Warren Zevon says goodbye in a new album and TV special (tonight on VH1, 10 pm)

© Copyright 2003 Globe Newspaper Company. ^ | 8/24/2003 | By Steve Morse, Globe Staff,

[Behind Liberal Lines]

When Warren Zevon was given three months to live after doctors diagnosed inoperable lung cancer last summer, some people assumed he might head to Mexico to hide out and sit on a beach. Quite the opposite happened.

Although long known as a clown prince of rock 'n' roll, Zevon suddenly got serious and became determined to make one last album. "In the time I have left, I want to record as many songs as fast as I can," Zevon said back then. "It's the best way I can think of to say goodbye to my friends and kids."

[Martin Tell]

Another fav:

"They rode against the railroads and they rode against the banks, and they rode against the government; never did they ask for a word of thanks."

[Behind Liberal Lines]

I keep getting haunted by an interview with Zevon from Rolling Stone in the early 80s where his then-girlfriend was joking how, with all the coffee and cigarettes he consumed since drying out, it was a wonder he slept at all.

[Buck W.]

"They killed to earn their living, and to help out the Congolese."

Probably the only reference to "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" on FR this week!

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Maybe not. I find Roland often quoted here at FR.

[discostu]

I'm gonna cry like a little girl when Warren kicks. Glad to see him do this with such class and style, you always wonder if a person is striking a pose or if it's the real thing turns out with Warren it's the real thing. Helluva way to find out though.

[Buck W.]

I stand corrected.

[dts32041]

I know but Ilive in the boonies and can get it faster than driving to a store.

[MikalM]

VH1's Nick Reed, Zevon's "personal physician" Hunter S. Thompson, and Warren Zevon

[warfrat]

My Favorite Zevon song is "the Envoy" It's one of the songs he wrote in the eighties, yet, the lyrics are so, so, relevent today...I am going to miss ya Warren, God speed.

[warfrat]

My Favorite Zevon song is "the Envoy" It's one of the songs he wrote in the eighties, yet, the lyrics are so, so, relevent today...I am going to miss ya Warren, God speed.

[timpad]

When California slides into the ocean
Like the mystics and statistics say it will
I predict this hotel will be standing
Until I've paid my bill

Paid in full Z, thanks for the tunes...

[facedown]

May he pass painlessly and without regret.

[Vladivostok]

Oh, oh, I didn't mean to demean your method of buying it! It has to be bought regardless of how you want to do it!

[John Valentine]

I have to add this contribution...

I'm going down to Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
I'm going down to Graceland
Thinking about the King
Remembering him sing
About those heavenly mansions
Jesus mentioned

Can't you just imagine
Digging up the King
Begging him to sing
About those heavenly mansions
Jesus mentioned

He went walking on the water
He went walking on the water
He went walking on the water
With his pills

Can't you just imagine
Digging up the King
Begging him to sing
About those heavenly mansions
Jesus mentioned

Warren Zevon 1982

[BradyLS]

VH1's Nick Reed, Zevon's "personal physician" Hunter S. Thompson, and Warren Zevon

I hope HST isn't the one that diagnosed him.

[eddie willers]

I want to thank you so much for giving a heads up about this show.

It was wonderful and left me with a deep respect for the man.

[Atchafalaya]

AAAAAHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[dts32041]

I have come to the conclusion there are some hard core Zevon fans here, wish I had taken the time to see him perform.

At least I got around to seeing Eric Burdon perform for the second time in 20 years.

[Zevonismymuse]

My Favorite Zevon song is "the Envoy" It's one of the songs he wrote in the eighties, yet, the lyrics are so, so, relevent today...I am going to miss ya Warren, God speed.

The album has long been out of production and my cassette finally bit the dust. I yearn for that song. I can't remember all the lyrics but something about "Syrian is mad at the Lebonese and Bagdad do whatever she please."

It is frustrating that more people have not discovered Warren. He is so brilliant. That is the silver lining of this cancer cloud; more people are discovering his music.

I did a WZ Tribute at SOhO in Santa Barbara last winter and many young players did a song. When I hear these young folks play around town, many are now including their WZ covers in their sets. Maybe Warren will be bigger after death than he was during his life.

[IncPen]

I never thought I'd have to pay so dearly
for what was already mine
time out of mind
We made mad love
Shadow love
Random love and abandoned love
Accidently, like a martyr
The hurt gets worse
And the heart gets harder