Tom Waits Album

RC:
Waiting for Waits
I think his music's great
His stories are true
And pure as pure can be, I tell ya

Always in style
He'll melt you with his smile
I'm waitin' for Waits
Waitin' for Waits
Waitin' for Waits

The piano has been drinking
I heard Tom Waits singing
Yes, (?) the piano's drunk, not me
He's a killer

Sure loves to swing
The truth flows when he swings
So don't hesitate
Never be late
Listen to Waits

Godfather, tell us how you feel
[scat sings]
Hey, Tom Waits
Won't you come in and sing your song for me
We'll find you
Straight to the top of the piano, wait and see

Oh, Tom Waits
You're just the thing, a boppin' cat like me

The piano has been drinking
I heard Tom Waits singing
Yeah, (?) the piano's drunk, not me
He's a thriller

Sure loves to swing
The truth flows when he'll sing
So don't hesitate
Listen to Waits
Mister Tom Waits

So listen to Waits
Listen to Tom
Mister Tom Waits

You better come soon
Eddie Jefferson's waited too long
Where's Tom Waits, man?

TW:
"Oh, Eddie baby, I'm sorry, man,
I'm deeply apologetic, man.
I tried to make the gig, man,
but I ended up on the corner of Heartattack and Vine, man,
with this little bitch named Lola, see.
We was drinkin' some green Chartreuse in a (?) little joint called Dupree's Paradise.
Had a couple of Highballs, see man.
Ended up at a little rib joint for some barbecue, man.
I'm sorry, I lost track of time.
I mean, I'm sorry I missed the gig, man... "

Well ring the bell backwards and bury the axe
Fall down on your knees in the dirt
I'm tied to the mast between water and wind
Believe me you'll never get hurt
Our ring's in the pawnshop the rains in the hull
Down at the five point tyre stand I'll lose everything
But I won't let go of your hand

Well Peter denied and Judas betrayed
I'll bear with the roll of the drum
And the wind will tell the turn from the wheel
And the watchman is making his rounds
Well you'll leave me hanging by the skin of my teeth
I've only got one leg to stand
You can send me to hell
But I'll never let go of your hand

Swing from the rope on cross-legged tree
Signed with one-eyed Jack's blood
From Temple and Union
To LA and Grand
Walking back home in the mud

I must make my best of the only way home
Molly deals only in stone
I'm lost on the midway, I'm reckless in your eye
Just give me a couple more throws
I'll dare you to dine with a cross-legged knife
Dare me to jump and I will
I'll fall from your grace
But I'll never let go of your hand
I'll never let go of your hand

(Tom Waits/Kathleen Brennan)

Dot King was whittled from the bone of Cain
With a little drop of poison in the red red blood
She need a way to turn around the bend
She said I want to walk away and start over again

There are things I've done I can't erase
I want to look in the mirror see another face
I said, "never", but I'm doing it again
I wanna walk away, start over again

No more rain, no more roses
On my way, shake my thirst in a cool cool pond

There's a winner in every place
There's a heart that's beating in every page
The beginning of it starts at the end
When it's time to walk away and start over again

Weather's murder at a hundred and three
William Ray shot Corabell Lee
A yellow dog knows when he has sinned
You wanna walk away and start over again

No more rain, no more roses
On my way, shaking my thirst in a cool cool pond

Cooper told Maui the whole block's gone
They're dying for jewelry, money, and clothes
I always get out of the trouble I'm in
I want to walk away, start over again

I left my bible by the side of the road
Carve my initials in an old dead tree
I'm going away but I'm going to be back when
It's time to walk away and start over again

Ho ho yeah, hmm, yeah
Gotta walk away, gotta walk away, gotta walk away
Just wanna walk away yeah, wanna walk away and start over again
Wanna walk away, wanna walk away, wanna walk away

You better get some sleep tonight
You better get some sleep tonight
Honey, just warn your friends
You better get some sleep tonight

You always watch the sun go down
The same old shadows crawl over town
Those thoughts of you, it shivers me
The moon grows cold in memory

Baby, you better get some sleep tonight
All you got to do is close your eyes
You better get some sleep tonight

I wish you, baby, all the best
If you turn out like all the rest
This darkness, baby, it's chilling me
Stars stare down in sympathy

Baby, you better get some sleep tonight
All you got to do is close your eyes
Baby, you better get some sleep tonight

You better get some sleep tonight
You better get some sleep tonight
Warn all your friends
You better keep them out of sight
You better get some sleep tonight

They robbed you of your dignity
They even steal your heart from me
It ain't revenge, you understand
Baby, I just want to know who dealt this hand

Baby, ah that's alright
Baby, you better get some sleep tonight
All you got to do is close your eyes
You better get some sleep tonight

You better
You better get some sleep tonight
Baby

I'm walking on air
Oh, I've left all my blue days behind me
Oh baby, I've learned how to care
And there's real love on my mind
I'm the world's most happy creature
Tell me, what can worry me?
I'm crazy 'bout my baby and my baby's crazy 'bout me, yeah

Oh, Mister Cupid was my teacher
Oh, the reason we agree
I'm crazy 'bout my baby and my baby's crazy 'bout me, yeah
Oh, Parson, get that book out, get that book out
Hold it steady, steady in your hand
Understand, an A-one combination, the perfect he and she
I'm crazy 'bout my baby and my baby's so crazy 'bout me

Oh, Parson, get that book out
Hold it steady in your hand
Look out, you can understand
It's an A-one combination, the perfect he and she
Oh, I'm crazy 'bout my baby and my baby's crazy 'bout me, yeah

(Waits)

Well let's see, we had the eh, we had the Fairlane.
Then the u-joints went out on that and the bushings and then your mother wanted to trade it in on the Tornado, so we got the Tornado.
God, I hated the color of that son of a bitch.
And the dog destroyed the upholstery on the Ford.
Boy, that was long before you were born.
We called it the Yellowbird, two-door, three on the tree.
Tight little mother.
Threw a rod, sold it to Jacobs for a hundred dollar.

Now the Special eh, four-holer, you've never seen body panels lining up like that.
Overhead cam, dual exhaust.
You know I had, let's see I had, four Buicks, loved them all.

Now your Uncle Emmet, well he drives a Thunderbird, it used to belong to your Aunt Evelyn.
Now, she ruined it, drove it to Indiana with no gear oil.
That was the end of that!
Sold that Cadillac to your mom.
Your mom loved that Caddy.
Independent rear suspension,
Landau top, good tires.
Gas hog.
I swear it had the power to repair itself.


I love the old, Dan Steele used to give 'em to me at a discount.
Showroom models and that.
And then there was the Pontiac and...
God, I loved that Pontiac.
Well, it was kind of an ox-blood.
It just kinda handled so beautifully.
Yeah, I miss that car. Well, it was a long time ago, a long time ago.

Oh, take care of all my children
Don't let 'em wander and roam
Oh, take care of all of my children
For I don't know when I'm comin' back home

You can put all of my possessions here in Jesus' name
nail a sign on the door
Bright and early Sunday morning with my walking cane
I'm going up to see my lord

Oh, keep them together at the sundown
Safe from the devil's hand
You gotta make them a pillow on the hard ground
I'll be goin' up to Beaula Land(1)

You can put all of my possessions here in Jesus' name
and nail a sign on the door
Bright and early Sunday morning with my walking cane
I'm going up to see my lord

Oh, remember you never trust the devil
Stay clear of Lucifer's hand
Oh, and don't let 'em wander in the meadow
Or you'll wind up in the fryin' pan

You can put all of my possessions here in Jesus' name
and nail a sign on the door
Bright and early Sunday morning with my walking cane
I'm going up to see my lord

