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Cowboy Junkies — A Common Disaster
Album: Lay It Down
Avg rating:
7.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3347









Released: 1996
Length: 3:15
Plays (last 30 days): 2
A candle burning for everything I've ever wanted
A tattoo burned for everything I've ever wanted and lost
I had a long list of names that I kept in my back pocket,
but I've cut it down to one and your name's at the top

Won't you share a common disaster?
Share with me a common disaster
A common disaster

I found myself a friend,
but he's crooked as a stick in water
So now I'm writing fairy tales
to catch the spirit of revenge
He's got a plan to steal my little sister,
but I'm not too concerned
'cause I will get him in the end

Won't you share a common disaster?
Share with me a common disaster
A common disaster

Going to find me someone to share
A common disaster
Run away with me from a life so cramped and dull
Not worry too much about the happily-ever-after
Just keep the Caddy moving
'til we're well beyond that hill

Won't you share a common disaster?
Share with me a common disaster
A common disaster
Comments (241)add comment
Would love to see these guys live
Still timeless after three decades. 
Jan 31 2023 I will finally be able to see them for myself . The problem with living in Australia is the dirth of truly great acts that come here.
Heard this live last night in Arden Gild Hall. Live was even better!
 tinypriest wrote:
Will never understand the appeal of this mediocre outfit from the Toronto suburbs. They look as bored on the cover as I do listening to this monotonous dirge. So many wonderful singers in the world, and so many of them played on RP! But these guys stopped at their sister to choose their singer, whose range is about a half octave and with the emotional delivery of a car-insurance cold caller. Sorry to all the CJ fans who will hate me saying this. But this stuff has the inspirational energy of grass seed.

Monotonous dirge?  Did you even listen to the song? Or is that based entirely on your preconceptions about the CJs?

I suspect I know the answer... 
What a great sound!
I would share a common disaster but our little blue ball has enough going on right now.
Just bumped the CJ all the way to 10 from 8
 tinypriest wrote:
Will never understand the appeal of this mediocre outfit from the Toronto suburbs. They look as bored on the cover as I do listening to this monotonous dirge. So many wonderful singers in the world, and so many of them played on RP! But these guys stopped at their sister to choose their singer, whose range is about a half octave and with the emotional delivery of a car-insurance cold caller. Sorry to all the CJ fans who will hate me saying this. But this stuff has the inspirational energy of grass seed.



You surely are an ABBA Fan
Tune 
Will never understand the appeal of this mediocre outfit from the Toronto suburbs. They look as bored on the cover as I do listening to this monotonous dirge. So many wonderful singers in the world, and so many of them played on RP! But these guys stopped at their sister to choose their singer, whose range is about a half octave and with the emotional delivery of a car-insurance cold caller. Sorry to all the CJ fans who will hate me saying this. But this stuff has the inspirational energy of grass seed.
Was lucky to see the Junkies in '88 or '89, back when they toured their Trinity Sessions album, in a small live music bar in Victoria, BC.
Margo seemed quite shy as she sang, but was positively extroverted compared to brother Michael on guitar, as I don't think I saw his face the entire gig, as he sat hunched over his guitar.
An intimate & very cool experience.
 meanderer wrote:

Ah come on Bill... I'm trying to finish work here... Stop playing the good shit will you??



Maybe this is Rebecca's Gig! Love this Disaster tune. 9
Ah come on Bill... I'm trying to finish work here... Stop playing the good shit will you??
Cool Bass Line
 xcranky_yankee wrote:
one of my favorite Cowboy Junkies' tunes. Margo Timmons voice is perfect for it
 

Also, "common disaster" is a pretty good description of the things which are currently going on. :}
It would be helpful to have an "11" button here.
Gave it an 8 because i love margos voice
one of my favorite Cowboy Junkies' tunes. Margo Timmons voice is perfect for it
 coloradojohn wrote:
I am again amazed at how they take such a simple groove and dig the everloving hell out of it; my God:  that voice, guitar and bass!
 
Well it did all start in a CHURCH! ;-) 
Groove like a loooong lit fuse🔥
this song is prophetic. 
I call them the Boring Monkeys. They have zero uptempo songs—only downpresser tunes. Margo, SCREAM a little!
How apropos for Spring 2020. world wide common disaster. Be safe all.
Hunkering down is all the easier with RP. Thanks Bill &  Rebecca!!
Love the bassline
 Shipp wrote:
The music ain't no disaster.
 
Amen...Margo Timmins' voice on the chorus is so ethereal. Thanks RP for the CanCon.
I will share a pizza with you......but NO disasters!
The music ain't no disaster.
 dragon1952 wrote:
Love the '60's vibe on guitar.

