Poor Poor Pitiful Me (1976) – Warren Zevon

Poor Poor Pitiful Me by Warren Zevon is an exuberant upbeat country – rock track. In terms of intensity, liveliness, and even in its impropriety this song reminds me of the penultimate song to feature here from Zevon called Excitable Boy. I believe both of these songs which have a macabre sense of humour were recommendations from my friend Max at PowerPop who is a big Zevon fan. Thanks in large part to Max, my estimation of Zevon’s output has risen markedly since I started this music library project in July, 2019.

I love this song. Not many songs deal with a failed suicide, domestic abuse, and a brush with sadomasochism. I’m a huge Warren Zevon fan. His songs tend to be on the dark side…and anyone who has listened to Excitable Boy will testify to that.

When I heard Zevon’s version of this song for the first time I was sold. I first heard the Linda Ronstadt version and I loved it. I’m a Linda Ronstadt fan but something about Zevon’s version draws me in. It’s raw and crude and I love the way he sings it.

– Max at PowerPop (Warren Zevon – Poor Poor Pitiful Me)

I have presented a live version of Poor Poor Pitiful Me by Zevon at the Capitol Theatre, NJ in 1982 below. His music talents not only as a songwriter, but as an effervescent entertainer seem to be marvellously showcased by this gold-standard version. Also the band are so solid. The version also transfigures unexpectedly into Bruce Springsteen’s Cadillac Ranch. It is said, Zevon never got the level of popular recognition he deserved, but ‘real’ musicians know how great he was.

[Verse 1]
I lay my head on the railroad tracks
And wait for the Double E
The railroad don’t run no more
Poor, poor pitiful me

[Chorus]
Poor, poor pitiful me
Poor, poor pitiful me
These young girls won’t let me be
Lord, have mercy on me
Woe is me

[Verse 2]
Well, I met a girl in West Hollywood
But I ain’t naming names
But she really worked me over good
She was just like Jesse James
She really worked me over good
She was a credit to her gender
She put me through some changes, Lord
Sort of like a Waring blender

[Verse 3]
I met a girl at the Rainbow Bar
She asked me if I’d beat her
She took me back to the Hyatt House
I don’t want to talk about it, hey

Zevon had early music industry successes as a session musician, jingle composer, songwriter, touring musician, musical coordinator, and bandleader. In 1975, Zevon toured regularly with the Everly Brothers as keyboard player, band leader, and musical coordinator. Also, in this same year he returned to Los Angeles, where he roomed with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac). Despite all of that, Zevon struggled to break through in his solo career until his music was performed by Linda Ronstadt in 1976. There he collaborated with Jackson Browne, who produced and promoted Zevon’s self-titled major-label debut in 1976 in which today’s featured track appears.

Reference:
1. Poor Poor Pitiful Me – Wikipedia
2. Warren Zevon (album) – Wikipedia

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“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand