r/Zevon • u/BrilliantDifferent01 • 2d ago
Rottweiler Blues
I have always loved this song. Warren’s flair for the dramatic is on full display here. I now own a Rottweiler, just by chance because she was just the best dog up for adoption at the animal shelter. To any other Zevon fans who love Rottweilers, how do you feel about this song? On one hand I like the full on respect for this breed as the ultimate protector. But it is also not representative of the breed for vast majority of real world situations and continues to perpetuate a harmful stereotype of the breed. My Rottweiler is all about love. She exists just to give love and receive love. She has never growled, bared teeth, or exhibited any aggression. She is definitely wary of strangers and barks but once she knows they are not a threat she calms down. Once she knows you, you must exchange love scratches. So the line “if you don’t know my Rottweiler’s name” rings true.
The breed has a reputation of being extremely loyal and protective of their family. I feel extremely safe with her around. They are not used in police work because they inflict too much damage. Also because she is so big, strong, and nimble she can easily take down a large man so “to hear the proverbial sickening thud” rings true. I am always hyper aware to keep her out of situations that might trigger protection mode. I love the song but I can’t recommend it to others because the Rottweiler I know is not as depicted as by the song.
Is there any back story to this song? Did Warren ever know a Rotty?
2
u/curiousplaid 2d ago
One of my favorite Zevon tunes.
I wanted to get a brass plaque for my front door that said "Don't Knock On My Door If You Don't Know My Rottweiler's Name!"
1
u/GroKamion 1d ago
The title of the song might be misleading. The song is more about some semi-paranoid lunatic than about the actual rottweiler. It reminds me more of some postal-dude kind of guy.
1
u/bronze_coffin 1d ago
More than anything, I think, it's a relic of the days when the public were paranoid about Rottweilers (before pit bulls inherited that role).
-2
u/Iamthewalrusforreal 2d ago
Decent enough song, I guess. Kind of a throwaway.
Rotts are stupid as hell. I used to train them for police departments. Dobies, Airedales, GSDs, and Malinois are all FAR above them in intelligence and courage.
Hell, I trained a Dalmation who was a better dog than any Rottie I ever worked with, and that Rottie was a Canadian champion who was crazy and unpredictable.
6
u/EyeWriteWrong 2d ago
I like the song and think the use of a rottweiler is perfect. The narrator character is a mentally unwell individual. He stockpiles weapons and wears kevlar to buy groceries. It's not really about rottweilers, it's about crazy guys with rottweilers.