Along with his own work, he recorded or performed occasional covers, including Allen Toussaint’s “A Certain Girl”, Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”, Leonard Cohen’s “First We Take Manhattan”, Steve Winwood’s “Back in the High Life Again”, and Prince’s “Raspberry Beret”. He also wrote major hits that were recorded by other artists, including “Poor Poor Pitiful Me”, “Accidentally Like a Martyr”, “Mohammed’s Radio”, “Carmelita”, and “Hasten Down the Wind”. Zevon’s most famous compositions include “Werewolves of London”, “Lawyers, Guns and Money”, and “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner”, all of which are featured on his third album, Excitable Boy (1978), whose title track is also well-known.

Let’s go, Billy.Warren William Zevon (/ˈziːvɒn/ January 24, 1947 – September 7, 2003) was an American rock singer-songwriter and musician.

Get up and dance or I’ll kill you and I got the means. © 1973 Warner-Tamerlane/Darkroom Music (BMI)Īnd I said where’s George Gruel, my road manager and my best friend? Come on out here, George. When you did something you knew was wrong walking with the QueenĪnd they were doin’ the Werewolves of LondonĪnd I saw a werewolf drinking a Perrier at Trader Vic's Well, I saw Lon Chaney walking with the Queen Gonna kill somebody in a film or somethin’ He's that hairy handed gent who ran amok in Kent Little old lady got mutilated late last night If you hear him howling around your kitchen door Going to get a big dish of beef chow meinĪhh-hooooooo Werewolves of London Ahh-hoooooooĪhh-hooooooo Werewolves of Los Angeles Ahh-hooooooo He was looking for the place called Lee Ho Fook's Walking through the streets of Soho in the rain I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand © 1975 Zevon Music (BMI) and Polite Music (ASCAP) Hoping that the righteous might just might just might just comeīut I heard the General whispering to his aide-de-camp You've been up all night listening for his drum I heard somebody singing sweet and soulfulĪnd even Jimmy Carter’s got the highway bluesĮverybody's desperate trying to make ends meet Well, he took little Suzie to the Junior PromĮxcitable boy, they all said (Ooh, excitable boy)Īnd he raped her and killed her, then he took her homeĪfter ten long years they let him out of the homeĪnd he dug up her grave and built a cage with her bonesĮverybody's restless and they've got no place to goīut don't it make you want to rock and roll show at the ClarkĪnd he bit the usherette's leg in the dark Well, he went down to dinner in his Sunday bestĪnd he rubbed the pot roast all over his chest

© 1976 Zevon Music (BMI) and Polite Music (ASCAP) Jeannie and her father rode off into the night I lay there in the darkness with a pistol by my side I was riding hard to meet her when a shot rang out behind The night was cold and rainy down by the borderline To meet that very evening and get away somehow I drew out all my money and together we did vow We met down by the river, on the final day in MayĪnd when I leaned down to kiss her, she did not turn away 'Cause he knew I wanted Jeannie and I'd have her like I said Her father was a lawman who he swore he'd shoot me dead She came down from Knightstown with her hands hard from the lineįrom the first time I laid eyes on her I knew that she'd be mine I was born down by the river where the dirty water flowsĪnd the cold wind cut through me, it cut right through my clothesĪnd the anger and the yearning, like fever in my veins ©1980 Zevon Music (BMI) and Bruce Springsteen (ASCAP) Now stand in the fire, stand in the fire, stand in the fire Ya' know, I'm asking her to dance with me Stand in the fire, stand in the fire, stand in the fire

Hasten down the wind warren zevon