Quoted: Quoted: I guess it's just a need you have to demonize me, which is fine. I guess you just need to demonize warron zevon. Here's the funny thing: Today's the first time you've heard the song, so you did a little research, and all of a sudden you're an expert on it. People who have listened to it for years don't know what they're talking about, but you, having heard it JUST TODAY are all clued in as to the real meaning of the song. That's abso-freaking-lutely hilarious. It's like someone who has never read the bill of rights until today coming here and telling everyone that the 2nd amendment only applies to the national guard. Maybe the drubbing you're taking from EVERYONE else on this thread should convince you that you just might be wrong in your interpretation. Of course, you're probably just going to dig in further. Why stop digging when you already have the shovel, eh?

I demonized him in a sense I suppose, becasue of how I interpret the lyrics, which,
nobody so far on this thread has been able to present any evidence other than
thier opinions, is wrong.

I haven't taken a drubbing from everyone, AFAIK, becasue I know of a few that agree.

If anyone can come up with any other evidence that I've interpreted my research, or the
song incorrectly, that's fine.  I'm willing to accept that I may be wrong from time to time.

I suppose somthing you could say to me, and, I back to you is ;

"Interpretations are like a-holes.  Everbody has one."

Quoted: "Poor, Poor Pitiful Me" (Warren Zevon) I'd lay my head on the railroad tracks And wait for the Double "E" But the railroad don't run no more Poor, poor pitiful me Poor, poor pitiful me Poor, poor pitiful me These young girls won't let me be Lord have mercy on me Woe is me OH MY GOD! Warren Zevon is glorifying SUICIDE!

Quit trolling goonboss's thread!

(he's doing a good enough job making himself look silly!)

Quoted: Quoted: "Poor, Poor Pitiful Me" (Warren Zevon) I'd lay my head on the railroad tracks And wait for the Double "E" But the railroad don't run no more Poor, poor pitiful me Poor, poor pitiful me Poor, poor pitiful me These young girls won't let me be Lord have mercy on me Woe is me OH MY GOD! Warren Zevon is glorifying SUICIDE! Quit trolling goonboss's thread! (he's doing a good enough job making himself look silly!)

I'll accept his sarcasm as such, which is fine.

You felt the need to start a whole 'nother thread,a nd, deliberately troll.

I, personally, think that Warren was one of the all time great rock and roll artists. If nothing else he was a session man on some of the best albumns ever made.

He also had mental problems, and problems with drugs and alchohol. It was probably the cigarettes that got him in the end, though (cancer)

I saw him in concert a few times. The first time I saw him the lights when down in the house, up on the stage, the band started plying with a piano out front and no one to play it.  Warren came screaming down the center aisle and jumped the orchestra pit onto the stage.

He had a hell of a set of balls if nothing else.

I miss him.

When I saw him in concert, the stage lit up with no one at the piano and there was confused silence for several long seconds. Then he strolled out and gave a casual wave to the audience. He was a cool dude.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I guess it's just a need you have to demonize me, which is fine. I guess you just need to demonize warron zevon. Here's the funny thing: Today's the first time you've heard the song, so you did a little research, and all of a sudden you're an expert on it. People who have listened to it for years don't know what they're talking about, but you, having heard it JUST TODAY are all clued in as to the real meaning of the song. That's abso-freaking-lutely hilarious. It's like someone who has never read the bill of rights until today coming here and telling everyone that the 2nd amendment only applies to the national guard. Maybe the drubbing you're taking from EVERYONE else on this thread should convince you that you just might be wrong in your interpretation. Of course, you're probably just going to dig in further. Why stop digging when you already have the shovel, eh? I demonized him in a sense I suppose, becasue of how I interpret the lyrics, which, nobody so far on this thread has been able to present any evidence other than thier opinions, is wrong. I haven't taken a drubbing from everyone, AFAIK, becasue I know of a few that agree. If anyone can come up with any other evidence that I've interpreted my research, or the song incorrectly, that's fine.  I'm willing to accept that I may be wrong from time to time. I suppose somthing you could say to me, and, I back to you is ; "Interpretations are like a-holes.  Everbody has one."

So what is it you want from us?

Huh?

