Zevon's work has often been praised by well-known musicians, including Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Neil Young. His best-known compositions include "Werewolves of London", "Lawyers, Guns and Money", "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" and "Johnny Strikes Up The Band," all of which are featured on his third album, Excitable Boy (1978). Other well-known songs written by Zevon have been recorded by other artists, including "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" (a top 40 hit by Linda Ronstadt), "Accidentally Like a Martyr," "Mohammed's Radio", "Carmelita", and "Hasten Down the Wind".
Along with his own compositions, Zevon recorded or performed occasional covers, including Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" and Leonard Cohen's "First We Take Manhattan". He was a frequent guest on Late Night with David Letterman and the Late Show with David Letterman. Letterman later performed guest vocals on "Hit Somebody! (The Hockey Song)" with Paul Shaffer and members of the CBS Orchestra.
He was born to a Russian Jewish father and a Mormon mother and soon moved to California. At the age of 12/13, Warren Zevon was a regular visitor to the home of Igor Stravinsky where he, along with Robert Craft, would study music.
He turned to a musical career early, including a stretch as part of a Sonny and Cher-type male/female duo called Lyme and Cybelle, and spent time as a session musician (notably as piano player for the Everly Brothers) and jingle composer. He wrote several songs for his White Whale label-mates the Turtles, though his participation in their recording is unknown. Another early composition ("She Quit Me") was included in the soundtrack for Midnight Cowboy, released in 1969. His first attempt at a solo album, Wanted Dead or Alive (1969), did not fare well, and his second effort, Leaf in the Wind, was scrapped (though release was considered just prior to his death). In the early 70s he toured regularly with the Everly Brothers as keyboard player and band leader/musical coordinator. His dissatisfaction with his career and the opportunities for a song-writer led him to move to Spain briefly, where he played in a small bar owned by a former mercenary. Together, they penned Zevon's classic "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner."
In the mid-70s he moved to Los Angeles, and became associated with the then-burgeoning West coast music scene, including collaborations with Jackson Browne, who would produce and promote Zevon's self-titled major-label debut in 1976, The Eagles, who appeared on that first album, and Linda Ronstadt, who would record several early Zevon songs including a hit version of "Poor Poor Pitiful Me". Zevon's first tour in 1977 included guest appearances in the middle of Jackson Browne concerts.
In 1978 Zevon released his breakthrough album, Excitable Boy, to critical acclaim and popular success. Several tracks from this album received heavy FM airplay and the single release "Werewolves of London", which featured a relatively lighthearted version of Zevon's signature macabre outlook, was a top-ten hit.
For the next 20 years Zevon would continue to record and release albums sporadically and with varying levels of success, while fighting personal demons including an acknowledged battle with alcoholism and drugs. (His fourth album, Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School is dedicated to novelist Ross Macdonald, who crucially assisted Zevon during a particularly difficult episode in 1979.) Apparently success did not treat Zevon well, as evidenced by his movements (living on Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square, etc.), well-documented stints in rehab, and withdrawal from the spotlight. After the release of The Envoy in 1982, Zevon effectively quit his career as a full-time occupation, appearing rarely and usually solo, without a band. He also collaborated with several members of R.E.M. to record as the Hindu Love Gods in 1990, though initial collaboration occurred during his "lost period" in 1984.
In 1987 Zevon made a comeback with a modest hit album Sentimental Hygiene, which featured collaborations with Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and members of R.E.M., among others including long-time collaborators Jorge Calderone and Waddy Wachtel. The follow-up album, Transverse City in 1989 also featured guests, including Jerry Garcia and David Gilmour. The tradition of collaborations with more famous musical talents was consistent throughout his career, from the appearance of Jackson Browne and The Eagles on his first album, to Bruce Springsteen on his last.
Zevon toured the US regularly during the 90s, often alone, with minimal accompaniment. He did conduct a tour with Odds, a band from Vancouver, Canada. Many tours started in Colorado to allow Warren an opportunity to visit with his long-time friend, Hunter S. Thompson. Warren was close to several prominent writers who also collaborated on song-writing, including Carl Hiassen. He also served as musical coordinator for an ad-hoc group called the Rock Bottom Remainders, a collection of writers performing rock and roll standards at book fairs and other events. This group included Stephen King, Dave Barry, and other popular writers.
In interviews, Zevon described a lifelong phobia of doctors and seldom received medical assessment. In 2002, after a long period of untreated illness and pain, Zevon was encouraged by his dentist to see a doctor; when he did so he was diagnosed with inoperable mesothelioma (a form of lung cancer associated with exposure to asbestos rather than smoking). He then began recording his final album, The Wind, with guest appearances from close friends including Bruce Springsteen, Don Henley, Timothy B. Schmit, Joe Walsh, David Lindley, Billy Bob Thornton, Emmylou Harris, Tom Petty and others.
On October 30, 2002, Zevon was featured on the Late Show with David Letterman as the only guest for the entire hour. Zevon performed several songs and spoke at length about his illness. Zevon was a frequent guest and occasional substitute bandleader on Letterman's television shows since Late Night first aired in 1982. It was this show where Zevon offered his insight on facing death: "enjoy every sandwich."
Zevon previously stated that his illness was expected to be terminal within months after the diagnosis in the Fall of 2002; however he lived to see the birth of twin grandsons in June of 2003 and the release of The Wind on August 28, 2003. When his diagnosis became public, he told the media that he just hoped to live long enough to see the next James Bond movie, a goal he also accomplished. Appropriately, the film was called Die Another Day.
