Dead Songs in Depth

    
Don't Need Love
w&m: Mydland
LASF: http://www.whitegum.com/songfile/DONTNEED.HTM
  

    
Don't Need Love 
Lyrics: Brent Mydland
Music: Brent Mydland 

Copyright Ice Nine Publishing; used by permission.

I don't need love anymore
I don't need love anymore
I don't need anyone to tell me that I do
I don't need love and I don't need you

I try and I try to make it work
I try and I try to make it work
I try and I try again, I won't forget, I know
Love gets you nowhere slow

I want no more heartaches
No more goodbyes
Ain't no more real good love
Only new love
But old love dies

Ain't worth the time that it takes
Ain't worth the time that it takes
Ain't worth the endless hours of changes I go through
I don't need love and I don't need you

I don't need love anymore
I don't need love anymore
I don't need anyone to tell me that I do
I don't need love and I don't need you
  

    
I just was listening to 26-Jun-84, Merriweather Post Pavilion, where
I first saw this song performed.  I had a tape of this show shortly
after which I listened to a number of times because of the "Casey
Jones" opener, but I don't know how much attention I payed to "Don't
Need Love" (which came out of space at this show, the only time that
happened).

It's a strong vocal performance by Brent in addition to the piano. 
The lyrics are pretty sour, but this version at least seems more in
the vein of a weeper.  Also, there is some good supporting guitar
work by Jerry in this version.

There were ten shows with this song from March thru October '84,
then only four from Sept to Nov '85, and finally two more in April
'86.

I mention Jerry's support at Merriweather because at least one, and
I think both, of the other times I saw this performed -- 05-Nov-85
Worcester and 03-Apr-86 Hartford -- Jerry left the stage as the song
started (before drums).  (Any other examples of that?)

I could speculate why, but regardless of the reason I imagine Brent
found that discouraging.  I wonder about that hiatus from the end of
'84 into the fall of '85.
  

    
It was pretty great on a Greek tape I had. Like that song.
  

    
He often started it when the strings were about to leave the stage.  Various
guys showed various levels of interest at various times, but it often felt
kinda meta-sad on top of the sadness of the song itself.
  

    
Hm, I hadn't considered that Brent might have deliberately cued it to be
with a reduced lineup.
  

    
Not sure I'd put it that way, but I shouldn't psychoanalyze.
  

    
The one that plays in my head, partly due to listening to this
particular tape the most of all my tapes, Greek 7-15-84 ...

https://archive.org/details/gd84-07-15.pcm-sbd.miller.30641.sbeok.flacf/gd84-0
7-15d2t06.flac

Probably my favorite setlist:

Don't We Do It In The Road-> China Cat Sunflower-> I Know You
Rider-> Playin' In The Band-> Uncle John's Band-> Don't Need Love->
Drums-> China Doll-> Throwing Stones-> Not Fade Away, E: Brokedown
Palace, E: Johnny B. Goode
  

    
The '84 Greek Theater run is classic.
  

    
Awash in cocaine, alas. That aspect clouds my memory of that era.