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If you’re familiar with Tom Waits you already know… but if not, the man is a wizard of words.
This song is about various shaky situations and the chorus contemplates how each story is going to end -- one where a man whose wife leaves him, another about a girl sinking like a hammer into a lake, and another about a killer, coming through the rye.
This song is about various shaky situations and the chorus contemplates how each story is going to end -- one where a man whose wife leaves him, another about a girl sinking like a hammer into a lake, and another about a killer, coming through the rye.
Nov 8, 2024
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Holding out all my fears and faults
Those that conquer me
Started the second pack
'Fore the first one's finishing
I like to bridge the gap between A break and long-lost lovers Only to get me, by until I decide I've had enough
Most of the time, I can feel them on me The eyes from the stranger's window It's dark, and it's lonely, but it's nothin' to me At least somebody's home
Decades are wasting on your name You'll grasp the concept of life When you give up the point of trying If you don't do the things that you do They'll just happen to you
Pulling out all my weight And do my part and you'll say Oh, I'm so glad you're here with us today You probably thought you would be gone And until there's another way I just have to face that there's no real place To go and I could really be alone
I'd promise you now that if I had known I wouldn't be standing here There's memories to be made And water that's to wade I used it all up, drying tears
Of course, I don't regret The moments where I wept And yearned for what I've got now It's only time, it won't age like wine But it's mine and I'll take the blow
I like to bridge the gap between A break and long-lost lovers Only to get me, by until I decide I've had enough
Most of the time, I can feel them on me The eyes from the stranger's window It's dark, and it's lonely, but it's nothin' to me At least somebody's home
Decades are wasting on your name You'll grasp the concept of life When you give up the point of trying If you don't do the things that you do They'll just happen to you
Pulling out all my weight And do my part and you'll say Oh, I'm so glad you're here with us today You probably thought you would be gone And until there's another way I just have to face that there's no real place To go and I could really be alone
I'd promise you now that if I had known I wouldn't be standing here There's memories to be made And water that's to wade I used it all up, drying tears
Of course, I don't regret The moments where I wept And yearned for what I've got now It's only time, it won't age like wine But it's mine and I'll take the blow
Dec 15, 2024
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I really admire how he kept trying new things, routinely switching up his stylistic approach to explore the same set of themes, always sticking to his guns.
Here are some of his lyrics that have been on my mind lately: ✥ From 'Pleasures of the Harbor' For love was but a smile Teasing all the while Now dancing down the drain
✥ From 'The Party' The wallflower is waiting, she hides behind composure She'd love to dance and prays that no one asks her Then she steals a glance at lovers while her fingers tease her hair And she marvels at the confidence of those who hide their fears Then her eyes are closed as she rides away with a foreign legionnaire And my shoulders had to shrug As I crawl beneath the rug And re-tune my piano ✥ From 'When I'm Gone' And I won't breathe the bracing air when I'm gone And I can't even worry 'bout my cares when I'm gone Won't be asked to do my share when I'm gone So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here
✥ From 'There But For Fortune' Show me a prison, show me a jail Show me a prisoner whose face has gone pale And I'll show you a young man with so many reasons why And there but for fortune, may go you or I
Also 'Jim Dean of Indiana' is great example of how lyrics are animated by melody, phrasing and pacing. None of the lyrics of 'Jim Dean' particularly stand out when written down, but when heard the emotional build-up is so intense and heart-breaking. Every quiet blunt little line builds on the one that came before, culminating in the final gut-punch: "That is where I placed a flower For Jim Dean of Indiana" It's the only time anything in the song is said in first person, let alone implies that the story has anything other than a distant omniscient point of view. It's just so sad!!
