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Warren Zevon — Excitable Boy
Album: Excitable Boy
Avg rating:
7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1544









Released: 1976
Length: 2:34
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Well, he went down to dinner in his Sunday best
Excitable boy, they all said
And he rubbed the pot roast all over his chest
Excitable boy, they all said
Well he's just an excitable boy

He took in the four a.m. show at the Clark
Excitable boy, they all said
And he bit the usherette's leg in the dark
Excitable boy, they all said
Well, he's just an excitable boy


''(Ooh ooh, excitable boy)''
''(Ooh wah ooh)''
''(Ooh ooh, excitable boy)''

He took little Suzie to the Junior Prom ''(Ooh wah ooh)''
Excitable boy, they all said ''(Ooh ooh, excitable boy)''
And he raped her and killed her, then he took her home

''(Ooh wah ooh)''
Excitable boy, they all said
''(Ooh ooh, excitable boy)''
Well, he's just an excitable boy

After ten long years, they let him out of the home
Excitable boy, they all said ''(Ooh ooh, excitable boy)''
And he dug up her grave and built a cage with her bones
Excitable boy, they all said ''(Ooh ooh, excitable boy)''
Well, he's just an excitable boy

''(Ooh wah ooh)''
''(Ooh ooh, excitable boy)''
''(Ooh wah ooh)''
''(Ooh ooh, excitable boy)''
''(Ooh wah ooh)''
''(Ooh ooh, excitable boy)''
''(Ooh wah ooh)''
''(Ooh ooh, excitable boy)''
Comments (196)add comment
As Warren would say, chill the fuck out... OK actually would be me, but  "Enjpy every sandwich"... (that would be Warren)
 unclehud wrote:

Sorry that you didn't have the patience to hear it through or listen to the lyrics.  It's darkly funny — very dark, but funny nonetheless.  Years ago, I rated it a 10.  Still think that's appropriate.


Not sure I would call this funny.  
What bizarre lyrics/story. Coming from the guy who wrote Warewolf in London, I shouldn't be surprised. 
 hbriggs60 wrote:



Don't forget about Maxwell's Silver Hammer. Similar theme from a decade or so earlier.


I was thinking of Oingo Boingo's "Only a Lad" from 1981. 
 mkane67 wrote:

Not claiming I know the man's mind but ... In the period he wrote this I recall regularly hearing stories of privileged white males getting away with murder.  Hasn't changed a hell of a lot but he was the first to call it out in popular music.  So perhaps "enjoying" is problematic.  Appreciating is still possible.




Don't forget about Maxwell's Silver Hammer. Similar theme from a decade or so earlier.
Not claiming I know the man's mind but ... In the period he wrote this I recall regularly hearing stories of privileged white males getting away with murder.  Hasn't changed a hell of a lot but he was the first to call it out in popular music.  So perhaps "enjoying" is problematic.  Appreciating is still possible.
This song gets added to my list of songs I really like but have disturbing lyrics-

Excitable Boy- Warren Zevon
Down  By The River- Neil Young
Bigmouth Strikes Again- The Smiths
Sitting in the car with my pup Zevon, waiting for my wife to come back out from the store, singing this at the top of my lungs to the dog. Who doesn’t know what it’s about.
 dwhayslett wrote:

The only thing that's really changed is your awareness; horrible things have been happening to people for a lot longer than the last 5 or 10 years.  It's no more (or less) appropriate to enjoy this song now than it ever was.  Your (singular) ability to enjoy it may have changed, but that's it.


Good retort.
 mike_lise wrote:
Why do you assume that it's humour?
I take it a a scathing commentary on a society that quite often looks the other way, rather than addressing developing patterns of violence.


 
dmcanany wrote:
Good song, but too dark for me. Or, rather, a little hard for me to enjoy this humor. 
 

 
I'm not sure anyone looked away. These types are not exactly advertising that they're going to rape someone, even if they act a bit weird in other areas of their lives. But Zevon does pull off the song with humour (thank you for spelling that word correctly, btw :) As for the the pot-roast-all-over-his-chest incident -- it's taken from Zevon's life when as a kid he did just that at the dinner table to be funny and get attention. Well he was a mean drunk but never raped and killed anyone. I doubt the song would be released today, let alone be the big hit it was in 1978...
Why do you assume that it's humour?
I take it a a scathing commentary on a society that quite often looks the other way, rather than addressing developing patterns of violence.


 
dmcanany wrote:
Good song, but too dark for me. Or, rather, a little hard for me to enjoy this humor. 
 

I currently know this guy.
 sqqqrly wrote:
What or whom did he build the cage for?
 
Himself.
 That_SOB wrote:


 Send Lawyers, Guns, Money and Zevon back to those of us who so appreciated his wonderful tongue in cheek tunes.
There is somewhat of a link between Harry Neilson, Randy Newman and Zevon that I really enjoy.  

