PRISON GROVE

An icy wind burns and scars
Rushes in like a fallen star
Through the narrow space
Between these bars
Looking down on Prison Grove

Dug in, hunkered down
Hours race without a sound
Gonna carry me to where I'm bound
Looking down on Prison Grove

Iron will hard as rock
Hold me up for the fateful knock
When they walk me down in a mortal lock
Out on Prison Grove

Shine on all these broken lives
Shine on
Shine the light on me

Oohh oohh
Oohh oohh
Oohh oohh
Oohh oohh
Oohh oohh
Oohh oohh


Knick Knack Paddy Wack
They say you'll hear your own bones crack
When they bend you back to bible black
Then you'll find your love

Some folks have to die too hard
Some folks have to cry too hard
Take one last look at the prison yard
Goodbye Prison Grove

Shine on all these broken lives
Shine on
Shine the light on me

Hey!
Come on!
Oohh oohh
Come on!
Oohh oohh
Oohh oohh
Oohh oohh
Come on!
Oohh oohh
Hey!
Oohh oohh
Come on!
Oohh oohh
Hey!
Oohh oohh
Oohh oohh
Oohh oohh
Oohh [fades]

Written by Warren Zevon and Jorge Calderon, from Warren Zevon's last album, The Wind. Bruce shares backing vocals on this track [read below]. Check also DISORDER IN THE HOUSE.

The song was also included on Exclusive Tracks From Uncut's Top 15 Albums Of 2003, a Various Artists compilation CD issued exclusively with UK Uncut magazine in Jan 2004.

Visit WarrenZevon.com

Track credits:
Written by Warren Zevon and Jorge Calderón
Warren Zevon - vocals
Ry Cooder - slide guitar
David Lindley - electric saz and background vocals
Jorge Calderón - electric guitar and background vocals
Reggie Hamilton - upright bass
Jim Keltner - drums
Jordan Zevon - background vocals
Bruce Springsteen - background vocals
Jackson Browne - background vocals
Billy Bob Thornton - background vocals
T-Bone Brunett - background vocals

From Backstreets.com:

Warren Zevon was diagnosed with terminal cancer a year ago [2002], and immediately set out to record one last record. He asked many of his friends and past collaborators to contribute if they could, and the lineup here is stellar. Bruce Springsteen, Emmylou Harris, Jackson Browne, Don Henley, Tom Petty, and John Waite all make guest appearances, none more thrilling than Springsteen's. With no less than three rip-roaring guitar solos and some powerful vocal work on the foreboding-yet-playful "Disorder in the House," Springsteen and Zevon rekindle some of the fire they tapped back in the 70's when the two shared songwriting credits for "Jeannie Needs a Shooter." Bruce also guests on "Prison Grove," a plaintive tale of a criminal's last days. Zevon has written a beautiful record about a man staring death in the face and feeling the heightened rush of everything he's ever felt before in his life. (Release date: August 26 [2003])

From Backstreets.com (September 15, 2003):

Warren Zevon passed away on September 7 [2003] at his home in Los Angeles, over a year after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, an inoperable form of lung cancer. Zevon did get to see the release of his final album, The Wind, less than two weeks before his death. It's a hell of a parting shot. Many of Zevon's friends and past collaborators contributed to The Wind, including Bruce Springsteen on "Prison Grove" and the roadhousin' "Disorder in the House." (Springsteen and Zevon previously collaborated on "Jeannie Needs a Shooter," released on Zevon's 1980 album Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School)