Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner
Quick Summary
"Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" is a song by American singer-songwriter Warren Zevon, released on his 1978 album Excitable Boy. The song is a geopolitical narrative about a mercenary soldier who is decapitated but continues to fight. The lyrics describe Roland's exploits and his posthumous quest for revenge. The song's title references the Thompson submachine gun, a firearm popularized during the Prohibition era. Zevon was known for his darkly humorous and poetic songwriting, often exploring themes of violence and the absurd.
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