 
Well put about the connections. Agreed.
Enjoy Every Sandwich.

Godspeed Mr. Zevon, we miss you.
c.
Kill 'Em All Warren!
this song takes me to my happy place.
What or whom did he build the cage for?
Good song, but too dark for me. Or, rather, a little hard for me to enjoy this humor. 
[no name] wrote:
LOL, sounds like it's about Daumer.
 
Well then, it would include a few lines about eating her body, yes?
Doesn't everyone love this song - even if it so evil and vile!?
Warren has such a deep and wide catalouge - an American Icon - RIP Mr Zevon.  Your music will live on forever! 
 memoryboxer wrote:


Yeah, it's difficult in this day and age to listen to this little ditty the way I did at 18 when it came out. It seemed so jolly and twisted, and somehow harmless, and there were no thoughts of Appropriateness, Feminist politics, the Me Too movement, 1000s of missing Indigenous women, the routine horrors being inflicted globally upon women every day. I continue to enjoy Zevon's bizarre humour and wonderful musical stylings, but these days this song is no longer appropriate to "enjoy". 
 
The only thing that's really changed is your awareness; horrible things have been happening to people for a lot longer than the last 5 or 10 years.  It's no more (or less) appropriate to enjoy this song now than it ever was.  Your (singular) ability to enjoy it may have changed, but that's it.
 surfnetter1 wrote:
Definitely an original!
 

 kingart wrote:
gotta love these happy and timely lyrics

He took little Suzie to the Junior Prom ''(Ooh wah ooh)''
Excitable boy, they all said ''(Ooh ooh, excitable boy)''
And he raped her and killed her, then he took her home
 

Yeah, it's difficult in this day and age to listen to this little ditty the way I did at 18 when it came out. It seemed so jolly and twisted, and somehow harmless, and there were no thoughts of Appropriateness, Feminist politics, the Me Too movement, 1000s of missing Indigenous women, the routine horrors being inflicted globally upon women every day. I continue to enjoy Zevon's bizarre humour and wonderful musical stylings, but these days this song is no longer appropriate to "enjoy". 
 msymmes wrote:
What an Album! Hard to pick a favorite track.
 

Indeed.  My favorite of his.
gotta love these happy and timely lyrics

He took little Suzie to the Junior Prom ''(Ooh wah ooh)''
Excitable boy, they all said ''(Ooh ooh, excitable boy)''
And he raped her and killed her, then he took her home
 bigbull224 wrote:
Serial killer, hey funny stuff.

 
Technically not – he only killed little Susie.
If you don't get Warren, or Randy So Sorry!
 msymmes wrote:
What an Album! Hard to pick a favorite track.

 
Nighttime In The Switching Yard.
What an Album! Hard to pick a favorite track.
Ah, Willy On The Plate. Taken from us far too soon. RIP Warren. 
Serial killer, hey funny stuff.
 Hoosfoos wrote:
Wow, this is terrible. I actually had to turn it off.
 
Sorry that you didn't have the patience to hear it through or listen to the lyrics.  It's darkly funny — very dark, but funny nonetheless.  Years ago, I rated it a 10.  Still think that's appropriate.
Wow, this is terrible. I actually had to turn it off.
My 3 yr old loves this tune. My wife questions my judgment.  I skip a few lines here and there.
Just reactivated some old memory cells
{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}
Genius {#Bananajam}
Fucking genius 
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/f0/27/1c/f0271c4629ac947fb7f9bf67d512de29.jpg
Ah, hoo — werewolves of London, again... When this stuff came out, it really turned the world on its ear — and was a ton of fun for us!
We are rockin' tonight! Warren Zevon after The Dandy Warhols. Gonna throw out my back groovin' to the tunes. Staying up way too late, but hey....I'll sleep when I'm dead!
 msymmes wrote:
I just love the backing female vocals.  Done just right !!!

 
With Jennifer Warnes and Linda Ronstadt it was hard to make a bad record back in the day.
Thanks to my brother, John, for turning me on to this when it came out.  He was kind of an excitable boy himself.  RIP
Ah....song writing. Remember when Warren and a few dozen other songwriters in the 1970s could just turn out great songs...one after the other.   
I just love the backing female vocals.  Done just right !!!
GREAT HORNS...{#Cheers}
i effing LOVE this whole album.......cant believe it's 35 years old already....guess im gettin' effin' old!!

rip warren 
'Sup Warr-ren?  Did you find your headless Thompson gunner in heaven?
 
See you soon, bro!
unclehud
(another excitable boy)  
Thanks for adding some perspective on these lyrics...

This is a NINE !
 