Suppose your right.   Suppose Warren Zevon was a pinko commie terrorist sympathizing sum' bitch at some time in the mid 1970s when Rolland came out.   What exactly do you want us to do about it??

Do you want to boycot Zevon's music?  Fine, have at it.

Do you want to send a nasty letter to the radio station for, gasp, having the gall to play Rolland and to offend your personal sensibilities?   Fine, and please post their response as we will probably enjoy it.

You're entitled to those things.

You're even entitled to call us softies because we don't share your outrage, but its just your opinion and we can point out your own ass-hattedness right back at you.    

But you're not going to get us to boycott anything, nor will you succeed in altering the respect most here have for Zevon as an artist.  

In closing, I've often wondered what liberals are talking about when they label people as jingoistic instead of patriotic.   I'd say your post exemplifies it.   There are plenty of patriots here who see a song as a song, who don't necessarily agree with your interpretation, and who even if they did, would not lose sleep over it.   Part of being a patriot is embracing free speech.   You, on the other hand, want outrage and scorn to those who don't have the proper thoughts.   There are plenty of specific ACTIONS by various and sundry REALLY BAD folks for me to get too worked up over a song.

Hmmm...

So one person can be right even if everyone in the whole world says he's wrong.

Well, since we're talking about "wrong" lyrics, I've always gotten a kick out of Sheryl Crow (maybe she reminds me of my ex, except for the money, looks and talent ):


I took your car
I drove to Texas
Sorry, honey
But I suspected we were through

Warren Zevon was cool... great songs, cool lyrics and often about guns. What more could you ask for?

Such a lack of love for a man who named his S&W 29 "Willy"

<-------------------Notice Avatar

I got a .38 special, up on the shelf,
I'll sleep when I'm dead,
If I start acting stupid, I'll shoot myself,
I'll sleep when I'm dead.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I guess it's just a need you have to demonize me, which is fine. I guess you just need to demonize warron zevon. Here's the funny thing: Today's the first time you've heard the song, so you did a little research, and all of a sudden you're an expert on it. People who have listened to it for years don't know what they're talking about, but you, having heard it JUST TODAY are all clued in as to the real meaning of the song. That's abso-freaking-lutely hilarious. It's like someone who has never read the bill of rights until today coming here and telling everyone that the 2nd amendment only applies to the national guard. Maybe the drubbing you're taking from EVERYONE else on this thread should convince you that you just might be wrong in your interpretation. Of course, you're probably just going to dig in further. Why stop digging when you already have the shovel, eh? I demonized him in a sense I suppose, becasue of how I interpret the lyrics, which, nobody so far on this thread has been able to present any evidence other than thier opinions, is wrong. I haven't taken a drubbing from everyone, AFAIK, becasue I know of a few that agree. If anyone can come up with any other evidence that I've interpreted my research, or the song incorrectly, that's fine.  I'm willing to accept that I may be wrong from time to time. I suppose somthing you could say to me, and, I back to you is ; "Interpretations are like a-holes.  Everbody has one." So what is it you want from us? Huh? Suppose your right.   Suppose Warren Zevon was a pinko commie terrorist sympathizing sum' bitch at some time in the mid 1970s when Rolland came out.   What exactly do you want us to do about it?? Do you want to boycot Zevon's music?  Fine, have at it. Do you want to send a nasty letter to the radio station for, gasp, having the gall to play Rolland and to offend your personal sensibilities?   Fine, and please post their response as we will probably enjoy it. You're entitled to those things. You're even entitled to call us softies because we don't share your outrage, but its just your opinion and we can point out your own ass-hattedness right back at you.     But you're not going to get us to boycott anything, nor will you succeed in altering the respect most here have for Zevon as an artist.   In closing, I've often wondered what liberals are talking about when they label people as jingoistic instead of patriotic.   I'd say your post exemplifies it.   There are plenty of patriots here who see a song as a song, who don't necessarily agree with your interpretation, and who even if they did, would not lose sleep over it.   Part of being a patriot is embracing free speech.   You, on the other hand, want outrage and scorn to those who don't have the proper thoughts.   There are plenty of specific ACTIONS by various and sundry REALLY BAD folks for me to get too worked up over a song.

