Reach out

[pecunium]

Today is Warren Zevon's birthday. I suppose it's still his birthday, though he's not using it these days.

He died back in 2003. Had he not died (of mesothelioma)he would be sixty. He had a way, subtle, dark and vicious, of putting commentary in songs. He gave great concert, and I wish I'd seen more than one of them.

I've done karaoke twice in my life, both times, oddly enough, with the Army involved (in some small way). The first time, a slight bit in my cups, I sang Blood Sweat and Tears, "When I Die".

The other time, was after Zevon died, and it was Knocking on Heaven's Door, which Zevon covered on his last album, long after he'd found out he was going to die, in fact it was long after it was evident he was going to be dying soon.

We're all dying, some of us are more aware of it than others.

But for all of us, even the most prepared, it comes too soon; and none of us ever manage to tell our friends and loved ones how we truly feel (hell, most of us fail to tell our enemies how we feel, and we have more passion [even when we have less feeling] for them).

So reach out and touch your friends, hug your loved ones and kiss your lovers, we don't get enough time to do any of those things, or as he told Letterman, "Enjoy every sandwich."


Mama, take this badge off of me
I can't use it anymore.
It's gettin' dark, too dark for me to see
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door

Mama, put my guns in the ground
I can't shoot them anymore.
That long black cloud is comin' down
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door

Comments

[niamh-sage.livejournal.com]

Having had a horrible shock recently in relation to a friend, I echo your sentiments entirely.

Tell them, and don't be afraid to sound silly, because aside from it just being a good idea in general, you also never know just how much they *need* to hear it.

[cluefairy-j.livejournal.com]

I'm very glad I got to see him three times and in small venues.

Hugs, Terry.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I wish more people could set this example. It struggles out of my grasp constantly.

K.

sometimes people wonder why

[dragonet2.livejournal.com]

us KaCSFFNs hug a lot. (local SF club) For one, we're a pretty famlial lot, for another we've had shocks and illnesses that have reminded us that we need to appreciate our friends as much as possible while they're here. Even when we quarrel over stuff, we remind ourselves it's just stuff that will pass, but friendship doesn't. And I do not end a phone call to my family, especailly my mom (my most frequent call) without an "Love you.'

My favorite of his last set of songs is "Keep me in your heart for a while."

Re: sometimes people wonder why

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

That's a good song, and it's a great album.

What got me last night was listening to Billy Bob Thorton explain the recording of Knocking on Heaven's Door.

A bunch of guys were over (the drummer from Counting Crows, Tommy Shaw and some others.

They were down in the basement/studio, and Zevon came downstairs, asking if he could borrow the studio for a half-hour, and oh, can I draft you guys.

And then he did that song.

TK

Re: sometimes people wonder why

[martyn44.livejournal.com]

Its a great record in all, and always seems to merge in my mind into Johnny Cash's When the man comes around - two lights refusing to go gentle into that good night, but Keep me in your heart just rips my heart open. Its exactly what song is about, and I can no more listen to it that I can listen to Dylan singing Forever Young, but for very different reasons.

I never got to see him. He didn't play over here that often.

Re: sometimes people wonder why

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

I only got to see him once, but it was a swell show. The opener had talent, but the sound guys mixed her wrong (which is typical, too much on the instruments, and too little on the vocals).

It was at the Wiltern, with libertango and akirlu.

I'm sorry you didn't get to see him, you'd have had a good time.

TK

[soggyoptimist.livejournal.com]

You do tend to be a master of poignancy at times. I think this is the first time I've logged on to LJ since Thanksgiving. It was wonderful to see you, although I wish we'd had more time, and in a smaller group. The actuality of Loscon was SO different from my expectations... it wasn't a disappointment, but some surprises were definitely more comfortable and welcome than others. Next time, let's sneak out for some scotch one-on-one, eh? Hope your Christmas was happy.

[shelly-rae.livejournal.com]

I woke up humming Zevon this morning. I don't think I knew it was his Birthday though. From "Excitable Boy" to "Disorder in the House" Zevon had a way with rock with that something-is-not-quite-right-here edge. I agree, subtle, dark, vicious but also funny and sarcastic--dark humor for certain.

From Zevon I leap to "Rent" and the message that everything is rent--just temporary so live for today. And from there? I manage to leap to Ango-Saxon poetry and the idea of "leone" or loan. Like rent the concept is that you can't have it forever so take care of it and appreciate it while it's here.

But then, that's the way my mind works. From Zevon to Beowulf in one small leap.

Thanks for the thoughtful post.
Anon

[wylderwynd.livejournal.com]

I watched a documentary of sorts on Warren Zevon that was filmed right before he died. I was so very impressed with his strength;physical and mental. He did not choose to avail himself of the therapies that medical science had at that time to treat his disease, and surprising his physician, lived much longer than 'they' said he would. I want to say it was 3 years longer---could be wrong though. I thought he was a truly unique artist and was heartened by the example he set in the last days of his life.

[(Anonymous)]

Great posting; I just stumbled onto it, and being a complete Zevon fan from way back, I'm glad I did. Think I'm going to sleep when I'm dead too... Thanks. Wayne. http://www.wayneshannon.com