Album: The Wind (2003)

License This Song 

Songfacts®:

• "Keep Me In Your Heart" was the last song Warren Zevon wrote and recorded before dying of mesothelioma (a form of lung cancer) in September of 2003. It was also the only song on Zevon's final album, The Wind, that he wrote entirely after learning of his terminal illness. With the exception of the cover of "Knockin' On Heaven's Door," the album was comprised of songs Zevon had already at least started writing beforehand.
  
  Zevon also saved the recording of this song for last. His deteriorating health rendered him too weak to continue commuting to the studio where the other tracks had been recorded, so he had a makeshift studio set up at his home to record this song. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Joshua - Twin Cities, MN
• The song reflects Zevon's state of mind after he got his diagnosis. He wanted to be remembered and enjoy what little time he had left. Instead of quietly fading away, he used his diagnosis to help promote The Wind and did as much press as he could muster. This included a very memorable appearance on David Letterman's show where the entire episode was devoted to him. It's where Zevon distilled the wisdom of sages into a simple phrase: "enjoy every sandwich."
• Zevon wrote this song with Jorge Calderón, who played acoustic guitar and bass on the track. Session legend Jim Keltner played the drums.

Comments: 28

• Paul from ScAlways he was my favorite.. thanks warren!
• Randall Belcher from Kentucky UsaI'll keep him in my heart forever.
• Kingofcleveland from MiamiI guess he saved his best for his last
• Bryce Clark from AustraliaHey Warren,
  
  Gotta let you know, is 2023 and you’re still stuck in the middle of my heart.
  
  Thanks for everything.
• Jo Y from Tyne & Wear, UkI knew the story of this song and loved it as did my partner. When he died very suddenly, I had it played at his funeral; 9 years later and he's still in my heart though I can't play all of The Wind without howling.
• Paddy Vee from Mombassa, Drinking GinI listened to "The Wind" once, it went back on the shelf and has never moved again. I bawled the entire listening to that album. Funny and odd, because I can listen to Johnny Cash's or Joe Strummer's last albums and rejoice in the music, but listening to Warren's is just too hard.
• Normad from Moncton,nbCame across this song after my brother in law died. We made a video for his wife with this as a backdrop. Right up until this minute we are unable to sing this without emotions forcing us to stop. Jack is putting away the guitar as I write. It is a beautiful Warren Zevon song with the gems of everyday life braided in it’s lyrics. RIP Warren.
• Paul from Boston Heard this for the first time on the show 911.
  Sad / beautiful song. Wow!
• Luanne from San DiegoWhat a beautiful and touching song. I remember listening to "Where Wolves of London" when I was just 23. Over 40 years later, I heard this song on "This is Us" and "Chicago Fire". What a perfect song before he died. Will always remember this man and will keep him in my heart for a while or much longer.
  
• Kathy from NhKeep me in your heart was played on This is Us Season 5 premier last night. My family played this song at both my in-laws funerals. Can't listen to it without crying. It is such a beautiful song.
• Andy from Taunton Somerset UkI played keep me in your heart for a while as my mum’s coffin went into the flames. YOU are always close to my heart
• Paul Bridges from PennsylvaniaDear Warren,
  It's 2020 and you are still in my heart.
  Paul
• Ken from PhiladelphiaIn his final performance, literally days before he passed, he performed this on Letterman. I will give you a million dollars if you can watch and not be teary-eyed by the end of the first chorus.
  