No idea where about 3/4 of your ranting came from, and, I didn't, nore do I expect you
to "do" anything about it, nor do I recall asking anyone to.

You are free to disagree if you like.

I never said he couldn't say what he wanted to, no matter how offensive...That's all you
guys so wrapped up in me dissing your boy.  You accuse me of makeing up stuff, then, go off on all kinds of wild directions about me.

If you want to call me a liberal for haveing an opinion about a song with a meaning that's
very clear to me, that's fine.  I really don't care at all.

Not one person so far has been able to give me any evidence that my interpretation
or research is wrong.

No matter how much you want to heap abuse on me for haveing an opinion, like you have yours, that's fine, feel free.  You haven't changed my mind by heaping abuse on me, rather than any shread of proof.

No matter how much you want to heap abuse on me for haveing an opinion, like you have yours, that's fine, feel free. You haven't changed my mind by heaping abuse on me, rather than any shread of proof.

Geez, I'm out.   This thread is brain damage.

You are fully entitled to your opinion.   Where you go off the tracks is when you post that opinion in a discussion forum and then act as though your own sole single and fairly distorted interpretation of a song must NOT ONLY be embraced by all of us, BUT ALSO has to generate the same moral outrage on the part of all readers, or we're some how defective.  

You're free to complain about the Rolland song all you want.  But you get the level of generally annoyed response you're seeing here when you deign to pass judgment on those of us who do not share your particular opinion of the song.  

I think "Hasten down the Wind" is some sick,  perverted song about a guy who wants his girlfriend to pass gas at him while they are....... never mind.

Ban Zevon.

Quoted: I think "Hasten down the Wind" is some sick,  perverted song about a guy who wants his girlfriend to pass gas at him while they are....... never mind. Ban Zevon.

Quoted: Quoted: I think "Hasten down the Wind" is some sick,  perverted song about a guy who wants his girlfriend to pass gas at him while they are....... never mind. Ban Zevon.

Hey don't laugh. It happened to me.
I didn't ask for it.
But it happened anyway.
She just did it.
She didn't say a word about it afterwards.

Quoted: Quoted: Dude! And "Jungle Work"! Lear jet S.W.A.T. team On a midnight run With the M16 And the Ingram gun We parachute in We parachute out "Death from above" We're screaming now Where the pay is good And the risk is high It's understood We'll do or die Sten gun in hand Where the gun is law From Ovamboland To Nicaragua Strength and muscle and jungle work Three young men In a Russian truck With a little Mac10 Sent 'em running to the huts A few young men The few who dare To battle in hell Le Mercenaire! Strength and muscle and jungle work That's so fucking bad-ass.

Ok, I just downloaded this song.  One of the coolest songs evar!

written by Warren Zevon
© Zevon Music (BMI)

Everybody's restless
And they got no place to go
Someone's always trying to tell them
Something they already know
So their anger and resentment flow

Don't it make you want to rock and roll
All night long
Mohammed's radio
I heard somebody singing sweet and soulful
On the radio
Mohammed's radio

You know the sheriff's got his problems too
And he will surely take them out on me and you
In walks the village idiot and her face is all aglow
Because she's been up all night listening to
Mohammed's radio

Don't it make you want to rock and roll
All night long
Mohammed's radio
I heard somebody singing sweet and soulful
On the radio
Mohammed's radio

Everybody's desperate
Trying to make ends meet
Work all day still can't pay
The price of gasoline and meat
Alas their lives are incomplete

Don't it make you want to rock and roll
All night long
Mohammed's radio
I heard somebody singing sweet and soulful
On the radio
Mohammed's radio

You've been up all night just listening for his drum
Hoping that the righteous might just might just might just might just come
I heard the general whispering to his aide de camp
Be watchful for Mohammed's lamp

Don't it make you want to rock and roll
All night long
Mohammed's radio
I heard somebody singing sweet and soulful
On the radio
Mohammed's radio

