Walk - Pantera

Artist: Pantera
Song: Walk
Year: 1992
Album: Vulgar Display Of Power

I can't believe that four years have passed since the death of Darrell Abbott. He was better known as Dimebag Darrell, the amazing guitarist for Damageplan and Pantera. The Abbot brothers defined the sound of Pantera. From their glam beginnings to their cowboy heavy metal, they were the core. Of course Phil Anselmo's vocals pushed the vision into the limelight.

Pantera worked as a whole. When tensions split the band, the resulting projects never had the same life. Pantera was unique and special. It will never happen again. For years, I have associated December 8th with the birth of Jim Morrison and the death of John Lennon. Each have their own important place in rock history, but Dimebag Darrell should not be forgotten so easily. Like Lennon, he was murdered by a gun. Unlike Lennon, Darrell Abbott was playing on stage at the time.

"Walk" was the song that catapulted Pantera into the mainstream. It has a simple and effective guitar riff and a chanting chorus. It's just the type of song to whip a crowd into a frenzy. This was usually the song that started the mosh pits at a Pantera concert.

I was privileged enough to see Pantera twice. The first time was with White Zombie at Rosemont Horizon, which has since changed names. The second was at the Aragon Ballroom. Rosemont was a barn. The crowd ate Pantera up though. It was an enjoyable experience. The Aragon show was one of the best concerts I've ever seen. This crowd was there to see Pantera. There were no posers in the crowd. It was pure Pantera fans wall to wall in the venue. I am lucky to have seen that one.

Lyrics:
Can't you see I'm easily bothered by persistence?
One step from lashing out at you
You want in to get under my skin and call yourself a friend
I've got more friends like you, what do I do?

Is there no standard anymore?
What it takes who I am where I've been belong
You can't be something you're not
Be yourself, by yourself, stay away from me
A lesson learned in life, known from the dawn of time

Re-spect, walk
What do you say?
Re-spect, walk
Are you talkin' to me?
Are you talkin' to me?

Run your mouth when I'm not around, it's easy to achieve
You cry to weak friends that sympathize
Can you hear the violins playing your song?
Those same friends tell me your every word

Is there no standard anymore?
What it takes who I am where I've been belong
You can't be something you're not
Be yourself, by yourself, stay away from me
A lesson learned in life, known from the dawn of time

Re-spect, walk
What do you say?
Re-spect, walk
Are you talkin' to me?

Re-spect, walk
What do you say?
Re-spect, walk
Are you talkin' to me?
Are you talkin' to me?
No way punk!

Re-spect, walk
What do you say?
Re-spect, walk
Are you talkin' to me?

Re-spect, walk
What do you say?
Re-spect, walk
Are you talkin' to me?
Are you talkin' to me?
Walk on home boy.