Zevon died at his home in Los Angeles, California, on September 7, 2003. The Wind was certified gold by the RIAA in December of 2003 and Zevon received 5 posthumous Grammy nominations, including Song Of The Year for "Keep Me In Your Heart".
A tribute album titled Enjoy Every Sandwich: Songs of Warren Zevon was released October 19, 2004. His son, Jordan Zevon, did a large part of the work on the album and performed "Studebaker," a previously unreleased composition. A second tribute album, titled Hurry Home Early: the Songs of Warren Zevon (the lyrics "hurry home early" are from the song "Boom Boom Mancini," on Sentimental Hygiene) was released by Wampus Multimedia on July 8, 2005.
On February 14, 2006, VH1 Classic premiered a video from a new compilation, "Reconsider Me: The Love Songs of Warren Zevon." The video, titled "She's Too Good For Me," aired every hour on the hour throughout the day. The video was not well received among many of Zevon's fans, as evidenced by their responses on the official Bulletin Board.
I'll Go On
Warren Zevon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The day is turning
Dark begins to fall
At night I cannot help but think about you
Though I'm lonely
It is only
Love and that is all
Though I'm feeling sad I know
There'll be another sunrise
Now I'm lonely; I'm resigned
To live my life in loneliness
Who was I to bring you down
I didn't have the right
Now you're gone but I'll go on
And I will be all right
Close your eyes
Don't look back
Just turn and walk away
Hey, hey, hey
The sky is gray
The day is turning
Dark begins to fall
At night I cannot help but think about you
Though I'm lonely
It is only
Love and that is all
So I will come and go my way without you
Warren Zevon's song I'll Go On is a melancholic ode to a failed romance. The lyrics depict a gray and darkening day, and as night approaches, the singer cannot help but think about his lost love. He admits to feeling lonely without her, but determines that his love for her is what he feels, and he will continue to come and go without her. The song portrays a bittersweet acceptance of loss and the realization that life goes on even after heartbreak.
The song's chorus expresses a resigned sadness, the singer feeling lonely but understanding that another sunrise will come. He acknowledges that his life will be one of loneliness, telling himself that he will be alright, despite his pain. The lyrics shift focus to the relationship's end, acknowledging that the singer was at fault for the breakup. He didn't have the right to bring his love down, and now that she's gone, he will move on with his life.
Overall, the song's emotional themes of sadness and resignation, as well as its acknowledgment of the role played in the relationship's failure, make for a poignant, introspective listen.
Line by Line Meaning
The sky is gray
The weather is cloudy and gloomy, reflecting the singer's current state of mind.
The day is turning
The day is coming to a close, symbolizing the end of a chapter in the singer's life.
Dark begins to fall
The night is approaching, bringing with it a sense of foreboding and uncertainty.
At night I cannot help but think about you
The artist's thoughts are consumed by memories of a past love, which haunt them during their time alone.
Though I'm lonely
The artist is experiencing feelings of isolation and emptiness.
It is only
However, these feelings are temporary and do not define the singer's entire existence.
Love and that is all
The only thing that truly matters to the singer is the love they once had for the person they are now separated from.
So I will come and go my way without you
Moving forward, the artist must learn to live their life without the person they once loved.
Though I'm feeling sad I know
Even though the artist is experiencing sadness, they understand that time will heal their wounds.
There'll be another sunrise
A new day will come, bringing with it fresh opportunities for growth and happiness.
Now I'm lonely; I'm resigned
The singer has come to accept their current state of loneliness and has made peace with it.
To live my life in loneliness
Although it is not their ideal outcome, the artist has come to terms with the fact that they may have to live without love for the rest of their life.
Who was I to bring you down
The singer reflects on their past mistakes and feels guilty for being the cause of their lover's departure.
I didn't have the right
The singer realizes that they had no right to impose their own expectations onto their partner and cause them pain.
Now you're gone but I'll go on
Despite their heartbreak, the singer will persevere and continue to live their life.
And I will be all right
Although they may be scarred by their past experiences, the artist believes they will eventually heal and be okay.
Close your eyes
The artist speaks to their former lover, perhaps urging them to let go of the past and move on.
Don't look back
The singer's final plea to their ex-lover is to focus on the present and future, rather than dwelling on what has already happened.
Just turn and walk away
They acknowledge that it is time to say goodbye and move on.
Contributed by Ruby S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Curious Discovery
Greatest artist of all time that most people have never had the privilege of hearing.
fragger65 9
True!!! I was lucky that my fam loved looking for underrated artists so for me he was my first favorite musician!
OH_I _Will
Top 20 FAV is more realistic in my opinion
sledge hammer
Saw him live twice. He was the best!
mikestaber staber
got to see him in albany ny mid 90's.... great show !
cynthia cirile
Among the greatest gifts of Warren Zevon was to sound consistently excellent at shows-even better than on his albums. I love this song & the great man who wrote and sang it all night long. A classic performance here!
Salvatore Fucci
I am the black Grey one wolf I slept the sleep of the one who is a little white of the Clan of ⚫wolfram
Jackie Ringersma
Absolutely!
LameStudiosInc
This should be commonly regarded as one of the greatest moments in rock history.
Josh B
I was only 2 when he played this concert. I love Zevon, and wish I could have had the chance to see him live. That being said, I am trying to pass on his greatness to younger generations!