Mohammed's radio

Quoted: written by Warren Zevon © Zevon Music (BMI) Everybody's restless And they got no place to go Someone's always trying to tell them Something they already know So their anger and resentment flow Don't it make you want to rock and roll All night long Mohammed's radio I heard somebody singing sweet and soulful On the radio Mohammed's radio You know the sheriff's got his problems too And he will surely take them out on me and you In walks the village idiot and her face is all aglow Because she's been up all night listening to Mohammed's radio Don't it make you want to rock and roll All night long Mohammed's radio I heard somebody singing sweet and soulful On the radio Mohammed's radio Everybody's desperate Trying to make ends meet Work all day still can't pay The price of gasoline and meat Alas their lives are incomplete Don't it make you want to rock and roll All night long Mohammed's radio I heard somebody singing sweet and soulful On the radio Mohammed's radio You've been up all night just listening for his drum Hoping that the righteous might just might just might just might just come I heard the general whispering to his aide de camp Be watchful for Mohammed's lamp Don't it make you want to rock and roll All night long Mohammed's radio I heard somebody singing sweet and soulful On the radio Mohammed's radio Mohammed's radio

OMGWTFBBQ HE'S GLOR1FYING TEH MOAMMED ALI!!!!!!!!!1111!one!

Song: Kyle's Mom is a Bitch Lyrics

[Cartman:] Weeelllll,

Kyle's mom's a bitch, she's a big fat bitch,
She's the biggest bitch in the whole wide world,
She's a stupid bitch, if there ever was a bitch,
She's a bitch to all the boys and girls.

On Monday she's a bitch
On Tuesday she's a bitch
On Wednesday thru Saturday she's a bitch
Then on Sunday just to be different,
Shes u super king kamehameha bitch

Have you ever met my friend Kyle's Mom,
She's the biggest bitch in the whole wide world,
She's a mean old bitch, she has stupid hair,
She's a bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch
Bitch, bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch
She's a stupid bitch, Kyle's Mom's a bitch,
And she's such a dirty bitch.

Talk to kids around the world,
It might go a little something like this...

[Sung in three different languages by other children]

Have you ever met my friend Kyle's Mom,
She's the biggest bitch in the whole wide world,
She's a mean old bitch, she has stupid hair,
She's a bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch
Bitch, bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch.
She's a stupid bitch, Kyle's Mom's a bitch,
And she's such a dirty bitch;

I really mean it,
Kyle's Mom, she's a big fat, stinking bitch
Big old fat fuckin' bitch, Kyle's Mommmmmmmmmmm
Yeahhhhh, Chaaaaa

I'll SLEEPWHEN I'M DEAD

So much to do, there's plenty on the farm
I'll sleep when I'm dead
Saturday night I like to raise a little harm
I'll sleep when I'm dead

I'm drinking heartbreak motor oil and Bombay gin
I'll sleep when I'm dead
Straight from the bottle, twisted again
I'll sleep when I'm dead

Well, I take this medicine as prescribed
I'll sleep when I'm dead
It don't matter if I get a little tired
I'll sleep when I'm dead

I've got a .38 special up on the shelf
I'll sleep when I'm dead
If I start acting stupid
I'll shoot myself
I'll sleep when I'm dead

So much to do, there's plenty on the farm
I'll sleep when I'm dead
Saturday night I like to raise a little harm
I'll sleep when I'm dead

88 Lines About 44 Women
by Nails


Deborah was a Catholic girl,
she held out to the bitter end.
Carla was a different type,
she's the one who put it in.
Mary was a black girl,
and I was afraid of a girl like that.
Susan painted pictures sitting down
****like the Buddha sat.****

Reno was a nameless girl
a geographic memory.
Cathy was a Jesus-freak,
she liked that kind of misery.
Vicky had this special way
of turning sex into a song.
****Kamala who couldn't sing,****
kept the beat and kept it strong.

Xylla was an archetype,
the voodoo queen the queen of rath.
Joan thought men were second best
to masturbating in the bath.
Sherri was a feminist,
she really had that gift of gab.
Kathleen's point of view was this:
take whatever you can grab.

Seattle was another girl
who left her mark upon the map.
Karen liked to tie me up,
and left me hanging by a strap.
Jeannie had this nightclub walk
that made grown men feel underage.
Mary Ellen who had a son
said "I must go," but finally stayed.

Gloria the last taboo
was shattered by her tongue one night.
Mimi brought the taboo back
and held it up before the light.
Marilyn who knew no shame,
was never ever satisfied.
Julie came and went so fast,
she didn't even say good-bye.

