Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner

[Fifty]

This is one of the strangest songs I've ever heard. And I don't mean strange in the lame "make a wierd song for the sake of it being wierd so teens can marvel at me in later years and speculate as to how much drugs I do". This song is wierd in the truest sense. Anybody have any idea of its point, or what its about, or anything?

Roland was a warrior from the land of the midnight sun
With his 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 '66 and 7, they fought the Congo war
With their 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 ***** Van Owen blew off Roland's head

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, talking about the man
Roland the headless Thompson gunner

The eternal Thompson gunner
Still wand'ring 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

 

[Jawz II]

woa, cool song, about another of CIAs dirty deed

 

[mrtn]

Whos song is it?

 

[IglooDame]

Warren Zevon. Great song.

 

[Xen]

IOf you think thats weord- just listen to other Zevon classics- yhen you'll relize what you just heard aint crap

that said, Roland is probably my favorite fo his songs- alogn with warewolves in london mabey.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Lawyers guns an money
Carmalita
Please Stay
Mohamed's Radio

All fabulous.
Do any Zevon fans know "Donkey wash and Monkey rinse"? I think that's the title.

 

[wilbill]

"Roland" is thought to be Zevon's update of The Song of Roland a medieval epic poem about a Frankish knight serving under Charlemagne.
Actually, I always thought the lyrics of "Roland" were pretty clearcut compared to some of Zevon's other songs, like "Donkey Wash and Monkey RInse" or "Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead".

 

[Birdjaguar]

like "Donkey Wash and Monkey RInse" or "Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead".

Do you know which albums these are on?

 

[cgannon64]

That's an awesome CD.

Btw, isn't that "Things to do..." the name of a movie?

 

[wilbill]

"Donkey Wash" is on Mutineer. "Denver When You're Dead" is on Mr. Bad Example. "Roland" is on Excitable Boy.
If you like songs with interesting lyrics, Zevon's for you. "Angel Dressed in Black" begins "sitting on the sofa, sucking a bowl of crack".
David Letterman said, "Warren may be the only man in the history of human communication to use the word 'brucellosis' in a song."

Btw, isn't that "Things to do..." the name of a movie?

It is the name of a pretty good movie. The song only appears under the closing credits, though.

 

[Birdjaguar]

"Donkey Wash" is on Mutineer. "Denver When You're Dead" is on Mr. Bad Example. "Roland" is on Excitable Boy.
If you like songs with interesting lyrics, Zevon's for you. "Angel Dressed in Black" begins "sitting on the sofa, sucking a bowl of crack".
David Letterman said, "Warren may be the only man in the history of human communication to use the word 'brucellosis' in a song."

Thanks, I'm a big WZ fan but want to find those songs. Lime...uh itunes, here I come.