Put all of my possessions here in Jesus' name
and nail a sign on the door
Bright and early Sunday morning with my walking cane
I'm going up to see my Lord

[No lyrics]

It's the same with men as with horses and dogs
Nothing wants to die
Evelyn James they killed in a game
With guns too big for their hands
Just off St. Charles in No-Mans Land
And you'll have to find your own way home, boys
You'll have to find your own way home

The oldest was Troy, an eighteen year-old boy
Shot dead in March with a robbery
His brother started out to hell and to ruin
Troy's killer was never caught they say
Young nick he just went bad that day
Now he'll have to find his own way home, boys
He'll have to find his own way home

Why cook dinner?
Why make my bed?
Why come home at all?
Out the door and through the woods
There is a world where nothing grows

It's hard to say grace and to sit in the place
Of someone missing at the table
Mom's hair sprayed tight
And her face in her hands
Watching TV for answers to me
After all she's only human
And she's trying to find her own way home, boys
She's trying to find her own way home

My legs ache
My heart is sore
The well is full of pennies

Jesus' blood never failed me yet
Never failed me yet
Jesus' blood never failed me yet
There's one thing I know
For he loves me so

Jesus' blood never failed me
Never failed me yet
Never failed me yet
One thing I know
For he loves me so

Jesus' blood never failed me yet
Never failed me yet
Never failed me yet
There's one thing I know
Loves me so

Jesus' blood never failed me
Never failed me yet
Never failed me yet
One thing I know
For he loves me so

MM: Hey buddy, excuse me!
TW: Yeah yeah...
MM: Can I get you over here for a second? I have...
TW: Hold your horses, man. I'm busier than a set of jumper cables at a Puerto Rican wedding, man.
WAITRESS: I need a Mai Tai, a Brandy Alexander and a draught, light.
TW: Yeah yeah yeah...
MM: I could use another one though.
I don't usually do this.
It's just that...
I'm in the music business.
You ever get anybody in here from...
TW: Yeah well.
Things are tough all over, man.
What else is new?
MM: Yeah...
Today my company made me do a disco record.
I mean, it's just...
As I said, I don't usually do this.
I'd really like another one, if that's all right.
You don't mind pennies, do you?
TW: Oh, we can always use pennies.
MM: Oh, fantastic.
Wait... (the sound of a shitload of pennies being thrown on the counter)
MM: I think I eh... I think I got enough there for a double.
TW: I think you got enough there for a funeral.

nighthawks at the diner
of Emma's 49er, there's a rendezvous
of strangers around the coffee urn tonight
all the gypsy hacks, the insomniacs
now the paper's been read
now the waitress said
eggs and sausage and a side of toast
coffee and a roll, hash browns over easy
chile in a bowl with burgers and fries
what kind of pie?
In a graveyard charade, a late shift masquerade
2 for a quarter, dime for a dance
with Woolworth rhinestone diamond


earrings, and a sideway's glance
and now the register rings
and now the waitress sings
(chorus) the classified section offered no direction
it's a cold caffeine in a nicotine cloud
now the touch of your fingers
lingers burning in my memory
I've been 86ed from your scheme
I'm in a melodramatic nocturnal scene
I'm a refugee from a disconcerted affair
as the lead pipe morning falls
and the waitress calls
(chorus)

I might catch some perch...yeah...
Ah...keep it rollin' here...

Take you on a lurch
On a little date to church
Take you and her
On a, a little date to church

La,la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la
Gimme one more
La, la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la

Take your honor fast
I'm going to a little bit mass
Come along, it can't hurt
We're on a, a little date to church

C'mon sing!

La, la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la
One more
La, la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la

Let me tell you now...
Old Satan's looking out for you
He'll get you by the night's through
Oh, we haven't much time alive
Take me down the hall...

Sitting in a pew
Well ain't we the chosen few
Might not help, but it can't hurt
On a, a little date to church

La, la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la
La, la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la

Deliver us, Reverend
What's that?