Well Rhonda had a house in Venice,
lived on brown rice and cocaine.
Patty had a house in Houston,
shot cough syrup in her veins.
Linda thought her life was empty,
filled it up with alcohol.
Katherine was much too pretty,
she didn't do that shit at all.

Uh-uh. Not Katherine.

Pauline thought that love was simple,
turn it on and turn it off.
Jean-Marie was complicated,
like some French film-maker's plot.
Gina was the perfect lady,
always kept her stockings straight.
Jackie was a rich punk-rocker,
silver spoon and a paper plate.

Sarah was a modern dancer,
lean pristine transparency.
Janet wrote bad poetry
in a crazy kind of urgency.
Tanya Turkish liked to fuck
while wearing leather biker boots.
Brenda's strange obsession
****was for certain vegetables and fruit.****

****Roweena was an artist's daughter,****
the deeper image shook her up.
Dee-dee's mother left her father,
took his money and his truck.
Debbie-Rae had no such problems,
perfect Norman Rockwell home.
Nina sixteen had a baby,
left her parents lived alone.
Bobbie joined a new-wave band,
and changed her name to Bobbie-sox.
Eloise who played guitar,
sang songs about boyles and cocks.
Terri didn't give a shit,
****was just a nihilist.****
Ronnie was much more my style,
she wrote songs just like this.
Jezebel went forty days
drinking nothing but Perrier.
Dinah drove her Chevrolet
into the San Francisco bay.
Judy came from Ohio,
she's a Scientologist.
****Amiranta here's a kiss,****
I chose you to end this list.

A BULLET FOR RAMONA
by Warren Zevon and P. Evans


Oh, today I shot Ramona, Ma
She ain't gonna cheat on me
Two years, I've been searchin' for her
Two years, she's been free

Well, I found her in a dance hall in Laredo
And she told me that she wanted only me
And I held her in my arms the way I used to
But when morning came she begged me to set her free

Oh, today I shot Ramona, Ma
She ain't gonna cheat on me
Two years, I've been searchin' for her
Two years, she's been free

Well. I tried and tried to ride away and leave her
With my head hung low, teardrops filled my eye
I rode back to town and found her with a drifter
And I knew right then Ramona had to die

Oh, today I shot Ramona, Ma
She ain't gonna cheat on me
Two years, I've been searchin' for her
Two years, she's been free

Well, I'm writing you this letter from Laredo
And tonight I'll ride across the Rio Grande
If I never live to see another sunrise
You know, I loved her
Ma, I hope you understand

Oh, today I shot Ramona, Ma
She ain't gonna cheat on me
Two years, I've been searchin' for her
Two years, she's been free

Oh, today I shot Ramona, Ma
She ain't gonna cheat on me
Two years, I've been searchin' for her
Two years, she's been free

Similiar To Rain
by Warren Zevon


Once upon a time these stories always start
There lived a handsome prince and he had a happy heart
And a princess, too--she was a beautiful kid
She said she'd never leave him but she did

Sometimes love is wet and cold
Similar to rain, just a hard to hold
Love can make you sad and blue
If you don't watch out it'll fall all over you

Everybody knows that winter can be nice
You can play in the snow, you can skate on the ice
But you can't skate far when the ice gets thin
'Cause you might fall in

Sometimes love is wet and cold
Similar to rain, just as hard to hold
Love can make you sad and blue
If you don't watch out it'll fall all over you

Gray skies everywhere
Storm clouds know your name
Sadness in the air
Feels like rain

Sometimes love is wet and cold
Similar to rain, just a hard to hold
Love can make you sad and blue
If you don't watch out it'll fall all over you

This thread has made me want to go listen to some Warren Zevon music.  Anybody got some links to some free, reasonably legal MP3s?

My Little Armalite.

I was stopped by a soldier said he "you are a swine"
He beat me with his baton and he kicked me in the groin
I bowed and I scraped, sure my manners were polite
Ah, but all the time I was thinking of my little Armalite!

Chorus

And its up along the bogside that's were I long to be
Lying in the dark with a Provo company
A comrade on my left and another one on my right
And a clip of ammunition for my little Armalite!

