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Warren Zevon — Mohammed's Radio
Album: Warren Zevon
Avg rating:
6.8

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Total ratings: 829









Released: 1976
Length: 3:37
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Everybody's restless and they've got no place to go
Someone's always trying to tell them
Something they already know
So their anger and resentment flow

But don't it make you want to rock and roll
All night long
Mohammed's Radio
I heard somebody singing sweet and soulful
On the radio, Mohammed's Radio

You know, the Sheriff's got his problems too
He will surely take them out on you
In walked the village idiot and his face was all aglow
He's been up all night listening to Mohammed's Radio

Don't it make you want to rock and roll
All night long
Mohammed's Radio
I heard somebody singing sweet and soulful
On the radio, Mohammed's Radio

Everybody's desperate trying to make ends meet
Work all day, still can't pay the price of gasoline and meat
Alas, their lives are incomplete

Don't it make you want to rock and roll
All night long Mohammed's Radio
I heard somebody singing sweet and soulful
On the radio, Mohammed's Radio

You've been up all night listening for his drum
Hoping that the righteous might just might just might just come
I heard the General whisper to his aide-de-camp
"Be watchful for Mohammed's lamp"

Don't it make you want to rock and roll
All night long Mohammed's Radio
Comments (71)add comment
How prophetic - this came out in 1976??
Posted 1 year ago by Timbo080    [ Reply ]
Ronstadt's version of this is also worth a listen.
Posted 1 year ago by Coops    [ Reply ]
 capandjudy wrote:

I always seem to equate Warren Zevon with Hunter S. Thompson for some reason.


I can see that.  Both bat-shit crazy, but quite literate.
Posted 1 year ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
"I heard the General whisper to his aide-de-camp
'Be watchful for Mohammed's lamp'"

Tossing in military-mysticism prophetic tidbits was Warren Zevon's secret rock 'n roll sauce. Roland the Thompson gunner was so damn literary it's like Warren's life should at least be re-created as a Netflix thriller series. 
Posted 2 years ago by Grayson    [ Reply ]
Good to hear some Warren Zevon here!
Posted 2 years ago by Ralf    [ Reply ]
The California Sound at its finest.
Posted 2 years ago by Ok_Sobriquet    [ Reply ]
 nutrod42 wrote:

Lindsey Buckingham too, I think.


You're both right - here's the personnel list from wikipedia:

Warren Zevon – Vocals, piano
Stevie Nicks – Backing vocals
Lindsey Buckingham – Guitar, backing vocals
Bobby Keys – Saxophone
Bob Glaub – Bass guitar
Waddy Wachtel – Guitar
David Lindley – Lap steel guitar
Larry Zack – Drums, percussion
Jackson Browne - Producer
Ken Caillat - Engineer
Posted 3 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
Love Warren. RIP (I'm trying my darnedest to enjoy every sandwich)
Posted 3 years ago by floydpink    [ Reply ]
Schäs Lied!
Posted 3 years ago by Lockefeller    [ Reply ]
I always put this song along side Jackson Browne from the same era. Both great singer songwriters.
Posted 3 years ago by janac13    [ Reply ]
Lyrics are particularly relevant in today's USA!
Posted 4 years ago by Elroweho    [ Reply ]
Posted 4 years ago by Matt_Maurer    [ Reply ]
Ah - with his I can finally get back to work after an amazing run: Dead Can Dance - Pixies - Petty (Fault Lines)!
Posted 5 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
Genius. So sorry he's gone.  
Posted 5 years ago by fraserji    [ Reply ]
 Steely_D wrote:

So folks reading that know, it's "plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose" which basically means "the more things change, the more they stay the same."
 
Thanks for getting the cedilla in there!  And giving the rest of the saying. 
I'm at a 7 on this one, thinking of going to 8 one day....maybe next time I'm having a great day and this one comes on to make me blue (lol @ Grayson!) Long Live RP!!
Posted 5 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
Dude. Mr. Bill, you just totally blew it. Big time. Had been having a rather fine dreary Sunday afternoon at the local shooting the breeze, whatever, came home to hear this playing. If anything can bring on my-old-friend-Sunday-afternoon-kinda-blues faster, it'd be this one. 
Posted 5 years ago by Grayson    [ Reply ]
 Stephen_Phillips wrote:

 Plus ca change as they say in France ("nothing changes").

 
So folks reading that know, it's "plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose" which basically means "the more things change, the more they stay the same."
Posted 6 years ago by Steely_D    [ Reply ]
My crystals resonate with the introduction of Warren Zevon music to my countenance. Always good. Always weird. Always Warren.
 
Posted 7 years ago by Wilfrue    [ Reply ]
I really miss this man.  What a brilliant songwriter, performer, and human being.
Posted 7 years ago by buddy    [ Reply ]
Mr Zevon is one of my favorite artists, and I am quite familiar with his work.