 
Hmm.  This note made me listen the guitar more closely.  One note throughout each verse (at least for the first two). I hadn't noticed before, but it's pretty boring, bordering on annoying.  The rest of the song is pretty good.
My Fave Junky Song....9
Awesome song,   it's the one that turned me onto the Cowboy Smack Heads{#Drunk}
captain cook took his parrot with crooked smile and  went cruising again.

Hi from Beijing - your great selections are helping easing the jet lag and I agree on Sweet Jane.
 Rockstable wrote:
I think their version of Sweet Jane is the best!
 
I'll take a pull to that.   
I think their version of Sweet Jane is the best!
Natalie Merchant's apocalyptic future vision "Its a coming" followed by Cowboy Junkies "A common disaster" - Bill, did you wake from a nightmare last night or were you watching the final throes of the Presidential debates and making a cryptic prediction?
Every time Cowboy Junkies comes on, I go straight for that PSD button. Sorry Margo and the boys, but you're boring and slightly irritating. If it's any consolation, I do the same thing when Joan Osborne comes on, too.
 
Love the '60's vibe on guitar.
 AhhtheMusic wrote:
I echo Zoopmama - too much play time for the Cowboy Junkies.  I've even seen them in concert and still go "ho hum". 

 
I saw them in concert and almost fell asleep. Strangely, I still like them on radio or CD where I don't expect a " show" just an interesting vibe and they are unique.
Used to kind of like them. Now I find them kind of dull (especially Margo's singing).
About the only Cowboy Junkies fit for RP. I give this one a 7 ... the rest get 2s because they all sound alike.
 PaoloManana wrote:

They are addictive, can't get enough.
 
lol...a continuing argument with a friend......addicting or additive? 

P,S, you got it right 
I honestly don't know why I dislike these guys so much.
always enjoy hearing CJs on RP. 
I found myself a friend  of sound mind.
I echo Zoopmama - too much play time for the Cowboy Junkies.  I've even seen them in concert and still go "ho hum". 
 zoopmama wrote:
The Junkies are overplayed on RP. Give us something new and underrepresented — like Judee Sill.

 
I've been enjoying Shawn Colvin's cover of "There's a Rugged Road," but until tonight I had never heard of Judee Sill.
Even comments shared in frustration can guide us to new places on this Radio Paradise map.


I am trying to remember where / when I heard this, but I seem to remember hearing Margo Timmins in an interview, about how she was shopping for clothes (I believe it was around Newbury Street in Boston) and while she was in the fitting room, the woman in the next room was singing this song.

Pretty cool story, really.  I wish I could confirm it ...
Love the sixties guitar leads they like to use.
I am again amazed at how they take such a simple groove and dig the everloving hell out of it; my God:  that voice, guitar and bass!
 duckwater wrote:
 
 
Well put.
 Peter_Bradshaw wrote:

{#Tongue} ..... I know she is
 
Everybody in my homeless camps loves Margo, this song, and this entire album...

hope life is grand for both of you right this minute, Peter_Bradshaw and LowPhreak... 
 (former member) wrote:

This song is soooo good it makes us tear off our clothes and start slow-dancing...

Margo is marvelous...
 

 
{#Tongue} ..... I know she is
 (former member) wrote:

This song is soooo good it makes us tear off our clothes and start slow-dancing...

Margo is marvelous...
 

 
I want Margo to tear off her clothes first! ;)
 zoopmama wrote:
The Junkies are overplayed on RP. Give us something new and underrepresented -- like Judee Sill.

 
They are addictive, can't get enough.
 Hogtownmike wrote:

it may seem that they are overplayed—only because Margo's voice is so distinctive. I will have to check out Judee Sill now...

 
They may seem overplayed to some listeners since there are forty-five of their songs on the playlist (more titles than Led Zeppelin, The Who, or Jimi Hendrix), not necessarily entirely because of Margo's "distinctive" voice.  I'm not a big fan, but I don't find them overplayed either.  This song is cool.
 zoopmama wrote:
The Junkies are overplayed on RP. Give us something new and underrepresented -- like Judee Sill.

 
it may seem that they are overplayed--only because Margo's voice is so distinctive. I will have to check out Judee Sill now...
The Junkies are overplayed on RP. Give us something new and underrepresented -- like Judee Sill.
 Hogtownmike wrote:

that is a common disaster...

 

That and it's just plain silly.
 Lazarus wrote:

Everybody in my church loves this song...
 

 
that is a common disaster...
Upbeat drear. 


Margo is marvelous...  this song is from a GREAT album...

love this song...

they make such enjoyable music 

Everybody in my church loves this song...
 
A FANTASTIC combo of Margo's sultry vocals & rockin' instruments!
 
The bass on this is positively SIZZLING, and the rest ain't bad, either!
i still like this after years and years
Still like it lots! {#Bananajam}
 romeotuma wrote:

I agree...  love this song...

