Nothin'

by Townes Van Zandt

Hey mama, when you leave

don't leave a thing behind

I don't want nothin'

I can't use nothin'

Take care into the hall

and if you see my friends

tell them I'm fine

not using nothin'

Almost burned out my eyes

threw my ears down to the floor

I didn't see nothin'

I didn't hear nothin'

I stood there like a block of stone

knowin' all I had to know

and nothin' more

man, that's nothin'

As brothers our troubles are

locked in each others arms

and you better pray

they never find you

Your back ain't strong enough

for burdens doublefold

they'd crush you down

down into nothin'

Being born is going blind

and buying down a thousand times

to echoes strung

on pure temptation

Sorrow and solitude

these are the precious things

and the only words

that are worth rememberin'