The year 1972 was a hot spot for stunningly penned folk songs. There were a plethora of tracks shared this year, with lyrics that cut right to the heart of listeners, fulfilling the genre’s main function: capturing the human experience.
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Videos by American Songwriter
“Heart Of Gold” — Neil Young
“I want to live, I want to give / I’ve been a miner for a heart of gold / It’s these expressions I never give / That keep me searchin’ for a heart of gold,” the lyrics to this iconic 1972 Neil Young folk song read. This song is one of his most famous for a reason. Young searches for authenticity in this song, conveying a familiar sentiment his listeners can apply to their own lives.
“I’ve been to Hollywood, I’ve been to Redwood / I crossed the ocean for a heart of gold / I’ve been in my mind, it’s such a fine line / That keeps me searchin’ for a heart of gold,” he sings later on in the track. These simple lines do wonders in connecting with listeners, which is something every burgeoning songwriter strives for.
“Time In A Bottle” — Jim Croce
Jim Croce flips between a melancholic verse and a sunny chorus in “Time In A Bottle”. Its unique structure has kept it in the rotation for decades now. If you’re vying to be a songwriter, this timeless track is a good place to start when looking for examples of the craft.
“I’ve looked around enough to know / That you’re the one I want to go / Through time with,” Croce sings in this simple but effective love song. When it comes to heartfelt sentiments, Croce delivers a perfect one here. Any songwriter would be fortunate to be able to pull off a track like this.
“Pancho And Lefty” — Townes Van Zandt
This Townes Van Zandt song is considered one of the best folk tracks ever. This track tells the tragic tale of two outlaw companions and their bitter end.
“Pancho was a bandit, boys / His horse was fast as polished steel / Wore his gun outside his pants / For all the honest world to feel / But Pancho met his match, you know / In the deserts down in Mexico / Nobody heard his dying words / That’s the way it goes,” the lyrics read. If you’re looking to become a folk storyteller, there is no better song to seek out as inspiration.
(Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images)
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