In a 2004 survey of its listeners, Jeremy Vineof the BBC2 radio announced that “Saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand, walking through the streets of Soho in the rain, he was looking for a place called Lee Ho Fook's, going to get a big dish of beef chow mein,”had won as the most popular song opening, beating out Rock Around the Clock, among others.
Werewolves in London
Warren Zevon studied modern classical music with Igor Stravinski, who people might know from Rite of Spring(shown here from the 1931 Disney movie, Fantasia.) His early career had him leading the band and playing piano for the Everly Brothers. It was from Phil Everly in 1975 that he got the idea for “Werewolves of London.” Everly had seen the 1935 film Werewolf of Londonand suggested to Zevon that he should write a song with that title.
Writing the song took all of 15 minutes. Recording it took much, much longer. First, Zevon didn’t even record or perform it himself. Jackson Brownestarted performing the song and getting good reception for it. So, in 1978, three years after writing the song, Zevon started recording the song. Most of the budget for the album they were laying down went into this one track. Zevon and his lead guitarist were fine, they just couldn’t get the drums and bass guitar on track. Finally, after 59 takes and the addition of Fleetwood Mac’sdrummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie, they achieved the sound they were looking for.
I saw werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand
Walking through the streets of SoHo in the rain
He was looking for the place called Lee Ho Fooks
For to get a big dish of beef chow mein
Ah-hooo, werewolves of London
Ah-hooo
Ah-hooo, werewolves of London
Ah-hooo
You hear him howling around your kitchen door
You better not let him in
Little old lady got mutilated late last night
Werewolves of London again
Ah-hooo, werewolves of London
Ah-hooo
Ah-hooo, werewolves of London
Ah-hooo
Hunh
(solo)
He's the hairy-handed gent
Who ran amok in Kent
Lately he's been overheard in Mayfair
You better stay away from him
He'll rip your lungs out, Jim
Hunh, I'd like to meet his tailor
Ah-hooo, werewolves of London
Ah-hooo
Ah-hooo, werewolves of London
Ah-hooo
Well, I saw Lon Chaney walking with the Queen
Doin' the werewolves of London
I saw Lon Chaney Jr. walking with the Queen
Doin' the werewolves of London
I saw a werewolf drinkin' a piña colada at Trader Vic's
His hair was perfect
Ah-hooo
Werewolves of London
Heh, draw blood
Ah-hooo
Werewolves of London
Warren Zevon
He was taken from us much too soon, in 2003 at the age of 56 from mesothelioma. He had worked with everyone from the era of pop/rock: all the members of Fleetwood Mac and theEagles, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, and Bruce Springsteento name only a few.
Sometime after Zevon’s death, Jackson Browne had this to say about the song: "It’s about a really well-dressed, ladies’ man, a werewolf preying on little old ladies. In a way it’s the Victorian nightmare, the gigolo thing."
I’ll be posting some versions of this song every day on my Minnich MusicFacebook page, so visit there to hear them! If you have any stories about Werewolves of London, or favorite versions, let me know in the comments section, I’d love to hear from you.
I’ll be posting roughly once a week with a new song. I’m trying to make the songs seasonal, but I can make exceptions. So, if there’s a song that you’d like some background on, or questions about what it means, let me know.
Thanks for reading! Until next time!
Werewolves in London
Warren Zevon studied modern classical music with Igor Stravinski, who people might know from Rite of Spring(shown here from the 1931 Disney movie, Fantasia.) His early career had him leading the band and playing piano for the Everly Brothers. It was from Phil Everly in 1975 that he got the idea for “Werewolves of London.” Everly had seen the 1935 film Werewolf of Londonand suggested to Zevon that he should write a song with that title.
Writing the song took all of 15 minutes. Recording it took much, much longer. First, Zevon didn’t even record or perform it himself. Jackson Brownestarted performing the song and getting good reception for it. So, in 1978, three years after writing the song, Zevon started recording the song. Most of the budget for the album they were laying down went into this one track. Zevon and his lead guitarist were fine, they just couldn’t get the drums and bass guitar on track. Finally, after 59 takes and the addition of Fleetwood Mac’sdrummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie, they achieved the sound they were looking for.
I saw werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand
Walking through the streets of SoHo in the rain
He was looking for the place called Lee Ho Fooks
For to get a big dish of beef chow mein
Ah-hooo, werewolves of London
Ah-hooo
Ah-hooo, werewolves of London
Ah-hooo
You hear him howling around your kitchen door
You better not let him in
Little old lady got mutilated late last night
Werewolves of London again
Ah-hooo, werewolves of London
Ah-hooo
Ah-hooo, werewolves of London
Ah-hooo
Hunh
(solo)
He's the hairy-handed gent
Who ran amok in Kent
Lately he's been overheard in Mayfair
You better stay away from him
He'll rip your lungs out, Jim
Hunh, I'd like to meet his tailor
Ah-hooo, werewolves of London
Ah-hooo
Ah-hooo, werewolves of London
Ah-hooo
Well, I saw Lon Chaney walking with the Queen
Doin' the werewolves of London
I saw Lon Chaney Jr. walking with the Queen
Doin' the werewolves of London
I saw a werewolf drinkin' a piña colada at Trader Vic's
His hair was perfect
Ah-hooo
Werewolves of London
Heh, draw blood
Ah-hooo
Werewolves of London
Warren Zevon
He was taken from us much too soon, in 2003 at the age of 56 from mesothelioma. He had worked with everyone from the era of pop/rock: all the members of Fleetwood Mac and theEagles, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, and Bruce Springsteento name only a few.
Sometime after Zevon’s death, Jackson Browne had this to say about the song: "It’s about a really well-dressed, ladies’ man, a werewolf preying on little old ladies. In a way it’s the Victorian nightmare, the gigolo thing."
I’ll be posting some versions of this song every day on my Minnich MusicFacebook page, so visit there to hear them! If you have any stories about Werewolves of London, or favorite versions, let me know in the comments section, I’d love to hear from you.
I’ll be posting roughly once a week with a new song. I’m trying to make the songs seasonal, but I can make exceptions. So, if there’s a song that you’d like some background on, or questions about what it means, let me know.
Thanks for reading! Until next time!
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