Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner

Warren Zevon

Roland was a warrior

From the Land of the Midnight Sun

With a Thompson Gun for hire

Fighting to be done



The deal was made in Denmark

On a dark and stormy day

So he set out for Biafra

To join the bloody fray



Through '66 and 7

They fought the Congo War

With their fingers on their triggers

Knee-deep in gore

The days and nights they battled

The Bantu to their Knees

They killed to earn their living

And to help out the Congolese



Roland the Thompson Gunner

Roland the Thompson Gunner



His comrades fought beside him

Van Owen and the rest

But of all the Thompson Gunners

Roland was the best

So the CIA decided

They wanted Roland dead

That son-of-a-bitch Van Owen

Blew off Roland's Head



Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner

Time Time Time for another week of war



Norway's bravest son

Time stands still for Roland til he evens up the score



They can still see his headless body

Stalking through the night

In the muzzle flash of Roland's Thompson Gun

In the muzzle flash of Roland's Thompson Gun



Roland searched the continent

For the man who'd done him in

He found him in Mombassa

In a bar room drinkin Gin

Roland aimed his Thompson Gun

He didn't say a word

But he blew Van Owen's body

From there to Johanasburg.



Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner

Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner

Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner

Talkin about the man

Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner



The eternal Thompson Gunner

Still wanderin through the night

Now it's ten years later

But he still keeps up the fight

In Ireland, In Lebanon

In Palastine and Berkley

Patty Hurst

Heard the burst

Of Roland's Thompson Gun

And bought it.