flashback friday - lawyers, guns and money

so, when one mentions the name warren zevon, people almost immediately say, "oh yeah! the guy who sang werewolves of london!" which is fair, because that IS the song he's best known for (and it's a kickin' song, as well). but, i'll let you in on a secret...

werewolves of london isn't my favorite zevon song.

musically a mixture of rock and singer-songwriter, zevon had a gritty voice and almost impossibly catchy melodies alongside fabulous 70's guitar work. praised and beloved by legends such as springsteen, dylan, and neil young, zevon excelled at writing satires that forced careful listeners to consider their messages.



zevon died in 2003 after suffering from mesothelioma - and he left behind a veritable treasure chest of quality music for generations to come to enjoy. he chronicled his illness in the gut-wrenching keep me in your heart (i dare you to listen to that song and not tear up - gah. i still do, every single time. go HERE to watch it and sob quietly) and earned a grammy nomination posthumously.

but i'm not going to share keep me in your heart, either.

instead, i'm going to celebrate warren zevon's musical talent by sharing lawyers, guns and money. i cannot tell you how much i love this song, friends. it's just so fun to listen to, despite being about some ex-pat who effed up and is in dire need of - you guessed it! lawyers, guns and money. this is one of those songs that, every time it comes on in the car, the husband and i sing along as loud as we can.

what a fab summer song.

well, i went home with the waitress -
you know, the way i always do -
well how was i to know
she was with the russians, too?

i was gambling in havana
you know, i took a little risk
send lawyers, guns and money
daddy, won't you get me out of this?

i'm an innocent bystander
somehow i got stuck
between a rock and a hard place
and i'm down on my luck
oh yeah, i'm down on my luck

i'm so far down, i don't think i'll ever get up
if it weren't for bad luck
oh, if it weren't for bad luck
i wouldn't have no luck at all

now i'm stranded in honduras
i'm a desperate man
send lawyers, guns and money
the shit has hit the fan
send lawyers, guns and money
send lawyers, guns and money
get me out of this
send lawyers, guns and money
you know the shit has hit the fan

(mp3) lawyers, guns and money by warren zevon

check out the video of warren playing it live in '94. here's his explanation behind the song:

back in the late 70's, i was working on the album excitable boy and i decided i needed a vacation. so i went to kauai in the hawaiian islands and i wrote this song late one night on wet cocktail napkins after a long day of improbable and grotesque mischief. obviously, i survived all that, but i learned something from the experience. i never take vacations.



excitable boy is an excellent album - but if you're looking to experience a smattering of zevon's greatness, go and get a quiet life - the best of warren zevon (which includes lawyers, guns and money) instead. go HERE to buy it.