Warren

It was twenty years ago today that Warren Zevon died at the age of 56.  Thought it was appropriate to listen to a few of my favorites.  We'll skip the great ones from his breakthrough album Excitable Boy; Werewolves of London, Lawyers, Guns and Money and Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner.

My favorite, and an outstanding example of Warren's underrated talents as a musical composer, is Desperadoes Under The Eaves

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

 Accidentally Like A Martyr

The phone don't ring
And the sun refused to shine
Never thought I'd have to pay so dearly
For what was already mine
For such a long, long time

Bill Lee.  About one of my favorite ballplayer characters.

You're sposed to sit on you ass and nod at stupid things
Man that's hard to do
But if you don't they'll screw you
And if you do they'll screw you too
And I'm standing in the middle of the diamond all alone
I always play to win when it comes to skin and bone

I Was In the House When The House Burned Down

Boom Boom Mancini.  Its chorus is "Boom Boom Mancini's fighting Bobby Chacon" but the song is really about the brutality of boxing.  Ray "Boom-Boom" Mancini was the lightweight champion in 1982 when he fought Duk Koo Kim of South Korea (which is referenced in the lyric). Mancini won by TKO in 14 rounds but many thought the fight should have been stopped earlier because of the beating Kim was absorbing.  Kim collapsed after the fight ended, dying four days later.  Mancini attended the funeral in South Korea and went into a severe depression.  Kim's mother committed suicide three months later and the bout's referee killed himself five months after that.  Mancini returned to the ring, beating challenger Bobby Chacon in 1984.  The relentless beat of the song echoes that of the ring.

Mohammed's Radio

You know, the Sheriff's got his problems too
He will surely take them out on you
In walked the village idiot and his face was all aglow
He's been up all night listening to Mohammed's Radio

My Shit's Fucked Up.  Recorded for the album Life'll Kill You, shortly before his cancer diagnosis.  Somehow he knew, and you laugh despite yourself because it is all so true.

Keep Me In Your Heart.  From his final album, recorded when he knew the end was near.  Beautiful sentiment.