Sourced

• From what I know about alcoholism, I'd say there's nothing romantic, nothing grand, nothing heroic, nothing brave -- nothing like that about drinking. It's a real coward's death.
  • Quoted in Paul Nelson, "Warren Zevon's Resurrection: How he saved himself from a coward's death", Rolling Stone (1981-03-19)

• I'm insane. I'm fucked up. I have problems. But I don't get depressed and I don't get bored.
  • Quoted in David Bowman, Salon.com - "My Lunch with Warren Zevon," Salon.com (2000-03-17)

• I write songs about things that I'm simultaneously trying to not think about.
  • Quoted in David Bowman, "My Lunch with Warren Zevon," Salon.com (2000-03-17)

• It just sort of happened. I wrote like what I'd always read and what was in the movies... I'm sure popular music is supposed to be like this.
  • Quoted in David Bowman, "My Lunch with Warren Zevon," Salon.com (2000-03-17), answering the question "What led you to stake out the noir Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner genre?"

• Well, first of all, let me say that I might have made a tactical error in not going to a physician for 20 years. It was one of those phobias that really didn’t pay off.
  • The Late Show with David Letterman (2002-10-30)

• Enjoy every sandwich.
  • Advice given by Warren on The Late Show with David Letterman when he knew he had terminal mesothelioma (2002-10-30)

• Sickness, doctors, that scares me, not violence -- helplessness. That's why I turn to violent stories.
  • Quoted in Andrew Dansby, "Warren Zevon Dies" Rolling Stone (2003-09-08)

• I wrote my songs despite the fact that I was a drunk, not because of it.
  • Quoted in Spencer Leigh, "Warren Zevon: Singer-songwriter author of 'Werewolves of London'", The Independent (2003-09-09)

Song Lyrics

• I'll sleep when I'm dead.
  • I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (1976)

• The hurt gets worse and the heart gets harder
  • Accidentally like a martyr (1976)

• Don't the sun look angry through the trees?
  Don't the trees look like crucified thieves?
  • Desperados Under the Eaves (1976)

• Except in dreams, you're never really free.
  • 'Desperados Under the Eaves (1976)

• Don't the sun look angry at me?
  • Desperados Under the Eaves (1976)

• I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand,
  Walking through the streets of Soho in the rain.
  He was looking for a place called Le Ho Fooks.
  Gonna get a big dish of beef chow mein.
  • Werewolves of London (1978)
  • Voted best opening line of all time in a BBC radio poll

• He's the hairy-handed gent, who ran amok in Kent.
  Lately he's been overheard in Mayfair.
  You better stay away from him. He'll rip your lungs out, Jim.
  Huh, I'd like to meet his tailor.
  • Werewolves of London (1978)

• I saw a werewolf drinking a piña colada at Trader Vic's... his hair was perfect.
  • Werewolves of London (1978)

• Send lawyers, guns and money. Dad, get me out of this!
  • Lawyers, Guns & Money (1978)

• Every day I get up in the morning go to work and do my job whatever.
  • Sentimential Hygiene (1987)

• When I was young, times were hard. When I got older it was worse.
  • Long Arm of the Law (1989)

• I'm very well acquainted with the seven deadly sins
  I keep a busy schedule trying to fit them in
  I'm proud to be a glutton and I don't have time for sloth
  I'm greedy and I'm angry and I don't care who I cross.
  • Mr. Bad Example (1991)

• They say love conquers all. You can't start it like a car, you can't stop it with a gun.
  • Searching For a Heart (1991)

• Down in the basement
  I have a Craftsman lathe.
  Show it to the children
  When they misbehave.
  • Model Citizen (1991)

• Life'll kill ya.
  • Life'll Kill Ya (2000)

• My shit's fucked up.
  It had to happen to the best of us.
  The rich folk suffer like the rest of us,
  It will happen to you.
  • My Shit's Fucked Up (2000)

• So I'm gonna hurl myself against the wall, 'cause I'd rather feel bad than not feel anything at all.
  • Ain't That Pretty At All (1982)