That's one for the book: April 2022

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

We're All In This Together

Chris Wall (1953-2021), who we were lucky enough to have seen a couple of times on our trips to Texas, died in the summer of 2021. He was a year younger than me, a truely great song writer and is sadly missed. The other night we watched (i.e., live streamed over the internet) a memorial gathering for Chris Wall at Don's Depot in Austin where a bunch of his friends gathered to remember him and sing some of his songs. The event is available at Austin City Jams.

One of the songs they played, "We're All In This Together", is especially touching and I recall first hearing it one afternoon when Chris played Gruene Hall (Feb 20, 2018). We chatted a bit with him at the time and he recalled the time (Feb 9, 2014) we had last seen him at the Twin Creeks Dance Hall (2014). We all had a chuckle about the fellow who had set herself on fire — just for show. It was weird! The picture at left is Kate and Chris at Gruene Hall. Chris with another "Trashy Woman".

In any case, song lyrics mean a lot to me, so I Googled for the lyrics and was surprised at the god-awful mangled versions that had been posted — often times they made no sense at all! E.g., "Velvet in the row" should be "And felt it's amber glow" (a reference to drinking) and "It's silent Bob Hope's favor" should be "A silent thoughtful favor" (a reference to the subtle kindness of friends). For a writer with such a command of the language these mondegreen versions are shamefully awful — "I feel just like a traitor and I hang my head in shame".

So, I have carefully listened to the song several times and this is what I believe Chris wrote and sang:

We’re All In This Together (Chris Wall)
I can't count the times
I’ve stepped out for some air
And gave away a sunny day
To the hellhounds of despair
And climbed inside a bottle
And felt its amber glow
And it warmed ‘til I burned with rage
At what I still don't know

Sometimes I think I'm a better friend
Than my friends have been to me
Only to discover how wrong a man can be
A silent thoughtful favor
A card without a name
And I feel just like a traitor and I hang my head in shame

‘Cause we're all in this together
Ah man we're all in this apart
Through fair and stormy weather
And tawdry affairs of the heart
Feel free to send a letter
You can call me anytime on the phone
‘Cause we're all in this together
Ah man we're all in this alone

Red wine makes my fingers drunk and they dial at 3am
And the sound of my voice thrills me more than those on the other end
But they always do forgive me
They don’t even have to try
I’ve long ago accepted this, though I still wonder why

If a man is truly judged by the greatness of his enemies
Folks I think you're staring at one sorry S.O.B.
For the venal and the petty
Have had the best of me
I conceded them their victories and that has set me free

‘Cause we're all in this together
Ah man we're all in this apart
Through fair and stormy weather
And tawdry affairs of the heart
Feel free to send a letter
You can call me anytime on the phone
‘Cause we're all in this together
Ah man we're all in this alone

When you think it's all been done
You're sure it's all been said
Some young unknown poet drops a line that stops you dead
I've lived in some glass houses, I've thrown my share of stones
Now the only songs I criticize
Are the ones I call my own

‘Cause we're all in this together
Ah man we're all in this apart
Through fair and stormy weather
And tawdry affairs of the heart
Feel free to send a letter
You can call me anytime on the phone
‘Cause we're all in this together
Ah man we're all in this alone

Ah yeah we're all in this alone

From "El Western Hotel", Chris Wall, 2012

To hear Chris sing this song, and many more, visit the Chris Wall Youtube channel. Unfortunately, that channel isn't a comprehensive catalogue of his music — e.g., I don't see "Honky Tonk Heart" (1990) on that channel.

Before closing, here's a couple more of his songs that will break your heart: Rodeo Wind (from CD "Honky Tonk Heart", 1990) and I Feel Like Hank Williams Tonight (from CD "Cowboy Nation", 1994).