On a little date to church

[No lyrics]

TW: She drove a big ol' Lincoln with suicide doors and a sewing machine
in the back
KN: Thousand bing bangs near the end. Nothing's ever what it was
TW: And a light bulb that looked like an alligator egg was mounted up
front on the hood
KN: Had myself a kind of brainstorm. Took a table spoon of buzz
TW: And she had a tattoo gun that she'd made herself from a cassette
motor and a guitar string
KN: X-ray eyes can see right through me. Naked thought, put on your
clothes
TW: And she always had leaves in her hair
KN: You hear that funny laughing? Just the caw of ancient crows
TW: And she cut two holes in the back of her dress, cause she had these
scapular wings
KN: Somewhere near the raveled edges, by the pool of Think-a-Bit
TW: And they were covered with feathers and electrical tape, and when
she got good and drunk she would sing
KN: Once again the notion hits me: Half is quite a bit of wit
TW: About Elkhart, Indiana, where the wind is tall and folks mind their
own business
KN: Power up that upper story. Ten percent is all you use
TW: And she had a hundred old baseballs that she'd taken from kids, and
she collected bones of all kinds
KN: Take a flight of simple fancy. You're the one who has to choose
TW: And she lived in a trailer under the bridge, and she made her own
whiskey and gave cigarettes to kids
KN: Okay. All right for you. Look into the tiger's eye
TW: And she'd been struck by lightning seven or eight times, and she
hated the mention of rain
KN: See if you can see the desert. Pour a drink, my throat is dry
TW: And she made up her own language and she wore rubber boots. She
could fix anything with string
KN: Poetry ain't gonna catch me. Climb up this high plateau
TW: And her lips were like cherries, and she was stronger than any man,
and she smelled like nutmeg and piss
KN: Finish up what you were thinking, just a day or so ago
TW: And she put mud on a bee sting I got at the crick, and she gave me
my very first kiss
KN: Illustrate for visionaries: Go buy a doodle pad. Basically

(Tom Waits)

There's a place I know where the train goes slow
Where the sinner can be washed in the blood of the lamb
There's a river by the trestle down by sinner's grove
Down where the willow and the dogwood grow

You can hear the whistle, you can hear the bell
From the halls of heaven to the gates of hell
And there's room for the forsaken if you're there on time
You'll be washed of all your sins and all of your crimes
If you're down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there where the train goes slow

There's a golden moon that shines up through the mist
And I know that your name can be on that list
There's no eye for an eye, there's no tooth for a tooth
I saw Judas Iscariot carrying John Wilkes Booth
He was down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there by the train
He was down there where the train goes slow

If you've lost all your hope, if you've lost all your faith
I know you can be cared for and I know you can be safe
And all the shamefuls and all of the whores
And even the soldier who pierced the side of the Lord
Is down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there where the train goes slow

Well, I've never asked forgiveness and I've never said a prayer
Never given of myself, never truly cared
I've left the ones who loved me and I'm still raising Cain
I've taken the low road and if you've done the same
Meet me down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there where the train goes slow

Meet me down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there by the train
Down there where the train goes slow

Your sweet and shiny eyes
Are like the stars above Laredo
Like meat and potatoes
To me

In my sweet dreams we are
In a bar
And it's my birthday
Drinking salty marguaritas with Fernando


Young and wild
We drove 900 miles of Texas highway
To the Mexican border
As the day was comin' on

We crossed the Rio Grande River
And we swore we'd have things our way
When we happened to walk in to Nuevo Leon


Your sweet and shiny eyes
Are like the stars above Laredo
Like meat and potatoes
To me

In my sweet dreams we are
In a bar
And it's my birthday
And we're having our picture taken
With Fernando



