"Keep Me In Your Heart" - Warren Zevon

I'll admit I’ve been a bad "blogger" lately. I've been so busy with other things that I haven't posted as often as I'd like, and the last post I did put out was written more from guilt than creativity. You'll be happy to know that I’m back though, and truly inspired. It's hard to draw inspiration to write about these songs if I try force myself, it has to come to me organically. The other day I stumbled upon some inspiration in a totally un-music related convo with a friend. I won't get into the details of the conversation, but at one point he referred to a "Swan song". I'd never heard this term before so I made him explain it, and then later googled the hell out of it.  

I am a huge fan of myths, folklore and legends so I was ridiculously intrigued by the concept of a "Swan song". According to an ancient legend the "Mute Swan” spends it's whole lifetime completely silent, until the moment before it dies, when it sings a beautiful song. In society today a "Swan song" refers to, "a final theatrical or dramatic appearance, or any final work or accomplishment." The performer realizes it's their last performance so they give it their everything. The idea of a "Swan song" was so beautiful to me that I had to figure out a way to incorporate it into my blog. At first I thought, "what would my swan song be?" I mean initially I thought I'd choose a favorite by Bob Dylan or Tom Petty. After much thought I decided to write about a song which can literally be considered this artist's "Swan song."

Warren Zevon will go down in rock history as a great musician, but few people are familiar with his work. His biggest mainstream hit was, "Werewolves of London". He was best known for his covers of famous songs, and for writing songs with themes of history and politics. He frequented the role of guest band leader on the Late Show with David Letterman. Throughout his life Zevon described a phobia of doctors, and admitted he had rarely seen a physician. In 2002 after feeling continuously ill he was persuaded to see a doctor who diagnosed him with inoperable cancer. In typical Warren Zevon style, he refused treatment and instead began work on his final album, "The Wind"

October 30, 2002, Zevon was the featured and only guest on the Late Show with David Letterman where he played his final performance. He performed a series of songs and spoke about his illness. When asked by Letterman his thoughts on life and death he replied, "Enjoy every sandwich." He thanked Letterman for all of his help and after his performance gave him his guitar that he had always used on the show, saying, "Here, I want you to have this, take good care of it."

Zevon lived to see the birth of his twin grandsons and accomplished his goal of staying alive long enough to see the next "James Bond" movie come out, "Die Another Day". He also lived long enough to see his final album, "The Wind", be released and succeed. Following his death in September 2003, "The Wind" received five Grammy nominations, (One nomination for "Song of the Year" for, "Keep Me In Your Heart") and won two Grammy Awards. His posthumous Grammy awards were the first in Zevon's 30-year music career.


Although his final album, "The Wind", was an incredible piece of work in itself, the one song that could truly be identified as Zevon's "Swan song", is "Keep Me in Your Heart." The lyrics to the song are beautifully sad but the tempo remains upbeat and mellow. In the song Zevon sends the message that just because, "I leave you it doesn't mean I love you any less". Although soon he will be gone, he asks, "Keep me in your heart for awhile." He says,"To think of him and smile" , "when you're doing simple things around the house."

I am not an overly religious person, but I would consider myself spiritual. It is so comforting to think that the people that have passed continue to live on all around us. "Ashes to Ashes and Dust to Dust", meaning we came from dust and we return to dust. It's a reminder that everything is part of a natural cycle, and that we will always end where we began. It's reassuring to think that we are absorbed back into nature and our spirit lives on in the beauty that surrounds us. So never think of your loved ones as "gone", because you will find them in a raindrop, a flower, or as Bob Dylan said of his idol Woody Guthrie, "In the Grand Canyon at sundown."

Shadows are falling and I'm running out of breath

Keep me in your heart for awhile
If I leave you it doesn't mean I love you any less
Keep me in your heart for awhile


When you get up in the morning and you see that crazy sun
Keep me in your heart for awhile
There's a train leaving nightly called when all is said and done
Keep me in your heart for awhile


Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo
Keep me in your heart for awhile


Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo
Keep me in your heart for awhile

Sometimes when you're doing simple things
around the house
Maybe you'll think of me and smile
You know I'm tied to you like the buttons on
your blouse
Keep me in your heart for awhile

Hold me in your thoughts, take me to your dreams
Touch me as I fall into view
When the winter comes keep the fires lit
And I will be right next to you


Engine driver's headed north to Pleasant Stream
Keep me in your heart for awhile


These wheels keep turning but they're running out
of steam
Keep me in your heart for awhile

Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo
Keep me in your heart for awhile

Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo
Keep me in your heart for awhile
Keep me in your heart for awhile