Cynaera wrote:
I have to laugh at all the haters who think the lyrics are disgusting and/or disturbing.  Of COURSE they are!  That's what makes this song so great - that happy, bouncy tune, accompanied by some of the darkest, most twisted concepts ever conjured up by a human being. (And yes, he really did rub a pot roast on his chest - it was at his mom's house, and he did it to demonstrate how delicious he thought it was, because in his opinion, words couldn't do it justice.)

When I think of the word "zeal," I think of Warren Zevon and the way he lived his life.  He truly did "enjoy every sandwich."{#Roflol}

 



 Cynaera wrote:
Warren Zevon was one of only two guys who could make me laugh and cry in the same song - Jackson Browne is the other one. This song is so twisted I'm amazed it hasn't been blacklisted.  Amazed, and grateful.  I love the late Mr. Zevon.  I take a bit of consolation in the fact that his kid Jordan inherited his warped, brutally-perceptive take on life and also got his musical talent. Thank Cthulu that the legacy Warren Zevon left will not be forgotten.

Meanwhile, I think it's time to trot out a lot more of Zevon's music. If not here at RP, then at least in my own CD player.  Miss you, Warren.{#Notworthy}
 

Miss you so much, Cynaera...

love this song...
 
Reminds me a bit of Zappa. 
 I wasn't either, but I LOVE Warren! Good parenting, I guess? Either way, high five. {#Wink}

Foot wrote:

Doubt you were alive in 1978, but maybe that's another story.
 


 srose96 wrote:
10 on the oooh ahh ooos alone
 
That's Linda Ronstadt doing oooh and ahhs in case your interested! Love and miss Warren Zevon too!
 
 Cynaera wrote:
Warren Zevon was one of only two guys who could make me laugh and cry in the same song - Jackson Browne is the other one. This song is so twisted I'm amazed it hasn't been blacklisted.  Amazed, and grateful.  I love the late Mr. Zevon.  I take a bit of consolation in the fact that his kid Jordan inherited his warped, brutally-perceptive take on life and also got his musical talent. Thank Cthulu that the legacy Warren Zevon left will not be forgotten.

Meanwhile, I think it's time to trot out a lot more of Zevon's music. If not here at RP, then at least in my own CD player.  Miss you, Warren.{#Notworthy}
 
miss your posts too cynaera.  rip
It was even better live, once again , RIP Warren,,
10 on the oooh ahh ooos alone
Now ,,,now this is music.

there was this process once-upon-a-time...
it was called
tongue-in-cheek humor...
back before
the PC NAZIS
killed it...


 ofanansky wrote:
disgusting lyrics, I turned it off
 
Doubt you were alive in 1978, but maybe that's another story.
 arserocket wrote:
fine song
 
Yes!
fine song
Great stuff.  As for all the haters— you don't know what you're missing.  ; )
I have to laugh at all the haters who think the lyrics are disgusting and/or disturbing.  Of COURSE they are!  That's what makes this song so great - that happy, bouncy tune, accompanied by some of the darkest, most twisted concepts ever conjured up by a human being. (And yes, he really did rub a pot roast on his chest - it was at his mom's house, and he did it to demonstrate how delicious he thought it was, because in his opinion, words couldn't do it justice.)

When I think of the word "zeal," I think of Warren Zevon and the way he lived his life.  He truly did "enjoy every sandwich."{#Roflol}
 hauptmat wrote:
This song creeps me out. Always go find something else to listen to when it comes on.

 
This song creeps me out.  Love it!

Amusing once or twice. Just garbage after that. Zevon repeats lyrics like a parakeet chirps.
Damn, I loved Warren!

We will not see his like again.

Wherever you are and whatever you're doing Mr. Zevon, I just listened to a bit of your genius and smiled.

See you down the road, compadre. {#Cowboy}
{#Puke}
disgusting lyrics, I turned it off
Too bad Mr. Zevon and I never shared a few beers.  How his brain must have worked!  That would have been an interesting conversation.
This song creeps me out. Always go find something else to listen to when it comes on.

This album is one of my all time favorites. I wore my 33" out and finally bought the cd last week. It's all I've listened to since - eccept RP of course.
I saw him in concert three times, two of which were one-man shows.  Those were three of the five best performances I've ever seen.
Warren Zevon was one of only two guys who could make me laugh and cry in the same song - Jackson Browne is the other one. This song is so twisted I'm amazed it hasn't been blacklisted.  Amazed, and grateful.  I love the late Mr. Zevon.  I take a bit of consolation in the fact that his kid Jordan inherited his warped, brutally-perceptive take on life and also got his musical talent. Thank Cthulu that the legacy Warren Zevon left will not be forgotten.

