Warren Zevon - Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner

[TheJeromeFJ]

Time, time, time .... for another peaceful war.

[UtubeOwRuckaAapology]

I could listen to this song 17 times a day... Never gets old. When the snare drums come in at the end it still gives me goosebumps...

[probinson1337]

In some people's mythologies Thor stalks Loki throughout eternity, in my mythology Roland stalks that sonofabitch Van Owen. 

[ThePotatoChef]

Im 13 and love all this mans songs expecially this one :D

[Nightfall95]

I love this song, definitely one of my all time favorite Warren Zevon songs. This whole album is amazing. Every time I hear this I think of Roland from The Dark Tower series. Just without being headless lol

[1taz1waz]

@Nightfall95 the guy is named after this song

[Geckoinc2]

Troland was a warrior, he trolled the forums

[JohnGreasyGamer]

Shame that he died. He left me mourning him, holding my head high while giving a 21 gun salute whilst playing this song aloud.

May Warren Zevon never be forgotten. ^_^ Nor will you for uploading this ^_^

[2012Ascenscion]

R.I.P. Mr. Zevon

[Sturmdude]

I think it's funny how speilberg used the character names in this song for the second Jurassic park movie.

[christianmarr]

@Sturmdude he did it on purpose as a tribute to Warren Zevon because if im not mistaken the first Jurassic park was made the year Zevon died

[Gostwriterindisguise]

"Roland aimed his Thompson gun

He didn't say a word"

Well how could he? After all, he had no head.

[merudemeanaholeasian]

I knew a Chinese guy named roland

[merudemeanaholeasian]

Hmm good song

[1973timc]

i love the story, great song.

[IndianaParkWars]

roland tembo from the lost world jurassic park was named after this song!!

[tankboy357]

Love Warren. Sunday nights in the early 80's, the bartender at Tug's Tavern (Pacific Beach, CA) played his greatest hits album in its entirety. I saw him live in a small club in La Jolla. Years later, I found that some drill instructors taught the song to their platoons to sing while marching in the field. Ah, the glory days of the Corps........ I sang the song again recently during a painful hike in Big Sur. I do miss Warren Zevon. He was one of the few original songwriters of all time

[rattinox]

@tankboy357 Amen, Brother. Semper Fi.

[GilderRohr]

what?! why 2 dislikes?

[melvintehsheep]

@GilderRohr because they failed to kill the guy that blew their heads off

[superjeppeZ]

why in Denmark?



[Monty1994]

great song but the end is just awful. It's almost like it doesn't belong to the rest of the song.

oh well, still a good song.

[TheBlueHeroes]

Amazing what music can do.

[doctoroctagonapus23]

2 people got their heads blown off

[ScotsLyon]

@doctoroctagonapus23

2 ppl should get their heads blow off!

[betrayeduser]

Oh my holy fucking god this is the shit.

[Froebs]

This song rocks.

[razorblade530]

one of the most awesome songs ever recorded.

[SuperMac2007]

1 person is a fucking idiot.

[BossBass7o7]

@SuperMac2007 Agreed.

[AnotherOneNow]

Great tune.

[TheBerserker50]

@flossyleech1 thanks man. so very cool.

[jchofler3]

I have always loved this song, and over the years have sat in countless aircraft heading into Johannesburgh, Beirut, Damascus, Harare, Lusaka,.. and other places humming it to myself. It's really quite motivational. LOL

[probinson1337]

@jchofler3 LOL, and if I had a dollar for everytime I have nervously hummed Lawyers, Guns and Money when the situation called for all three......we're "folks of a certain age"

[rckfour]

lol, my name is Roland and my dad told me that I had to listen to this song. Love it now!

[musiclover2264]

Zevon was a genius songwriter and very good vocalist / performer. Too bad he died before his time.

[william98683]

i first heard this track on one of those free CDs you get with Uncut magazine, and i listened to it till it started looking like a grinding disc.... thanks a million for posting

[Swarthington]

Roland's story could have made a great movie.

[DonTheCritic]

Warren Zevon

1/24/1947 - 9/7/2003

RIP Warren and Happy Birthday!

You were one the most interesting men in the history of music!

[pistolpete308]

When I was in the army, I had a 1st Sgt who used to sing this as a cadence call. I was always really intrigued by the lyrics, and imagine my surprise when i looked this up one day to find that it was an actual song.

It really saddens me that someone with this much talent was so largely ignored while no-talent assclowns reap the fame and fortune they do not deserve.

RIP Warren

[MrHowyadoin101]

this song makes me sad...because my name is Owen:(

[RaptureandZune]

@MrHowyadoin101 Burn in hell, traitor!!! lol.

[keithlove23]

@MrHowyadoin101 sucks to be

[TheHedLssTh0Ms0nGunR]

Woah... well someone copied someone

[donttrustsideways]

I'm 25 and heard this song when I was 7 years old. I've loved it since, a great Ballad

[WishfullSinfull]

im 17 years old and his music is my favourate , he should have lived on forever makeing music

[jegerbims]

Why was the deal made in Denmark?? :)

[marcaus21]

@jegerbims He was from Norway and making his way to the continent and then onto Africa. I gather:)

[rocktenniscat]

'Loved this album SO much back in the day. Wore out the grooves. 'Just purchased it on CD last year. Warren played in Calgary (where I had a summer job, - I think it was 1977). He was totally nuts, started climbing the stage scaffolding. Just one of many crazed things he did in his lifetime. What a wonderful writer and performer. You are missed, Mr. Zevon!

