Written by: Beck Hansen
Alternate Titles:
a.k.a. Lonely Boy Blues
a.k.a. Together We Found Misery
Versions:
- Woe (2:03)
Available on Banjo Story.
CreditsBeck Hansen: Guitar (Acoustic), Harmonica, Vocals
Lyrics:
Woe [Version (a)]:
I found you, you found me
Together we found misery
And I'm all bent up
I was here, you were gone
I was right, but now I'm wrong
Wrong wrong
I was true, though I lied
You can keep the blues
I'm gonna catch that train and ride
I been taking all of the blame
All your so-called lovers
Can go back from where you came
Happy skull, just a head
He can smile
Though he's dead
I found you, you found me
Together we found misery
And I'm all bent up
I was here, you were gone
I was right, but now I'm wrong
Wrong wrong
I was true, though I lied
You can keep the blues
I'm gonna catch that train and ride
I been taking all of the blame
All your so-called lovers
Can go back from where you came
Happy skull, just a head
He can smile
Though he's dead
The Song:
"Woe" is one of my favorites of Beck's blues songs. Here, even at this young age (around 18), Beck shows off the dedication and work he had put in to performing blues and folk music. And what results is less a copy or a tribute, and feels like something authentic. (Which is not always the case in Beck's early work.)
The lyrics maintain a simplicity of emotion, which is common in the blues. Beck's always been able to do this; though this skill sometimes gets hidden behind his wordier tunes. It's possible these were improvised a bit, as they borrow from the blues directly ("you can keep the blues / I'm gonna catch that train and ride" is from Mississippi John Hurt's "Got The Blues, Can't Be Satisfied"; Beck also used them in "Flavor"). Also the inconsistent structure of the verses makes me think Beck was just singing as he goes. That's not a complaint: the way the verses drift ("I was right, but now I'm wrong / wrong wrong") feels accurate, like his mind is wandering, wondering, full of woe.
"Woe" is one of my favorites of Beck's blues songs. Here, even at this young age (around 18), Beck shows off the dedication and work he had put in to performing blues and folk music. And what results is less a copy or a tribute, and feels like something authentic. (Which is not always the case in Beck's early work.)
The lyrics maintain a simplicity of emotion, which is common in the blues. Beck's always been able to do this; though this skill sometimes gets hidden behind his wordier tunes. It's possible these were improvised a bit, as they borrow from the blues directly ("you can keep the blues / I'm gonna catch that train and ride" is from Mississippi John Hurt's "Got The Blues, Can't Be Satisfied"; Beck also used them in "Flavor"). Also the inconsistent structure of the verses makes me think Beck was just singing as he goes. That's not a complaint: the way the verses drift ("I was right, but now I'm wrong / wrong wrong") feels accurate, like his mind is wandering, wondering, full of woe.
Notes:
- The list of titles on the actual Banjo Story artwork are cut off by the printer when it gets to this, the last song. One cannot decipher what the actual title is, except that it is short, about four letters long. "Together We Found Misery" is an excellent name, though it was courtesy of the person who first began circulating Banjo Story on cd.
There is another bootleg tracklisting that was circulated which refers to this song as "Lonely Boy Blues."
UPDATE: a sharp-eyed Beck fan figures that this song was intended to be called "Woe." It certainly fits with the parts of the letters you can see on the cover, as well as the lyrics of the song.