Complete List Of Warren Zevon Songs From A to Z

Feature Photo: Klaus Hiltscher, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Warren Zevon built his reputation not through commercial flash, but by crafting songs that cut deep—sometimes funny, sometimes brutal, always sharp. Raised in California, he showed musical promise early, studying classical composition under Igor Stravinsky before drifting into the rock and singer-songwriter scenes of the late ’60s and early ’70s. Before anyone knew his name, he had already worked as a session musician, bandleader, and composer for other artists, quietly building a résumé that would form the foundation of a remarkable, fiercely independent career.

Zevon’s early solo work began with a self-released album in 1969 titled Wanted Dead or Alive. The record went largely unnoticed, but it opened the door to collaborations with other rising artists of the time. He spent several years in the background, including a stint as musical director and keyboardist for the Everly Brothers. He also wrote songs for artists like Linda Ronstadt, who would go on to cover several of his compositions throughout the decade.

Everything changed with the release of Warren Zevon in 1976. Backed by members of the Eagles and produced by Jackson Browne, the album established him as a biting, literate voice in the Los Angeles singer-songwriter scene. Songs like “Desperados Under the Eaves,” “Carmelita,” and “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” blended dark humor with vivid character sketches, setting Zevon apart from his contemporaries. The critical acclaim didn’t necessarily match commercial performance yet, but the industry took notice.

His 1978 follow-up Excitable Boy became his breakout, driven by the unexpected success of “Werewolves of London.” That song—co-written with LeRoy Marinell and Waddy Wachtel—became his signature hit, reaching the Top 40 and earning a place in pop culture for decades. But the album was far more than a novelty. Tracks like “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner” and the title cut balanced absurdity with violent political allegory, and Zevon delivered it all with a crooked grin and a deadly pen.

Zevon released Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School in 1980, which featured a mix of satire, darkness, and orchestration. While it didn’t produce a hit on the level of “Werewolves,” it included “Play It All Night Long,” a savage takedown of Southern rock clichés, and a cover of “A Certain Girl” that hit the Billboard Hot 100. The album was praised for its ambition but struggled to find a broad audience.

Throughout the early ’80s, Zevon continued releasing albums that expanded his sonic and thematic range. The Envoy (1982) reflected on Cold War politics and personal disintegration. Despite support from peers and critics, the album failed commercially, leading to a brief contract termination. Zevon spiraled personally during this period, dealing with alcoholism and its consequences—a struggle he never hid from and often confronted head-on in his lyrics.

After seeking treatment for his addictions, Zevon returned in 1987 with Sentimental Hygiene, a focused and revitalized album that featured contributions from members of R.E.M. and Neil Young. It was followed by Transverse City in 1989, a science fiction–themed concept album featuring appearances by Jerry Garcia and Chick Corea. While never commercially dominant, these records confirmed his role as an uncompromising writer committed to innovation.

The 1990s saw Zevon embracing his cult status. He released Mr. Bad Example in 1991, which included the satirical title track and the heartfelt “Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead,” which inspired the title of a later film. He remained a regular presence on Late Show with David Letterman, where his dry wit and musicianship were welcome fixtures.

Zevon’s final act began in the early 2000s when he was diagnosed with terminal pleural mesothelioma. Choosing to forgo treatment, he returned to the studio to create what would become The Wind—a parting statement that featured Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Don Henley, Emmylou Harris, and others. The album was released in 2003, just weeks before his death, and earned him posthumous Grammy Awards for Best Rock Vocal Performance and Best Contemporary Folk Album.

Throughout his career, Zevon released twelve studio albums. He never chased trends and never tailored his material to fit radio formats. Instead, he built a catalog filled with murder ballads, mercenaries, barroom degenerates, and doomed romantics. His lyrical voice—deadpan, brutal, intelligent—cut through sentimentality and forced listeners to confront both the absurdity and tragedy of the world.

He also left behind a body of work that attracted immense respect from fellow musicians. Artists like Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Jackson Browne have performed his songs live in tribute. His catalog continues to be covered, studied, and passed down to new generations of songwriters who value clarity, fearlessness, and wit.

Zevon never won the kind of mainstream stardom his peers did, but his influence is undeniable. He operated on his own terms, and when commercial success arrived, it didn’t change how he worked. He approached songwriting like a novelist—plotting, sharpening, and never wasting a word.

