"Mohammed's Radio" is a song from Warren Zevon's 1976 self-titled album.
About the Song[]
The song, in typical Zevon fashion, talks about the angst and desperation of the masses living through everyday life. Then in an uncharacteristically optimistic tone the song talks about people's lives being uplifted by the "sweet and soulful" rock and roll played all night on a pirate radio station run by one Mohammed. Despite the struggles of working all day (only to still not be able to afford gasoline), and the troubles of the Sheriff, all are able to take solace in Mohammed's music. Such an effect even gets the attention of the local General, "be watchful for Mohammed's lamp."
The song's optimism is mirrored in the Excitable Boy track "Johnny Strikes Up the Band". The song also appears on the live album Stand in the Fire, the compilation albums A Quiet Normal Life: The Best of Warren Zevon and I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (An Anthology), and the tribute album Hurry Home Early: the Songs of Warren Zevon (performed by The Matthew Show).
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.
Everybody's restless and they've got no place to go
Someone's always trying to tell them
Something they already know
So their anger and resentment flow
But don't it make you want to rock and roll
All night long
Mohammed's Radio
I heard somebody singing sweet and soulful
On the radio, Mohammed's Radio
You know, the Sheriff's got his problems too
He will surely take them out on you
In walked the village idiot and his face was all aglow
He's been up all night listening to Mohammed's Radio
Don't it make you want to rock and roll
All night long
Mohammed's Radio
I heard somebody singing sweet and soulful
On the radio, Mohammed's Radio
Everybody's desperate trying to make ends meet
Work all day, still can't pay the price of gasoline and meat
Alas, their lives are incomplete
Don't it make you want to rock and roll
All night long Mohammed's Radio
I heard somebody singing sweet and soulful
On the radio, Mohammed's Radio
You've been up all night listening for his drum
Hoping that the righteous might just might just might just come
I heard the General whisper to his aide-de-camp
"Be watchful for Mohammed's lamp"
Don't it make you want to rock and roll
All night long Mohammed's Radio