Tom Waits Week – Day 5

March 28th 2014 – Day 87

A vast proportion of Tom’s work is focused on the people and places in our societies that we often forget or chose to ignore. Even though Tom’s work may have a beautiful sense of irony and elements of sarcasm, the words he writes never fail to strike home the fact that while we live our comfortable lives, there are others who are not always so lucky for what ever reason.

Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis

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
and he gave me a ring that was worn by his mother
and he takes me out dancin every Saturday night

and 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
and I still have that record of Little Anthony and the Imperials
but someone stole my record player now how do you like that?

hey Charlie I almost went crazy after Mario got busted

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 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 if 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 Valentine’s day

Tom Waits, 1978

Namaste.