1. Home
  2. Warren Zevon
  3. Warren Zevon Songs
  4. The French Inhaler

The French InhalerWarren Zevon

Released: May 18, 1976

Songwriter: Warren Zevon

Producer: Jackson Browne

[Verse 1]
How're you going to make your way in the world, woman
When you weren't cut out for working?
When your fingers are slender and frail?
How're you going to get around
In this sleazy bedroom town
If you don't put yourself up for sale?

[Verse 2]
Where will you go with your scarves and your miracles?
Who's gonna know who you are?
Drugs and wine and flattering light
You must try it again 'til you get it right
Maybe you'll end up with someone different every night (Night)

[Refrain]
All these people with no home to go home to
They'd all like to spend the night with you
Maybe I would too

[Verse 3]
But tell me
How're you going to make your way in the world, woman
When you weren't cut out for working?
And you just can't concentrate
And you always show up late

[Bridge]
You said you were an actress
Yes, I believe you are
I-I-I thought you'd be a star
So I drank up all the money
Yes, I drank up all the money
With these phonies in this Hollywood bar
These friends of mine in this Hollywood bar

[Verse 4]
Loneliness and frustration
We both came down with an acute case
And when the lights came up at two
I caught a glimpse of you
And your face looked like something
Death brought with him in his suitcase

[Outro]
Your pretty face, it looked so wasted
Another pretty face devastated
The French Inhaler
He stamped and mailed her
"So long, Norman"
She said, "So long, Norman"

Warren Zevon

Warren Zevon (24 January 1947 – 7 September 2003) was an American rock singer-songwriter and musician. He’s known best for his dark and outlandish sense of humor.

Zevon’s life is a classic tale of someone caught-up in bipolar alcoholism, drug-dependence, paternity suits, and divorce – a virtual train wreck on two feet. Still, his writing stands out among songwriters as some of the most original, interesting (and, okay, bizarre) on record. He released 13 studio albums in his career.

Zevon was a session musician for the Everly Brothers in the early 1970s, and came into a circle of artists ranging from Waddy Wachtel to Jackson Browne to Linda Rhonstadt to Don Henley to Bonnie Raitt to Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. That circle of friends cross-pollinated to create the California rock sound of the late 20th century. All of the artists just mentioned point to Zevon as a big influence on their music.

more tracks from the album

Warren Zevon

From the albums
Warren Zevon popular songs

2021 © gotlyric.com