that got dark. Warren Zevon - Excitable Boy (REACTION)

[@sidecardog5244]

Sounds like it’s time for the excitable boy to send in the Lawyers, Guns, and Money.

[@wayne_twentyfive]

Yep ! .. I reckon that's gotta be the next cab off the rank .. Perhaps followed by "Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner" or "For My Next Trick I'll Need A Volunteer" ( a real hidden gem )

[@imaginosdesdinova1130]

@@wayne_twentyfive Most definitely Roland. That was a great song.

[@wayne_twentyfive]

@@imaginosdesdinova1130 Certainly was .. It happened to be the last song that Warren ever performed live ( On the Letterman Show ) .. A classic !

[@adderon]

Those lawyers guns and money keep the excitable boys out of jail

[@pantsman272]

My brother danced with my mother at his wedding to Zevon's 'Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner'. It's not exactly a wedding song but our family has always adored Zevon and his peculiarities. RIP

[@stephensmith3111]

🎶Oooooh-wah-ooh. Ooh-ooh. Excitable Boy. 🎶 -- Linda Ronstadt and Jennifer Warnes

[@KneeAches]

The crack up is that it sounds like a fun/feel good song.

[@sagegoodwin1]

Such a great album. My favorite song by him is on this album- Tenderness On The Block. It’s not like this one, but delves into having a daughter and knowing you gotta relinquish your grip a bit. It’s a sweet song. Love the channel :)

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

Linda Ronstadt recorded a version of Zevon’s “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” which is really really good.

[@medmon3476]

Linda also covered some other Warren Zevon songs that are all worth checking out - Carmelita, Hasten Down the Wind and Mohammed's radio. While we're on the subject - she did the backing vocals on Excitable Boy !! Linda was really supporting Warren as much as she could it seems ( which is one of several reasons why I admire her).

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

@@medmon3476 yes I forgot about those. Carmelita and the others are all really good too.

[@samuelmregister]

Linda is singing here!

[@allenelliott4964]

Though Ronstadt chose not to include the final verse on Poor Poor Pitiful Me.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

@@allenelliott4964 now I’m curious.

[@justathought88]

Have always loved Warren Zevon. My favorite song is "Carmelita". Poignant. Touching. Heartbreaking. Beautiful.

[@ericanderson8886]

lol this song, so brutal, but such a catchy tune. Love it.

[@darcysalas3042]

I agree.

[@nerdthatknits]

I grew up listening to Warren Zevon. I loved all his music. So many amazing songs, I’m so happy people are learning about them.

[@Diecastclassicist]

Warren Zevon was one of my favorites. I miss him.

[@DawnSuttonfabfour]

Amen

[@judytolle8696]

My best friend lived in California and got to see him several times. She became a rabid Zevon fan. I had a hard time convincing her that even out here in the backwoods of Texas we had heard of Warren. But then....she was just an excitable girl.

[@recyclerhopkins]

Daniel, since you like this type of humor, you should check out Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner from the same album. You'd also like Play it All Night Long, Porcelain Monkey, For my next trick I'll need a volunteer and Mr. Bad Example.

[@wayne_twentyfive]

All great suggestions .. I rarely hear "For My Next Trick I'll Need A Volunteer" mentioned in requests to reactors, but it is an absolute gem .. Such a touching and vulnerable song, disguised by humour and a jaunty melody .. One of my very favourites !

[@rdumontdebeque]

Roland agrees!

[@rydelldownward7808]

Roland!

[@sfbayareagirl]

Warren Zevon was an excellent singer-songwriter with an odd edge-which I loved. David Lettermen also LOVED him and had him on his show many times. He also famously had Zevon on for his final appearance before he died (expectedly) of lung cancer. I think he had Warren on for the entire hour-long show. Very emotional including performances. A beautiful and tear-jerking song he wrote at the end (and sang on Letterman) was “Keep Me In Your Heart for a While.” The album version is fine to listen to, as well as probably any live version. I always loved that Letterman appreciated Zevon so much. You can look up many clips on YT, of course, and any live performances of Warren’s are worth watching. Enjoy. ❤

[@dogstar7]

You got it in one. Search out the live version of Zevon's masterpiece 'Veracruz' with Jackson Browne singing harmony. That and 'Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner' are two semihistorical works that give insight into the darkness of war itself. Zevon was the son of a shady diplomat who "lived the life" in the post-colonial free-for-all of the mid-20th century.