Today, however, this song yanked me out of a very focused writing effort as ..... "Wow, man!  I actually listened to Mohammed's radio while on assignment in the King Abdullah Economic City!"

Yessir, Mix 105 was trippy.  Arabic language DJ with some English-language commercials; a mixture of Arabic, Euro, and US music (think: Brittany Spears); and religious programming at sunset, in accordance with their evening prayer period.

(You see, I couldn't get Radio Paradise while in the car ....)
Posted 7 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
I always seem to equate Warren Zevon with Hunter S. Thompson for some reason.
Posted 7 years ago by capandjudy    [ Reply ]
 WonderLizard wrote:
Wonder how he escaped a fatwa for the title alone?

 
It was 1976, three years before the Shah was even overthrown; maybe things weren't as overtly adversarial and militant back then.
Posted 7 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
"Zevon has remarked that all the songs he wrote from that era were done under a haze of drugs. He himself doesn't really recall what they were all about."
Posted 7 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
 rockettnyc wrote:
The background vocals are provided by the fabulous Stevie Nicks

 
Lindsey Buckingham too, I think.
Posted 8 years ago by nutrod42    [ Reply ]
The man was a genius.  I miss his surprising brilliance.
Posted 8 years ago by buddy    [ Reply ]
 Steely_D wrote:

Except I think his point wasn't political or economic. It was the futile grasping for things that are, at their core, irrelevant to a good life. That's made clear by the next - sarcastic - line:

Alas, their lives are incomplete. 

 
Alas we can't ask him now what he really meant.  I think you have over analysed it - he probably just chose the word "meat" to rhyme with "Incomplete". I don't think Warren was a vegetarian or a non-automobile owner.  I think things were tight in USA in the early 70's and the same here in the UK. Plus ca change as they say in France ("nothing changes").
Posted 8 years ago by Stephen_Phillips    [ Reply ]
All Zevon's songs are meritory to godlike. But this is a 9. Much more puntuation than the half of the songs that is playing in RP.
Posted 8 years ago by CHuLoYo    [ Reply ]
This wouldn't sound out of place on Roger Waters' Amused to Death, released in 1992.
Posted 9 years ago by Otomi    [ Reply ]
Doesn't get much better than this!
Posted 9 years ago by grahamdillabough    [ Reply ]
 Pyro wrote:
RIP, Warren.  I am enjoying every sandwich.

"Everybody's desperate trying to make ends meet
work all day, still can't pay the price of gasoline and meat"


not much has changed, eh?

 
Except I think his point wasn't political or economic. It was the futile grasping for things that are, at their core, irrelevant to a good life. That's made clear by the next - sarcastic - line:

Alas, their lives are incomplete. 
Posted 9 years ago by Steely_D    [ Reply ]
Warren Zevon ALWAYS puts a smile on my face.
Posted 9 years ago by Al    [ Reply ]
Even Obama has the Ebola blues...just keeping it current
Posted 10 years ago by ColdMiser    [ Reply ]
Seems to be toooo much Neko Case....so I've PSD'ed.
Posted 10 years ago by Sandra_Jacobsen    [ Reply ]
 contractor07 wrote:
Garbage!

 
he's got his problems, too
and he will surely take them out on you 
Posted 10 years ago by Steely_D    [ Reply ]
Wonder how he escaped a fatwa for the title alone?
Posted 10 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
Wonderful song.
In walked the village idiot and his face was all aglow
He's been up all night listening to Mohammed's Radio
Don't it make you want to rock and roll
All night long
Mohammed's Radio
I heard somebody singing sweet and soulful
On the radio, Mohammed's Radio
Posted 10 years ago by ScottN    [ Reply ]
So. Good. 
Posted 10 years ago by hencini    [ Reply ]

Posted 10 years ago by zepher    [ Reply ]
Warren Zevon sings straight to my brain, my heart, and my soul. So wonderful.
Posted 10 years ago by Kerryandjim    [ Reply ]
Thank God for PSD, which got me to here.
Posted 12 years ago by buddy    [ Reply ]
If you don't find yourself singing along, stop and ask why the hell not.
Posted 12 years ago by martinc    [ Reply ]
God, I love how Bill segues from Steve Earle - Jerusalem to this song!
Posted 14 years ago by laozilover    [ Reply ]
 contractor07 wrote:

Garbage!


 
No, Warren Zevon.  Far better than Garbage.(Withholding vitriolic response here.) {#Sunny}
Posted 14 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
I love this song.  When are we going to hear "Bo Diddley Was A Gunslinger"?  Or "Accidentally Like A Martyr"?  Yep, Zevon was a man ahead of his (too-short) time...  His son Jordan has some good music out there, too.  I love "The Joke's On Me."  {#Music}
Posted 14 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
 contractor07 wrote:

Garbage!


 
Why do I have the feeling the Musselman contingent isn't too happy with this song?

<...> there's the difference between an "extremist" and a "moderate".

The "extremist" is the one with the death threat.

