Warren wanted a Beach Boys thing for this one, and Carl Wilson and Billy Hinsche came in, with Carl arranging the vocal parts. The other harmony vocalists (credited as the "Gentlemen Boys") were Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther, Zevon's longtime backers Waddy Wachtel and Jorge Calderon, and Linda Rondstadt/Stone Poneys guitarist Kenny Edwards.
It's 2:45 the baby takes his first breath
The mother never knew he only had a few left
The father gets a call in the middle of the night
His breath gets short and his chest gets tight
But he's sixteen and he's driving too fast
Takes a turn to the left, it would be his last
The body knows what happens if he turns to the right
The body in the car wouldn't die that night
But he's thirty two and invincible
The cancer he had it was visceral
He never saw it coming
Thought he had his whole life
Sick in the morning and he died in the night
We're all so
We're on the line
We're all, we're all
We're wasted, no no no
We're all wasted
We're wasted, no no
We're all wasted
He's seven years old, got his bat in his hand
He's looking for his father and he doesn't understand
Cause dads too busy he's got some deals on the way
His son sits alone as the children play
And he's eighteen he couldn't wait to move out
His parents wonder what all the rush is about
They never bothered with his dreams only thinking of theirs
Wonder's why he doesn't call and why he doesn't care
But he's thirty two and invincible
Everything he is based on principle
He never had a truly happy moment in his life
He didn't want the kids and he didn't want his wife
We're wasted, no no no
We're all wasted
We're wasted, no no
We're all wasted
We're wasted
We're all wasted
We're all wasted, no no
We're all wasted
Twenty three now, got his life in his hands
He's looking all around and he doesn't understand
Cause life's too busy, things get in the way
We all feel alone every single day
Eighteen couldn't wait to move out
It's been five years and now he's starting to doubt
Whether all my dreams are just aimless stares
Looking out to someplace that isn't there
When I'm thirty two will I be miserable
With everything around based on principle
Well, I had a clue, wouldn't it be nice
To never be alone in this wasted life
We're wasted, no no no
We're all wasted
We're wasted, no no no
We're all wasted
We're wasted
We're all wasted
We're wasted, no no
We're all wasted
The mother never knew he only had a few left
The father gets a call in the middle of the night
His breath gets short and his chest gets tight
But he's sixteen and he's driving too fast
Takes a turn to the left, it would be his last
The body knows what happens if he turns to the right
The body in the car wouldn't die that night
But he's thirty two and invincible
The cancer he had it was visceral
He never saw it coming
Thought he had his whole life
Sick in the morning and he died in the night
We're all so
We're on the line
We're all, we're all
We're wasted, no no no
We're all wasted
We're wasted, no no
We're all wasted
He's seven years old, got his bat in his hand
He's looking for his father and he doesn't understand
Cause dads too busy he's got some deals on the way
His son sits alone as the children play
And he's eighteen he couldn't wait to move out
His parents wonder what all the rush is about
They never bothered with his dreams only thinking of theirs
Wonder's why he doesn't call and why he doesn't care
But he's thirty two and invincible
Everything he is based on principle
He never had a truly happy moment in his life
He didn't want the kids and he didn't want his wife
We're wasted, no no no
We're all wasted
We're wasted, no no
We're all wasted
We're wasted
We're all wasted
We're all wasted, no no
We're all wasted
Twenty three now, got his life in his hands
He's looking all around and he doesn't understand
Cause life's too busy, things get in the way
We all feel alone every single day
Eighteen couldn't wait to move out
It's been five years and now he's starting to doubt
Whether all my dreams are just aimless stares
Looking out to someplace that isn't there
When I'm thirty two will I be miserable
With everything around based on principle
Well, I had a clue, wouldn't it be nice
To never be alone in this wasted life
We're wasted, no no no
We're all wasted
We're wasted, no no no
We're all wasted
We're wasted
We're all wasted
We're wasted, no no
We're all wasted
Lyrics submitted by thoseguiltyeyes
Wasted Lyrics as written by Joseph Pepper William Pugh
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think that each stanza referring to someone, is about different people (with the exception of the end in first person).
I've spent lots of time thinking about this song.
I think the first 3 stanzas are all about people's lives who were "wasted" when they didn't really have a chance and they all died. A newborn baby, a teenager who took a turn at the wrong place/wrong time, and a man with cancer. You can't really control those things.
The next 3 stanzas after the chorus are all wasted lives that you CAN control. Their lives are wasted too, but in a different way because they are still living and trying to get by through their family problems.
And then he contemplates about his own life. Looking at where he's at and where he's going. Worrying about his future.
And I think that "we're all wasted" over and over again is kind of like a reassurance that we're not alone. So many people have problems and have "wasted lives" We don't have to be alone.