Guy Clark's Randall Knife

[Sam Wereb]

Any of you guys ever heard the Guy Clark song called "Randall Knife?"

[tomthbomb]

Originally Posted by Sam Wereb

Any of you guys ever heard the Guy Clark song called "Randall Knife?"

Yes sir, I have.

Live once, on my CD player frequntly and on XM radio occasionally.

I have been a Guy Clark fan for 30 years. I heard him sing "Randall Knife" a few years ago in Mount Vernon, TX at a small bed and breakfast inn. He was performing as a favor for the owners. There were only about 50-60 folks there, almost like having him sing on your back porch. It was just Guy with his guitar and a small amplifier. The "Randall Knife" song was the last song he performed. He started playing but wasn't happy with the sound comming from the amp. After trying to adjust the sound for a few minutes he pulled the wire out of his guitar and play it "unplugged". Gave us all goosebumps! I read later that he does that at all his concerts but I don't care. It doesn't ruin the experience for me.

I have a photo of Guy and me taken that night on one of my computers. If I can find it I will post it here.

[Sam Wereb]

Not fair - you're from Texas. If it wasn't for khyi.com and satellite radio I never would have found Texas music.

[tomthbomb]

That's OK, Sam.

KHYI is a great station. Try another one, KNBT 92.1 New Braunfels, TX. I'm pretty sure they stream online too. Just Google it. They're there.

Funny little story, first time I heard Guy Clark live, about 25 years ago, was at our J.S.P.S.T. Lodge hall here in Deep East Texas. I enjoyed the music and the cold Lone Star beer. Today that same building houses our church. The preacher stands exactly where Guy Clark stood when he performed "Desperados Waiting On A Train"!

I still enjoy a cold Lone Star, just not there anymore.

"Randall Knife"

My father had a Randall knife
My mother gave it to him
When he went off to WWII
To save us all from ruin

If you've ever held a Randall knife
Then you know my father well
If a better blade was ever made
It was probably forged in hell

My father was a good man
A lawyer by his trade
And only once did I ever see
Him misuse the blade

It almost cut his thumb off
When he took it for a tool
The knife was made for darker things
And you could not bend the rules

He let me take it camping once
On a Boy Scout jamboree
And I broke a half an inch off
Trying to stick it in a tree

I hid it from him for a while
But the knife and he were one
He put it in his bottom drawer
Without a hard word one

There it slept and there it stayed
For twenty some odd years
Sort of like Excalibur
Except waiting for a tear

My father died when I was forty
And I couldn't find a way to cry
Not because I didn't love him
Not because he didn't try

I'd cried for every lesser thing
Whiskey, pain and beauty
But he deserved a better tear
And I was not quite ready

So we took his ashed out to sea
And poured `em off the stern
And threw the roses in the wake
Of everything we'd learned

When we got back to the house
They asked me what I wanted
Not the lawbooks not the watch
I need the things he's haunted

My hand burned for the Randall knife
There in the bottom drawer
And I found a tear for my father's life
And all that it stood for

-Guy Clark-

[shipahoymatey]

Ahoy Randall Mates,

I was lucky enough to find his album.....I listen to it every night before sundown....

[tunefinK]

I've been listening to Guy for nearly 30 years....... what a treasure.

Randall Knife is a great song, and he has a hundred more just as good.

He is on of the best song writers....period.

I've seen him live probably 20-30 times....... the best being a show with Townes Van Zandt, just the two of them trading songs.

We recently saw him with Joe Ely, John Hiatt, and Lyle Lovett....WOW!!!

Here is a great place for music schedules.

http://www.pollstar.com/tour/searcha...tartSearch.y=9

[armedcitizen]

It's also on this readily available cd:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=music

Together at the Bluebird Cafe--Guy Clark, Steve Earle and the late Townes Van Zandt. This is a great disc--sort've like a VH1 Storytellers session.

[Sam Wereb]

This is great. I knew you guys were church people.
Tom - you're right. KNBT is a great twang station - thank you.