Topic: Frank Edwards - 'Throw Your Time Away'

[Slack]

OK, Lightin' Wells made a provocative post (to me anyway) on facebook yesterday, simply stating that "This might be one of the best songs I've ever heard" and posted the song.  Well, I wouldn't normally pay too much attention, but I have an inkling of the depth and breadth of Lightins' listening, across genres and decades, his access to historical recordings etc etc.... and so I asked him if we could discuss this song here.  Lyrics are difficult to understand, we'll want to decipher at some point, but for now, have a listen...



... and then we'll ask Lightin' why this is one of the best songs...

[David Kaatz]

Definitely a good candidate for the "One of a Kind - and Great" thread.

Dave

[Slack]

Ah, good thinking Dave... it fits the bill... 

... atmospheric.  Country blues existentialism.

[oddenda]

As the "producer" of that album (correct spelling is Lowry, with NO "e" in it!), I cannot disagree. Frank was a musician who sounded like Frank and not anybody else. He also wrote interesting tunes. Listen to his OKeh sides w. Washboard Sam, or the Regal cuts w. Curley - they all scream "Frank Edwards" (figuratively speaking). It was the worst selling TRIX LP out of the eighteen I released - uniquity tends not to sell very well - and one I am most proud of doing.

Lightnin' Probably heard Frank (w. Billy Troiani on bs-gtr) in Mar '73 at the Chapel Hill series of three concerts  that Bastin and I put together, a blockbuster first for that College. Sadly, never to be repeated, but their impact was notable. Tim Duffy (Music Maker Relief Foundation) discovered that Black people had "folk music" by attending, for one!

Frank Edwards was an unique musician who worked within the boundaries of "blues" according to his own ways of thinking. A taciturn man, he was also a lovely person, one who I am feeling very favored to have known.

Peter B. 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Here's what I'm hearing for Frank Edwards' lyrics to "Throw Your Time Away".  It's kind of like a Buddhist koan.

REFRAIN: Throw your time away,
Time away, I know
Ain't got time, make it up
Done got too old

Every Mond' mornin'
Standin' on the corner
Talkin' 'bout long time gone
Them never be no more

The second and third verses substitute Tuesday and Wednesday for Monday.

All best,
Johnm

[Slack]

Sounds right to me Johnm.  It is kind of like a Buddhist koan.  I was hoping Lightin' would stop by and explain what was it about the song that had such strong appeal.  I mean besides relating to the 'done got too old' part... haha