[@MasterMalrubius]

Love the look when you hit "those" lyrics. "Should I be nodding along to this?".

[@billbitterman9487]

Excitable Boy is a GREAT album. It is in my personal top 10 favorite albums. While it does have Werewolves on it, I consider the title track, Lawyers Guns and Money, Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner, and Accidentally Like a Martyr all better songs. Daniel, I am going to assume you are a reader. I would recommend the book you mentioned...I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (also one of his song titles). Warren requested that his ex-wife write it and pull no punches about his life. It is a very interesting biography that will show Warren's genius as a musician as well as his faults and weakness. He was unique and one of the most fascinating rock and roll personalities ever.

[@deborahdean]

Warren is still my favorite artist. He has some beautiful music too like Desperadoes Under the Eaves. I hope you get to hear more of him than just his commercially successful stuff. Linda Rondstadt covered several of his songs.

[@InvidiousProductions]

Warren Z is the gift that keeps on giving. For me ‘Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner’ is for me his most vivid horror song. Like something from an old EC comic.

[@mizzo9]

An amazing song is “my shits fucked up” which he wrote and performed while he knew he was dying of cancer. Look up his last (of 40 or more) appearances on David Letterman. He knew he was dying soon but he still had a sense of humor.

[@martymar1964]

It's such a cheerfully f*cked up song.

[@dantallman5345]

Good reaction. The book you referenced, I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead (the Life and Times of Warren Zevon) is an interesting read.and adds context to many WZ songs. Crystal Zevon was instructed by Warren to write it all down, good, bad and ugly.

[@wayne_twentyfive]

It's a very interesting book indeed .. A MUST read for any big time Warren Zevon fan .. And Crystal did exactly what she was asked to do .. It's a real warts and all account of the flawed genius that was Warren Zevon.

[@UnbelievablyGauche]

Thing I don’t understand is, when you hear one or two Zevon songs, how you don’t go and listen to his entire back catalogue.

[@apostle6100]

Dark lyrics with a jaunty tune...brilliant!

[@bwana-ma-coo-bah425]

brilliant!!! Warren Zevon was David Letterman's favourite singer song writer. its amazing the p.m.r.c. didn't jump on this. maybe he just couldn't right a love song?

[@samuelmregister]

Take a close look at who plays and sings on this track- pretty remarkable.

[@amethystjones1038]

Warren is incredible!

[@maruad7577]

Werewolves of London, Roland the headless Thompson gunner and more. Warren had a dark sense of humour.

[@wynnssecret8882]

"What the hell is happening"🤣😂😅

[@KevinRCarr]

All that darkness, plays out over that bouncy tune and those cheerful background singers. One of my all time favorite songs, for its contrasts and its dark smirk at itself.

[@SpiralOfWhite]

The perfect reaction, "Wait, what did he say? Whelp I guess he said that, *nervous smile* what the hell?"

[@markconnolly312]

Hey Daniel. Always enjoy your reaction videos! Really insightful and fun from the perspective of a young man (like I was 40 years ago). I had to mention the look on your face when he sings about the Junior Prom and digging up her grave... you just had that look of "uh, what just happened here"? Anyway, try "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" for the same album. It's really great and just as wonderfully bizarre and creepy!

[@ayerger1734]

Great song! 🙂👍

[@DawnSuttonfabfour]

WARREN!!! Love and adore him. Pick anything by him, it's all good.

[@jondhuse1549]

And the tune is so cheerful...

[@dan112965]

The look on his face was priceless

[@amethystjones1038]

I loved it!

[@Ronkarona]

One of the greatest album of all time

[@davidmaholchic6146]

Great artist great song love you

[@allenelliott4964]

Zevon takes extremely dark lyrics and places them over a light happy sounding music track. Those bouncy background vocals on the song are non other than the great Linda Ronstadt herself. Ronstadt covered 4 Zevon songs on her albums ( Poor Poor Pitiful Me, Carmelita, Hasten Down the Wind and Mohammed's Radio). Zevon's self titled "Warren Zevon" is a masterpiece. Excitable Boy got him national attention. After a down period in his life, he cleaned up his act and delivered the great "Mr. Bad Example" album. Listen to "Finishing Touches" or "Mr. Bad Example" for a taste of Zevon's genius and humor.

