Classic Clips: Eddie Vedder sings Warren Zevon’s “Keep Me in Your Heart”

At the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC – October 2017.

Warren Zevon was an americana artist, no doubt, though in virtually every description of his oeuvre, he is deemed to be a rock musician. I guess it is because the americana genre had not evolved at the time Zevon was at his zenith. He was an artist’s artist with his expressive and emotional songwriting, often covered by others, and as an example of his americana bona fides, the artists who were fans included Dylan, Jackson Browne, Ry Cooder, Emmylou Harris, Tom Petty, and so on. During the course of his somewhat volatile career (he had a very dark side and was a heavy drinker for many years until 1986) he often stood in for Paul Shaffer as bandleader on The David Letterman Show and appeared as a guest from time to time, in particular in late 2002 when he was the sole guest for an hour – it followed a diagnosis for mesothelioma (a cancer usually caused by exposure to asbestos – it drove him back to drinking again before he died). It was during the show that Zevon offered his famous carpe diem advice, “enjoy every sandwich“, that became the title of the tribute album released after his death in 2003. He described Letterman as “the best friend my music’s ever had“.

Zevon might have lived longer if he had seen physicians earlier in this life or even accepted treatment for his cancer after the diagnosis. But he chose to record a final album, which he named “The Wind”. It was an album that was full of end-of-life songs, and closed with a wonderful ballad called ‘Keep Me in Your Heart‘, a relatively short but choke-inducing song which was recorded when Zevon’s voice sounded very frail. The album won two Grammys, best album and best rock vocal performance.

Fast forward several years and another regular on The David Letterman Show, Eddie Vedder, he of the wonderful and influential voice that fronts the rock band Pearl Jam, appeared on the celebratory special event paying tribute to Letterman as he received The Mark Twain Award for American Humor after he had retired, and chose to sing Zevon’s last ballad ‘Keep Me in Your Heart‘. What could go wrong? Nothing, as it happened. Vedder’s interpretation of the song is masterful, his voice is sublime, and the backing with sax (courtesy of David Sanborn) and a choir is a wonderful addition to Vedder’s interpretation, which gets right to the heart of the song, reverential and soulful. And the backing is enhanced by some beautiful piano from the aforementioned Shaffer. The lyrics, of course, are moving and tear-jerking, with the constantly repeated exhortation of the title line, even during the verses. The song, unsurprisingly, is often featured in funerals these days – you can see why.

Verse 1: “Shadows are fallin’ and I’m runnin’ out of breath / Keep me in your heart for a while / If I leave you it doesn’t mean I love you any less / Keep me in your heart for a while”

Verse 4: “Engine driver’s headed north up to Pleasant Stream / Keep me in your heart for a while / These wheels keep turnin’ but they’re runnin’ out of steam / Keep me in your heart for a while”

It’s a shame that Vedder did not contribute this, or any other Zevon song, to that tribute album, but rejoice in the fact that it is recorded for posterity. Vedder has often sung the song solo or with Pearl Jam, in tribute to artists or friends who passed on.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhOlck6wyQQ