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.
I'm running out of fingers to count the things I've done wrong.
I'm dangling from the towers I've built to save my life.
Could it be I've been the one to kiss you to a tree?
Do you remember, when I was younger, what you used to say?
'If you raise them up, raise them up in me, they will not turn away.'
Could it be I've been the one who almost went astray?
I'm not the grateful bastard son, I'm the rich and spoiled one.
I'm dangling from the towers I've built to save my life.
Could it be I've been the one to kiss you to a tree?
Do you remember, when I was younger, what you used to say?
'If you raise them up, raise them up in me, they will not turn away.'
Could it be I've been the one who almost went astray?
I'm not the grateful bastard son, I'm the rich and spoiled one.
Lyrics submitted by mimicry
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He reuses the verse melody from the previous album's "Dirty Little Religion", the topics of the verses are all over the place, and he packs too many words into one line (goes to show...) and too few in another (it's pretty hard to find), and rhymes "Henley Regatta" with "Persona non grata", but gets away with it all as only he could.
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He certainly did earn that reputation.
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Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
This song (imo) is saying that he thought he was a Christian and living his life that way (the grateful bastard son eventually came back and begged for forgiveness), but in reality he's "played" the Christian all his life and now he realizes he hasn't lived life the way he should or lead others to Christ ("If you raise them up. . ."), so he's the rich and spoiled son.