Richard Manuel

Richard Manuel - Died at age 42 (in 1986) - was considered by some as the lead singer of The Band - A favorite Tears of Rage (written by Manuel with Dylan) has an absolutely emotion-filled vocal by Richard Manuel that describes a parent's heartbreak in a most deeply anguished way. Robbie Robertson said: "It's one of his finest moments - it's the most heartbreaking performance he ever sung in his life"It was one of his premier performances:

We carried you in our arms On Independence Day, And now you'd throw us all aside And put us on our way. Oh what dear daughter 'neath the sun Would treat a father so, To wait upon him hand and foot And always tell him, "No"? Tears of rage, tears of grief, Why must I always be the thief? Come to me now, you know We're so alone And life is brief. We pointed out the way to go And scratched your name in sand, Though you just thought it was nothing more Than a place for you to stand. Now, I want you to know that while we watched, You discover there was no one true. Most ev'rybody really thought It was a childish thing to do. Tears of rage, tears of grief, Must I always be the thief? Come to me now, you know We're so low And life is brief. It was all very painless When you went out to receive All that false instruction Which we never could believe. And now the heart is filled with gold As if it was a purse. But, oh, what kind of love is this Which goes from bad to worse? Tears of rage, tears of grief, Must I always be the thief? Come to me now, you know We're so low And life is brief. Richard Manuel hung himself in a Forida Motel Room - age 42 Performance next page-> (older posts below)