A brave RUC man came walking up our street
With 600 British soldiers gathered round his feet,
Come out ya cowardly Fenians come on out and fight
But he cried I'm only joking when he heard my Armalite!

Chorus.

And it's down along the Falls Road that’s were I long to be
Lying in the dark with a Provo company
A comrade on my left and another one on my right
And a clip of ammunition for my little Armalite!

The army came to visit me ‘twas in the early hours
With saracens and sirens and bloody armoured cars,
They thought they had me cornered but I gave them all a fright
With the armour-piercing bullets from my little Armalite!

Chorus.

And its up in Crossmaglen that’s were I long to be
Lying in the dark with a Provo company
A comrade on my left and another one on my right
And a clip of ammunition for my little Armalite!

Well the bastards came to Belfast said they the battle's won
The generals had told them we have them on the run,
The corporals and privates while on patrol at night
Said "send home for re-enforcement’s it's the bloody Armalite!"

Chorus.

And it's up in old Poleglass that’s were I long to be
Lying in the dark with a Provo company
A comrade on my left and another one on my right
And a clip of ammunition for my little Armalite!

Then there are songs that get adopted by the troops even though they're antiwar like this one...........

And it's one, two, three, what are we fightin' for?
Don't ask me I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam.
And it's five, six, seven, open up those pearly gates,
There ain't no time to wonder why,
Whoppee were all gonna die.

Quoted: This thread has made me want to go listen to some Warren Zevon music.  Anybody got some links to some free, reasonably legal MP3s?

+1, cant find jungle work on limewire.

I like "real" IRA (as in 1916, the Troubles) songs, too.

Guess that means I glorify "terrorists" too.  Except the bloody Brits were the terrorists then.

Damn.  I wish that everything was simple and black and white.

Yasser Arafat and the original PLO were Marxists set-up by, and bankrolled by the Soviets (the KGB) and their lackey Warsaw Pact Intel services - once upon a time the Islamofacists like the Muslim Brotherhood hated them.

Joe Stalin was a bloody handed tyrant - and our ally in World War II.  Gee,  I wish that everything was simple and black and white.

We backed Iraq in the Iran-Iraq War.  Some guy named Saddam Hussein ran Iraq then.   I wish that everything was simple and black and white.

Life's a bitch.  I'll sleep when I die.

Quoted:
I like "real" IRA (as in 1916, the Troubles) songs, too.

Guess that means I glorify "terrorists" too.  Except the bloody Brits were the terrorists then.

Damn.  I wish that everything was simple and black and white.

Yasser Arafat and the original PLO were Marxists set-up by, and bankrolled by the Soviets (the KGB) and their lackey Warsaw Pact Intel services - once upon a time the Islamofacists like the Muslim Brotherhood hated them.

Joe Stalin was a bloody handed tyrant - and our ally in World War II.  Gee,  I wish that everything was simple and black and white.

We backed Iraq in the Iran-Iraq War.  Some guy named Saddam Hussein ran Iraq then.   I wish that everything was simple and black and white.

Life's a bitch.  I'll sleep when I die.[/quote] I'm Dead

I thought criticizing Warren Zevon on arfcom was blasphemy.  

Yes, he was a liberal, but he was a gun-owning, gun-lyric writing liberal.

Hell, I bought his CD's because of this site,

Criticize his buddy, Hunter S. Thompson instead.

Goonboss,

I think your first mistake was calling a favored musician an "Asshat"

You say that the song glorifies terrorists and bank robbers?

"Patty Hearst heard the burst of Roland's Thompson gun
And bought it"


I read that as Patty Hearst was shot and killed.

I guess I don't understand your interpetation.

Warren Zevon was attempting to bring reason to explain Patty Hearst's actions.

If you study the basis of the african civil wars, you'd understand the fictitious "wag the dog" scenarios generated through propoganda by those with financial interests. After becoming too powerful, Roland was murdered by a crooked CIA agent. As a result of turning against the establishment (an act demonstrated by Roland's ghost seeking revenge and killing Van Owen), Roland took the spirit of rebellion to other places, fighting against other purported legitimate establishments on behalf of the supposed illigitimate rebels.

As a result of this, Patty Hearst also bought into the legend of Roland. She heard the burst and bought it....

