ADD: Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner (Zevon)

Subject: roland the headless thompson gunner
From: early 70,s
Date: 23 Apr 97 - 11:27 AM

can not find listing. unsure of titel. can you help.

Subject: RE: unsure
From: John O'Keefe
Date: 23 Apr 97 - 02:49 PM

I'm not sure of the style. Is it a Folk, Rock, or Country song? Is it a Ballad? Do you know any of the Lyrics at all? I don't recognize the "title" you've given, but it is possible I have the tune. I'll look around for anything that matches, but more info would be helpful. John

Subject: Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner
From: LaMarca
Date: 28 Apr 97 - 12:45 PM

Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner was written by Warren Zevon, author of "Werewolves of London", and is on his "Excitable Boy" album. Try looking in

http://www.vhf.com/~kennyb/lyrics.htm

under Warren Zevon (I haven't, so I don't know if it's there but that site has links to lots of other rock music sites).

Subject: Music: Jackets Green
From: Kate
Date: 13 Apr 97 - 05:06 PM

I am looking for the music and lyrics to "Jackets Green". I have a recording by Mary O'Dowd of this song and it's really beautiful (IMHO). Thanks

Subject: Lyr Add: ROLAND THE HEADLESS THOMPSON GUNNER
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Nov 22 - 05:55 PM

ROLAND THE HEADLESS THOMPSON GUNNER
Words and music by Warren Zevon & David Lindell
As recorded by Warren Zevon on “Excitable Boy,” 1978.

Roland was a warrior from the Land of the Midnight Sun
With a 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 sixty-six and seven 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-bitch Van Owen blew off Roland's head.

Roland the headless Thompson gunner,
Norway's bravest son (to even 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 Mombasa 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,
Talkin' about the man,
Roland the headless Thompson gunner.

The eternal Thompson gunner still wandering 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.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRWCK9zGynA

Subject: RE: ADD: Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner (Zevon)
From: Mrrzy
Date: 24 Nov 22 - 03:07 PM

This is totally a ballad.

What a great album.

Subject: RE: ADD: Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner (Zevon)
From: robomatic
Date: 25 Nov 22 - 12:42 AM

Heard him sing this solo in downtown Boston in the 80s.