Roland, the headless thompson gunner

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Roland, the headless thompson gunner

Posted: 9/20/2004 2:44:32 PM EDT

I just started playing with Apple iTunes, and found one of my all time favorite songs.
I've seen song lyrics posted before, so I figured I'd share. Enjoy!

Roland was a warrior from the Land of the Midnight Sun
With a Thompson gun for hire, fighting to be done
The deal was made in Denmark on a dark and stormy day
So he set out for Biafra to join the bloody fray

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

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

Posted: 9/20/2004 2:46:18 PM EDT

[#1]

Years and years ago I bought Warren Zevon's greatest hits on vinyl because I liked "Werewolves of London" but "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" rapidly became my favorite on the album.

Posted: 9/20/2004 2:49:30 PM EDT

[#2]

Long time Zevon fan here ... dude was a sicko, and I loved him for it ... he cashed in last year from lung cancer, y'know.

Posted: 9/20/2004 2:52:31 PM EDT

[#3]

Warren is officially sleeping now.

My favorite of his is "The ballad of Frank and Jesse James".

Posted: 9/20/2004 2:57:57 PM EDT

[#4]

Zevon is one of my favorite artists of all time.

Excitable Boy is probably in my top 10 favorite songs of all time.

Posted: 9/20/2004 2:59:41 PM EDT

[#5]

"Send Lawyers Guns and Money". My favorite of his songs.

Posted: 9/20/2004 3:16:25 PM EDT

[#6]

He seems to know an awful lot about "little" wars and Mercenarys actions e.g. Biafra, the Congo ('66 & '67). He must have read a lot of the same history stuf that I read.

Posted: 9/20/2004 3:38:56 PM EDT

[#7]

RIP Warren....I always loved "Send Lawyers Guns and Money"...

Posted: 9/20/2004 4:56:03 PM EDT

[#8]

I have his whole collection.

Some of you may be thinking "who cares?"
But, I am only 20 years old. How frickin' sick is that?

Posted: 9/20/2004 5:07:04 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
I have his whole collection.

Some of you may be thinking "who cares?"
But, I am only 20 years old. How frickin' sick is that?

Not sick at all....it's obviously the sign of a very healthy mind.

Posted: 9/20/2004 5:22:10 PM EDT

[#10]

You gotta love Warren....may he rest in peace

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Roland, the headless thompson gunner

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