Fan photography
"Splendid Isolation" is a song from Warren Zevon's 1989 album Transverse City.
About the Song[]
The song describes a man who is tired of interacting with the rest of society and yearns to live out his days alone, whether out in the desert, boxed up in a darkened house, or wandering alone in Disneyland. "Splendid Isolation" is and old British foreign policy term from the late 1800s. It has been interpreted as a biting social commentary on the idosynchracies, narcissism, and social phobias of some the rich and famous. There is also an irony about the song as it is on an album inspired by science fiction and digital technology, and technicians are known for working alone. Zevon has also jokingly described himself as "anti-social" (such as an interview on Preludes: Rare and Unreleased Recordings). "Splendid Isolation" was covered on Pete Yorn's 2006 album Nightcrawler.
Music[]
"Splendid Isolation" is in the key of E minor. The song's most prominent instrument is the guitar. "Splendid Isolation" features harmonica solos in the intro, between the first chorus and the second verse, after the bridge and after the last chorus as the song fades out. During live performances, Warren Zevon would play the guitar and wear a harmonica holder around his neck to play the harmonica solos also.
Lyrics[]
Note: the text of this song's lyrics is not under the same copyright license as the wiki's encyclopedic text, it is used under fair use/dealing.
I want to live alone in the desert
I want to be like Georgia O'Keefe
I want to live on the Upper East Side
And never go down in the street
Splendid Isolation
I don't need no one
Splendid Isolation
Michael Jackson in Disneyland
Don't have to share it with nobody else
Lock the gates, Goofy, take my hand
And lead me through the World of Self
Splendid Isolation
I don't need no one
Splendid Isolation
Don't want to wake up with no one beside me
Don't want to take up with nobody new
Don't want nobody coming by without calling first
Don't want nothing to do with you
I'm putting tinfoil up on the windows
Lying down in the dark to dream
I don't want to see their faces
I don't want to hear them scream
Splendid Isolation
I don't need no one
Splendid Isolation
Splendid Isolation
I don't need no one
Splendid Isolation