Home Plate 1975

FUMBLING WITH THE BLUES

Friday left me fumblin' with the blues
And it's hard to win when you always lose
Because the nightspots spend your spirit
beat your head against the wall
Two dead ends and you've still got to choose

You know the bartenders they all know my name
And they catch me when I'm pulling up lame
And I'm a pool-shooting-shimmy-shyster shaking my head
When I should be living clean instead

You know the ladies I've been seeing off and on
Well they spend your love and then they're gone
You can't be lovin' someone who is savage and cruel
Take your love and then they leave on out of town, no they do

Well now fallin' in love is such a breeze
But its standin' up that's so hard for me
I wanna squeeze you but I'm scared to death I'd break your back
You know your perfume well it won't let me be

And you know the bartenders all know my name
And they catch me when I'm pulling up lame
And I'm a pool-shooting-shimmy-shyster shaking my head
When I should be living clean instead

Well, come on baby let your love light shine
Gotta bury me inside of your fire
Because your eyes are 'nough to blind me
You're like a-looking at the sun
You gotta whisper tell me I'm the one
Come on and whisper tell me I'm the one
Gotta whisper tell me I'm the one
Come on and whisper tell me I'm the one


DRUNK ON THE MOON

Tight-slack clad girls on the graveyard shift
'Neath the cement stroll, catch the midnight drift
Cigar chewing Charlie in that newspaper nest
Grifting hot horse tips on who's running the best

And I'm blinded by the neon
Don't try and change my tune
Cause I thought I heard a saxophone
I'm drunk on the moon

And the moon's a silver slipper, it's pouring champagne stars
And Broadway's like a serpent pulling shiny top-down cars
Laramer is teeming with that undulating beat
And some Bonneville is screaming, it's way wilder down the street

And I'm blinded by the neon
Don't try and change my tune
I thought I heard a saxophone
I'm drunk on the moon

Hearts flutter and race, the moon's on the wane
Tarts mutter their dream hopes the night will ordain
Come schemers and dancers, cherry delight
As a Cleveland-bound Greyhound, and it cuts through the night

And I've hawked all my yesterdays
Don't try and change my tune
Cause I thought I heard a saxophone
I'm drunk on the moon


VIRGINIA AVENUE

Well, I'm walkin' down Virginia Avenue
I'm tryin' to find somebody to tell my troubles to
Harold's club is closin', everybody's goin' on home
What's a poor sailor to do?

I guess I'll get on back into my short, make it back to the fort
Sleepin' off the craziness that's inside of my brain
Got to be some place that's better than this
This life I'm leadin's drivin' me insane
And I'm dreamin'

And I'm dreamin' to the twilight, cause this town has got me down
I've seen all of the highlights, I've been walkin' it around
I won't make a fuss, I'll take a Greyhound bus
Carry me away from here, now what have I got to lose?

I'm just a-walkin' down Columbus Avenue
Bars are all closin', cause it's quarter to two
Every town I go to is like a lock without a key
The blues I leave behind keep catchin' up on me

Catchin' up on me
They're catchin' up on me
Catchin' up on me
Catchin' up on me
Catchin' up on me

Well ya play that Tarantella
All the hounds they start to roar
And the boys all go to hell
Then the Cubans hit the floor
And they drive along the pipeline
They tango till they're sore
They take apart their nightmares
And they leave them by the door.
Chorus:
Let me fall out the window
With confetti in my hair
Deal out jacks or better
On a blanket by the stairs
I'll tell you all my secrets
But I lie about my past
So send me off to bed forever more.

Make sure they play my theme song
I guess daisies will have to do
Just get me to New Orleans
And paint shadows on the pews
Turn the spit on that pig
Kick the drum and let me down
Put my clarinet beneath your bed
Till I get back in town.
Chorus

Just sure she's all in calico
And the color of a doll
Wave the flag on cadillac day
And a skillet on the wall
Cut me a switch or hold you breath
Till the sun goes down
Write my name on the hood
Send me off to another town.

Chorus