Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner lyrics

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 (1)

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

Norway's bravest son

(Time Time Time for another week of war)

(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

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.

• Artist:Warren Zevon