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.
You can tell Gayle, if she calls,
That I'm famous now for all of these rock and roll songs.
And even if that's a lie, she should've given me a try.
When we were kids on the field of the first day of school.
I would've been her fool.
And I would've sang out your name in those old high school halls.
You tell that to Gayle, if she calls.
And you can tell Jane, if she writes,
That I'm drunk off all these stars and all these crazy Hollywood nights.
And that's a total deceit, but she should've married me.
And tell her I spent every night of my youth on the floor,
Bleeding out from all these wounds.
I would've gotten her a ride out of that town she despised.
You tell that to Janey, if she writes.
But boys will be boys and girls have those eyes
That will cut you to ribbons sometimes.
And all you can do is just wait by the moon
And bleed if it's what she says you oughta do.
You remind Anna, if she asks why,
That a thief stole my heart while she was making up her mind.
I heard she lives in Brooklyn with the cool,
Goes crazy over that New York scene on 7th Avenue.
But I used to wait at the diner, a million nights without her,
Praying she won't cancel again tonight.
And the waiter served my coffee with a consolation sigh.
You remind Anna, if she asks why.
Tell her it's all right.
You know it's hard to tell you this.
Oh it's hard to tell you this.
Here's looking at you, Kid.
That I'm famous now for all of these rock and roll songs.
And even if that's a lie, she should've given me a try.
When we were kids on the field of the first day of school.
I would've been her fool.
And I would've sang out your name in those old high school halls.
You tell that to Gayle, if she calls.
And you can tell Jane, if she writes,
That I'm drunk off all these stars and all these crazy Hollywood nights.
And that's a total deceit, but she should've married me.
And tell her I spent every night of my youth on the floor,
Bleeding out from all these wounds.
I would've gotten her a ride out of that town she despised.
You tell that to Janey, if she writes.
But boys will be boys and girls have those eyes
That will cut you to ribbons sometimes.
And all you can do is just wait by the moon
And bleed if it's what she says you oughta do.
You remind Anna, if she asks why,
That a thief stole my heart while she was making up her mind.
I heard she lives in Brooklyn with the cool,
Goes crazy over that New York scene on 7th Avenue.
But I used to wait at the diner, a million nights without her,
Praying she won't cancel again tonight.
And the waiter served my coffee with a consolation sigh.
You remind Anna, if she asks why.
Tell her it's all right.
You know it's hard to tell you this.
Oh it's hard to tell you this.
Here's looking at you, Kid.
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It's the absolute quintessential lost love song. This song doesn't leave things so resolved, it's about feeling lost or unresolved in the tragic loss of love. When you're not sure if you've given up on a Love, you want them still to want you, you want them to think of you as a great person so that maybe, just maybe you could give it a go again (if it weren't so fucked up) you want all your dreams to be true, so you'll be more attractive and could go back to them honorably. It's about feeling alone in the world, even at a party or where-have-you, without the one who still keeps your heart, even if they're not keeping it right, and you didn't keep theirs right. It's about feeling bad for hurting someone you love, and having to live with that, with yourself as you try to move on (even though you still want a way back to them, either through you mum, your sister, whoever, 'if she calls home, tell her what I don't have the right to say'). It's about holding on and all the myths you create for the grandeur of your commitment to them, because as messed up as it is/was, it was still profound and defines your heart, the very way you feel. It's about giving someone a thousand chances to choose you, but having it stolen away from both of you in the meantime. And so much more. This song just nails it. Maybe the best love song EVER. Here's looking at you kid, I feel has more to do with the fact that he stills spends lots of time with them even though he can't talk with them, just call them up out of the blue. It's the 'looking at you kid' when you walk away from a party you can't relate to... down to the beach to be with all the loves who maybe the moon will send a message to for you... 'Boys will be boys, and girls have those eyes' i.e., boys will fuck up a good thing, and girls will show you what you did, and it'll tare you to pieces for a long time to come - 'waiting by the moon'. Ya, this song encapsulates the lions share of the tragedy of love in 3 simple verses (and a couple bridges).
wow, a truly brilliant interpretation. thank you
I agree, great interpretation. However, I'd disagree with the idea that he did something wrong. There are a lot of songs out there where someone is alone because they messed up a good thing. Here, it sounds like he's alone even though he did everything he could.
DUDE..
omg.your interpretation is just so accurate.its everything i'm feeling rn. even though my ex was the one who didnt keep my heart right by cheating,i kept wishing things could be different.but anymore.so this song is for him.and thank you for the brilliant interpretation
omg.your interpretation is just so accurate.its everything i'm feeling rn. even though my ex was the one who didnt keep my heart right by cheating,i kept wishing things could be different.but not anymore.so this song is for him.and thank you for the brilliant interpretation