Townes Van Zandt – Loretta

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  Song Meaning:This song is really about me... my name is Loretta. I had an on-and-off relationship with Townes long ago, in the early to mid-1970s. I was a college student and worked part-time as a bartender. It was a very special time, long before he became very well known. He even helped me buy and learn to play my first guitar, which I still have. It blew me away when he played it for me the first time. (My friend Margie thinks I should tell everyone about this, so the real meanings in the song won't get lost! But I know people like to make their own interpretations of songs...)

  Flag lorettaguitargirlon February 05, 2013   Link

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    For the record, a "barroom girl" is a party girl, not a prostitute! In my case, I was also a bartender in a club that Townes played in multiple times, and I worked there while going to college. "Wears her sevens on her sleeve..." That line is there because Townes said I was always pushing my luck. In those days, that was certainly true! As for the meaning of other lines, there are some things I want to keep to myself, special and private. I am very happy that my song has survived the years, and is still being played. It is from a very special time in my life!

    Flag lorettaguitargirlon February 05, 2013  
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  My Interpretation:Loretta is a fantasy girl - she is not real. We all (well, I am assuming many of us) dream (some more often than others) of a perfect lover who is just our type. In the real world, nobody is the perfect lover and soul mate. So, this song is about a girl who is "always 22", "loves me like I want her to", and is head over heals crazy about me without any baggage (e.g., she don't cry when I can't stay). The song is melancholy and sad because, in the end, fantasies leave some emptiness (especially if a person has no "real" alternatives. That is, an imaginary, fantasy girl only offers brief comfort because she is not real. John Prine did a great cover of this song. And for all I know, John would think my interpretation is complete whack. But, that's what it means to me - an ode to an imaginary girl.

  Flag jehosophaton August 25, 2012   Link

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  My Interpretation:Its about a working girl that the singer has a special relationship with - its an honest deal. Even working girls have their favorite people - there is love in that connection. Everyone gets lonely and they comfort each other, so separating is a kind of sadness - the money doesn't really matter to either one.

  Flag mcat5813on August 13, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:For a period after leaving Fran, Townes had ties to a girl named Bianca who was 16 at the time of their relations, but claimed her age was 22. Maybe this could explain the "Her age is always 22" line.

  Flag sun_gianton February 08, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:I don't know about that whole prostitute thing. I think it's just the age ol' girl in love with the traveling musician thing. If she were a prostitute he wouldn't be "coming home" to her. She's young, he's hot and older and more important than anything, an amazing musician, she's putting on a brave face for when he leaves. That's just my take. :o)

  Flag yourfacesmellson August 20, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:I've always thought that Loretta is a prostitute that the singer is in love with, or maybe he just thoroughly enjoys her company. But several lines seem to reinforce that idea; how she's a barroom girl, and she loves like the singer wants her to. She always seems to want to have fun, and she wants the singer to have fun too (which seems uncommon in conventional relationships). And of course, how Loretta doesn't care when the singer leaves, so long as there are other customers to take his place.

  Flag The BKon January 03, 2008   Link

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    At first, I wondered if it could be a guitar he was speaking of, but then it occurred to me that it could be a bottle of whiskey "wears them 7's on her sleeve", "laughin eyes of hazel hue".

    Flag axeflighton January 25, 2011  

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    i LIKE this theory that it could be whiskey!!! Never thought of that. IT MAKES sense. Just like in "Dead Flowers" I've heard that the line Verse "I'll be in my basement room, with a needle and a spoon, and another girl to take my pain away" ..the other girl was actually cocaine instead of heroin.

    Flag daveb672on January 27, 2012  
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  General Comment:I've always thought that Loretta is a prostitute that the singer is in love with, or maybe he just thoroughly enjoys her company. But several lines seem to reinforce that idea; how she's a barroom girl, and she loves like the singer wants her to. She always seems to want to have fun, and she wants the singer to have fun too (which seems uncommon in conventional relationships). And of course, how Loretta doesn't care when the singer leaves, so long as there are other customers to take his place.

  Flag The BKon January 03, 2008   Link

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