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.
Searching for a Heart
Warren Zevon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shadows on the land
Certain individuals
Aren't sticking with the plan
And I'm searching for a heart
Searching everyone
They say love conquers all
You can't start it like a car
Leaving in the evening
Traveling at night
Staying inconspicuous
I'm staying out of sight
And I'm searching for a heart
Searching everyone
They say love conquers all
You can't start it like a car
You can't stop it with a gun
They tell me love requires a little standing in line
And I've been waiting for you, lover, for a long, long time
I've been pacing the floor
I've been watching the door
Meanwhile I'll keep searching for a heart
Searching high and low for you
Trying to track you down
Certain individuals
Have finally come around
And I'm searching for a heart
Searching everyone
They say love conquers all
You can't start it like a car
You can't stop it with a gun
They tell me love requires a little standing in line
And I've been waiting for you, lover, for a long, long time
I've been pacing the floor I've been watching the door
Meanwhile I'll keep searching for a heart
Searching everyone
They say love conquers all
You can't start it like a car
The lyrics of "Searching for a Heart" by Warren Zevon speak of the quest for love and the struggles it entails. The song portrays a sense of loneliness and desperation, as the persona of the song searches high and low, in darkness and shadows, traveling at night, staying out of sight, and waiting for love to conquer all. The line "Certain individuals aren't sticking with the plan" suggests obstacles and setbacks along the way, but the search continues nonetheless. The song also touches on the concept of fate, as the persona mentions waiting for a lover for a long time and pacing the floor while watching the door, implying that despite the hardships, the search is not in vain.
The repeated phrase "You can't start it like a car, you can't stop it with a gun" serves as a reminder that love cannot be forced, nor can it be ended through violent means. Love requires patience and standing in line, suggesting that it is a process that cannot be rushed or forced, and requires a level of commitment and perseverance.
Overall, "Searching for a Heart" is a moving song that captures the raw emotions associated with the search for love, and the struggles and obstacles that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Darkness in the morning
The singer is feeling lost or confused, as though there is no clarity in their life or situation.
Shadows on the land
The world outside the singer appears ominous, or bad things seem to be lurking around every corner.
Certain individuals aren't sticking with the plan
People around the singer are behaving unpredictably, which is making it difficult for the singer to carry out their own plans.
And I'm searching for a heart
The artist is seeking emotional connection or love, which they feel might be a solution to their feelings of confusion and instability.
Searching everyone
The artist is trying to connect with as many people as possible, in the hopes that they might find someone who can give them the love they crave.
They say love conquers all
The singer is aware of the cliche that love can conquer any obstacle, and they believe this to be true.
You can't start it like a car
The singer acknowledges that love is not something that can be easily turned on or off.
You can't stop it with a gun
The artist recognizes that love can also not be forced or controlled through violence or manipulation.
Leaving in the evening
The artist is making plans to leave or travel, which could be an attempt to escape their problems or look for new opportunities.
Traveling at night
The artist is choosing to travel at night, when they can move around more discreetly or avoid being noticed.
Staying inconspicuous
The singer is trying to blend in and avoid drawing attention to themselves, possibly out of fear or a desire for privacy.
They tell me love requires a little standing in line
The artist has heard that finding love can take time and patience, and that they might need to put themselves out there and wait for the right person.
And I've been waiting for you, lover, for a long, long time
The singer is addressing an unknown person who they believe could be the one to give them the love they desire, and they have already been waiting for this person for some time.
I've been pacing the floor
The singer has been feeling anxious or restless while waiting for this person to enter their life.
I've been watching the door
The singer is keeping a constant lookout for the person they are waiting for to show up at their doorstep.
Meanwhile I'll keep searching for a heart
Even though the artist is waiting for this one person, they will still continue seeking love from others in the interim.
Searching high and low for you
The artist is actively searching for this person everywhere, using all possible resources and methods.
Trying to track you down
The singer is using their detective skills to locate this person, possibly because they believe this person could be the solution to their problems.
Certain individuals have finally come around
Some people who were previously difficult or uncooperative have had a change of heart, and the singer is hoping this change will make it easier to find the love they are seeking.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: WARREN ZEVON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@waynerhodes4806
Darkness in the morning
Shadows on the land
Certain individuals
Aren't sticking to the plan
And I'm searching for a heart
Searching everyone
They say love conquers all
You can't start it like a car
You can't stop it with a gun
Leaving in the evening
Traveling at night
Staying inconspicuous
I'm staying out of sight
They tell me love requires a little standing in line
And I've been waiting for you, lover, for a long, long time
I've been pacing the floor, I've been watching the door
Meanwhile, I'll keep searching for a heart
I've been searching high and low for you
Trying to track you down
Certain individuals
Have finally come around
@MrWolfchamp-xi3cu
I got a song in response to this video
Here's the lyrics
🎶 What's with the smoking in the vid It's not crucial to the vid or the story being toooooold🎶
It's disgusting and can make certain viewers wanna regurgitate
Seriously. There's no point to it at all. It's not crucial to anything going on in the video and yet it's being done. No purpose to it whatsoever.
Guess the director or whoever thought it would look cool or the artist is a regular smoker and just decided to go ahead and smoke in the video and they didn't have a problem with it.
Smoking on film oughta not be a thing unless it's absolutely necessary to the story being told.
And it ain't here.
If there's no purpose to it then all it really is is unpaid tobacco advertising. Something we need less of to be honest.
@rhino
Warren Zevon is nominated in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class of 2023! We need your help getting him in. Cast your vote here: https://vote.rockhall.com/en/
@BrandenLuisDiaz
🙂
@christschool
Warren Zevon won't need any help. He's not someone I really liked growing up, but his impact on the industry is undeniable. He'll get in, no doubt.
@Spaceflightlover2010
He was a great artist and he left us too soon.
@CajunCraft24
You can vote every day until April 28th, 2023
@itisonew
...and they ignored him again 😢
@user-nb4xd9wg9t
A number of songs brought about by
space in times of depression.
He was a genius artist to me.
@waynerhodes4806
Darkness in the morning
Shadows on the land
Certain individuals
Aren't sticking to the plan
And I'm searching for a heart
Searching everyone
They say love conquers all
You can't start it like a car
You can't stop it with a gun
Leaving in the evening
Traveling at night
Staying inconspicuous
I'm staying out of sight
They tell me love requires a little standing in line
And I've been waiting for you, lover, for a long, long time
I've been pacing the floor, I've been watching the door
Meanwhile, I'll keep searching for a heart
I've been searching high and low for you
Trying to track you down
Certain individuals
Have finally come around
@karenizard7323
I know why I love Warren so much - this song does it - so much truth, so much heart! - let go and love someone.
@amangogna68
Great song and vocals !