Nashville. The influence of the production methods can be heard in the albums Waylon Jennings went on to record in the 1970s (with instrumentation highly unconventional for country music) and his poetically sophisticated style of songwriting was highly influential on Kris Kristofferson.[citation needed] It was Newbury who convinced Roger Miller to record Kristofferson's "Me & Bobby McGee", which went on to launch Kristofferson as country music's top songwriter. Newbury is also responsible for getting Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark to move to Nashville and pursue careers as songwriters. However, he had no desire to cash-in on the Outlaw movement.[citation needed]
In 1974, he moved to a house on the McKenzie River in Oregon with his wife, Susan, and new born son, Chris, where they welcomed three more children over the years. He recorded several albums throughout the 1970s for Elektra and ABC/Hickory, all of them critically praised, but financially unsuccessful. In 1980, he was given the distinction of being the youngest songwriter ever inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Although he spent much of the 1980s retired from performing and recording music, he returned both to recording and touring in the late 1980s before he died following a prolonged battle with pulmonary fibrosis on September 29, 2002, aged 62.
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Just Dropped In
Mickey Newbury Lyrics
Woke up this mornin',
The sundown shinin' in.
I found my broken mind,
In a brown paper bag of Zen.
Tripped on a cloud,
I fell eight miles high.
Tore my mind upon a jagged sky.
I just dropped in to see what condition,
My condition was in.
Ah, ah.
Pushed my soul in a
Deep dark hole, followed it in.
Met myself crawlin' out,
As I was crawlin' in.
I woke up so tight I said,
"I never will unwind."
Saw too much I broke my mind.
I just dropped in to see what condition,
My condition was in.
Woh, Lord, Lord,
What condition my condition was in.
[Whistling chorus.]
Ah, ah, ah-ha.
Somebody painted "April Fool,"
In big black letters on a Dead End sign.
I had my foot in the gas,
As I left the road and blew out my mind.
Eight miles outta Memphis,
Lord, I got no spare.
Eight miles straight up,
Downtown somewhere.
I just dropped in to see what condition,
My condition was in.
Oh, Lord, Lord, Lawd,
What condition my condition was in.
Contributed by Elizabeth L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
John Dersham
I have been a fan of Mickey Newbury, nearly from the beginning of his career. I have everything he officially recorded and love to find stuff like this that is unofficial. I have many favorite singer/songwriters from the 60s and 70s but Mickey stands alone. I can judge this by the number of times I go to my music listening room that it is Mickey I put on the turntable or CD player. He had this remarkable way to re-interpret his music and often spontaneously combining two or even three separate songs into one in his live performances. He was a master of lyrics and interpretation of them. I feel strong emotional content as I cling to every word he sings no matter how many times over 50 plus years that I have listened to him. He went through a lull in the late 80s and 90s for recording but when he started doing albums on his own label in the late 90s, right up till he passed away, some of his best content, best lyrics and most fantastic performances are in those albums. He basically doubled his catalog in his final years, amazing for sure. I was honored to see him perform live twice, once in 1974 and again in 1994, both times in Nashville. I met him once, but would have loved to have an actual conversation with him.
Bill Yovino
I've never heard of Mickey Newbury. Live and learn. I've always liked the First Edition version but this is far superior.
Alan Nowland
Tooo rite
animaleyesone
If there is a playlist of songs to be found by the inheritors of this planet in the distant future, I want this song to be among them. I feel my soul weep tears of sorrow everything I hear this song, and it's a sadness borne from living long years and seeing things that mark you. Micky Newbury seems to be a forgotten secret in the history of music. Please share this song with those you know will appreciate good music.
Kuba Piwowarczyk
This is certainly the greatest incarnation of "americana" ever. Mickey has songs that are comparable, "Storm is coming", "The Sailor" for example, but this is so goddamn raw... It's completely amazing.
Alan Nowland
The best song
Paula Musette Bagwell
Go to Acuff-Rose Publishing Co Nashville, TN. My husband was their engineer in the early 80’s. He had already recorded Gill Scot-Heron’s Secretz and the Allman Brothers Band. He worked with Malcolm Cecil at TONTOs in LA. He went on to Shania, Tim McGraw, Clint Black and more. He was Lynn Peterzell, he died in 1994. His brother Lee engineered Dust in the Wind, Kansas. They started out as really young guys at the Studio in the Country, Bogalusa, LA. Remember the audio engineers! I’m glad y’all found Mickey. Mickey was so nice and thoughtful. I’m so glad y’all found him. I miss him.😢@BillGraham 💙🎼
Neil Christopher
I will.⭐️
Mary Plaidy
@Bill Graham Every time I hear him sing it makes me so sad for my youth and the country as it was before it began to be filled with people who hate it.
Stefano Consiglio
I keep coming back for this version.