Beyond music, he was a voracious reader, fascinated by politics, history, and human behavior. He once described himself as “a writer who plays music,” and it’s that literary edge—never softened, never filtered—that gave his songs lasting power. Whether writing about the brutality of war or the emptiness of Los Angeles nights, Zevon spoke in a voice that was unmistakably his.

His final appearance on Letterman—where he performed “Mutineer” and told the audience to “enjoy every sandwich”—became a defining farewell. He didn’t just exit with dignity; he did it with wit, clarity, and grace. And he left behind a legacy built not on trends or image, but on content, craftsmanship, and courage.

Complete List Of Warren Zevon Songs From A to Z

Accidentally Like a Martyr – Excitable Boy – 1978
Ain’t That Pretty at All – The Envoy – 1982
Angel Dressed in Black – Mr. Bad Example – 1991
Back in the High Life Again (Will Jennings, Steve Winwood) – Life’ll Kill Ya – 2000
Backs Turned Looking Down the Path – Wanted Dead or Alive – 1970
Backs Turned Looking Down the Path – Warren Zevon – 1976
Bad Karma – Sentimental Hygiene – 1987
Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School – Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School – 1980
Basket Case – My Ride’s Here – 2002
Battleship Chains (Terry Anderson) – Hindu Love Gods – 1990
Bed of Coals – Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School – 1980
Bill Lee – Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School – 1980
Boom Boom Mancini – Sentimental Hygiene – 1987
Calcutta – Wanted Dead or Alive – 1970
Carmelita – Warren Zevon – 1976
A Certain Girl – Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School – 1980
Charlie’s Medicine – The Envoy – 1982
Crosscut Saw (Fred Ingrahm, Bill Sanders) – Hindu Love Gods – 1990
Desperados Under the Eaves – Warren Zevon – 1976
Detox Mansion – Sentimental Hygiene – 1987
Dirty Life and Times – The Wind – 2003
Dirty Little Religion – Life’ll Kill Ya – 2000
Disorder in the House – The Wind – 2003
Don’t Let Us Get Sick – Life’ll Kill Ya – 2000
Down in the Mall – Transverse City – 1989
El Amor de Mi Vida – The Wind – 2003
Empty-Handed Heart – Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School – 1980
The Envoy – The Envoy – 1982
Even a Dog Can Shake Hands – Sentimental Hygiene – 1987
Excitable Boy – Excitable Boy – 1978
The Factory – Sentimental Hygiene – 1987
Fiery Girl – Wanted Dead or Alive – 1970
Finishing Touches – Mr. Bad Example – 1991
Fistful of Rain – Life’ll Kill Ya – 2000
For My Next Trick I’ll Need a Volunteer – Life’ll Kill Ya – 2000
Frank and Jesse James – Warren Zevon – 1976
The French Inhaler – Warren Zevon – 1976
Frozen Notes (strings version) – Excitable Boy – 1978
Genius – My Ride’s Here – 2002
Gorilla – Wanted Dead or Alive – 1970
Gorilla, You’re a Desperado – Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School – 1980
Gridlock – Transverse City – 1989
Hasten Down the Wind – Warren Zevon – 1976
The Heartache – Sentimental Hygiene – 1987
Heartache Spoken Here – Mr. Bad Example – 1991
Hit Somebody! (The Hockey Song) – My Ride’s Here – 2002
Hostage-O – Life’ll Kill Ya – 2000
The Hula Hula Boys – The Envoy – 1982
I Have to Leave (Dan McFarland) – My Ride’s Here – 2002
I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead – Warren Zevon – 1976
I’ll Slow You Down – Life’ll Kill Ya – 2000
I Need a Truck (outtake) – Excitable Boy – 1978
I’m a One-Woman Man (Tillman Franks, Johnny Horton) – Hindu Love Gods – 1990
I Was in the House When the House Burned Down – Life’ll Kill Ya – 2000
The Indifference of Heaven – Mutineer – 1995
Interlude No. 1 – Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School – 1980
Interlude No. 2 – Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School – 1980
Jeannie Needs a Shooter – Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School – 1980
