Played dirty water from a swordfishtrombone
![megaphone](http://static.flickr.com/35/73190922_4e7ca133a6.jpg)
If you've been a reader here for more than ten minutes, you've likely seen me mention Tom Waits. I go on about him as if everybody knows who I mean, but I do realize that he's more of a fringe entertainer than a mainstream household name. So, here's a little bit of explanation for those of you who haven't been enchanted by Waits' overwhelming weirdness yet. This is not a formal bio, and I'm not gonna be all anal about his discography or filmography, but if any of you have tidbits you think are important, by all means add them to comments.
![tom_waits](http://static.flickr.com/35/73190936_74fd84fa58_o.jpg)
Tom Waits - singer/songwriter/actor/eccentric. TW began his career writing and recording songs with more of a folk/ballad leaning, dipped into a lot of blues, and has become more and more experimental with his musical styles since he surprised everyone but himself with the release of Swordfishtrombones in 1983. His lyrics have always been something out of the ordinary, even when he wasn't pursuing more avant garde musical styles. I love him for writing things like:
Licorice tattoo turned a gun metal blue
scrawled across the shoulders of a dying town
the one eyed jacks across the railroad tracks
and the scar on its belly pulled a stranger passing through
(Burma Shave)
and
And the moon's a silver slipper
It's pouring champagne stars
Broadway's like a serpent
Pulling shiny top-down cars
(Drunk on the Moon)
and
Please allow thirty days for delivery
don't be fooled by cheap imitations
You can live in it, live in it
laugh in it, love in it
Swim in it, sleep in it
Live in it, swim in it
laugh in it, love in it
Removes embarrassing stains from contour sheets
that's right
And it entertains visiting relatives
it turns a sandwich into a banquet
Tired of being the life of the party?
Change your shorts
change your life
change your life
Change into a nine-year-old Hindu boy
get rid of your wife
(Step Right Up)
Well, you get the idea. Not your ordinary "moon/june" lyricist. I discovered TW at 13, and I just ain't been right since then. Yeah. It's Tom's fault.
![nighthawkspic](http://static.flickr.com/35/73190929_0d14f31c0f_o.jpg)
TW hasn't really broken into mainstream radio play, but he has written songs which became hits for other artists, such as the Eagles' cover of Ol' 55 and Rod Stewart's version of Downtown Train. If you don't know TW as a singer or a songwriter, you might well be familiar with him as a film actor. He's appeared in a number of films, including some directed by Jim Jarmusch (Down By Law and Mystery Train), and Francis Ford Coppola, including Ironweed, Rumble Fish, The Outsiders, and perhaps his most flamboyant turn, as the bug-munching lunatic Renfield in Coppola's underappreciated Bram Stoker's Dracula:
![DraculaTradingCard2](http://static.flickr.com/35/73190910_3d2fcbbceb_o.jpg)
Raw deal, Renfield: "Mawwwwster...you said you'd make me immortal!"
This post is by no means all-inclusive regarding TW's career, and if this has piqued your interest, I urge you to go all Waits on your family and walk around muttering the lyrics to Pasties and a G-String.
![waits_fin](http://static.flickr.com/20/73190907_814f96781c_o.jpg)
![TomWaits02](http://static.flickr.com/35/73190940_c73e9354c2_o.jpg)
17 of you felt the overwhelming need to say somethin':
I just want to say that I was here before Bone Machine. Nanny nanny boo boo!
I'll let him talk up TW and just dance around and shake my butt...'cause
I WAS HERE FIRST.
The only one I really don't care for that much is "Such a Scream". I'm diggin on the other ones, though... (I started from the bottom up, just because I could)
LOL "... a mouthful of porcupine quills." That's pretty good... I may have to check TW out a bit more.
Thank you!
Golly - I need to do this very same thing for ABBA and the Captain and Tennille.
Diggin' it.
My dad and his buddy adore Tom Waits.
I like some of his stuff, but I admit, sometimes he can be a bit much for me.
I won't debate his genius, but I will choose not to listen to him all the time.
Interesting stuff!!
I've heard of him and I've seen him. I've just never really focused my attention on him. Maybe now I will?
You made my day.
Thank you.
:::goes off to listen to snippets of songs:::
Mr. B - You get taunting rights. Taunt away!
CKelli - Glad you liked (most)! That's why I wanted to put a little variety in, because he does so many different styles.
Jim - I dare you to. You know I'd come groove on it.
Bone Machine - Nicely done, professor Bone. Still jealous you got to see the Mule tour. He puts on an incredible show; I count the two times I saw him among my top ten concerts.
Eclectic - I figgered you'd like the variety. And the weirdness.
LeafGirl - you know, as huge a fan as I am, there is some of his stuff I find unlistenable, too. Which, I guess, makes sense when you consider the range of styles he's covered during his career. I personally can't stand some of his later stuff that is from theatrical productions, like "Black Rider" and "Alice" (no offense to those who love that stuff - it just don't float my boat).
Memphis Steve - at least you have a little more context now!
M_D - I thought you might enjoy the subject matter. :)
Okay, Blogger really did eat my comment.
What I remember saying is that I liked the first song best. I remember really liking Burma Shave.
Great, Bucky! (from an old folkie)
Well, I done lernt somthing. I thought Mary Chapin Carpenter wrote Downtown Train; she was the first person I heard perform it, and beautifully, I might add. Your mentioning Rod Stewart reminds me of a story I heard which turned me against Rod Stewart once and for all (I never liked him all that much). What I heard was that the writer of Downtown Train (whom I thought was MCC, but who is, in fact, TW), sent it to BOB SEGER, who loved it and planned to record it. Before anything was official, Seger played it for his friend, Rod Stewart. RS then swiped it and had a hit. I say Rod Stewart sucks for doing that.
That is all.
I haven't heard Tom Waits, that I know of, but some of these lyrics y'all are posting are reminiscent of some John Prine.
thanks for posting the songs. great stuff.
Squirl - I'm pretty sure he played Burma Shave the time we saw him.
SS Nick - glad you enjoyed the selection. :)
Susie - you know, I've never forgiven Rod Stewart for that. What kind of friend does that shit? I can't look at him now without thinkin', Wow, he really screwed Seger, what a prick.
Bone Machine - Waits is so very quotable. And I prefer Seger's "New Coat of Paint" to any Waits cover that Rod Stewart has done.
Susie - awww, no audio clips for you? You got screwed out of the monkey video, too! Not fair!
Bone Machine -sweeeeeeet!
Closet - glad you dug it!
damn work computer and no sound! I will be checking it out from home tonight. Loving the quoted lyrics!
"Nighthawks At The Diner" is one of my all time favorite LP's
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