Don't Take It Too Bad
Townes Van Zandt Lyrics


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By townes van zandt

Don't you take it too bad
If you're feelin' unlovin'
If you're feelin unfeelin'
If you're feelin' alone
Don't take it too bad
'cause it ain't you to blame, babe
Lord, it's just some kind of game made
Out of all of this living
That we got left to do

And if you go searchin'


For rhyme or for reason
Then you won't have the time
That it take just for talkin'
About the places you've been, babe
About the places you've seen, babe
And how soft the time flies
Past your window at night

And we just can't have that, girl
'cause it's a sad, lonesome, cold world
And a man need a woman just to stand by his side
And whisper sweet words in his ears about daydreams
And roses and playthings




And the sweetness of springtime
And the sound of the rain

Overall Meaning

"Don't Take It Too Bad" by Townes Van Zandt is a song about resilience and accepting the ups and downs of life with grace. The lyrics speak to the listener who may be feeling unloved, unfeeling, or lonely and encourages them not to take those feelings too seriously. The song suggests that life is a game with no clear rhyme or reason, and it's better to focus on the present moment than to over-analyze things.


Van Zandt's lyrics also touch on the idea that life is fleeting, and we should appreciate the places, people, and moments that we experience. The line "And how soft the time flies; past your window at night" evokes a sense of nostalgia for moments that have already passed. The song reminds us that life is short, and we should make the most of the time we have left.


In the final verses of the song, Townes Van Zandt turns his attention to the importance of human connection. He suggests that even in a sad, cold world, people need each other to survive. The line "And a man needs a woman just to stand by his side" speaks to the idea of finding comfort and joy in the presence of others. The song encourages us to cherish the moments of sweetness in life, like daydreams, roses, and rain, and to share those moments with others.


Line by Line Meaning

Don't you take it too bad
Don't let yourself get too down


If you're feelin' unlovin'
If you're not feeling loved


If you're feelin unfeelin'
If you're feeling like you can't connect emotionally


If you're feelin' alone
If you're feeling isolated


Don't take it too bad
Don't let yourself get too down


'cause it ain't you to blame, babe
It's not your fault


Lord, it's just some kind of game made
It's just the way things are


Out of all of this living
Out of the complexity of living


That we got left to do
Which is all we have left to do


And if you go searchin'
And if you try to find


For rhyme or for reason
For meaning or purpose


Then you won't have the time
You'll be too preoccupied


That it takes just for talkin'
It takes time just to talk


About the places you've been, babe
About the experiences you've had


About the places you've seen, babe
About the sights you've seen


And how soft the time flies
And how quickly time passes


Past your window at night
As you look out your window at night


And we just can't have that, girl
And that's just not acceptable, my dear


'cause it's a sad, lonesome, cold world
Because the world can be a bleak and lonely place


And a man need a woman just to stand by his side
And a man needs a woman to support him


And whisper sweet words in his ears about daydreams
And share romantic fantasies


And roses and playthings
And things that bring joy and happiness


And the sweetness of springtime
And the beauty of spring


And the sound of the rain
And the peaceful sound of rain falling




Contributed by Henry D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@Nikki_Antonia

He was a master wordsmith, poet, artist, lyricist...

@glennbasilii552

You got that right Nikki, right up there with the best

@unguelootay8589

Underrated

@Nikki_Antonia

@@unguelootay8589 Not in his circle which was all he cared about.

@BigBadBosco

One of the greatest songs

@levimatthew8911

Not just one of his best. One of THE Best.

@jimrebr

I just adore Townes, his lyrics just hit so deep. ❤ I wish I had known about him, long ago.

@user-dm6ij8hy9b

i listen to this over and over

@spineway

This may be the best song in the world.

@nickfranklin717

When you’re down in Santa Fe tip ur hat to ol Towns….

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