Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon dies

[G_j]

(sad news)

Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon dies

http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2003-09-08-zevon-dies_x.htm

<snip>
His illness, diagnosed a year ago, resonated in the lyrics of his new album. He beseeched in the fragile Please Stay, "Will you stay with me to the end?"

Zevon succumbed to mesothelioma, a rare lung cancer usually linked to asbestos.

Housebound because of his illness, Zevon finished The Wind by recording his last session at his home. He lived long enough to see his daughter Ariel give birth to twin boys in June

[Kolesar]

1. I'm going to miss old Roland

I recall riding around in my buddy's Buick Skylark listening to the album "Excitable Boy" over and over again.

Roland the headless Thompson gunner
Norway's bravest son
Time, time, time
For another peaceful war
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

[Norbert]

3. We were doing the same in my youth.

"When Johnny strikes up the
When, Johnny strikes up the
When, Johnny strikes up the band."

[NewYorkerfromMass]

24. Did you guys have the vinyl record album?

When you pulled the dust jacketed disc from the sleeve of the cover- the dust jacket photo of the 44 magnum on the dinner plate was pointed at Warren's head (suicide style). Really subtle bit of artwork there. and old Warren was known for his suicidal side. from "Warren Zevon" (the album) the song- "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" contains this line toward the end: "I got a 44 special up on the shelf- I'll Sleep When I'm Dead!"

Sleep well Warren, you gave the world some great art. ;-(

[Kolesar]

39. Rather like Kurt Cobain

"well I swear that I don't have a gun" was one of his lines. A few years later, he shoots himself.

I remember that artwork. I would pull out my album, but all that stuff is kind of buried right now.

[BigBigBigBear]

32. I had the pleasure

of interviewing him for a story some years ago - it may be a decade ago by now, not sure.

Thoughtful, droll, humble guy. Not the easiest interview, but funny and cool and self-effacing.

His diagnosis was one of the main reasons I quit smoking, after 30 years. Seems trite, but it's true.

[vi5]

2. Shit. This just bummed out my day....

Honestly. Such a great songwriter, a witty guy and he went out the way he lived. With a statement...a bang....and some sarcasm.

[xchrom]

4. alas, we hardly knew ye

what a wonderful guy -- he will be missed.

[stlsaxman]

5. Thanks Warren- and godspeed... nt

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. Goodbye Warren

I hope you can sleep now.

As for me, I'll just go lay my head on the railroad track and wait for the double E.

[ixion]

7. Farewell, Warren

you were one of the best.

[ClintonTyree]

8. The world....................

is diminished today with Warren's passing. Here's to ya' buddy! :toast:

[Rowdyboy]

9. A gentle man and a poet...

I heard Woodrow Wilson's guns
I heard Maria crying
Late last night I heard the news
That way dying
Veracruz was dying

Someone called Maria's name
I swear it was my father's voice
Saying "If you stay, you'll all be slain
You must leave now, you have no choice
Take the servants and ride west
Keep the child close to your chest
When the American troops withdraw
Let Zapata take the rest"

I heard Woodrow Wilson's guns
I heard Maria calling
Saying "Veracruz is dying
and Cuernavaca's falling"

Aquel diayo jure
Hacia el puerto volvere
Aunque el destino, cambio mi vida

[nostamj]

10. damn

I saw a werewolf drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic's
His hair was perfect

[Minstrel Boy]

11. damn, damn, damn

Warren Zevon, "My Shit's Fucked Up"

Well, I went to the doctor
I said "I'm feeling kind of rough"
He said "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."

I had a dream
Ah shucks, oh well
Now it's all fucked up
It's shot to hell

Yeah, yeah, my shit's fucked up
It has to happen to the best of us
The rich folks suffer like the rest of us
It'll happen to you

That amazing grace
Sort of passed you by
You wake up every day
And you start to cry
Yeah, you want to die
But you just can't quit
Let me break it on down:
It's the fucked up shit.

[ProfessorGAC]

12. A Major Bummer!

The Professor

[DoctorBombay]

13. Damn, this sucks.

The music world lost a great one today. I am very sad.

