Don't Let Us Get Sick

I love the line "who maketh my spirit to shine" Warren was a remarkable songwriter and a remarkable guy He truly lived every moment as if it were his last and he lived a better and more fulfilling life for it We could all learn a thing or two from him. Rest in peace, Warren Zevon, we miss you

A song once more that Warren speaks on so many levels that it is hard to see them all sometimes. Largely though, is seems a song of one who tries to always be there for others, "take up the slack in the line", in the pure hopes that someday they will be there for them. Attempting to hide one's own troubles so that they do not have to think of them, pretend the are not there and lessen them by helping others, in hopes that while you pretend they are not there, someone else will recognize, come to your aid, and share them to lessen your load.

The moon is a common theme of Warren, representing an ideal, that always seems unreachable. Most notable on that is probably "They moved the moon". But that dream also disturbs attempts at peace without reaching it, always calling and making lesser things not enough: Lake being a kind of serenity in life but all through time disrupting it with ripple, calling for more. Why can't he be happy with the good things he does have, why must he want more? Why must people fights and do stupid, hurtful things, rather than mutually support those that support them. Comfort in each other.

That is one level, and yet you look at exactly the same words, and you read something different, and Zevon meant those things as well. The one that I find especially shaking though, is this is one of several songs he did that were pure and straight forward about not what he had faced, but what he would face. This is partially about his fear, and as it were, precognition of what would happen to him, long before he had to actually save it. The fact that he saw such things are almost as haunting as his voice.

On the rare occasion that someone asks me to say grace before a meal, I will recite the chorus to this song. It really is a beautiful prayer. I change one word, though--instead of "Don't let us get old" I'll say it "Don't let us get sick." Warren got his wish--he didn't get old, did he? And that is a tragedy I do not want to see repeated among the other people I care about.

I love this song. I love that it's about everybody's hopes and fears and just wanting everything to be okay. We can all relate, but it's still intensely personal.