[@wayne_twentyfive]

Great reaction and analysis, Daniel .. Glad you are intending to do more of Warren at some point .. Along with all the many other brilliant WZ songs you will be asked to check out, please make a point to include "For My Next Trick I'll Need A Volunteer" on your list .. This gem is so lyrically wonderful and funny, but it's a real heartbreaker of a song about someone who's really unlucky in love.

[@frankied1107]

Warren Zevon and Randy Newman both did a lot of great satirical songs. Thanks for posting this and reacting to it.

[@Steelers2116]

Thanks to your channel, I've learned of this exceptional artist. He was as courageous in life as he was in the face of death.

[@dotar9586]

I can't think of a Warren Zevon song that I don't like. Though there are a few I'll skip over, unless I'm in the "right" mood. It's interesting to see who some of his "backup" singers were, and some of the songs he shows up in.

[@geraldbryden6720]

It's the genius of dark content in a peppy pop song.

[@faithnyou1732]

Love Warren! "Lawyers, Guns and Money" should be your next WZ reaction (link below)! Thanks for this reaction, Daniel! Your reaction was priceless. Great analysis too. 💙✌ kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGOreWqAYrirbpI

[@paknokaltara7847]

Greetings from Indonesia mate

[@ricksamericana749]

Warren Zevon was one of LA rocks wild and crazy men. If you're too young to have known of Zevon while he was alive I strongly suggest reading one of the several biographies on him. "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead: The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon" is my favorite.

[@minkhollow]

It is probably a small mercy that I didn't suggest this song for my Kindergarten About Me Mix Tape. This album was a cornerstone of my childhood, but I definitely didn't understand most of it when I was six, just knew it was good music. (My first suggestion was "Lawyers, Guns and Money," and my follow-up when Mom vetoed that was "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner." We compromised on "Johnny Strikes Up the Band.") I've long since taken this song to be the logical extreme of 'boys will be boys.' If you never teach them to behave and respect people's boundaries, you get shit like this.

[@cherylreichardt]

I love Warren Zevon! Those are some lyrics but I love the song!

[@shumirules1]

Anyone who likes Warren Zevon is a person I will have drink with.

[@noelheaton5098]

Daniel, we lost a special talent.you might try listening to "keep me in your heart" he wrote this prior to his passing form a cancer and new he had three months to live.

[@karenmandeville7116]

Love the look on your face! Such a bop of a tune, with such dark lyrics! check out Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner!

[@glenndespres5317]

Yes! More Zevon. Lawyers Guns and Money and then some Tenderness On the Block.

[@bensteckler6698]

along a similar line, check out Oingo Boingo's "Only A Lad", released within a year of this, I believe.

[@jeffreybaker4399]

"He took little Suzie to the junior prom" is a reference to The Everly Brothers "Wake Up Little Susie". Warren had a close relationship with the brothers.

[@clawdewd7809]

You want some dark Zevon? Check out his song "My Shit's Fucked Up", about his discovery he was dying of cancer.Obviously, you can't do it here, but have a listen!

[@eirikasbjrnberg8753]

I really do appreciate the quality of your reviews . I grew up in 70s. My first 3 albums I bought at 13 The Who , Pete Townshends (Who came first ) and Van Der Graafs first album which have the great song Afterwards . TH least great concert i watch was with THurston Moore in Moscow some years ago. Psychedelic . Unfortunately after Conor Oberst / Bright Eyes I seldom hear good new music. I am sure there is. Good luck onwards !

[@DawnSuttonfabfour]

If you like Conor then check out Josh Rouse.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

A couple of earlier psycho killer songs are “Psycho” recorded by Jack Kittel and the the truly disturbing song “Knoxville Girl” by the Louvin Brothers which is probably the inspiration for all psycho killer songs. The Louvin Brothers were amazing singer songwriters in the old time country genre, worth checking out. Great reaction, your face when the lyrics kicked in gave me a laugh. Thanks.

[@wayne_twentyfive]

"Pyscho" is a classic ! .. I think the Jack Kittel and Beasts of Bourbon versions are the 2 standouts .. And yes, the Louvin Brothers were fantastic songwriters .. My favourite of theirs is "If I Could Only Win Your Love", done so beautifully by Emmylou Harris ( with Herb Pedersen duetting ) in 1974 .. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHq2ammdnJ1ngrs .. Cheers, Wayne

[@GripAttack777]

I saw another reaction to this song, and the reviewer was so busy vibing to the song, that they glossed over how increasingly disturbing the lyrics became lol. Glad you took the time to go into detail. It caught me off guard too lol.

