Quote:
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Originally Posted by trackaghost
Round 37: a bunch of miserable old sods  |
Hooray! Thank you, Sharon.
Now Nicky and Lenny are great and all, but this is an incredibly easy choice for me: Tom Waits all the way. He's demonstrated such an incredible breadth in his work, and since the late 70s he's just constantly pushed himself to do new and bizarre things musically. And throughout, the brilliance of his songwriting has never wavered. Whether it's the bar stool confessions of beatnik wharf rats or apocalyptic circus freak show prophesies or sentimental love letters to his wife, Tom always knows just what words to use to pierce right to your core.
I want to post some Tom Waits lyrics here, but it's so incredibly difficult to decide on one song, and I could never choose a favorite. But I think I have decided on this one. (And since you can never get the full effect of a Tom Waits song without hearing him sing it, I put a YouSendIt link down there at the bottom.)
"Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis"
by Tom Waits
from the album
Blue Valentine (1978)
Hey Charlie I'm pregnant
and living on 9th street
right above a dirty bookstore
off Euclid Avenue
and I stopped takin' dope
and I quit drinkin' whiskey
and my old man plays the trombone
and works out at the track.
He says that he loves me
even though it's not his baby.
He says that he'll raise him up
like he would his own son.
He gave me a ring
that was worn by his mother
and he takes me out dancin'
every Saturday night.
Hey Charlie I think about you
everytime I pass a fillin' station
on account of all the grease
you used to wear in your hair.
I still have that record
of Little Anthony & the Imperials
but someone stole my record player.
Now how do you like that?
Hey Charlie I almost went crazy
after Mario got busted
and I went back to Omaha to
live with my folks
but everyone I used to know
was either dead or in prison
so I came back to Minneapolis.
This time I think I'm gonna stay.
Hey Charlie I think I'm happy
for the first time since my accident
and I wish I had all the money
that we used to spend on dope.
I'd buy me a used car lot
and I wouldn't sell any of 'em.
I'd just drive a different car
every day, dependin' on how
I feel.
Hey Charlie for chrissakes,
do you want to know the
truth of it?
I don't have a husband.
He don't play the trombone.
I need to borrow money
to pay this lawyer
and Charlie, hey
I'll be eligible for parole
come Valentines' Day.
http://s7.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1E...91K2HL53XCXX90