Warren Zevon lyrics [Archive] - Dimensions Forums

Tad

10-04-2011, 07:36 AM

From the "Fat Bottomed Girls" thread, Jes suggested we talk about Warren Zevon's "Excitable Boy" and then Leo Gibson responded:

Can we? Can we?

I love Zevon, but Play It All Night Long would make for a better discussion, what with its message about southern rednecks and inbreeding. Plus, a guy that can work in cows having brucellosis into a lyric is a F'ing genius.

But Excitable Boy would be good too.

I can never tell when Jes is being serious or humorous, but I'm pretty sure Leo was being sincere, so here we go.....

So, for those not familiar with the distinctive Warren Zevon beyond "Werewolves of London", her are youtube links:

Excitable Boy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJefPK_UkdM
Play it All Night Long: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsJlqgoSC_Y

(he has lots of other distinctive songs too....for example I always enjoyed the odd fable like quality of "Roland the Headless Thomson Gunner", while "The Envoy" is just as applicable now as it was when it was written over thirty years ago....)

Well, have at it I guess :eek:

Jes

10-04-2011, 08:39 AM

Tad

10-04-2011, 08:54 AM

I'm always being serious. 100% of the time. *wink*

I'd say I'm mostly serious, though, in case anyone is keeping score. A good 80% of the time, at least.

Anyhoo, what cracks me up about excitable boy is that it's so damned poppy. It has this happy beat and you'll be tapping your toe and humming and then one day you're like: wait, what? What the hell is this song about?!

Yah, I like that about the song*, also how relentless it is about the guy being pretty much a monster throughout--there is no getting better, no redemption--yet everyone keeps excusing him. An exageration of how a nice looking boy from a good family can get the benefit of the doubt long after all doubt should have been removed.

* I tend to really love poppy sounding songs with downer lyrics. Check out "Pumped Up Kicks" or most anything from The Weakerthans or Library Voices for more along that line :-)

Heading_for_the_Light

10-05-2011, 12:54 AM

Like a fair amount of music, I gained an appreciation for Mr. Zevon via my father. Distinctive voice, razor-sharp wit, an excellent sort of beyond-the-norm. Maybe not always a favorite, but always one I can come back to and enjoy.

LeoGibson

10-08-2011, 04:38 PM

How did I miss this originally? Zevon was a genius in my opinion.
You're dead on Jes, Excitable Boy is so damn catchy and poppy until you realize he's charting the progression of a sociopath and the parents that turned a blind eye to it. Plus the line about him digging her back up when he got out is flat out funny.

Favorite all time Zevon song is Carmelita, so damn descriptive you can see it all in your minds eye.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9L8jLPE84g

vardon_grip

10-08-2011, 06:44 PM

I always think of the final scene from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid every time I listen to Desperados Under The Eaves.

daddyoh70

10-09-2011, 05:28 AM

Love Warren Zevon. Was a senior in high school when Stand in the Fire was released and it quickly became, and still is, one of my favorite live albums ever! Not only was he a songwriter among songwriters, but in the late 70's/early 80's, he proved he could rock his ass off too.
"Mohammed's Radio" is one of my favorite songs of his and one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. Like Tad pointed out about "The Envoy," "Mohammed's Radio" is still applicable today also.

Mohammed's Radio (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44Rwu5yPUrc) Also some interesting information in the video

LeoGibson

10-09-2011, 08:18 AM

russianrobot

10-09-2011, 08:50 AM

Roland was a warrior from the land of the Midnight sun, with his Thompson gun fire fighting to be done, the deal was struck in Denmark on a dark & cloudy day, then he sailed off to Biafra' to join the bloody fray..........

CleverBomb

10-09-2011, 02:41 PM

I went home with a waitress,
Like I always do.
How was I to know
She was with the Russians, too?

-Rusty

LeoGibson

10-09-2011, 03:05 PM

Well, I met a girl in West Hollywood
I ain't naming names
She really worked me over good
She was just like Jesse James

russianrobot

10-09-2011, 03:31 PM

.....Through sixty-six and seven they fought the Congo war
Fingers on their triggers, knee-deep in gore
For days and nights they battled the Bantu to their knees
They killed to earn their living and to help out the Congolese

Roland the Thompson gunner...

His comrades fought beside him - Van Owen and the rest
But of all the Thompson gunners Roland was the best
So the CIA decided they wanted Roland dead
That son-of-a-bitch Van Owen blew off Roland's head........

WomanlyHips

10-11-2011, 06:26 AM

WZ is my all time favorite, hands down. If I had to pick a favorite tune, it surely would have to be Mutineer.

