He’s the hairy-handed gent who ran amok in Kent.
It’s such a great line. Such an elegant use of language, so flowing, while at the same time bizarre and funny.
Some people don’t get Werewolves of London, but to me, a song that lets you howl during the chorus needs no explanation. I’ve often imagined that the song was written around the excuse to howl, or perhaps around an image of a werewolf at Trader Vic’s or of Lon Chaney Jr. with the Queen. (This is a hobby of mine, imagining how a song came to be written. Okay, not much of a hobby. But I digress.)
Well, while looking for a link for lyrics to add to this post, I found the real story:
Zevon wrote this with guitarist Robert “Waddy” Wachtel. When Zevon was working with The Everly Brothers, he hired Wachtel to play in their backing band. At one point, Phil Everly asked them to write a dance song for the Everly Brothers called “Werewolves Of London.” Wachtel and Zevon were good friends and were strumming guitars together when someone asked what they were playing. Zevon replied, “Werewolves Of London,” and Wachtel started howling. Zevon came up with the line “I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand,” and they traded lyrics back and forth until they had their song.
Anyway, I’d like to meet his tailor.
And it was a great song for him to tailor to an audience….. there’s a famous live version of it that was recorded at The Main Point, in which he sings of the “Werewolves of Bryn Mawr”… but you can put just about any name in there.
I loved Zevon – “Lawyers, Guns, and Money”, “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner”, “Excitable Boy” (now there’s a sick puppy), “Accidentally Like a Martyr”, “Poor, Poor Pitiful Me”…. he had a knack with lyrics and a musical hook. R.I.P., Warren…..
Enjoy Every Sandwich.
If you didn’t, you must see the documentary of the recording of his final project. Beautiful. Heartwrenching.
I didn’t see that documentary. Actually didn’t know it existed, so thanks.
Ken, I have a Greatest Hits that has all those songs. Just great, great stuff.
but to me, a song that lets you howl during the chorus needs no explanation
Great line.
I love that song too–I had that first album, with all the songs Ken mentioned. Plus there was one where I don’t remember anything but a snippet of chorus, that always makes me laugh: “‘Sweet Home Alabama’, play that dead band’s song…” 😉
Warren Zevon: Inside Out is available on Netflix. I just added it to my queue.
I LOVE Warren Zevon. I was lucky enough to see him in concert in the 80″s
makes me think I will pick up one of his CD’s