Anyways, give him a listen and lmk if you have any insight into the lyrical pit of despair that is 'When In Rome' lol (Phil could get extremely pessimistic, would often write from the worst person in any scenario's perspective to really make you look at it straight in the face [eg: 'Outside Of A Small Circle Of Friends'*] and really loved writing about sailors. It can be a lot sometimes!) _____________________________________ * "Maybe we should raise our voices, ask somebody why But demonstrations are a drag, besides, we're much too high" is another great line lol, get organized or get WRECKED
Here are some of his lyrics that have been on my mind lately: ✥ From 'Pleasures of the Harbor' For love was but a smile Teasing all the while Now dancing down the drain
✥ From 'The Party' The wallflower is waiting, she hides behind composure She'd love to dance and prays that no one asks her Then she steals a glance at lovers while her fingers tease her hair And she marvels at the confidence of those who hide their fears Then her eyes are closed as she rides away with a foreign legionnaire And my shoulders had to shrug As I crawl beneath the rug And re-tune my piano ✥ From 'When I'm Gone' And I won't breathe the bracing air when I'm gone And I can't even worry 'bout my cares when I'm gone Won't be asked to do my share when I'm gone So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here
✥ From 'There But For Fortune' Show me a prison, show me a jail Show me a prisoner whose face has gone pale And I'll show you a young man with so many reasons why And there but for fortune, may go you or I
Also 'Jim Dean of Indiana' is great example of how lyrics are animated by melody, phrasing and pacing. None of the lyrics of 'Jim Dean' particularly stand out when written down, but when heard the emotional build-up is so intense and heart-breaking. Every quiet blunt little line builds on the one that came before, culminating in the final gut-punch: "That is where I placed a flower For Jim Dean of Indiana" It's the only time anything in the song is said in first person, let alone implies that the story has anything other than a distant omniscient point of view. It's just so sad!!
Anyways, give him a listen and lmk if you have any insight into the lyrical pit of despair that is 'When In Rome' lol (Phil could get extremely pessimistic, would often write from the worst person in any scenario's perspective to really make you look at it straight in the face [eg: 'Outside Of A Small Circle Of Friends'*] and really loved writing about sailors. It can be a lot sometimes!) _____________________________________ * "Maybe we should raise our voices, ask somebody why But demonstrations are a drag, besides, we're much too high" is another great line lol, get organized or get WRECKED
Jan 31, 2025
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🌬it literally depends on what state my life & mental health would be at the time
**asleep by the smiths: i’ve had enough. i’m fucking done. i’m depressed, everything that could possibly go wrong has gone wrong i’m low energy, i‘m exhausted, i feel worthless. i feel betrayed by, not only some peers but, myself as well and probably even by God so i am accepting defeat
“sing me to sleep im tired and i want to go to bed don’t try to wake me in the morning cus i will be glad to go don’t feel bad for me i want you to know deep in the cell of my heart i will feel so glad to go
there is another world there is a better world”
😮💨 bars
**little wing by jimi hendricks: i was in a good state of mind, content with life, grateful for whatever came my way just in a good place overall with friends & family. maybe i have a lover maybe i don’t either way im chillin i left the world happy, hopeful, & at peace so im accepting the end
with that being said, i’ll either come back as a guardian angel or it’ll be my gaurdian angel speaking to me as i die/ transcend
“‘it’s alright’ she says ‘it’s alright’ take anything you want from me
fly on little wing”
😮💨 HEAT
**asleep by the smiths: i’ve had enough. i’m fucking done. i’m depressed, everything that could possibly go wrong has gone wrong i’m low energy, i‘m exhausted, i feel worthless. i feel betrayed by, not only some peers but, myself as well and probably even by God so i am accepting defeat
“sing me to sleep im tired and i want to go to bed don’t try to wake me in the morning cus i will be glad to go don’t feel bad for me i want you to know deep in the cell of my heart i will feel so glad to go
there is another world there is a better world”
😮💨 bars
**little wing by jimi hendricks: i was in a good state of mind, content with life, grateful for whatever came my way just in a good place overall with friends & family. maybe i have a lover maybe i don’t either way im chillin i left the world happy, hopeful, & at peace so im accepting the end
with that being said, i’ll either come back as a guardian angel or it’ll be my gaurdian angel speaking to me as i die/ transcend
“‘it’s alright’ she says ‘it’s alright’ take anything you want from me
fly on little wing”
😮💨 HEAT
May 17, 2024
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❤️…shorty, I’m in love w you too wtf