Don't Forget The Lyrics, Vol 1

Warren Zevon
Back In The High Life Again
Life'll Kill Ya
2000

I have been thinking about introducing this new feature for a while now and I'd even come up with a few ideas for it along the way, but I hadn't yet pulled the trigger on actually writing something. Well, I just received my inspiration. My local rock radio station (94.7 The Globe) is presenting a "low voltage weekend" featuring a mix laid back, soft rock, and acoustic songs and the one they just played combines one of my favorite singers with one of my favorite songs. And with this particular singer paired with this particular song, it's all about the poignancy of the lyrics.

Much like how Johnny Cash lent a new meaning to Nine Inch Nail's 'Hurt', which he recorded for the Rick Rubin-produced American Recordings series shortly before he died, the not-yet-diagnosed Warren Zevon performed Steve Winwood's 'Back In The High Life Again' for his own 'Life'll Kill Ya' album in 2000 and he gives new meaning to its words fourteen years after it originally hit #1. Despite having not yet received his diagnosis of inoperable mesothelioma at the time, Warren was already suffering the symptoms when he recorded the song. The underlying theme of the entire 'Life'll Kill Ya' album is the pain and suffering that he had to deal with on a daily basis. Also featured on the album are the tracks 'My Shit's Fucked Up' and 'Don't Let Us Get Sick.' With his phobia of doctors preventing him from seeking medical treatment for most of his life, it was not until 2002 that he received an official diagnosis and learned that he was dying. Warren Zevon died on September 7, 2003.

What makes this performance of this song by this singer so special is the optimism in the lyrics, coming from someone who, though undiagnosed, was dying of the disease that would eventually kill him. There is almost no one else in music, who could have sung both figuratively and literally about living the high life in their past and wanting to get back there once again, and have it mean as much as it does, than Warren Zevon. With his lifelong battle with addictions, he lived the high life. They may not be his own words, but when he sings "When you're born to run / It's so hard to just slow down" there is no doubt that he means it from the bottom of his heart. When he sings "I'll be back in the high life again / All the eyes that watched me once will smile and take me in", he sings of a career that skyrocketed him to fame, which was squandered away due to his battle with alcoholism and a number of record label issues, as well as a hope that things will get better. And in singing "All the doors I closed one time will open up again", he dreams of another chance at redemption for his past mistakes.

Please watch this video montage of Warren Zevon's performance of Steve Winwood's 'Back In the High Life Again' and don't forget the lyrics.




It used to seem to me
That my life ran on too fast
And I had to take it slowly
Just to make the good parts last

But when you're born to run
It's so hard to just slow down
So don't be surprised to see me
In the brighter part of town

I'll be back in the high life again
All the doors I closed one time will open up again
I'll be back in the high life again
All the eyes that watched me once will smile and take me in

And I'll drink and dance with one hand free
Let the world back into me
Oh I'll be a sight to see
Back in the high life again

You used to be the best
To make life be real to me
And I hope that you're still out there
And you're like you used to be

We'll have ourselves a time
And we'll dance 'til the morning sun
We'll let the good times come in
We won't stop 'til we're done

We'll be back in the high life again
All the doors I closed one time will open up again
We'll be back in the high life again
All the eyes that watched us once will smile and take us in

And we'll drink and dance with one hand free
Have the world so easily
Oh we'll be a sight to see
Back in the high life

We'll be back in the high life again
All the doors I closed one time will open up again
We'll be back in the high life again
All the eyes that watched us once will smile and take us in

Back in the high life......