Accidentally Like A Martyr
Warren Zevon Lyrics


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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

We made mad love
Shadow love
Random love
And abandoned love
Accidentally like a martyr
The hurt gets worse and the heart gets harder

The days slide by
Should have done, should have done, we all sigh
Never thought I'd ever be so lonely
After such a long, long time
Time out of mind

We made mad love
Shadow love
Random love
And abandoned love




Accidentally like a martyr
The hurt gets worse and the heart gets harder

Overall Meaning

In Warren Zevon's "Accidentally Like A Martyr," the singer reflects on the painful loss of a past love. The first stanza describes the desolation of the present moment, as the phone doesn't ring and the sun won't shine. Zevon ponders why he must pay such a high price for something that was already his (presumably, his previous relationship), and proceeds to lament on the fact that the pain of the breakup persists for such a long time.


The second stanza recalls the intensity of the relationship, referring to it as "mad love," "shadow love," "random love," and "abandoned love." However, despite the all-consuming nature of their romance, the relationship ultimately falls apart, leaving Zevon feeling like a martyr - someone who suffers for a cause or principle. The hurt of the loss only worsens with time, leading him to believe that his heart is becoming harder and less capable of loving again. The repetition of certain phrases, such as "For such a long, long time" and "The hurt gets worse and the heart gets harder," emphasize the lasting emotional impact of this failed love.


Overall, "Accidentally Like A Martyr" is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the pain that can linger long after a relationship ends. Zevon's lyrics paint a vivid picture of a man struggling to make sense of his broken heart and the loneliness that follows.


Line by Line Meaning

The phone don't ring
The absence of calls signifies the distance and loneliness felt by the singer in their state of isolation


And the sun refused to shine
The singer perceives their environment as bleak and unwelcoming, conjuring a sense of negativity


Never thought I'd have to pay so dearly
The singer is coming to grips with the cost of their mistakes and how painful they were


For what was already mine
The artist recognizes they had a good thing and understood its value too late


For such a long, long time
The duration of the good times only increases the sense of regret for the artist


We made mad love
The singer recalls a time of passion in a relationship they once had


Shadow love
The singer remembers a relationship that was never fully in the light, a love that was hidden


Random love
The artist remembers a relationship with no defined direction or purpose


And abandoned love
The artist recalls a love that was left behind, abandoned to the past


Accidentally like a martyr
The artist's own flawed behavior caused their pain and inaction despite knowing the consequences, hence they were martyred by their own decisions


The hurt gets worse and the heart gets harder
The pain only accrues over time and causes the singer's heart to close off to the point where they can no longer invest in a relationship again


The days slide by
The continual passage of time only highlights the futility of the artist's pain and they feel helpless to do anything about it


Should have done, should have done, we all sigh
The repetition of 'should have done' underlines the singer's sense of regret for their inaction in the past


Never thought I'd ever be so lonely
The singer can't believe the depths of isolation they feel now that they're out of the relationship


After such a long, long time
The duration of the relationship only fuels the sense of loss and loneliness felt by the singer


Time out of mind
The artist is struggling to come to terms with the fact that what was once familiar to them may never exist again in their life




Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: WARREN WILLIAM ZEVON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@tropicwave1

Accidentally Like A Martyr
Warren Zevon

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

We made mad love
Shadow love
Random love
And abandoned love
Accidentally like a martyr
The hurt gets worse and the heart gets harder

The days slide by
Should have done, should have done, we all sigh
Never thought I'd ever be so lonely
After such a long, long time
Time out of mind

We made mad love
Shadow love
Random love
And abandoned love
Accidentally like a martyr
The hurt gets worse and the heart gets harder


Written by: WARREN WILLIAM ZEVON
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group



All comments from YouTube:

@candyslashthekiller7058

I've listened to you my whole life Warren. Your music means so much to me. I cried when you died and I still think about you all the time. You'll never be forgotten

@mcleodmichael1

I miss him too. Sometimes I sing and it feels like he's back for an instant or two.

@dalecrowe7757

Possibly one of the most touching, human songs ever written and he's mostly famous for a song about werewolves.

@klarazav377

Couldn't agree more!!
"accidently like a maryter" ❤❤❤

@WKRPinCINN

Not that there’s anything about that

@dawncain1712

The one song he does that I dislike is werewolves

@annettemoyle6051

Written when a friend suggested the topic, whilst in London uk

@agnesmakovec1018

Nice... always nice to hear these words

7 More Replies...

@murrayfamily8385

He still doesn't get enough credit.. this album is a masterpiece

@Michael_Dominic

Not everyone is meant to appreciate his brilliance, for some he may have been too bright and for the rest, too dark. We are the ones to give the credit, so don't you forget that.

I give him all the credit he deserved and more, as I play along on my guitar :)

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