Well, I went to the doctor
I said, “I’m feeling kind of rough”
He said, “I’ll break it to you, son
Your shit’s fucked up.”
I said, “my shit’s fucked up?”
Well, I don’t see how–”
He said, “The shit that used to work–
It won’t work now.”
I had a dream
Ah, shucks, oh, well
Now it’s all fucked up
It’s shot to hell
Yeah, yeah, my shit’s fucked up
It has to happen to the best of us
The rich folks suffer like the rest of us
It’ll happen to you
That amazing grace
Sort of passed you by
You wake up every day
And you start to cry
Yeah, you want to die
But you just can’t quit
Let me break it on down:
It’s the fucked up shit
Warren Zevon, Zevon Music BMI
Linds’ hot tip for a long and happy life No.2. If you haven’t already done so, discover, explore and appreciate the work of American singer-songwriter and maniac Warren Zevon. Zevon is as under-appreciated as he was talented. He was also a legendary smoker, drinker, drug-fiend, serial womaniser and general all-round hell-raiser in the best tradition of Rock and Roll.
His songs, some autobiographical, some allegorical, some just plain demented document the human condition in all it’s towering majesty and squalid absurdity. I was given my first Zevon album by my mentor Jim Downie in Edinburgh in the early eighties. Jim also introduced me to the work of and along with the equally unhinged Tom Waits, these artists have by and large provided the soundtrack to my life.
Warren was a hedonist of bacchanalian proportions. His adopted logo, which appeared on all of his records was a grinning skull wearing sunglasses and smoking a cigarette. Having avoided the doctors for most of his life, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2003. During his last public appearance on the Letterman Show, he wryly observed that “I might have made a tactical error in not going to a physician for 20 years.”
You might not get Warren. Lot’s of people don’t. That’s OK. But one day, when you find out that your own shit’s fucked up too. It will all make perfect sense.
Hi Linds, I read in the Sydney Morning Herald the other day, that researchers have found a link between the natural cycle of the body’s immune system and the start time of chemo therapy. They seemed to be saying that those whose started therapy co-insiding with their peak immunity, had better recovery rates. If it’s a thing you can manage (the timing) could be useful.
Yours faithfully,
Dr Bicknell
Dear Dr. Bicknell, thanks for the useful information. Did your source happen to mention how you know where in you’re immune cycle you are?
I presumed it must be common knowledge in medical circles, I have been waiting ages for my feel good cycle to come back to the top, have finally moved into and unpacked our little house in Leichhardt, Penny goes off to work on the bus, and I find useful things to do, like the washing up. Have almost finished putting the vast collection of pictures on the walls. Brick house hard plaster, only thing for it is those little white plastic picture hooks with hardened steel spikes that are capable of penetration concrete. I am being pestered by the agent to return the condition report of the building, this is my version, the agent has already done theirs. Each time the hammer drives a spike into the surface plaster, then the brick, I think of the nasty chipped surface I will have to confront when we leave. The other snag is that you don’t always get the hook in the right place first time….perhaps we will just have to stay here with our guilty secret hidden behind fading images of NZ.
Ah yes, the late great Zevon. Fantastic songwriter, and also unusual because all the consonants of his name come from the latter half of the alphabet. If you don’t know the Eels already already you might enjoy the sardonic darkness. And if you like great song writing with a Texas country flavour James McMurtry might be worth a listen. (Son of Larry McMurtry – novelist and screenwriter – Last picture Show etc.)
Actually maybe M is in the first half, but who gives a shit when it’s fucked up.
Keep on.
Will
I do know The Eels, and I’m off to the iTunes store right now to look for James McMurray. Thanks Will!
James Mc Murtys paint by no.s is is one of my favourites..all time sounds.. get well go strong.. keep connecting the dots… excellent blog.. after Warren Z I am off to the doctor.. cheer John.