  (Note: I am not actually going to give you a million dollars... mostly because like sneezing with your eyes open, it is a physical impossibility.)
• Brian from Newport Vermont Heard this at the end of According To Jim believe it or not and looked it up by the lyrics immediately. When I saw it was Warren I thought, my god, he must have written this before his death and got teary eyed. Bought it immediately.
• Thomas from Denver, CoI was a rear seat passenger listening to the driver's choice when this came on. Without any background info, I got what this was about. First-listens don't usually hit that hard. I bought the sheet music and after a good 40 tries (that's not many for intermediate pianists) I got it down. I'd encourage anyone who knows a G chord to give it a try. Very approachable.
• Joann from Cleveland, OhLast night I was watching an episode of the new MacGyver show. At the end, a wedding took place and the bride was a love lost by someone in attendance. They played a little snippet of this song, just the chorus as he watched he marry someone else. I thought "hey that sounds like Warren Zevon!" So I looked up the song and the lyrics. Just from reading the lyrics, I could tell it was something he composed right before his death. It is beautiful! Today I found this page and read that I was correct in my assumption. This was a lovely memento to leave for his loved ones.
• Robert from Rossford, OhioI have known and loved this song for years. It is just perfect. I was almost 30, single, and in a constant state of drunkenness when I first heard it. It was just another beautiful song to me back then. I didn't become a father until I was 36. I was sober, sane, and in love with my family. My daughter, my only child, was diagnosed with an incurable genetic disease at 5-1/2 months old, and died March 20th from Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 1. In her two years and eight months alive, she had me wrapped around her finger with her personality. The first song I thought to play at her funeral was this gem, because each line describes my little girl to a tee. "...runnin' out of breath." "tied to you like the buttons on your blouse," "maybe you'll think of me and smile," and on and on. This song will always be my little reminder of Sofia.
• Greg from Harrington Park, NjYou know I am tied to you like the buttons on your blouse. -- great lyric. I love this song. Understanding what he knew of his own mortality at the time it was written and how he reached out in this song so beautifully in both music/melody and lyrics makes it one of his best songs ever.
• Linda from Inland Empire, CaI had been touched by this song and video since I first heard and saw it, but the video has even more impact after I watched the VH1 documentary on the making of this album. When I watched the song's video after watching the VH1 video, I then had a better sense of who everyone was that he was saying goodbye through the song. Very, very moving.
• Sebastian from Fredrikstad, United StatesThis song is featured on House last episode, episode 22 season 8
• Lydia from Charlottesville, VaAs someone who grew up listening to Warren Zevon, I can't hear this song without crying. Such a beautiful and heartfelt goodbye to those who loved him. His amazing music will live on.
• Pinchas from La, CaI neither expect anyone to actually keep me in their heart, or to have an epitaph once I'm dead; but theoretically speaking, I would love this to be my epitaph.
• Rich Spurk from Arlington, Ohi hapen to like this song as wel...kyle so get on with it! see yoo soone!! =]]
• Jim from Dunedin, Fl, FlWarren had a studio for some time in his home, prior to his illness, in which he humourously called "Anatomy of A Headache". ( Information can be found in the book "The Dirty Life And Times Of Warren Zevon" written by Crystal Zevon, his ex- wife.
  This is probably the most touching song ever written by someone, and it hits you like no other.
• Matt from Sterling, IlA very moving song, especially when you know the circumstances during which it was written.
• Mark from Jonesboro, ArAwesome song. One of many by an awesome artist. He will be missed!
• Kyle from Arlington, OhI want this song played at my funeral - no hurry, though
• Jerry from Brooklyn, NyThe first time I heard this wonderful piece was on a TV News year-end summary of famous people who had died in the past year. This song was used as background for the montage of pictures and Zevon was last. My son immediately got on-line to find and download the lyrics.

More Songfacts:

Watching The DetectivesElvis Costello

Lyrically, Elvis Costello's "Watching The Detectives" was inspired by American detective shows; musically, it was inspired by The Clash.

What A Fool BelievesThe Doobie Brothers

Kenny Loggins co-wrote the Doobie Brothers hit "What a Fool Believes," which is about a guy who just can't accept that an affair from long ago was meaningless to her.

The Wind Cries MaryJimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix wrote "The Wind Cries Mary" not about marijuana, but about his girlfriend at the time, Kathy Mary Etchingham.

Jailhouse RockElvis Presley

The name "Schoolhouse Rock," which was a series of educational cartoons, was a play on "Jailhouse Rock," the title of an Elvis Presley song.

I Have NothingWhitney Houston

The Whitney Houston hit "I Have Nothing" was inspired by Elvis Presley, who dated the song's lyricist, Linda Thompson.

Bust A MoveYoung MC

Young MC shows up in the George Clooney movie Up In The Air performing his hit "Bust A Move."

Editor's Picks

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in RockSong Writing

We ring the Hell's Bells to see what songs and rockers are sincere in their Satanism, and how much of it is an act.

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

Strange MagneticsSong Writing

How Bing Crosby, Les Paul, a US Army Signal Corps Officer, and the Nazis helped shape rock and Roll.

Ed Roland of Collective SoulSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Shine," "December," "The World I Know" and other Collective Soul hits.