I'm a huge Warren Zevon fan, connoisseur and aficionado. I still have in one of my guitar cases the newspaper article from the Nashville paper (Tennessean) from the day he died - in the same week that Johnny Cash died.

Warren's lyrics and outlook were sentimental in a tough guy kind of way. "Don't let us get sick ... don't let us get stupid, okay". Throughout his career he had that almost morbid, macabre fascination with death.

A lot of his songs seemed to forecast his own demise. "Don't Let Us Get Sick", (Les_paul_sunburst has provied the lyrics), "My Ride Is Here", and many others paint a picture of a guy who readily accepts that he won't be around for a long, long life.

Probably my favorite Zevon song - and the song I want played at my memorial is, "Wild Age". In this one (told third person) we herar about a guy who will never slow down until the Grim Reaper just comes and gets him. Excerpt:

... Mostly when the reckless years end
Something's left to save
Some of them keep runnin'
Till they run straight in their graves

To stay the wild age
Stay the wild age
Stay the wild age ...

Oh, hell - I'll just let him tell ya about it:

Long live the memory of Warren Zevon!

Thanks for the link and yes Enjoy every Sandwich

Thanks for the link and yes Enjoy every Sandwich

You're welcome brother ..:)

I'm a huge Warren Zevon fan, connoisseur and aficionado. I still have in one of my guitar cases the newspaper article from the Nashville paper (Tennessean) from the day he died - in the same week that Johnny Cash died.

Warren's lyrics and outlook were sentimental in a tough guy kind of way. "Don't let us get sick ... don't let us get stupid, okay". Throughout his career he had that almost morbid, macabre fascination with death.

A lot of his songs seemed to forecast his own demise. "Don't Let Us Get Sick", (Les_paul_sunburst has provied the lyrics), "My Ride Is Here", and many others paint a picture of a guy who readily accepts that he won't be around for a long, long life.

Probably my favorite Zevon song - and the song I want played at my memorial is, "Wild Age". In this one (told third person) we herar about a guy who will never slow down until the Grim Reaper just comes and gets him. Excerpt:

... Mostly when the reckless years end
Something's left to save
Some of them keep runnin'
Till they run straight in their graves

To stay the wild age
Stay the wild age
Stay the wild age ...

Oh, hell - I'll just let him tell ya about it:

Long live the memory of Warren Zevon!

Rusty...well said , and nice to know a fellow Warren Zevon fan, connoisseur and aficionado....!

I love Zevon's first couple of albums. Him doing Hasten Down The Wind gets me every time, without fail. Mohammed's Radio is magical. Genius stuff, with orchestra like piano passages.... I have not been able to buy and have never heard his stuff after his diagnosis. I am afraid to. Warren was enlightened I believe, his take on life indicates a higher spiritualism. I am afraid I just could not handle his third eye insight into that sad subject, coupled with his dark funny humor. Just can't do it....... more a statement to my inabilities than anything regarding him.

Bird72 - you owe it to yourself to check out "Life'll Kill Ya" and "My Ride is Here". Both albums were recorded (presumably and allegedly) before Warren was diagnosed. Both albums contain plenty of the sardonic wit that was such an integral part of Zevon's persona. There are some very fine and well crafted songs on both. Each album also contains a song or two that almost read like writing on the wall.

Another GREAT one is "Sentimental Hygiene" - arguably Zevon's finest work after "Excitable Boy" (and I did say "arguably"!). That album features members of REM as the primary backing band and features appearances by Bob Dylan and Neil Young. But you probably already knew all of this.

Bird72 - you owe it to yourself to check out "Life'll Kill Ya" and "My Ride is Here". Both albums were recorded (presumably and allegedly) before Warren was diagnosed. Both albums contain plenty of the sardonic wit that was such an integral part of Zevon's persona. There are some very fine and well crafted songs on both. Each album also contains a song or two that almost read like writing on the wall.

Huge Zevon fan, as well. Saw him a few times and always enjoyed it. I'm not positive, but I am pretty sure that My Ride's Here was done AFTER he was diagnosed, and he wrote it in response to the diagnosis. I saw him every time on Letterman, who was a huge fan. I also recommend the biography, which is made up of conversations with his friends and relatives. A good read.

Huge Zevon fan, as well. Saw him a few times and always enjoyed it. I'm not positive, but I am pretty sure that My Ride's Here was done AFTER he was diagnosed, and he wrote it in response to the diagnosis. I saw him every time on Letterman, who was a huge fan. I also recommend the biography, which is made up of conversations with his friends and relatives. A good read.

I love Zevon's music and take on the world. His songs were like short movies. It was The Wind that was made after his diagnosis. His version of Knockin' on Heaven's Door from that album really will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. His bio was written by his ex-Wife Crystal and I highly recomend it.

He had his demons but boy was he a musical genius.

Also, he was on Letterman several times after his diagnosis. Letterman even had him as his sole guest near the end. That was where the famous "Enjoy Every Sandwich" quote came from. Really, good words to live by.

Huge Zevon fan, as well. Saw him a few times and always enjoyed it. I'm not positive, but I am pretty sure that My Ride's Here was done AFTER he was diagnosed, and he wrote it in response to the diagnosis. I saw him every time on Letterman, who was a huge fan. I also recommend the biography, which is made up of conversations with his friends and relatives. A good read.

I love Zevon's music and take on the world. His songs were like short movies. It was The Wind that was made after his diagnosis. His version of Knockin' on Heaven's Door from that album really will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. His bio was written by his ex-Wife Crystal and I highly recomend it.

He had his demons but boy was he a musical genius.

I love talking about Warren Zevon - the man and the music!

His (auto)biography actually contained excerpts from his personal diary. It's not always flattering. Some fans might even find themselves feeling a little disappointed with their idol and hero. He was a big fan of the Great Gatsby (friends referred to him as F. Scott Fitzevon). He wanted the book to be written and his story told "warts and all" - with nothing cleaned up or otherwise homogenized. Unlike ... some rockstar biographies. 😉

I still miss the man and his music!