Whether or not Zevon agreed with Hearst's rebellion is subject to speculation. But be it right or wrong, there was a lot of public sentiment at that time against a political propoganda machine which got caught trying to cover up dirty deeds.

So what do you think this one is about? Could it be an entire song about his tool? Does it matter? I am not going to reject his music just because of one possible interpertation of a song lyric.

My take on the reference to Patty Hearst is that Zevon thought she was an ass and she should have been capped. "Bought It" = shot


(Warren Zevon)

Dry your eyes my little friend
Let me take you by the hand
Freddie get ready Rock steady
When Johnny strikes up the band

They'll be rocking in the projects
Walking down along the strand
Freddie get ready Rock steady
When Johnny strikes up the band
Johnny strikes up the band
When Johnny strikes up the ...
When Johnny strikes up the ...
When Johnny strikes up the band

And Johnny is my main man
He's the keeper of the keys
He'll put your mind at ease
He's guaranteed to please
Back by popular demand

Look around, my little friend
Jubilation in the land
Freddie get ready Rock steady
When Johnny strikes up the band
Johnny strikes up the band
When Johnny strikes up the ...
When Johnny strikes up the ...
When Johnny strikes up the band

man, i got the original "excitable boy" album from '78. doesn't the liner have a pic of a mac-10 on it?

i remember him telling a story about it, he was with the photog and they were carrying it into the studio when they were acosted by a couple suits from the batfe who just freaked out. they stayed through the whole shoot and escorted them back to wherever they got the prop. freaked zevon out that a couple law abiding citizens could be treated like terrorists...

Quoted: Is it remotely possible that you are reading WAY too much into this?

Not for a'' werewolf eating a big dish of beef chow mien''.

Quoted: This thread has made me want to go listen to some Warren Zevon music.  Anybody got some links to some free, reasonably legal MP3s?

Don't any of you BUY music anymore?

Quoted: Quoted: This thread has made me want to go listen to some Warren Zevon music.  Anybody got some links to some free, reasonably legal MP3s? Don't any of you BUY music anymore?

Only bands I wish to support.  Right now there's 2 on that list...

Warren Zevon was a dude that could see all sides of life through song.  He was a "character" writer.  He wrote songs through the life each character he created.  Not so much his own veiwpoint, but more a discussion of real life.

Observe his take on The Civil War:

Renegade (Warren Zevon) Some prayers never reach the sky Some wounds never heal They still say someday the South will rise Man, I want to see that deal I don't want to grow old gracefully I don't want to go 'til it's too late I'll be some old man in the road somewhere Kneeling down in the dust by the side of the Interstate I am a renegade I've been a rebel all my days I am a renegade I've been a rebel all my days We were hopelessly outnumbered It was a lost cause all along But when we heard the bugles call We swore we'd stand or fall together right or wrong We ain't seen no reconstruction here Just the scorched earth all around And the high school band played "Dixieland" While they tore our tattered flags and banners down I am a renegade I've been a rebel all my days I am a renegade I've been a rebel all my days Some prayers never reach the sky Some wars never end Some dreams refuse to die Next time I would rather break than bend I am a renegade I've been a rebel all my days I am a renegade I've been a rebel all my days...

And by the way,  I'll sleep when I'm dead.....

How's this for going out with style:

Keep Me in  your Heart (Warren Zevon) Shadows are falling and I'm running out of breath Keep me in your heart for awhile If I leave you it doesn't mean I love you any less Keep me in your heart for awhile When you get up in the morning and you see that crazy sun Keep me in your heart for awhile There's a train leaving nightly called when all is said and done Keep me in your heart for awhile Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo Keep me in your heart for awhile Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo Keep me in your heart for awhile Sometimes when you're doing simple things around the house Maybe you'll think of me and smile You know I'm tied to you like the buttons on your blouse Keep me in your heart for awhile Hold me in your thoughts, take me to your dreams Touch me as I fall into view When the winter comes keep the fires lit And I will be right next to you Engine driver's headed north to Pleasant Stream Keep me in your heart for awhile These wheels keep turning but they're running out of steam Keep me in your heart for awhile Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo Keep me in your heart for awhile Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo Keep me in your heart for awhile Keep me in your heart for awhile...

