Anna Begins is possibly the greatest love song ever written. The album version sucks enormous ass, so that’s why we return, time and again, to this live, acoustic version from the Jools Holland show in…I don’t know. Before you were born, anyway.
I am not worried,
I am not overly concerned
Yes you are, Adam Duritz, and that’s the reason you wrote the song.
She’s talking in her sleep
It’s keeping me awake
Well, that’s what you get for falling in love with a woman. You can’t say you weren’t warned.
Maybe I should just snap her up in a butterfly net and just pin her down on a photograph album
…
I’m not ready for this sort of thing
You and me both, Adam. You and me both.
| Artist: | Counting Crows |
|---|---|
| Album: | August and Everything After |
| Writer: | Adam Duritz |
| Producer: | T Bone Burnett |
| Released: | 1993; Geffen |
How in the world can you not like the album version???? I am literally flabbergasted by that statement. The album version is PURE PERFECTION. The last 1:15 might be the best ending of any song. Pure gold.
Thanks, Nate. Certainly a clumsy choice of words from me, but then this entire piece needs re-writing from the ground up. It’s on the todo list, promise.
I do still believe the album is over-produced to the point where some of the songs—this one in particular—are not done justice. That’s why I like that live version: the song is given space to sing, and the artists are given space to emote.
That all being said, I’ll listen to the album again with fresh ears. Thank you.