The "moderate" is the one who explains what you've done to deserve it.

 



Posted 14 years ago by aelfheld    [ Reply ]
is this in honor of the pakistani american who tried to blow up his car in times square?
Posted 14 years ago by pugifat    [ Reply ]
damn this boy was good!
Posted 14 years ago by mrdak    [ Reply ]
 mybaldbird wrote:
Possibly my favorite Zevon song, I can't decide between this and Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner.
 

A hard choice indeed!
Posted 14 years ago by PerchTwirl    [ Reply ]
Nice follow up to the previous (great) song. I love Warren Zevon's music, and this is such a soulful one.
Posted 14 years ago by PerchTwirl    [ Reply ]
Bye Warren. Thanks for the music.
Posted 14 years ago by rbigelo    [ Reply ]

Garbage!


Posted 15 years ago by contractor07    [ Reply ]
RIP, Warren.  I am enjoying every sandwich.

"Everybody's desperate trying to make ends meet
work all day, still can't pay the price of gasoline and meat"


not much has changed, eh?


Posted 15 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
Great song to play after Jerusalem! Bill does it again!
Posted 15 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]
great song, gone too soon.
Posted 15 years ago by sutcliff    [ Reply ]
Possibly my favorite Zevon song, I can't decide between this and Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner.
Posted 15 years ago by mybaldbird    [ Reply ]
Truly heavenly music!
Posted 16 years ago by nigelr    [ Reply ]
The background vocals are provided by the fabulous Stevie Nicks
Posted 16 years ago by rockettnyc    [ Reply ]
I'm sure somewhere there's an angry extremist jumping up and down over the song title etc...you can't even call a teddy bear Mohammed now days without the fear of death...stupid times we're living in!
Posted 16 years ago by EssexTex    [ Reply ]
karljonasson wrote:
YES! This is one of the best f'in songs ever written. Can't be played loud or often enough!
Posted 16 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
per-fect!
Posted 16 years ago by iamnotabronte    [ Reply ]
Great to hear from Mr. Zevon. Haven't heard much of him here at RP. Thanks playing this.
Posted 17 years ago by smehan55    [ Reply ]
crankypage wrote:
Freaking Genius, RIP. Every song from his first album deserves to be on RP.
Absolutely! Every track is a classic.
Posted 17 years ago by SwampYankee    [ Reply ]
Dave_Mack wrote:
Don't think I've heard this one before. Do I hear Emmy Lou Harris in there?
EmmyLou's not listed as a contributer to this album, but there's plenty of other familiar names on there...
Posted 17 years ago by gandalfbmg    [ Reply ]
Phlegmaticman wrote:
I made this comment on "Radio Radio," but here goes again: I tend to enjoy songs about radio. Radio Radio - Elvis Costello Mexican Radio - Wall of Voodoo On Your Radio - Joe Jackson You Turn Me On (I'm A Radio) - Joni Mitchell Border Radio - The Blasters Static On The Radio - Jim White The list goes on and on. What is it about radio songs?
Big up Wall of Voodoo: "I wish I was in Tijuana / Eating barbecued iguana". My favourite additions to this list: On My Radio - The Selector Radio Sweetheart - Elvis Costello Radio Sweethearts - Kate Rusby Radio Silence - Thoas Dolby There's Nothing on the Radio - Graham Parker ...but most of the time I could do without This is Radio Clash - The Clash Video Killed the Radio Star - The Buggles
Posted 17 years ago by Pazzat    [ Reply ]
Phlegmaticman wrote:
I made this comment on "Radio Radio," but here goes again: I tend to enjoy songs about radio. Radio Radio - Elvis Costello Mexican Radio - Wall of Voodoo On Your Radio - Joe Jackson You Turn Me On (I'm A Radio) - Joni Mitchell Border Radio - The Blasters Static On The Radio - Jim White The list goes on and on. What is it about radio songs?
No soap. RADIO!
Posted 17 years ago by drtjdel    [ Reply ]
Fire up the fatwas!!
Posted 17 years ago by g-rod    [ Reply ]
Don't think I've heard this one before. Do I hear Emmy Lou Harris in there?
Posted 17 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
I made this comment on "Radio Radio," but here goes again: I tend to enjoy songs about radio. Radio Radio - Elvis Costello Mexican Radio - Wall of Voodoo On Your Radio - Joe Jackson You Turn Me On (I'm A Radio) - Joni Mitchell Border Radio - The Blasters Static On The Radio - Jim White The list goes on and on. What is it about radio songs?
Posted 17 years ago by Phlegmaticman    [ Reply ]
I miss him. Yes... 10... Godlike.
Posted 17 years ago by Manbird    [ Reply ]
Sure do miss this guy. RIP Warren.
Posted 17 years ago by ch83575    [ Reply ]
Freaking Genius, RIP. Every song from his first album deserves to be on RP.
Posted 17 years ago by crankypage    [ Reply ]