After death, Townes Van Zandt found the success that he sabotaged during life. Diagnosed as bipolar, an alcoholic, and perennially unreliable, Van Zandt died of heart failure at the age of 52 on New Year’s Day in 1997. He released 16 albums during life. Since his death, several more albums have been released, both by and in honor of him.

Van Zandt, the self-destructive wandering troubadour, was long underappreciated but is now a favorite among critics and fans. His best-known songs are “Pancho and Lefty,” covered by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, and “If I Needed You.” Steve Earle’s 2009 cover album, Townes, jump-started a slate of tributes, including those by Robert Earl Keen, Lucinda Williams, and John Prine.

For the Sake of the Song collects 10 essays on Townes. An introduction by editors Ann Norton Holbrook and Dan Beller-McKenna provides an overview of Van Zandt’s literary excellence and philosophical wisdom, rare among even the best songwriters.

The book is published by University of North Texas Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

“A tour de force that mirrors Townes’s life and art in spanning the ‘high, low, and in between.'” (Jason Mellard, author of Progressive Country)

“This collection is worthy of its subject, and I can think of no higher praise.” (Roxanne Harde, coeditor of Reading the Boss)

“A significant contribution to the discourse on America’s enigmatic singer-songwriter.” (Mickey White, author of Another Mickey: Ruminations of a Texas Guitar Slinger)