Carmelita is my girlfriend, the Mexican heroin available at that time. Ensenada refers to a street on the 'outskirts' of L.A. at the time. 'Mariachi static on the radio' refers to highpowered radio transmissions from Mexican radio stations that would wash out American broadcasters, especialy if you were too stoned to retune the station you were listening to. Echo Park and Alvarado St. are obvious; west L.A. where it was possible. It is also important to understand that to pawn your 'Smith-Corona' - a portable electric typewriter - (especialy for a writer) would be the equivalent of pawning your laptop or I-Pad today.
Warren Zevon wrote it, he knew such people and it is good that Murray McLauchlan took the time to introduce him to the world.
I think there was some sarcasm with the methadone being cut off as well as the welfare cheques. I have heard that his cancer was caused by asbestos. Ironic that he lived at the Tropicana which was constantly being wrecked by its visitors and inhabitants and while his hard living didn't help; it was the poison let loose in the air when somebody took out their frustrations on the ceilings and the walls that did him in.
I think there was some sarcasm with the methadone being cut off as well as the welfare cheques. I have heard that his cancer was caused by asbestos. Ironic that he lived at the Tropicana which was constantly being wrecked by its visitors and inhabitants and while his hard living didn't help; it was the poison let loose in the air when somebody took out their frustrations on the ceilings and the walls that did him in.
Carmelita is my girlfriend, the Mexican heroin available at that time. Ensenada refers to a street on the 'outskirts' of L.A. at the time. 'Mariachi static on the radio' refers to highpowered radio transmissions from Mexican radio stations that would wash out American broadcasters, especialy if you were too stoned to retune the station you were listening to. Echo Park and Alvarado St. are obvious; west L.A. where it was possible. It is also important to understand that to pawn your 'Smith-Corona' - a portable electric typewriter - (especialy for a writer) would be the equivalent of pawning your laptop or I-Pad today.
Warren Zevon wrote it, he knew such people and it is good that Murray McLauchlan took the time to introduce him to the world.
I think there was some sarcasm with the methadone being cut off as well as the welfare cheques. I have heard that his cancer was caused by asbestos. Ironic that he lived at the Tropicana which was constantly being wrecked by its visitors and inhabitants and while his hard living didn't help; it was the poison let loose in the air when somebody took out their frustrations on the ceilings and the walls that did him in.
I think there was some sarcasm with the methadone being cut off as well as the welfare cheques. I have heard that his cancer was caused by asbestos. Ironic that he lived at the Tropicana which was constantly being wrecked by its visitors and inhabitants and while his hard living didn't help; it was the poison let loose in the air when somebody took out their frustrations on the ceilings and the walls that did him in.