It has been 8 years to the day now since another of Chicago's favorite sons, Warren William Zevon, passed away from lung cancer. If you have never watched his last public performance, it was on David Letterman October 30, 2002, and it was my second favorite of his -- Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p9CxJazR_U
Zevon was the only guest on Letterman that night, and he did a lengthy interview as well as 2 other songs. Links to the other 3 portions, including the quote where the title of this post came from (it is a direct answer to whether Zevon had a bigger insight on life and death once he had gotten the terminal diagnosis). The interview is not depressing -- Zevon is candid and funny about what he is going through:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hl9Tw2GzvA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmjTQqJXtgs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrsCBmgUZxc
In honor of Mr. Warren Zevon, and just in case people did not know he did something besides Werewolves of London (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZa3EYWCY3w), my current (because it changes often since he did so much good stuff) favorite Zevon songs that aren't Werewolves of London):
5. Lawyers, Guns, and Money (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTFSLHHEMa8)
4. Play it All Night Long (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUyNBEzJTNE)
3. Excitable Boy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eUsSXXc8wU)
2. Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p9CxJazR_U)
And finally, a guide to enjoying life to its fullest:
1. Mr. Bad Example (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1kbH1QEmkU)
Finally, from his last studio album, "The Wind", a last request from Mr. Zevon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMTKb-pgxGI