...I was born to rock the boat
Some may sink but we will float
Grab your coat - let's get out of here
You're my witness
I'm your mutineer

Long ago we laughed at shadows
Lightning flashed and thunder followed us
It could never find us here
You're my witness
I'm your mutineer...

russianrobot

10-11-2011, 07:31 AM

Roland the headless Thompson gunner (Time, time, time
For another peaceful war
Norway's bravest son But time stands still for Roland
'Til he evens up the score)
They can still see his headless body stalking through the night
In the muzzle flash of Roland's Thompson gun
In the muzzle flash of Roland's Thompson gun

Roland searched the continent for the man who'd done him in
He found him in Mombassa in a barroom drinking gin
Roland aimed his Thompson gun - he didn't say a word
But he blew Van Owen's body from there to Johannesburg

Roland the headless Thompson gunner...

The eternal Thompson gunner, still wandering through the night
Now it's ten years later but he still keeps up the fight
In Ireland, in Lebanon, in Palestine and Berkeley
Patty Hearst heard the burst of Roland's Thompson gun
And bought it

Tad

10-11-2011, 08:34 AM

I always thought that the feelings in this one explain a lot of actions by a lot of people....

"Well, I've seen all there is to see
And I've heard all they have to say
I've done everything I wanted to do . . .
I've done that too
And it ain't that pretty at all
Ain't that pretty at all
So I'm going to hurl myself against the wall
'Cause I'd rather feel bad than not feel anything at all"

And a song of his that I'd not heard, but found while searching for the lyrics above, is rather topical in hockey circles: "Hit Somebody (the hockey song)" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufEtQcisrgg&feature=related

LeoGibson

10-11-2011, 03:13 PM

I always thought that the feelings in this one explain a lot of actions by a lot of people....

"Well, I've seen all there is to see
And I've heard all they have to say
I've done everything I wanted to do . . .
I've done that too
And it ain't that pretty at all
Ain't that pretty at all
So I'm going to hurl myself against the wall
'Cause I'd rather feel bad than not feel anything at all"

This strikes me as one of his darker songs. To me it smacks of someone disillusioned with life and in the throes of addiction. He has played the game and jumped through every hoop and fulfilled every desire only to find it all to be bullshit. The last sentiment is where it seems that he is so numb emotionally that any feeling at all would be welcome, good or bad.

Good stuff to be sure, but very dark. That's the way this song has always hit me.

LeoGibson

10-11-2011, 03:26 PM

This is one of my favorites, but it is a whole ball of innuendo and hidden meaning. I have seen many different people interpret it many wildly different ways.

Play It All Night Long

Grandpa pissed his pants again
He don't give a damn
Brother Billy has both guns drawn
He ain't been right since Viet Nam

"Sweet Home Alabama"
Play that dead band's song
Turn those speakers up full blast
Play it all night long

Daddy's doing Sister Sally
Grandma's dying of cancer now
The cattle all have brucellosis
We'll get through somehow

"Sweet Home Alabama"
Play that dead band's song
Turn those speakers up full blast
Play it all night long

I'm going down to the Dew Drop Inn
See if I can drink enough
There ain't much to country living
Sweat, piss, jizz and blood

"Sweet Home Alabama"
Play that dead band's song
Turn those speakers up full blast
Play it all night long

Have at it. I'd be interested in hearing how some of you perceive it.

biggirlsrock

10-11-2011, 08:29 PM

Love Zevon...he was big here in Philly, especially on WMMR. My fave tunes are Accidently Like A Martyr, When Johnny Strikes Up the Band, Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner, & I gotta throw Poor Poor Pitiful Me in there too.

daddyoh70

10-14-2011, 08:12 PM

You talk about rocking out daddyoh70, I agree completely. The one thing though that I liked about his songs alot is that he had the great Waddy Wachtel on guitar and for me he is one of the best lesser known guitarists out there. That guy can flat out play, but he also knows how to lay back and just give a little if that is all that is needed. He, along with the likes of Mark Knopfler and Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (also played on some Zevon records) are the epitome of tasteful lead guitarists.

Great session guitarist! I always thought of his playing as appropriate. It always seemed to fit the song perfectly.

As for Zevon lyrics... For years I thought he wrote this song upon finding out he had inoperable peritoneal mesothelioma. Turns out the song was recorded 3 years prior.

Well, I went to the doctor
I said, "I'm feeling kind of rough"
He said, "I'll break it to you, son [Warren sings, "Let me break it to you, son"]
Your shit's fucked up."
I said, "my shit's fucked up?"
Well, I don't see how-"
He said, "The shit that used to work-
It won't work now."