In addition to being an awe-inspiring slide guitar player, Lowell "bucked the trend" that prevails among rock vocalists because the more he sang, the better he got at it. Gone too soon but never to be forgotten.
Lowell was always an excellent songwriter (of the story-telling variety); I've been listening to his songs for more than 40 years now and some of them still get me every time, including this little gem from their first album.
Little Feat was a quartet at this point, with Lowell on guitars and lead vocals, Billy Payne on keyboards, Richie Hayward on drums and Roy Estrada on bass. For this piece they were joined by some very accomplished friends: Russ Titelman played the piano and "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow contributed a gorgeous pedal steel part. (Pay attention to the little flourishes Pete adds! They don't come any sneakier!)
[I've followed Lowell's lead by typing up all the lyrics without capitalizing anything. (As my father always said, "Everybody has to have a gimmick!")]
i've been the one
who has been frightened and almost borne away
by the very thoughts that i feared yesterday
and it must be dust or smoke that's in my eye
how can i cry about something
from someone i won't see?
oh my friends all say she had her chance
let's go shoot some pool
you know a fool is just a fool
and i've tried everything that whiskey cures
but the pain endures
and now i'm feeling that pain
i put my pride in my pocket
that's how i'll spend my loneliest days
and it must be dust or smoke that's in my eye
don't know what to do
hold the lamp above the rafters
this smoke-filled room
will not replace her
i've been the one
who has been frightened and almost borne away
by the very thoughts that i feared yesterday
and it must be dust or smoke that's in my eye