[@dannaphys5008]

The song is a take on when someone kills another, people are interviewed and say things like “ I would have never expected he would do such a thing, I remember him as “just an excitable boy.”

[@jeffreyray6442]

If you don't know it already it's almost impossible to understand that the final verse is a synopsis of the end of The Hunchback Of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo. Yeah.Warren was a genius

[@steveturner3999]

Every track on this album is great.

[@dp7933]

This was tied for my favorite album when I was 8 years old (A Wild and Crazy Guy in the mix). Also on this album, "Werewolves of London", "Veracruz is Dying", "Lawyers Guns and Money", "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner". Despite that, there has been hardly any cages filled with bones in my life or African mercenary action.

[@jonassundell9366]

Haha. Me Neither. You R so f- ing hilarious, squire.

[@paulkingartwerks7981]

Lawyers, Guns and Money next.

[@tetsuoishiki4677]

Little Susie was a nod to the Everley Brothers with whom Warren worked with.

[@darcysalas3042]

Yes, I did stick around LOL. I agree with you with the song even though I was ulp beat. And guess what,, you will laugh but I was just thinking about you and the videos. I know it is silly but in a good way.

[@Keving3]

One can only wish that Warren had started sooner and lived longer

[@Jiggs2u2]

When you pass away and a legend like Bob Dylan starts covering a couple of your songs including Accidentally like a Martyr off of that album, that's all you need to know about how well respected Warren Zevon was.

[@karengoodenough827]

Glad you got the commentary kind of being a observation of current society, I figured that out as a teenager when I first heard this song, and it has just continued and grown for all these years, it seems that everyone wants to excuse other’s behaviors, excuse what they do due to drugs, bad childhood or mental illness, it almost seems that the media has more sympathy/ empathy for the offenders rather than who they hurt, this has always been probably my fav Zevon song despite the dark but very oddly humorous delivery

[@stpnwlf9]

This album was Warren's 'breakthrough' and it also established his dark, macabre sense of humor. At the same time, it contains two extremely beautiful ballads - Accidentally Like a Martyr and Veracruz. Warren could write emotionally powerful and deeply moving songs, but he could also blow your mind with bizarre, morbid, and disturbing lyrics.

[@adderon]

Think of the excitable boy as a dog. It helps the Stepford families deal with their excitable ones

[@danl.909]

Great songs on that album. "Werewolves of London" and "Lawyers, Guns & Money" are my favorites.

[@sharonm6262]

Great song, great artist. This may be just a local thing but I heard the Yakity Sax song every day as a child; it was the theme for Lorenzo the Clown, the host of a children's cartoon show. So intentional or not, it adds just a touch of happy childhood nostalgia to contrast even more with the dark lyrics.

[@EmpathicCelt]

Just got to watch your coverage of XTC's Dear God, so I would love to see your views on Concrete Blonde's " Tomorrow, Wendy" (Bloodletting CD, 1990)

[@scottromer8584]

Happy tune/melody with messed up lyrics. Love this song. Lawyers, Guns, & Money, Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner also very good songs.

[@billbitterman9487]

Another side note, Warren ran with the crowd that included members of the Eagles and many of the Laurel Canyon musicians(Look that up). Jackson Browne was key in getting Warren recorded and produced the self-titled album that came out previous to Excitable Boy. Finally, you should have his final album The Wind on your listening list. He made that one after he was diagnosed with mesothelioma. The album is at once inspiring and heartbreaking and the list of the great musicians that showed up to help him make the record is a who's who of music at the time.

[@recyclerhopkins]

Warren and Jackson Browne toured together and were billed as The Pretender and The Offender.

[@dynodon9182]

Talented and troubled musician. LAWYERS, GUNS AND MONEY. He was great in concert when Excitable Boy was released.

[@gabrieleflannery6504]

Made my day! Always love Zevon's wit and brilliant lyrics. Society is already there sadly, it often seems that the criminal is given more deference than the victims. You should definitely listen to " I Don't Like Mondays" by the Boomtown Rats, the lead singer is Bob Geldof who played Pink in P.F's The Wall. Great review Daniel, thanks again. 🎶

[@rydelldownward7808]

Thee are a whole lot more numbers I’d recommend over Mondays, but the Rats are well worth exploring.

