It took me a long time to find my way into this musically. I'll just say that I found it worth my while in the end.
Yeah I can count.":O} This is my first contact with the Tom. He sang this in a depression era movie of the same name. On the nickel was a term for being in the food lines. But seems to have several uses in this song.
I love the woman. These may be her best songs, another one from later in her career really pleases me is called "Shine." I can't find the version done live 14 years ago, I have the DVD. It's named "At Last." What makes this version of "Shine" so special is that a crucial background part of the song is sung by three singers, and not done on a keyboard/synth plus a string section. The woman playing guitar and the bass player ARE singing some of the part in this version. Hmm. The same two are also in the "At Last" video. I guess it needed the addition a third voice and erasure of the string section and keyboard to make the nonpareil version? Here's a nice version from PBS:
He's definitely a no bs artist! I have a hard time hearing lyrics that aren't sung clearly. Not certain, but there may be a real tragedy contained in this song.
Warning this can stun... A Little Rain Tom Waits Well, the Ice Man's mule is parked outside the bar Where a man with missing fingers plays a strange guitar And the German dwarf dances with the butcher's son And tonight a little rain never hurt no one Well, they're dancing on the roof And the ceiling's coming down And I sleep with my shovel and my leather gloves And a little trouble makes it worth the going And a little rain never hurt no one Oh, the world is round and so I'll go around You must risk something that matters Oh, my hands are strong, I'll take any man here If it's worth the going, it's worth the ride She was fifteen years old And never seen the ocean She climbed into a van With a vagabond And the last thing she said Was "I love you mom" And a little rain never hurt no one And a little rain never hurt no one Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da Songwriters: Kathleen Brennan / Thomas Alan Waits A Little Rain lyrics © Audiam, Inc
A bit of a time machine for me... On the Nickel Tom Waits Sticks and stones will break my bones But I always will be true And when your mama is dead and gone I'll sing this lullaby just for you So what becomes of all the little boys Who never comb their hair? They're lined up all around the block On The Nickel over there So you better bring a bucket There is a hole in the pail If you don't get my letter Then you'll know that I'm in jail So what becomes of all the little boys Who never say their prayers? They're sleepin' like a baby On The Nickel over there If you chew tobacco, and wish upon a star You'll find out where the scarecrows sit Just like punchlines between the cars I know a place where a royal flush Can never beat a pair And even Thomas Jefferson Is On The Nickel over there So ring around the rosie, you're sleepin' in the rain And you're always late for supper And man you let me down, let me down again I thought I heard a mockingbird, Roosevelt knows where You can skip the light with grady tuck On the Nickel over there So what becomes of all the little boys Who run away from home? The world just keeps gettin' bigger Once you get out on your own So what becomes of all the little boys The sandman takes you where You'll be sleepin' with a pillowman On the Nickel over there So let's climb up through that button hole And fall right up the stairs I'll show you where the short dogs grow On the Nickel over there Songwriters: Tom Waits On the Nickel lyrics © BMG Rights Management US, LLC
Who are you? Well, they're lining up To mad dog your tilt-a-whirl Three shots for a dollar Win a real live doll All the lies that you tell I believe them so well Take them back Take them back to your red house For that fearful leap into the dark Oh, well I did my time In the jail of your arms Now Ophelia wants to know Where she should turn Tell me, what did you do What did you do the last time? Why don't you do that Well, go on ahead and take this the wrong way Time's not your friend Do you cry, do you pray? Do you wish them away? Are you still leaving nothing But bones in the way? Did you bury the carnival With the lions and all Excuse me while I sharpen my nails You look rather tired Are you pretending to love? Well, I hear that it pays well How do your pistol and your Bible and Your sleeping pills go Are you still jumping out of windows in expensive clothes? Well I fell in love With your sailor's mouth and your wounded eyes You better get down on the floor Don't you know this is war? Tell me who are you this time? Tell me who are you this time?
Thank you for taking the time to write the words down. The tragedy is there in black and white. Color is much more difficult to determine when it's growled or even sung about. Have I uncovered a truth? Must say I'm fast on the draw, it is to laugh.
What? Made just a bit uneasy by the Earth died screaming while I lay dreaming? Your not alone George! ":O}
If you close your eyes until the singing starts... I have always been enamored of talent that proceeds from folks to appear to be supremely untalented. The incongruity, the unexpected have always trilled me. This isn't so much a butcher's wife singing opera as it is...well unexpectedly splendorous!
Ok this one is buried 3:01 into the clip. These two women sound like an entire choir. Music to charm an angel. Someone tell me how they do that!? They really remind me of two impassioned birds inflamed with praise for the rising sun. It may be just that they stand with their feet together. but I think it's the way their mouths enunciate like hungry birds in the nest. If I could make a "Joyous sound unto the Lord" this would be it, In any case wow just wow.
This one is just plain scary. You know the scene in "Fear" where just as you get to the top of the ladder your Zoomed by a flying long dark haired little girl, that knocks you back off the ladder and you have to collect your wits before you can climb back up the ladder? That kind of scary! LOL it's in Gaelic...I think , which has it's charms, but the music starts at 2:30. "There are but two kinds of prodigy. Both be without and beyond our limits and so are prodigy," (Math & Music) OH! In case you cut straight to the music, you'll be wondering. This won't dispel the wonder I'm afraid, She"s 9 years old. I watch her face and I swear she has a deep understanding of what she is singing about. About which I have no idea.Or perhaps she is moved so deeply my the music itself and has no need to relate it to earthy things. Then she turns back into a child. Both seem wondrous to me.
It's a pretty good song. New one to me. Jamaica is a politically "bad" place for white's to holiday. Such poverty surrounds the few acres of honkey lands where the rich cavort. Bad cloasters--as if you didn't already know this.