 
 
I Third that she is all and everything!    {#Cheers}
Margo is a goddess
Oh man I WORSHIP MIGHTILY any station that plays THIS within minutes of Dylan's Twist of Fate and Neil Finn's live CH classic and Bowie's freaky Ashes to Ashes! 
 demenshea wrote:
Need to hear more of this album...can I still say album? {#Tongue-out}
 
I don't know.  Can I call this a radio station?  More like a webcast.

Need to hear more of this album...can I still say album? {#Tongue-out}
SIMPLY GOOD!
 romeotuma wrote:

This whole album is fantastic...  great groove...  love this song...


 
 
couldn't agree more... well said.
This may be the only CJ song where her voice does not get on my nerves.
 romeotuma wrote:

slow dancing to beach music...  we be doing it now...  love this song...

 

 

Beach music? Heee...?
How can you dance and post at the same time?
ABSOLUTELY LOVELY!!!
GREAT BAND,....still!
Not sure why but this song grates on my nerves.
 romeotuma wrote:


We just started shagging...  cool...
 

And you just had to interrupt it by posting this?
 Randomax wrote:
Why does this make me want to hear The Metro by Berlin?
 
Now that you mention it, they would go together rather well.

 westslope wrote:

 

As for boring, compared to who?  Swiss Germans?  -lol-

 
You just get to Berlin, my friend. I'll show you how boring Germans are.

And don't be late.... 
This whole album is great...but this song is outstanding.  

Nice follow-up to In the Waiting Line from Zero 7 Mr Bill... 
smooth & easy — I give it an 8
...and I always thought Margo was hot...
Nice and groovy!
I hate this band, hate her voice, but the guitar in this is so good it overcomes the obstacle of her voice. Pretty good song.
 romeotuma wrote:

Yes, this really is a great song...  I gave it a rare 10...

 
 
lol

Up from an 8 to a 9. Love the Junkies.
 romeotuma wrote:


We just started shagging...  cool...
 

uhhhh, as in "dancing to beach music" or the Horizontal mambo" ???
I really like this, lots .
 romeotuma wrote:

We just started shagging...  cool...

 
Er,  I think that counts as too much information, guy. I think I preferred it when songs were "soooo good for the ears". You sure you made enough comments on this page? I count at least 10...

The chord changes on this are both smooth and disturbing, and certainly grab the attention. 8 from the Nottingham jury.


Fine-fine Junkies!
GREAT sound!

Margo Timmins Cowboy Junkies 5 by =rachellcoe
Rachell  ©2010 =rachellcoe

Margo Timmins Cowboy Junkies


Said it before and I say it again, love it!

wb
Could someone please get Margo Timmins some espresso - i know her singing is putting ME to sleep {#Puke}
Why does this make me want to hear The Metro by Berlin?
major Tom's a junkie ;-))
I think we're sharing that right now.

 ThePoose wrote:
Yep—this is as up-tempo as Margo ever gets. She is giving us Canadians the rep we have always had: polite + boring.
 

Well, being Canadian and having traveled and lived extensively outside Canada I would like to suggest that Canadians can be surreptitious back stabbers.

 

As for boring, compared to who?  Swiss Germans?  -lol-


Thanks to RP for turning me onto the Cowboy Junkies!!  Don't here this stuff on mainstream FM radio!
I have always liked this band!!!{#Yes}
Absolutely beautiful and in that wonderful restrained Cowboy Junkies style too. It's almost like they could have "rocked this one out" but remembered at the last moment who they were. I love it.

For three sibilings to work together and still make music, that is pretty impressive.....
"And well you should because it kind of rocks, especially for the Cowboy Junkies!"

Very true.  Definitely a very rock-flavored album.
 Geecheeboy wrote:
I always turn this one up just a little louder than I should for this office.
 
And well you should because it kind of rocks, especially for the Cowboy Junkies! {#Guitarist}
I love this whole CD.  It's their best work by far.
love this, and great segue after Zero 7  {#Music}
 Akaiila wrote:

The most instantly recognisable voice in the business?


 
this and definitely one of the most beautiful voices also.

PLEASE MARGO MARRY ME !!


Margo Timmons = most seductive voice in recent history
Yummy!  Love this whole CD  - dark and moody stuff. 
No doubt about it. This is the best Cowboy Junkies tune of all times!!!!!!!  10
Cool...Zero 7 and Cowboy Junkies...separated at birth?
How bland.

The most instantly recognisable voice in the business?


Thank you RP for bringing this fantastic music to my attention!
They sound more like junkies than cowboys... {#Eh}
A great track from The Cowboy Junkies best album (yes, even better than The Trinity Sessions).