[@gabrieleflannery6504]

@@rydelldownward7808 there are, however I believe Daniel would find that song darkly intriguing since it's written about an actual event. The composition and lyrics are also quite masterful.

[@mattshaw6180]

I know you've had many Zevon recommendations, but I'd like to make sure "The French Inhaler" from his eponymous 1976 album gets mentioned. The lyrics alone are elegantly stark, and the piano & vocals are spot on. It is a very representative Warren Zevon composition.

[@brendanc.8019]

A great statement on society making excuses for the privileged.

[@timwhitnell7145]

One of the happiest-sounding killer songs you'll ever hear, up there with The Beatles' (McCartney's) Maxwell's Silver Hammer. Warren was king of satire and dark humour. Lawyers, Guns and Money, Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner and Tenderness On The Block are all excellent songs off the classic Excitable Boy album.

[@ewrekzz7360]

This song was relatively popular, and for all the sarcastic reasons that make it still worth evaluating. Warren Zevon is a cerebral artist, in the same way George Carlin is a cerebral comedian.

[@mustangdebbie56]

For dark humor and light upbeat music, try some of Weird Al's original songs such as Good Old Days or I Remember Larry.

[@brittonparnell2168]

It's often said that life imitates art, but I've always felt it was the other way around. Art is a mirror reflecting life. It should always be okay to talk about darkness artistically as long as such darkness actually exists in real life. Hopefully such affects positive change. Would love for you to check out Zevon's Carmelita.

[@arcum42]

Already was familiar with the song, but it does make me want to suggest you listen to Oingo Boingo's "Only A Lad" as well...

[@EC-dz3fb]

This was the 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 - 3:18 😹

[@bobangell1679]

There is not a single Zevon song that I do not like and the vast majority I absolutely love. Every suggestion in these comments is valid. "You've got an invalid haircut And it hurts when you smile..." "Life'll Kill Ya." Did anyone mention "Hula Hula Boys" or "Model Citizen" ("Down in the basement/I've got a Craftsman Lathe/Show it to the children/When they misbehave") "Sentimental Hygiene" (featuring Neil Young) And on and on and on...

[@steveowens2505]

Thought you would get it. Just wanted to see your brain take in the lyrics while bopping to the music. Linda Ronstadt and Jennifer Warren provide the girl vocals.

[@markfadness9204]

Jennifer Warnes ("Up Where We Belong" w/Joe Cocker; "Right Time of the Night")

[@paulrt3]

You need to check out GEORGE BAKER SELECTION - Little green bag

[@joefilter2923]

What happens to us when he goes to college?

[@ultraredd]

Funny how an upbeat tune can disguise disturbing lyrics.

[@recyclerhopkins]

Steely Dan ? ?

[@snowqueen_8958]

Throbbing gristle- slug bait parts 1-3

[@Yosef1952]

Yeah, the lyrics are very darkly humorous. I don't really like 'em that much, tbh, and it's unsettling to see them sung in a concert video with everyone jumping up and down excitedly. But WZ was way talented, no doubt.

[@jaemyrick5277]

I’m suggesting a song called “ I Don’t Like Mondays” by The Boomtown Rats. They are from London. This is a DARK SONG, Daniel. Can you react to the lyric video, Under the name, Mateo J I have requested this track for two years. I’d truly appreciate your reaction to it. Thanks.

[@swampfizz]

Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner is good

[@gp8209]

Check out French Inhaler, probably his best

[@timebandito4278]

More Smiths!!

[@markmurphy558]

Linda Ronstadt did a good cover of this song.

[@jonassundell9366]

Boys will be... skip the 2 amandmend

[@jaemyrick5277]

Warren Zeavon had a warped sense of humor with three of his songs. But “Excitable Boy” is appalling, Daniel. I remember hearing Excitable Boy when I was a teenager at 14 or 15. I sang this song in my parents house out loud, paid no attention to the lyrics, but I sang the “hook”. The protagonist takes his date to their Prom and then later violates her sexually? And uses her bones for…. Whatever. That’s sick and disturbing!! I’m a female. Warren died in 2003. Losing his battle to cancer. R.I.P. Warren Good reaction Daniel.