Anyone catch it? Quality rendition of Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner. In the era of boy bands and Britney Spears, boy was that refreshing to hear. Paul
Recorded in my collection for all time. May be the last time you'll ever see him on television too...looked pretty good all things considered. 60 years on when Briney's chest falls off, they'll still be talking about Mr. Bad Example. Why in the MLS forum though, Paul?
I almost posted in the Africa Forum, but didn't think many people would get the humor in it. Why in MLS? Once in awhile we just have to shed the ties that bind and do whatever the hell we please.... this seemed to be most appropriate. Speaking of, I just bought and am listening to his Best of release. Maybe we can get him for the halftime show of next years MLS Cup. Paul
Quote from the Letterman appearance: "I might have made a tactical error in not going to a physician for 20 years. It was one of those phobias that didn't pay off." Anybody know if there is an alternate version of "Lawyers, Guns and Money" that contains the line "the sh!t has hit the fan"?
K, My man... Mr. Bad Example is like Elvis. You will see him in a Soho bar twenty years from now. Paul
The eternal Thompson gunner still wandering through the night Now it's ten years later but he still keeps up the fight In Ireland, in Lebanon, in Palestine and Berkeley.. Patty Hearst heard the burst of Roland's Thompson gun and bought it..
Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner Warren Zevon Roland was a warrior From the Land of the Midnight Sun With a Thompson gun for hire Fighting to be done The deal was made in Denmark On a dark and stormy day So he set out for Biafra To join the bloody fray Through sixty-six and seven They fought the Congo war Fingers on their triggers Knee-deep in gore For days and nights they battled The Bantu to their knees They killed to earn their living And to help out the Congolese Roland the Thompson gunner... Roland the Thompson gunner... His comrades fought beside him Van Owen and the rest But of all the Thompson gunners Roland was the best So the CIA decided They wanted Roland dead That son-of-a-bitch Van Owen Blew off Roland's head Roland the headless Thompson gunner Roland the headless Thompson gunner Time, time, time For another peaceful war Norway's bravest son But time stands still for Roland 'Til he evens up the score They can still see his headless body Stalking through the night In the muzzle flash of Roland's Thompson gun In the muzzle flash of Roland's Thompson gun Roland searched the continent For the man who'd done him in He found him in Mombassa In a barroom drinking gin Roland aimed his Thompson gun He didn't say a word But he blew Van Owen's body From there to Johannesburg Roland the headless Thompson gunner... Roland the headless Thompson gunner... Roland the headless Thompson gunner... The eternal Thompson gunner Still wandering through the night Now it's ten years later But he still keeps up the fight In Ireland, in Lebanon In Palestine and Berkeley Patty Hearst heard the burst Of Roland's Thompson gun And bought it...
Even dead he'd still sound better than Paulina Rubio. And Waddy had better hair than that chick in the Metros jersey, I'll tell you what... Dave
saw Zevon 20 years ago at college. he was great. he also passed out at the piano with a 1/2 drunken bottle of whiskey on the keys...
It is from the album Excitable Boy. Personally I think it is the better version. You have to love the lyrics. Well, I went home with the waitress The way I always do How was I to know She was with the Russians, too I was gambling in Havana I took a little risk Send lawyers, guns and money Dad, get me out of this I'm the innocent bystander Somehow I got stuck Between the rock and the hard place And I'm down on my luck And I'm down on my luck And I'm down on my luck Now I'm hiding in Honduras I'm a desperate man Send lawyers, guns and money The s h i t has hit the fan Send lawyers, guns and money...
And if California slides into the ocean, like the mystics and statistics say it will. I predict this hotel will be standing... until I pay my bill.
One of my favorites, Jeff. The harmonies at the end are gorgeous. "Sweet Home Alabama" Play that dead band's song Turn those speakers up full blast Play It All Night Long
Still one of the greatest things to come out of Chicago. Hit Somebody Warren Zevon He was born in Big Beaver By the borderline He started playing hockey By the time he was nine His dad took the hose And froze the back yard And Little Buddy dreamed he was Rocket Richard He grew up big and he grew up tough He saw himself scoring for the Wings or Canucks But he wasn't that good with a puck Buddy's real talent Was beating people up His heart wasn't in it But the crowd ate it up Through pee-wee's and juniors Midgets and mites He must have racked up more than six hundred fights A scout from the Flames Came down from Saskatoon Said, "There's always room on our team for a goon...Son, we've always got room for a goon" There were Swedes to the left of him Russians to the right A Czech at the blue line looking for a fight Brains over brawn That might work for you But what's a Canadian farm boy to do What else is a farm boy from Canada to do But what's a Canadian farm boy to do What else is a farm boy from Canada to do Hit somebody! Was what the crowd roared When Buddy the goon Came over the boards "Coach," he'd say, "I wanna score goals" The coach said, "Buddy, remember your role The fast guys get paid, they shoot, they score Protect them, Buddy, that's what you're here for Protection is what you're here for Protection It's the stars that score Protection Kick somebody's ass Protection Don't put the biscuit in the basket Just hit some, Buddy!" It rang in his ears Blood on the ice ran down through the years The king of the goons With a box for a throne A thousand stitches and broken bones He never lost a fight On his icy patrol But deep inside, Buddy only dreamed of a goal He just wanted one damn goal There were Swedes at the blue line Finns at the red A Russian with a stick heading straight for his head Brains over brawn That might work for you But what's a Canadian farm boy to do What else is a farm boy from Canada to do But what's a Canadian farm boy to do What else is a farm boy from Canada to do In his final season On his final night Buddy and a Finn goon were pegged for a fight Thirty seconds left The puck took a roll And suddenly Buddy had a shot on goal The goalie committed Buddy picked his spot Twenty years of waiting went into that shot The fans jumped up The Finn jumped too And coldcocked Buddy on his follow through The big man crumbled But he felt all right 'Cause the last thing he saw was the flashing red light He saw that heavenly light There were Swedes to the left of him Russians to the right A Czech at the blue line looking for a fight Take care of your teeth That might work for you But what's a Canadian farm boy to do What else is a farm boy from Canada to do But what's a Canadian farm boy to do What else is a farm boy from Canada to do
headless thompson gunner i too saw the letterman segment.... i was a touching moment to see dave saying good bye to his friend on national TV. Im very new to warren Zevon, other than werewolves in london and seeing him occasionally lead the band on letterman.... but is there any story behind the Rolandson the headless thompson gunner song? or is it just a good story???
Sorry I missed Letterman. The man is a genius. Love this quote though regarding his cancer. Typical Zevon. "Really, the thing I want is to last through the winter so I don't miss the new James Bond movie," he said recently by phone from his home in West Hollywood