Crowell was born in Houston, Texas to James Walter Crowell and Addie Cauzette Willoughby. A contemporary of Steve Earle and, like Earle, influenced by the (songwriting) greats Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt, Crowell played guitar and sang for three years in Emmylou Harris' "Hot Band".
He was married to Rosanne Cash (daughter of famous singer/guitarist Johnny Cash) from 1979 to 1992 and had a great influence on her career, producing most of her albums during that period. They collaborated on a number of duets, including 1988's "It's Such a Small World." Though Crowell and Cash are now divorced, they remain on friendly terms, performing together occasionally. Six years after the breakdown of his marriage to Rosanne he married Claudia Church.
Although best known as a songwriter and alternative country artist, Crowell enjoyed mainstream popularity during the late 1980s and early 1990s. His critically acclaimed album, 1988's Diamonds and Dirt, produced five No. 1 hits during a 17-month span in 1988 and 1989: "It's Such a Small World" (a duet with Cash), "I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried," "She's Crazy for Leaving," "After All This Time" and "Above and Beyond." His follow-up album, 1989's "Keys to the Highway," produced two top 5 hits in 1990, which were "Many a Long and Lonesome Highway" and "If Looks Could Kill."
As Crowell's popularity in mainstream country faded, he continued his prolific songwriting. In 2001 he released The Houston Kid on Sugar Hill Records. Many songs on the album were semi-autobiographical, and the album included a duet with Crowell's ex father-in-law Johnny Cash on "I Walk the Line (Revisited)". Initially, Cash was annoyed at Crowell changing the tune to his song, but he came to like the finished product. Crowell followed up this effort with Fate's Right Hand in 2003 and The Outsider in 2005. Crowell considers these three albums his finest work as a solo artist.
2004 saw the release of The Notorious Cherry Bombs, a reunion of The Notorious Cherry Bombs, a group that existed briefly in the 1970s with Rodney Crowell, Vince Gill, Tony Brown, and others. The future Keith Urban hit "Making Memories of Us" was included on this disc.
In 2005, Crowell served as producer for established Irish singer/songwriter Kieran Goss on the album Blue Sky Sunrise.
Life Without Susanna
Rodney Crowell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From that day on she hid out undercover
Her Percocet and cigarette along for the ride
She made the bed inside her head a shelter
Each new day a sliver through the blinds
I tried tough love, tenderness and anger
But nothing pierced the fortress inside her mind
The first time I saw her she threw me that smile
Pure angel of mercy east Texas style
A poet in gingham, an assassin in jeans
The most near perfect woman I'd ever seen
She was hardly routine
Life without Susanna troubles me in ways hard to express
As she withdrew I grew distant and judgmental
A self-sure bastard and a stubborn bitch
Locked in a deadly game of chess
The upside of my status as a cut above the rest
The last time I saw her was close to the end
I cried like a baby for the shape I was in
No lipstick, no powder to soften the tone
The most worthy opponent that I've ever known
Was already gone
Life without Susanna is something we all have to face
So welcome to the world as we don't know it
Big blue knuckleball free floating somewhere out in space
Where life without Susanna is no man's saving grace
This is life without Susanna and I can't find my place
The lyrics to Rodney Crowell's song "Life Without Susanna" tell a story of a relationship that is deeply affected by the absence and eventual loss of a woman named Susanna. The song begins by stating that life without Susanna began when Townes Van Zandt died. This suggests that the death of a mutual acquaintance, possibly someone close to both the singer and Susanna, marks a turning point in their lives. Following this event, Susanna withdraws from the world, seeking solace in Percocet and cigarettes.
The lyrics paint a picture of Susanna creating a mental shelter in her head, where every new day peeks through the blinds as a mere sliver. The singer acknowledges trying various approaches to reach her - tough love, tenderness, and anger - but all fails to penetrate the fortress within her mind. This conveys Susanna's emotional withdrawal and the difficulty of breaking through to her.
The singer then reflects on his initial encounter with Susanna, describing her as an angel of mercy with a distinct East Texas style. He admires her as a poet in gingham and an assassin in jeans, suggesting that she possesses both softness and strength, making her the most near perfect woman he has ever seen. Her uniqueness and complexity make her far from ordinary.
The lyrics indicate that life without Susanna troubles the singer in ways that he struggles to articulate. As Susanna withdraws, the singer becomes more distant and judgmental, exhibiting a self-assured and stubborn attitude. This leads to a toxic dynamic between them, akin to a deadly game of chess. Despite acknowledging the downside of his behavior, the singer recognizes his elevated status compared to others, which might fuel his judgmental nature.
The song concludes with the singer reminiscing about his last encounter with Susanna, where he laments the shape he was in and cries like a baby. He notices that she has no lipstick or powder, perhaps indicating a lack of effort to soften her appearance or mood. The lyrics emphasize that Susanna is the most worthy opponent the singer has ever known, portraying her as a strong and formidable presence. However, it is revealed that she is already gone, suggesting her departure from the singer's life.
The final stanza acknowledges that life without Susanna is something everyone must face. It characterizes this new world as unknown and compares it to a big blue knuckleball free-floating in space. The absence of Susanna becomes a void that cannot be filled, leading to a loss of meaning or salvation. The singer's struggle to find his place in this life without Susanna reflects the profound impact her absence has had on him and the difficulty of moving forward without her.
Line by Line Meaning
Life without Susanna started when Townes Van Zandt died
The absence of Susanna began when Townes Van Zandt passed away.
From that day on she hid out undercover
Since then, she chose to retreat and conceal herself.
Her Percocet and cigarette along for the ride
She always carried her Percocet and cigarette with her.
She made the bed inside her head a shelter
She created a mental refuge within herself.
Each new day a sliver through the blinds
Every day brought a small glimpse of hope.
I tried tough love, tenderness and anger
I attempted different approaches such as tough love, compassion, and frustration.
But nothing pierced the fortress inside her mind
However, nothing could break through the impenetrable walls of her thoughts.
The first time I saw her she threw me that smile
When I first met her, she greeted me with a captivating smile.
Pure angel of mercy east Texas style
She possessed a compassionate nature that was uniquely Texan.
A poet in gingham, an assassin in jeans
She was both a gentle poet and a formidable force when needed.
The most near perfect woman I'd ever seen
She was the closest to perfection that I had ever encountered.
She was hardly routine
She was far from ordinary.
Life without Susanna troubles me in ways hard to express
The absence of Susanna deeply troubles me in ways that are difficult to put into words.
As she withdrew I grew distant and judgmental
As she isolated herself, I became more distant and critical.
A self-sure bastard and a stubborn bitch
I turned into a self-assured and stubborn person.
Locked in a deadly game of chess
We were engaged in a dangerous and strategic battle.
The upside of my status as a cut above the rest
The advantage of being considered superior to others.
The last time I saw her was close to the end
I saw her for the final time near the conclusion.
I cried like a baby for the shape I was in
I wept uncontrollably, feeling vulnerable.
No lipstick, no powder to soften the tone
She appeared without any attempts to enhance her appearance.
The most worthy opponent that I've ever known
She was the most formidable adversary I had ever encountered.
Was already gone
She had already departed.
Life without Susanna is something we all have to face
The experience of living without Susanna is an inevitable reality for everyone.
So welcome to the world as we don't know it
Embrace this unfamiliar world we now exist in.
Big blue knuckleball free floating somewhere out in space
A powerful, unpredictable force drifting aimlessly in the cosmos.
Where life without Susanna is no man's saving grace
Where the absence of Susanna offers no salvation.
This is life without Susanna and I can't find my place
This is the reality of living without Susanna, and I feel lost and out of place.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RODNEY J. CROWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cboy Blue
Townes had such an impact on many lives, Susanna was one. Saw Guy open for Emmy Lou at the paramount in austin in 70s. Great group of singers, songwriters.
Orvis boy
This is a beautifully intense song written for Rodney's muse,Susanna Clarke.The raw emotion and driving rhythm,with poignant and wholly truthful lyrics makes this song so special !When one thinks of Rodney's contemporaries and collaborators it is like a Who's Who of Country legends.Long may he continue his chosen path.
John Allen
Beautiful but sad tribute to a friend. UnreaL !
sammy scotch
I love this song about susanna clark. Rodneys friend, Guys wife. Big loss in Rodneys life
mugs
he sure nails the loss of friends, and the hope that the rest will live...
matthew willis
Rodney, get ahold of Verlon have him play Guy's song "Susanna" if he hasn't already.
He has a recording from 1971 that I gave him, Check it out! Please forward his message to Rodney! Thanks
Jack Walker
To be sad about Susanna and the way she went out is one thing. But to be mad at her for it, I don't think is right. When they say a person falls in love, the word falls is accurate. It is taking the fall. And I would never blame anyone for that. As for agoraphobia it is a form of mental illness and I get upset when someone accuses a person suffering from a mental illness saying it is their own damn fault. I believe she lived life true to her heart, and was one of the greatest women I have ever heard about. I have no doubt that everyone who ever met her loved her. She was pure beauty but it was more than that. She was so authentic, nothing phony about her at all. Yes we wish she hadn't smoked so much or did whatever self-destructive things she did. Well, how many brilliant visionaries, people with a bright light pouring out of their soul to the world, have self destructed in some way or other? No one can really answer that.
Aside from all that, I truly believe that any man with even a mustard seed of songwriting talent could have become a great songwriter with Susanna by their side.
mugs
townes forever...
sammy scotch
Her percocet and cigarettes. Died of lung cancer. Most every pic Ive seen of Susanna she has a cig in hand
Lastname First
Susanna and her cigs. Guy always said would be the death of her and it was