(Warren Zevon)

Nuclear arms in the Middle East
Israel is attacking the Iraqis
The Syrians are mad at the Lebanese
And Baghdad does whatever she please
Looks like another threat to world peace
For the envoy

Things got hot in El Salvador
CIA got caught and couldn't do no more
He's got diplomatic immunity
He's got a lethal weapon that nobody sees
Looks like another threat to world peace
For the envoy
Send the envoy
Send the envoy

Whenever there's a crisis
The President sends his envoy in
Guns in Damascus
Oh, Jerusalem

Nuclear arms in the Middle East
Israel is attacking the Iraqis
The Syrians are mad at the Lebanese
And Baghdad do whatever she please
Looks like another threat to world peace
For the envoy
Send the envoy . . .
Send for me

I liked this one

 Warren ROCKED....it's plain and simple.




Willie on a Plate

Quoted: C- Gets killed seeking revenge. 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

He's already dead when he waxes Van Owen. He's headless because it was blown off by Van Owen, after all.

The "and bought it" is a nifty little piece of double meaning. "heard the burst of Roland's Thompson Gun/and bought it" on first scan makes you think Roland shot her. Instead it's Hearst becoming enamored with violence. Is that good or bad? The phrase "bought it" is generally pejorative; the implication is that the person who "bought it" was fooled or tricked. So Hearst foolishly took up violence because it was emotionally seductive. Plus at least Lebanon and Ireland are not known for their pursuit of rational ends by rational means; both were recognized at the time the song was written as being full of posturing, trigger-happy nitwits with guns. So the "spirit of Roland" is at least in part the spirit of nihilisitc violence.

Of course you can read it other ways, and Zevon probably intended it to be ambiguous. An SLA member who tries to use it as an anthem thinks, in the back of his mind, about the possible meanings I outlined above. And those who would condemn Roland out of hand have to think about whatever justice his cause may have had.

Quoted: How's this for going out with style: Keep Me in  your Heart (Warren Zevon) Shadows are falling and I'm running out of breath Keep me in your heart for awhile If I leave you it doesn't mean I love you any less Keep me in your heart for awhile When you get up in the morning and you see that crazy sun Keep me in your heart for awhile There's a train leaving nightly called when all is said and done Keep me in your heart for awhile Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo Keep me in your heart for awhile Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo Keep me in your heart for awhile Sometimes when you're doing simple things around the house Maybe you'll think of me and smile You know I'm tied to you like the buttons on your blouse Keep me in your heart for awhile Hold me in your thoughts, take me to your dreams Touch me as I fall into view When the winter comes keep the fires lit And I will be right next to you Engine driver's headed north to Pleasant Stream Keep me in your heart for awhile These wheels keep turning but they're running out of steam Keep me in your heart for awhile Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo Keep me in your heart for awhile Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo Keep me in your heart for awhile Keep me in your heart for awhile...

Class, pure class.

Rick

This was Country Joe and the Fish, nothing to do with Warren Zevon except the sense of humor.  

God bless our troops.  Quote me on this.

Regards,

Rick

Quoted: Then there are songs that get adopted by the troops even though they're antiwar like this one........... And it's one, two, three, what are we fightin' for? Don't ask me I don't give a damn, Next stop is Vietnam. And it's five, six, seven, open up those pearly gates, There ain't no time to wonder why, Whoppee were all gonna die.

Me thinks you judge quickly, young Jedi.  

WZ doesn't fit into "asshat" easily.  

You fit more easily at this point.

Eyebrows raised,

Rick

It's a fucking song, about something....it may or may not represent the author's feelings about world affairs.

I write music all the time.....I even write about things that never happened....or things I wish would. Sometimes I just write words that sound good together.

Quoted: Quoted: I don't think he is exactly praising terrorists. He has a facination for guns in his music however. 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 What's your interpretation of that verse?

Well...call me a Disney wannabe...but *I* always thought this verse was interpreted as Roland fought AGAINST the "bad guys."

I mean...he said she "bought" it.

I dunno...I like Warren Zevon. "Excitable Boy" is by far more disturbing...and I'm guessing a Gun Control advocate would find "Lawyers, Guns, and Money," REALLY disturbing.

It's a song. Not a political statement.

Lighten up.