“Hasten Down the Wind” (Warren Zevon/Linda Ronstadt)

This week we’re featuring particularly sad songs, and today’s classic sad song of the day is “Hasten Down the Wind” by Warren Zevon, later covered by Linda Ronstadt. It’s hard to believe this song is close to fifty years old or that Warren’s been gone twenty years now.

“Hasten Down the Wind” tells the story, in the third person, of a man who reluctantly lets go of the woman he loves because she needs more than what he can give her. He knows what’s happening and knows what he has to do, no matter how much he’ll regret it later.

There are few songs as good and as pure as this one. “Hasten Down the Wind” may be Warren Zevon’s best, and that’s saying something. It’s not just the the words but the chord progression and the melody that work together to rip your heart out. The song isn’t overly cynical nor a maniacal portrait, as many of Mr. Zevon’s more excitable songs were. (Remember “Werewolves of London“?) Instead, this one is a heartbreaking breakup song. Yes, Warren had a soul, and this one shows it. Just look at these lyrics:

She’s so many women
He can’t find the one who was his friend
So he’s hanging on to half her heart
He can’t have the restless part
So he tells her to hasten down the wind

Like all great songwriters, Warren Zevon knows how to pack a punch in a small number of words. That bit of “So he’s hanging on to half her heart, he can’t have the restless part” is just killer. Then there’s the phrase, “hasten down the wind.” Who talks like that? Only a skilled wordsmith, that’s who, which Mr. Zevon most definitely was. Combined with a strong-yet-moving chord progression (in the chorus, it’s IV – iii – ii – V – I, repeated; it’s that downward movement from the IV to the ii, which sets up the V and then back to the tonic, that really sells it), it’s emotionally powerful.

According to Mr. Zevon, who tended not to write autobiographical songs, this one was inspired by one of his own (failed) relationships. In his words, “This song was so personal, I had to write it in the third person.”

I defy you to listen to this song and not feel a little pain in your chest where your heart should be. It’s all about letting go, even when you don’t want to let go.

“Hasten Down the Wind” first appeared on the songwriter’s 1976 self-titled debut album, Warren Zevon. (Phil Everly sang harmony and David Lindley provided the slide guitar.) Songstress Linda Ronstadt covered it the same year on her album that took the song’s name, Hasten Down the Wind. (Ms. Ronstadt had an obvious affinity for Mr. Zevon and his songs, including covers of “Carmelita” and “Poor Pitiful Me.”) Her version, with Don Henley on background vocals, is just as heartrending as Warren’s original. It’s just a damn fine song, whoever sings it.

Warren Zevon was one of his generation’s finest songwriters. Unfortunately, he passed away of lung cancer on September 7, 2003. He was just 56 years old, too damned young. Enjoy every sandwich, Warren.