Warren Zevon
Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner
Written By Warren Zevon & David Lindell
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 to join the bloody fray
Through sixty-six and seven they fought the Congo war 
With their fingers on their triggers, knee-deep in gore 
For 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...
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 peaceful war 
But 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 barroom drinking gin 
Roland aimed his Thompson gun - he didn't say a word
But he blew Van Owen's body from there to Johannesburg
Roland the headless Thompson gunner...
The eternal Thompson gunner
still wandering through the night 
Now it's ten years later but he still keeps up the fight 
In Ireland, in Lebanon, in Palestine and Berkeley
Patty Hearst heard the burst of Roland's Thompson gun and bought it
From Paroles Mania