Meanwhile, I think it's time to trot out a lot more of Zevon's music. If not here at RP, then at least in my own CD player.  Miss you, Warren.{#Notworthy}
I miss this boy!


 jagdriver wrote:
{#Yawn}
 
i'm just curious...is it the music you find boring or lyrics? or both?

what a sicko, love it.
{#Yawn}
HOLY CRAP.  I was just looking up this album for completely different reasons (just *before* this song started) and then I realize it is on.

I guess I'll have to start worshiping Warren Zevon.  Too bad he's dead.

Always loved this one!{#Cheers}
Miss this fellow. Left us too soon.
man had a way with lyrics.
When I was a teenager, I loved his music so much, I wanted to run off and marry him.  Then I realized my name would be 'Yvonne Zevon'.
That was the end of that. 

Cool segue from Wilco's 'Wilco (The Song)', which has the same rhythmic pattern as 'Werewolves of London', from this same album. Subtle dj'ing, dude!
 lmic wrote:
Seeing my older brothers digging this when it first came out, I for the first time realized that they were both 1) deeply cool and 2) deeply screwed up!

Still very ambivalent about WZ... {#Ask}
 
This song is also on his excellent live album "Stand In The Fire". In the live venue Zevon welds a sharper, harder edge to his studio songs. Highly recommended.
 lmic wrote:
Seeing my older brothers digging this when it first came out, I for the first time realized that they were both 1) deeply cool and 2) deeply screwed up!

Still very ambivalent about WZ... {#Ask}
 
faaaaaaaa  ................!   Not use to...hum-a-na hum-a-na...truecooly wierd!!  GOT TO BUY THIS ONE!!!{#Roflol}

Seeing my older brothers digging this when it first came out, I for the first time realized that they were both 1) deeply cool and 2) deeply screwed up!

Still very ambivalent about WZ... {#Ask}
The days slide by
Should have done, should have done, we all sigh
Never thought I'd ever be so lonely
After such a long, long time
Time out of mind
 KSTrillian wrote:
Whoa! To those lyrics. Um, little disturbing.
 

No sense of humor.
Agreed!  some similarities in lyrical styles.  Love all 3.


 That_SOB wrote:


 Send Lawyers, Guns, Money and Zevon back to those of us who so appreciated his wonderful tongue in cheek tunes.
There is somewhat of a link between Harry Neilson, Randy Newman and Zevon that I really enjoy.  

 




 Send Lawyers, Guns, Money and Zevon back to those of us who so appreciated his wonderful tongue in cheek tunes.
There is somewhat of a link between Harry Neilson, Randy Newman and Zevon that I really enjoy.  

From Julliard...to the Everly Brothers...to this...by the age of 24. Genius material this Zevon fellow..
To me Warren Zevon was "gonzo" in the sense that Hunter Thompson was if you know what I mean. 

This is my favorite Zevon song!  Evertime I hear the intro, I get excited{#Dancingbanana}

He bit the usherette's leg in the dark.

Gotta love this song
What a totally sick song..great stuff! Miss ya Warren! RIP
The baseline sounds like Werewolves of London Am I nuts? Anyone know if theres overlaping history between the songs?
We miss ye brother Warren... We want to send "Lawyers Guns and Money" we just don't know where to send it Bro....
Irony is a bitch.....
This song still sucks after all these years!
"And he dug up her grave and built a cage with her bones" What???
Warren's great live set, Stand in the Fire, is finally out in iTunes. Includes a raucus version of this song.
Zappa for the masses.
BPenni wrote:
I'll third that. Especially "Desperados." What a tune...
I'll fourth that.
This is good.
RIP, Warren.
I was never crazy about him but he did some good stuff.
This song always brings me back 1988 -- drinking tequila on Cape Cod. Talk about Excitable Boy!! Tequila made me quite excitable....
drjimmy wrote: Radio Paradise should have Mohammed's Radio and Desperadoes Under the Eaves on its playlist. 2nd that, doc.
I'll third that. Especially "Desperados." What a tune...
OOOOOO-WA-OOOOOOOO RIP Warren
"He raped and killed her and then took her home..." Excitable indeed!
And the live version of "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner"! An under-rated genius and an amazing live performer. Saw him play slide with a broken bottle in Nashville's Performance Hall - it was riveting........
Mr. Bad example himself
Petition to induct him to the R&R hall of fame. https://www.warrenzevon.com/petition/petition.htm
The title of this tune I often used through the years to describe any male who is clearly and visibly "out there". Forgive him...he's just an excitable boy. An American original..RIP, WZ.
drjimmy wrote:
Radio Paradise should have Mohammed's Radio and Desperadoes Under the Eaves on its playlist.
2nd that, doc.
Whoa! To those lyrics. Um, little disturbing.
rixtar99 wrote:
is that the original version?
Warren Z was one of THE most original artists that ever wrote a song. The great too often die young.
i miss warren, I liked just about everything he did
Ooooh WAH ooooh Excitable Boy