Jesus Mentioned – The Envoy – 1982
Jesus Was a Cross Maker (Judee Sill) – Mutineer – 1995
Johnny Strikes Up the Band – Excitable Boy – 1978
Join Me in L.A. – Warren Zevon – 1976
Jungle Work – Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School – 1980
Junko Pardner (Bob Shad) – Hindu Love Gods – 1990
Keep Me in Your Heart – The Wind – 2003
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan) – The Wind – 2003
Laissez-Moi Tranquille (Serge Gainsbourg) – My Ride’s Here – 2002
Lawyers, Guns and Money – Excitable Boy – 1978
Leave My Monkey Alone – Sentimental Hygiene – 1987
Let Nothing Come Between You – The Envoy – 1982
Let Nothing Come Between You (alternate take) – The Envoy – 1982
Life’ll Kill Ya – Life’ll Kill Ya – 2000
The Long Arm of the Law – Transverse City – 1989
Looking for the Next Best Thing – The Envoy – 1982
Lord Byron’s Luggage – My Ride’s Here – 2002
Macgillycuddy’s Reeks – My Ride’s Here – 2002
Mama Couldn’t Be Persuaded – Warren Zevon – 1976
Mannish Boy (Bo Diddley, Melvin London, Muddy Waters) – Hindu Love Gods – 1990
Model Citizen – Mr. Bad Example – 1991
Mohammed’s Radio – Warren Zevon – 1976
Monkey Wash Donkey Rinse – Mutineer – 1995
Mr. Bad Example – Mr. Bad Example – 1991
Mutineer – Mutineer – 1995
My Ride’s Here – My Ride’s Here – 2002
My S*’s F***** Up** – Life’ll Kill Ya – 2000
Networking – Transverse City – 1989
Never Too Late for Love – The Envoy – 1982
Nighttime in the Switching Yard – Excitable Boy – 1978
Nobody’s in Love This Year – Transverse City – 1989
Numb as a Statue – The Wind – 2003
Ourselves to Know – Life’ll Kill Ya – 2000
The Overdraft – The Envoy – 1982
Piano Fighter – Mutineer – 1995
Play It All Night Long – Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School – 1980
Please Stay – The Wind – 2003
Poisonous Lookalike – Mutineer – 1995
Poor Poor Pitiful Me – Warren Zevon – 1976
Porcelain Monkey – Life’ll Kill Ya – 2000
Prison Grove – The Wind – 2003
Quite Ugly One Morning – Mr. Bad Example – 1991
Raspberry Beret (Prince Rogers Nelson) – Hindu Love Gods – 1990
Reconsider Me – Sentimental Hygiene – 1987
Renegade – Mr. Bad Example – 1991
The Rest of the Night – The Wind – 2003
The Risk (outtake) – The Envoy – 1982
Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner – Excitable Boy – 1978
Rottweiler Blues – Mutineer – 1995
Rub Me Raw – The Wind – 2003
Run Straight Down – Transverse City – 1989
Sacrificial Lambs – My Ride’s Here – 2002
Searching for a Heart – Mr. Bad Example – 1991
Seminole Bingo – Mutineer – 1995
Sentimental Hygiene – Sentimental Hygiene – 1987
She Quit Me – Wanted Dead or Alive – 1970
She’s Too Good for Me – The Wind – 2003
Similar to Rain – Mutineer – 1995
Something Bad Happened to a Clown – Mutineer – 1995
Splendid Isolation – Transverse City – 1989
Suzie Lightning – Mr. Bad Example – 1991
Tenderness on the Block – Excitable Boy – 1978
They Moved the Moon – Transverse City – 1989
Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead – Mr. Bad Example – 1991
Transverse City – Transverse City – 1989
Travelin’ Riverside Blues (Robert Johnson) – Hindu Love Gods – 1990
Trouble Waiting to Happen – Sentimental Hygiene – 1987
Tule’s Blues – Wanted Dead or Alive – 1970
Tule’s Blues (solo piano version) – Excitable Boy – 1978
Turbulence – Transverse City – 1989
Veracruz – Excitable Boy – 1978
Vigilante Man (Woody Guthrie) – Hindu Love Gods – 1990
Walkin’ Blues (Robert Johnson) – Hindu Love Gods – 1990
Wang Dang Doodle (Willie Dixon) – Hindu Love Gods – 1990
Wanted Dead or Alive – Wanted Dead or Alive – 1970
Werewolves of London – Excitable Boy – 1978
Werewolves of London (alternate version) – Excitable Boy – 1978
Wild Age – Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School – 1980
Wild Thing (outtake) – The Envoy – 1982
Word of Mouth (outtake) – The Envoy – 1982
You’re a Whole Different Person When You’re Scared – My Ride’s Here – 2002