[TheIcream12]

Class song

[wilkester]

Now this is what I'm talking about!!!

[tomelifeisjustonebig]

That fucker Van Owen!

[mp3man47]

Had a friend named Roland, a bullet to the ended his life. I heard this on the radio last and struck me like lightening. Art imitates life and sometimes life imitates art. RIP Roland.

[Hudson15983]

"Enjoy every sandwich" RIP Warren

[123trymeout]

@Hudson15983 is that from david letterman when warren was on there? good quote :) have a good day sir.

[XxXmageeXxX]

awsome, first song i listening to with swearing lloolll

[MasacruRo]

I love it!

[discovteam06]

But of all the thompson gunner's, Roland was the best

[TheAloich]

damn good song

[soundedsilence32]

they say that this song calmes down babies in there car seat

[mutzwillkillyou]

i miss this man so much, it hurts.

[RepCom1140]

should have been in Far Cry 2 at some point

[McHaleMega]

@RepCom1140 I know, that would have been awesome.

[1taz1waz]

@RepCom1140 yeah, would have been awesome

[sku24905]

THE ETERNAL THOMPSON GUNNER=WARREN ZEVON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

R.I.P. Norway's bravest son

[misconduckt]

I wonder if Jello Biafra's lyric writing upbringing was influenced by Zevon

[halorunescaper]

oh yeah! i just pack a punched my thompson to the gibs-o-matic!!!!!! woot!!!!!!!!!

[JKJ1900]

I have a question for everyone. What do you belive Warren means when he says that Pattey Hearst 'Bought it'. The best answer that I have heard is that it means Patty Hearst bought into the lifestyle that Roland lived. Killing for money, and using violence to bring about political and social change. Since at the time Patty Hearst was most famous for attemping to rob a bank and get money for the guerilla group The SLA that she had willingly joined after they kidnapped her. Any other ideas?

[phud1975]

@JKJ1900 Hmmm...good interpretation. Maybe he wanted it to be ambivalent, like she: 1) was killed by Roland or 2) bought his gun, literally. I respectfully disagree w/ you re/ Hearst willingness to join the SLA. She was repeatedly raped, threatened and brainwashed. BTW/ for other songs about mercenaries check out The La's "Son of a Gun" (1990) and "Billy's Bones" by the Pogues (1985).

[JKJ1900]

@phud1975 Thankyou. I did not know what had happened to Hearst while the SLA held her captive and I am sorry for that. As well I also thought that perhaps Warren meant that Hearst 'Bought it' by dieing but I had doubted it since she is still alive, but then again some of the other events mentioned in this song did not go along as they do in the lyrics from what I've read.

[Loosetear]

@JKJ1900 Sure...Stockholm Syndrome.

[garyjohna]

@JKJ1900 That's always been the way I've interpreted it.

[captnswing]

@JKJ1900 : Warren Z could have been referring to the 'Stockholm Syndrome', as personified by the SLA terrorists who inherited the vengefulness and anger of 'the eternal Thompson Gunner' and used it to break down Ms Hearst. That's just my interpretation. One thing that is beyond debate, though - This is one of the most KICK ASS songs ever written, by a true legend of contemporary music. R.I.P. Mr Zevon.

[tomelifeisjustonebig]

@JKJ1900 My interpretation: The story (of Roland) is what it literally appears to be - a joke. Someone (presumably in the SLA) told her Roland's story and she naively believed it to be true.

[Smackdaddy9]

@TheWeatherman1987  It was.

[Loosetear]

RIP, Warren....you'll always be a great piece of work.

[garyjohna]

My favorite Zevon song, it shows his wit and humor, and tells a great story. He is sorely missed!

[gastoid44]

The classics will never die,Not until those with will for true music die and yet onwards this song shall move

[watswrongwithamerica]

WAIT A SECOND! how is 3 doors down in related videos too Warren Zevon, that's a shame. LOL.

[doctortimwalker]

One of the greatest songs ever written, from one of the greatest, most shamefully undervalued songwriters of our times. Enjoy every sandwich, Warren. x

[WoodRatGirl]

Thank you very much for uploading this. Shame that there's not more great uploads on here, from his "Excitable Boy" album besides "Werewolves of London."

[TNA796]

@WoodRatGirl You must be able to find Lawyers Guns and Money on here

[WoodRatGirl]

@TNA796

Only some live performances. All I want to view is the album track.

[TNA796]

@WoodRatGirl google it?

[WoodRatGirl]

@TNA796

Smart arse :-P

[cheesymoustache]

Best song ever written

[L0Z7AT]

This song is fantastic, one of the greatest narrative songs I've ever heard :P his voice is great, and his song-writing remains unmatched.

[direwoof3]

@flossyleech1 Great story!!! I had this on 45 when I was a kid. This is my brother and I's Get Happy song!

[enjoythewildUSA]

Wild song. I have never heard this before.