No need for false modesty here, WZ you are a GENIUS.....even your lesser lights like 'Things to do in Denver....' are great, thanks to your incisive lyrics....death is but a 'minor inconvenience_'....I'll enjoy every sandwich till we meet_CE_
I love this scene. I see a few have read this scene as being about the coming turmoil for the camp. I personally have never seen it that way, there is a amateur talent show going on in the camp, but Al would never stoop to perform due to his standing in the camp, so he performs, quietly at first, with growing exuberance to the mounted moose head. I believe it shows his pride, further nailed home by his punching of Johnny earlier in the episode for reaching the conclusion before him in decoding Wu's drawings. E.B. also stops Richardson in the middle of his juggling act to which the leader of the acting troop scolds him in parting with "Envy is a cardinal sin". Just another example of the fantastic direction and writing of this series, so many different things to read into.
I completely agree with you, that was my interpretation of that actually quite stunning scene. Oddly this song popped into my head to learn how to sing it and I clicked on the link. Apparently it was a year ago I made my original comment. A staggering piece.
Hi all, I read this "British" magazine, and there was this photo taken at this party of God and the devil with one of their arms on each each shoulder, smiles. With the caption below the image, Fragile truce..... I'm a piece of coal at,. In the threshold of diamondship, carry on.
I think the greatest thing Milch did w the whole show was give you little glimpses into Al outside of the character we first see-the cold-hearted brutal pimp. He takes genuine worry in what’s wrong w Jewel, if only asking Doc in passing to seem as if he doesn’t, his drunken speech before mercy killing reverend Smith, his drunken angry rant after Hearst chopped off his finger about being held down and not being able to help himself, when he jumps from the balcony to protect Alma and the care he gives her and Sofia afterward, and here when he lets slip the littlest bit of an idea that he wouldn’t have minded being something other than he turned out to be.
The lyrics of this song are sublime. Absolutely perfect, then he throws Charlie Sheen in there to make you roll your eyes... If only he had chosen a more timeless example to describe Einstein, and this would be the perfect song. But the more you know Warren, you know how much he loved to write songs about contemporary celebrities..he couldn't resist.
One of the greatest songs Warren ever wrote! Clever, witty lyrics, coupled with a great melody. And the string chart (which Warren wrote and arranged himself!) is magnificent! What a fabulous song!
I recommend the CD box set Buggery...everything they recorded on an 8 CD + 1 DVD box set,the albums,singles,EPs,radio sessions and a couple of live shows - including the split release with Lydia Lunch.
This is Zevon's masterpiece. The string section, unusual chord arrangement, and deeply involving story shows that anything other than this is "best" song is just wrong. This man could have been THE rockstar of the 70/80's but instead chose to follow his genius. My father suggested we watch his last Letterman show when I was young....never did I expect I would discover someone that spoke to me so honestly that years later I would be still so entranced by this man's vision. RIP WZ, your music transcends generations.
