By Tony Attwood
Boom Boom Mancini was written by Warren Zevon and is a song about a boxer – as we all know Bob Dylan has a particular interest in boxing and has recorded Hurricane and Davey Moore. He also sang “The Boxer” on Self Portrait.
Ray Mancini was born in 1961, competing as a professional boxer from 1979 to 1992, and then after retirement worked as an actor and commentator. He held the WBA lightweight title and took his nickname from his father, also a boxer, Lenny Mancini.
The issue most people in the world of boxing recall about Mancini was his fight with Korean challenged Duk Koo Kim which Mancini won in 14 rounds. However immediately after the fight Kim collapsed and four days later he died.
Mancini was deeply affected by the tragedy, for which he is said to have blamed himself. Kim’s mother committed suicide three months after the fight and the referee of the contest committed suicide the following year.
The song was written and recorded originally by Warren Zevon. Here are the lyrics
Hurry home early hurry on home Boom Boom Mancini's fighting Bobby Chacon Hurry home early hurry on home Boom Boom Mancini's fighting Bobby Chacon From Youngstown, Ohio, Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini A lightweight contender, like father like son He fought for the title with Frias in Vegas And he put him away in round number one Hurry home early hurry on home Boom Boom Mancini's fighting Bobby Chacon Hurry home early hurry on home Boom Boom Mancini's fighting Bobby Chacon When Alexis Arguello gave Boom Boom a beating Seven weeks later he was back in the ring Some have the speed and the right combinations If you can't take the punches, it don't mean a thing Hurry home early hurry on home Boom Boom Mancini's fighting Bobby Chacon Hurry home early hurry on home Boom Boom Mancini's fighting Bobby Chacon When they asked him who was responsible For the death of do Koo Kim He said, "Some one should have stopped the fight And told me it was him." They made hypocrite judgements after the fact But the name of the game is be hit and hit back Hurry home early hurry on home Boom Boom Mancini's fighting Bobby Chacon Hurry home early hurry on home Boom Boom Mancini's fighting Bobby Chacon
Here is Warren Zevon’s version…
Warren William Zevon who wrote the song was born January 24, 1947 and died in 2003. He started out as a session musician, jingle composer, songwriter, and bandleader, and his career took off when Linda Ronstadt started to record his music.
Thereafter he particularly became known for “Werewolves of London” and “Lawyers Guns and Money” recorded by himself, and a series of hits recorded by other performers such as “Poor Poor Pitiful Me”, “Accidentally Like a Martyr”, “Mohammed’s Radio”, “Carmelita”, and “Hasten Down the Wind.” He also recorded “Knockin on Heaven’s Door.”
Here is Bob’s one off performance of Boom Boom.
https://youtu.be/eNKWLfwJEKk
This was performed in Key Arena, Seattle WA, on 4 October 2002.
Farewell to the Gold
https://youtu.be/to6z40EzWhg
This was from November 1992 in Youngstown Ohio and it gives me a chance to promote one of my favourite songs…
It was written by Paul Metsers a New Zealand folk singer who has spent a lot of time in the UK, but who seemed to stop writing and performing sometime around his 50th birthday. A ludicrously early date but it did at least give him time to write and record “Farewell to the gold.”
I had no idea before coming to this that Paul Metsers was born in the Netherlands – so I learn something from this series (as I hope you might). Farewell to the Gold was written after he had moved to England, I think, and was also popularised by Nic Jones.
Colin Irwin of the Melody Maker, described Metsers as “a songwriter of genuine depth and versatility”. I would agree, and then agree some more.
The Nic Jones version of this song is particularly well known which is why I include it below. If this doesn’t move you at all, then of course that is a personal matter, but it means that our emotional lives are on different levels. Not that mine is in any way superior to yours but simply we are different.
Quite why Bob has performed this song only once I can’t imagine – but it is the same with several songs we have reviewed on the “once only songs” reviews. There is solid work going on in learning the lyrics and getting the arrangement to work, and then rehearsing it all.
But here’s the big thing: when this track finishes, stay with it, because then you get Paul Metsers performing in 2012.
https://youtu.be/i6tFuxKKXkU
Shotover river, your gold it is waning It's weeks since the colour I've seen But it's no use just sitting and Lady Luck blaming So I'll pack up and make the break clean Farewell to the gold that never I found Goodbye to the nuggets that somewhere abound For it's only when dreaming that I see you gleaming Down in the dark, deep underground It's nearly two years since I left my old mother For adventure and gold by the pound With Jimmy the prospector - he was another For the hills of Otago was bound
We worked the Cardrona's dry valley all over Old Jimmy Williams and me But they were panning good dirt on the winding Shotover So we headed down there just to see We sluiced and we cradled for day after day Making hardly enough to get by Til a terrible flood swept poor Jimmy away During six stormy days in July
Dylan’s once only file: earlier editions – and the concert
Dylan’s once only file: the concert. Yep, Aaron has created a Youtube file of the songs Bob has played once only and which we have reviewed.
- Bob Dylan’s once only file: B-Thang, Blue Bonnet Girl and Blue Monday
- Dylan’s once only file: I defy you not to play this song twice. Or more.
- Dylan’s once only file: You’re too late and the Old Rock n Roller
- Dylan’s Once only file “1952 Vincent Black Lightning” “Blue Moon” “Weeping Willow”
- Dylan’s “Once Only” File: 10,000 men and 20/20 Vision
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