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.
The French Inhaler
Warren Zevon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you weren't cut out for working
When your fingers are slender and frail
How're you going to get around
In this sleazy bedroom town
If you don't put yourself up for sale
Where will you go with your scarves and your miracles
Drugs and wine and flattering light
You must try it again till you get it right
Maybe you'll end up with someone different every night
All these people with no home to go home to
They'd all like to spend the night with you
Maybe I would, too
But tell me
How're you going to make your way in the world, woman
When you weren't cut out for working
And you just can't concentrate
And you always show up late
You said you were an actress
Yes, I believe you are
I thought you'd be a star
So I drank up all the money,
Yes, I drank up all the money,
With these phonies in this Hollywood bar,
These friends of mine in this Hollywood bar
Loneliness and frustration
We both came down with an acute case
And when the lights came up at two
I caught a glimpse of you
And your face looked like something
Death brought with him in his suitcase
Your pretty face
It looked so wasted
Another pretty face
Devastated
The French Inhaler
He stamped and mailed her
"So long, Norman"
She said, "So long, Norman"
The lyrics of Warren Zevon’s “The French Inhaler” provide an insightful perspective into the struggles of a woman who has been exploited by the entertainment industry. Through its vivid imagery, the song portrays the difficulties of a person trying to make a living in an industry that only values external beauty, youthfulness, and sex appeal. The opening verse conveys the sense of helplessness and confusion that the woman feels in a world that demands that she leverage her physical attributes to succeed. The song also touches on issues of substance abuse and loneliness as the woman grapples with her unrealized ambitions.
The chorus emphasizes the woman's despair and insecurity. It highlights the woman's cynicism with the system as she resorts to drugs and alcohol, hoping to mask her pain and disappointment. The verse also paints a picture of the mercurial nature of the entertainment industry, where success is fleeting, and one must continuously strive to achieve it.
The final verse is a poignant reflection of the woman's struggle with her own identity. She recognizes that she is nothing more than another pretty face that has been destroyed by the cut-throat environment of Hollywood. The title of the song, “The French Inhaler,” refers to a type of cocaine delivery device, which symbolizes the woman's addiction to drugs.
Overall, “The French Inhaler” is a hauntingly beautiful meditation on a person's struggle with their identity and the seductive nature of Hollywood.
Line by Line Meaning
How're you going to make your way in the world
How will you succeed in life
When you weren't cut out for working
Since working is not your forte
When your fingers are slender and frail
When your fingers are weak and delicate
How're you going to get around
How will you travel
In this sleazy bedroom town
In this town of promiscuity
If you don't put yourself up for sale
If you don't prostitute yourself
Where will you go with your scarves and your miracles
Where will your illusionary life take you
Who's gonna know who you are
Who will recognize you
Drugs and wine and flattering light
A lifestyle of drug use, alcohol and pretense
You must try it again till you get it right
Keep trying until you make it
Maybe you'll end up with someone different every night
You may have a new lover each night
All these people with no home to go home to
All the homeless people
They'd all like to spend the night with you
They all desire to be with you
Maybe I would, too
Maybe I would want to as well
But tell me
But answer me
How're you going to make your way in the world, woman
How will you succeed in life, woman
When you weren't cut out for working
Since working is not your forte
And you just can't concentrate
And you are unable to focus
And you always show up late
And you are always tardy
You said you were an actress
You claimed to be an actor
Yes, I believe you are
I trust you are telling the truth
I thought you'd be a star
I believed you had potential to be very successful
So I drank up all the money,
So I spent all the money
Yes, I drank up all the money,
Yes, I spent all the money
With these phonies in this Hollywood bar,
With these fake people in this bar
These friends of mine in this Hollywood bar
These acquaintances of mine in this bar
Loneliness and frustration
Feelings of isolation and exasperation
We both came down with an acute case
We both suffered greatly from it
And when the lights came up at two
And when the lights came on at two in the morning
I caught a glimpse of you
I saw you briefly
And your face looked like something
And your face resembled something
Death brought with him in his suitcase.
Death took with him in his suitcase.
Your pretty face
Your attractive face
It looked so wasted
It appeared exhausted and haggard
Another pretty face
Another attractive face
Devastated
Destroyed
The French Inhaler
The lover who used drugs
He stamped and mailed her
He used and discarded her
"So long, Norman"
"Goodbye, Norman"
She said, "So long, Norman"
She replied, "Goodbye, Norman"
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WARREN ZEVON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind