The Piano Has Been Drinking--Tom Waits

by blondie 16 Replies latest social entertainment

  • blondie
    blondie

    Tom Waits is underrated. I

    The Piano Has Been Drinking

    The piano has been drinking
    my necktie is asleep
    and the combo went back to New York
    the jukebox has to take a leak
    and the carpet needs a haircut
    and the spotlight looks like a prison break
    cause the telephone's out of cigarettes
    and the balcony's on the make
    and the piano has been drinking
    the piano has been drinking...

    and the menus are all freezing
    and the lightman's blind in one eye
    and he can't see out of the other
    and the piano-tuner's got a hearing aid
    and he showed up with his mother
    and the piano has been drinking
    the piano has been drinking

    cause the bouncer is a Sumo wrestler
    cream puff casper milk toast
    and the owner is a mental midget
    with the I.Q. of a fencepost
    cause the piano has been drinking
    the piano has been drinking...

    and you can't find your waitress
    with a Geiger counter
    And she hates you and your friends
    and you just can't get served
    without her
    and the box-office is drooling
    and the bar stools are on fire
    and the newspapers were fooling
    and the ash-trays have retired
    the piano has been drinking
    the piano has been drinking
    The piano has been drinking
    not me, not me, not me, not me, not me

  • metatron
    metatron

    "Burma Shave" is a beautiful, sad piece of his work. Also, "Step Right up"

    metatron

  • Gozz
    Gozz

    He surely is underrated.

    BTW I read "... mental midget with the I.Q. of a fencepost..." somewhere recently; perhaps on these boards... Anyway.

  • Eric
    Eric

    Blondie,

    An acquired taste to be sure.

    "I Don't Wanna Grow Up", by Tom Waits

    When I'm lyin' in my bed at night

    I don't wanna grow up

    Nothin' ever seems to turn out right

    I don't wanna grow up

    How do you move in a world of fog

    That's always changing things

    Makes me wish that I could be a dog

    When I see the price that you pay

    I don't wanna grow up

    I don't ever wanna be that way

    I don't wanna grow up

    Seems like folks turn into things

    That they'd never want

    The only thing to live for

    Is today

    I'm gonna put a hole in my TV set

    I don't wanna grow up

    Open up the medicine chest

    And I don't wanna grow up

    I don't wnna have to shout it out

    I don't want my hair to fall out

    I don't wanna be filled with doubt

    I don't wanna be a good boy scout

    I don't wanna have to learn to count

    I don't wanna have the biggest amount

    I don't wanna grow up

    Well when I see my parents fight

    I don't wanna grow up

    They all go out and drinking all night

    And I don't wanna grow up

    I'd rather stay here in my room

    Nothin' out there but sad and gloom

    I don't wanna live in a big old Tomb

    On Grand Street

    When I see the 5 o'clock news

    I don't wanna grow up

    Comb their hair and shine their shoes

    I don't wanna grow up

    Stay around in my old hometown

    I don't wanna put no money down

    I don't wanna get me a big old loan

    Work them fingers to the bone

    I don't wanna float a broom

    Fall in and get married then boom

    How the hell did I get here so soon

    I don't wanna grow up

    How The Ramones version of this song got airplay and Tom Waits' didn't, I'll never know. Even Waits' video for this song was priceless and funny at the same time. If you ever saw it, you'll know what I mean.

    Under-rated...Oh, yeah...

    Eric

  • Black Sheep
    Black Sheep

    He's not underrated in my house

  • blondie
    blondie

    It's nice to know I'm not the only one who appreciates his wry viewpoint.

    Blondie

  • amac
    amac

    If you like Tom Waits, you might also like Bonnie Prince Billy and/or Nick Cave.

  • hillary_step
    hillary_step

    Blondie,

    I always find 'Martha' a very moving song, nostaligia and lost moments personified. I especially enjoy Tim Buckley's rendition of the song recorded shortly before his tragic death. I will try to dig up 'Martha' by Buckley and post a link.

    Kind regards - HS

  • Piph
    Piph

    I love Tom Waits, though I'm not familiar with enough of his music. Here's my current favorite:

    Grapefruit Moon

    Grapefruit moon, one star shining, shining down on me.
    Heard that tune, and now I'm pining, honey, can't you see?
    'Cause every time I hear that melody, well, something breaks inside,
    And the grapefruit moon, one star shining, can't turn back the tide.

    Never had no destination, could not get across.
    You became my inspiration, oh but what a cost.
    'Cause every time I hear that melody, well, something breaks inside,
    And the grapefruit moon, one star shining, is more than I can hide.

    Now I'm smoking cigarettes and I strive for purity,
    And I slip just like the stars into obscurity.
    'Cause every time I hear that melody, well, puts me up a tree,
    And the grapefruit moon, one star shining, is all that I can see.

  • hillary_step
    hillary_step

    Blondie,

    Could not find 'Martha' at the moment but you may enjoy hearing Buckley anyway, he had a huge vocal range. I well remember a venue he played at the at the Albert Hall in the late 60's when Paul Robeson took to the stage at the end of his performance and expressed astonishment at his vocal style. He was nineteen and died at twenty-eight. He and Waits collaborated together on a number of musical projects.

    Play it loud enough for the neighbours to hear.

    Tim Buckley - 'Because Of You'

    http://xrl.us/batn

    alt

    Best regards - HS

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