Since I live in LA, I should make a pilgrimage to Trader Vic's and have a pina colada in his honor.

Farewell, Warren.

[Amaya]

14. very sad!

I always love and respected his music. My he rest in peace.
Here's to you Warren :toast:

[rocktivity]

15. He was such an excitable boy.

:(
rocknation

[flamingyouth]

16. RIP

I'm glad he was able to meet his new grandkids, tho. He will be missed.

[gratuitous]

17. And yet Toby Keith and Charlie Daniels endure

Tell me that one again about a just and loving God? That one always cracks me up, and I could use a laugh about now.

[piece sine]

30. Life'a lottery...

when your number's up, it's up!

[maxsolomon]

18. class act

until the end.

a model for all on how to die with dignity.

[DinahMoeHum]

19. Think I'll play his first album tonight. . .

I still have the vinyl !!

:cry:

[nostamj]

34. I still have the vinyl

me too. I remember creating a "werewolf of London" costume for a party in college.... <sigh>

think my vinyl will get a spin tonight too...

[CheshireCat]

20. he was just an excitable boy!

Apologies for copying you subject line, rocknation. Didn't notice until I had already posted.

Didn't change my subject line because "Excitable Boy was one of my favorites. A catchy little melody with lyrics about a homicial teen.

Will miss Zevon and his music. He has been a favorite since the mid-70's.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

25. "so he dug up her grave and built a cage with the bones"

always loved that song because of that comical scene depicted at the end. Very cathartic because while the subject matter is disturbing, he takes it to the absurd extreme with that line.

also, the music ROCKS- Ooooo-ahhhhhh-ooooo. Ooo-ooo excitable boy! (add sax)

[curlyred]

21. Accidently, Like a Martyr

[crissy71]

22. Confusion in the House

Was one of the songs on his final record - he's obviously talking about the WH.

One line from the song goes something like this, "home of the brave, land of the free / where the less you know, the better off you'll be"

We'll miss him

[davsand]

23. The Envoy went home, I guess.

Damn.

He managed to have both great tunes and intelligent lyrics at the same time. If you look at his album credits and read the lists of studio musicians he ran with a pretty amazing crowd. How many guys can say they had Emmy Lou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and Bonnie Raitt singing backup for 'em?

He will be missed.

The Envoy

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

Warren Zevon
1947-2003

[G_j]

26. A Fine Songsmith

rest in peace WZ

[mrsteve]

27. There is no justice in the world...

As someone above posted, there is no justice in a world where Warren Zevon dies, and Charlie Daniels goes on.

Warren, you shall be sadly missed.

"I was sitting in the Hollywood Hawaiian Hotel
I was staring in my empty coffee cup
I was thinking that the gypsy wasn't lyin'
All the salty margaritas in Los Angeles
I'm gonna drink 'em up

And if California slides into the ocean
Like the mystics and statistics say it will
I predict this motel will be standing until I pay my bill


Don't the sun look angry through the trees
Don't the trees look like crucified thieves
Don't you feel like Desperados under the eaves
Heaven help the one who leaves"

[bunk76]

28. R.I.P....

"I always like to have violent lyrics and violent music."
"The knowledge of death and fear of death informs my existince."
"It's a safe,kind of cheerful way of dealing with the issue."

And deal he did.Peace Warren,you shall be missed.

[drummerjohn]

29. Send Lawyers, Guns and Money

the shit has hit the fan








RIP Warren

[Wickerman]

31. You'll be missed, Warren

RIP

[SaveABug]

33. I bet David Letterman and Paul Shieffer have something to say

about this tonight. They seemed close.

So long Warren. Sad day.

[Freddie Stubbs]

35. I saw a werewolf drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic's

His hair was perfect.

[Voltaire99]

36. RIP

His music was the soundtrack to my late high school and early college years, and I saw him perform in the mid-90s at First Avenue--a lovely set, the crowd on fire, Zevon elated, ah what a memory.

Thanks, Warren.

[G_j]

37. just a note, Keith Moon passed on 9-7, 25 yrs ago

another excitable boy....
:toast:

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

38. and i just bought 'the wind'

last night

vrtual memorial to zevon:
www.findagrave.com