Blaze Foley was a poet and ace finger picker, a walking contradiction, equal parts spiritual and troubled. A genius and beautiful loser, but most importantly he was a songwriter who poured his entire soul into his art.

He died an unknown songwriter yet quickly became a legend, commanding the respect of greats like Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, John Prine, Nanci Griffith and Lyle Lovett. His influential output includes the iconic “If I Could Only Fly” and haunting laments like “Clay Pigeons,” “My Reasons Why” and “Election Day.” With his duct-taped boots, Foley represents a truly punk continuation of the famous Texas outlaw music movement.

This site is a tribute to Blaze, the first stop on your trail of discovery, featuring stories about Blaze, his song lyrics, videos, the whimsical art of Ezalb Yelof (Blaze Foley spelled backward) and the numerous projects dedicated to his legacy. Have fun exploring!