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.
Tenderness on the Block
Warren Zevon Lyrics
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Trying to run before she can walk, that's right
She's growing up, she has a young man waiting
She's growing up, she has a young man waiting
Wide eyes, she'll be street-wise
To the lies and the jive talk
But she'll find true love
Daddy, don't you ask her when she's coming in
And when she's home don't ask her where she's been
She's going out, she has a young man waiting
She's going out, can't keep her young man waiting
She'll be okay, let her have her day
'Cause it's a long way, it's a long walk
But she'll find true love
And tenderness on the block
I know how much it hurts to see her go
She has a mind of her own, you know
She's all grown up, she has a young man waiting
She's all grown up, she has a young man waiting
She was wide-eyed, now she's street-wise
To the lies and the jive talk
But she'll find true love
And tenderness on the block
She'll find true love
And tenderness on the block
The lyrics of "Tenderness on the Block" by Warren Zevon tell the story of parents who are struggling to let go of their daughter as she grows up and starts to navigate the dangers of the outside world. The first verse finds the parents asking each other where their daughter is, acknowledging that she is trying to grow up too fast by running before she can walk. They also mention that she has a young man waiting for her, which further highlights the parents' fears about her safety.
The second verse finds the parents giving each other advice on how to handle their daughter's independence. The father is warned not to pry too much into where she's been or when she'll be home, and they both agree that it's best to let her have her day and figure things out for herself. The chorus is repeated throughout the song, reassuring the parents that their daughter will find "true love and tenderness on the block," despite the challenges she may face.
Overall, the lyrics of "Tenderness on the Block" paint a picture of the universal struggle of parents trying to let go and allow their children to grow up and become independent adults. The song also highlights the dangers and challenges that young people face as they navigate the world around them, but ultimately expresses hope that they will find love and tenderness along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Mama, where's your pretty little girl tonight?
Asking where the daughter is going for the night, possibly out with a boy.
Trying to run before she can walk, that's right
She's young and inexperienced, yet trying to be mature and venture out.
She's growing up, she has a young man waiting
She's maturing and developing romantic interests.
Wide eyes, she'll be street-wise
She's young and naive right now, but will eventually become experienced and know the ways of the world.
To the lies and the jive talk
She'll be able to see through the deception and empty talk of others.
But she'll find true love
Despite the obstacles and difficulties, love will prevail.
And tenderness on the block
She'll find love and kindness right in her own neighborhood.
Daddy, don't you ask her when she's coming in
Asking the father not to worry about when the daughter will return home for the night.
And when she's home don't ask her where she's been
Asking the father not to inquire about where the daughter has been while she was out.
She's going out, she has a young man waiting
She's going out to see a boy she's interested in.
She'll be okay, let her have her day
Asking the father to trust that the daughter will be alright in her independence.
'Cause it's a long way, it's a long walk
Growing up and finding oneself is a difficult journey that takes time and patience.
I know how much it hurts to see her go
Acknowledging the sadness and pain of a parent when their child grows up and becomes independent.
She has a mind of her own, you know
Reminding the father that the daughter has her own thoughts and desires separate from him.
She was wide-eyed, now she's street-wise
The daughter has become more experienced and knowledgeable about the world around her.
She'll find true love
Reiterating that in spite of any difficulties, she will find love.
And tenderness on the block
She'll find love and kindness from those living in her own neighborhood.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JACKSON BROWNE, WARREN ZEVON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind