Tom Waits Cold cold Ground ORIGINAL HIQ

[BrisbaneBruce]

live Big Time version is even better

[memeexclusive]

Blue-eyed soul standard!

[rangerpride71]

This song is the inspiration for Adrian McKinty's new book, The Cold Cold Ground.

[BRENTBRAV]

cheers mike.

[cannuck210]

Pure magic...why say any more? Way to go Tom. More please....

[krastavac84]

My first recollection about this wonderful song is an episode of "Homicide-Life on the Street" in which Luther Mahoney, the arch nemesis of Lewis and Kellerman screws them over one more time, and then, near the end of the episode, the song begins while we are seeing mixed shots of them two getting plastered because they failed again, and Mahoney grinning in front of newspapermen, and then whacking the remaining snitches. The song got me listening to Tom Waits, and I've never stopped since then.

[compaq2441]

@krastavac84 here here... Very good recall of that episode. It did alot for Tom Waits.

[mojavemoog]

i stood on the cold, cold ground in an old cemetary in st louis today, and watched as they lowered EmmaLouise C. into the cold, cold ground. a true lady. and a long life. and i thought about this song, and my chest welled up with emotion. tom has such a gift for conveying what it is like to be human.

[DennisDLund]

My wife hated Waits, mostly his voice. Then she liked Cold Cold Ground, then she liked Heart of Saturday night, then she liked San Diego Sernade, then she liked.... She liked these when she started listening and not simply hearing. This song is still my favorite Waits song, after so many years.

[rjmphotographic]

The French accordion - and Tom's lyrics, a match made in heaven...

[aprilglaspieable]

Tom Waits wields the English language far better than the hack Hemingway. More like Raymond Chandler or Walter Mosely, both of whom wrote rings around the fatass macho man. And this is Waits' most beautiful song. Not best, just the most gorgeous.

[bscondict]

I wish Tom Waits and Frank Zappa made an LP together !

[bigmarty11288]

@bscondict Hear, hear!

[hoedlhg]

all you poeple who don't like it - it seems that you do not know what it means to be a human person. it seems you think it means to be straight and that's all. one day you will die, like all the others, and you will never have asked the question every human person should have asked during their lifetime - what about death, what about the cold cold ground?

[elsadollful]

Know the feeling. You guys are good.

[fatjec]

Looks like a couple douchebags don't like the great Mr. Waits

[guariban]

Poetry of life and pain and love A Maestro who beautifly paints life and the hipocricy of our society...

[unclejubalon]

People who don't like this have no soul.

[roomme]

this man is really disappointed !!!

[Zellustrk1]

What a voice for vocals!! so O.G. No one can compare!

perfect balance! now wheres my 8 ball of Yayo! I dun drunk a fif of wiskee!

let me hear thee angel voice of thee.

[ChmarkoT]

@Zellustrk1

this is beautiful.

[untoa]

your remarks about Waits assure me that Anderson Silva must indeed be a great fighter.

[commandoslayer]

Leolo!

[Bummercund]

This is my favourite damn song by Tom Waits, from my favourite Tom Waits album.

[disalitervisum]

shouldn't talk about hemingway if you can't spell his name...of course, i've never read a single word he wrote...I prefer steinbeck

[sewallm60]

@WhiteFocks fuck you idiot

[mellonella]

amg Homicde: Life On The Street!!!!

[missopan]

This song is about a person that never needs to go insane, never goeas crazy and strange like a doll.. Only to the cold cold ground.. A small man in a small house..

[PeterFLOYDIAN]

If you have a weird, but yet human feeling and you don't know how to express it.....

Then... "Listen to Tom Waits.!!!"

[NorulesAtUa]

А где русские комментаторы?!

[MrTropics64]

I had never heard of Tom Waits until I saw the TV show Homicide, Life on the Streets. Since then, I have come to admire his songs.

[zylasty13]

Mistrz!

[EdenConsciousness]

Everyone's entitled to their own opinion, but saying Tom Waits is a bad musician, that's like, OBJECTIVELY wrong. You're not even within the purview of opinion anymore. It's like saying Anderson Silva is a bad fighter.

[leniDublin]

@EdenConsciousness Ha! true.



[BonneauZ28]

@EdenConsciousness Yeah, he may be a fighter, but Anderson Silva he is not.

[zaperfan]

bumps head to toe

[TheNorfLondon]

2 people don't deserve to live...

[TheMrGebler]

My wish is that this song will be played at my funeral, my children's funeral, and my children's childrens funeral. Etc. Beautiful song. Tom Waits is THE man.

[xoxb2]

Immaculate and beautiful and moving. 

[ethernalplunderer]

1 dislike was probably missclick

[pedagogyagent]

another great song from a true original .....

[sarahw59]

This and Ol'55 are the ONLY tom waits I like!

[iamelrebel]

@sarahw59 All of his stuff is good. You will never find a better musician

[sarahw59]

@iamelrebel I used to really hate him- like REALLY hate but i dont anymore. (Thank God!)

[marcushelbling]

I never heard a song in HIQ before!

[captaindaring]

@marcushelbling Ha, I was thinking the same thing. Glad I'm not the only one.

[sexisepi]

Poet.

[MatTeoi97]

This is one of the best Tom Waits song, what I ever heard, and only 106.674 man watched this.... Now look at a video, when justin bieber is menstruating in a bowlnig club: 518.860.813 viewer.....

Why people can't understand what is music.....

[MatTeoi97]

This is one of the best Tom Waits songs, what I ever heard, and only 106.674 viewer..... Now look at a video, when justin bieber is menstruating.... 518.860.813 viewer.....

Why people can't love music?

[DaysinAbaddon2]

Who's the sad, lonely person who doesn't like this song?

[BORNdischarged]

I had a friend pass away recently and this song helped out a lot, but I agree that both the world isn't ready for Tom Waits and he doesn't deserve a world so shitty as this one.

[Crstn4440]

i just love this song...

[Iamweezy100]

Awesome song! Got me through some tough shit

[HarveyDentLives]

I also discovered this wonderful song from Leolo and from there, I became a huge Tom Waits fan. Congratulations to Mr. Waits on his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Thanks again for posting.

[masterpaul542]

Does anybody know the harmonica tab for this song?

[drmcify]

this song is also in the movie LEOLO one of the best movies ever.If you are into Tom W and his sensibilities you will love the film.

[mariusbucea]

@drmcify and you also have the surreal ending to "smoke" by Wayne Wang, also on a Tom Waits track (Innocent when you dream). It's a must.

[heyyitsblakeyh]

heard this song at the end of an episode of  "homicide life on the streets" took a while to find it, but man i play it now.

[REDNECKXF]

I havn't heard this for ages, love this song. I heard it on tv about 5minutes ago LOL

[evieiable]

Beauty.

[stihlhead1]

What Earnest Hemingway was to literature, Tom waits is to music. A slice of life from the dark side ....the side most of us sooner or later experience.

[die4pie]

@stihlhead1 Well said

[darrell888888]

@stihlhead1 Hemingway? more like Charles Bukowski Yeah?



[JLE102191]

@stihlhead1 Seriously? EARNEST? you ruined such a wise comment

[BORNdischarged]

It's honestly easy for me to say it's hard to find anything better than Tom Waits, thanks for telling everyone to fuck off who said you'd never make on your voice, because it's fantastic.

[KarlBarl]

Just heard this on an old episode of Homicide: Life On The Street. Good song!

[hawkworthington]

it really is'nt ever gonna get much better than this ....heres to you mr waits....long may you shine

[Titiansurf]

I would have great difficulty in picking a favourite Tom Waits song but this would be on the "extended" short list.

[glovefet]

I remember seeing an Italian film that featured this song. I discovered Tom waits myself when I heard "four sheets to the wind in Copenhagen". I asked a mate who's that singer with the gravelly voice?

[DrinkDrankPunk72]

really one person must have fucked up and hit the wrong button

[zzzippo55]

i luv this , life for real, blues for real

[zzzippo55]

i want to thank you for these postings of the blues by tom so prefect thank you ... george

[thehouseofblack100]

LMAO!!! I've been reading other comments. Guess which foreign film I just re-watched and made me come onto you tube to hunt down this deep dark song.

You'd be right if you guessed Leolo. The song is very fitting for the movie.

[HalfaU0mega]

probably my favorite song due to the fact this was the first song that introduced me to Tom Waits

[AcousticSolo]

so emotional and pure

[zzestyturkey]

is that a harmonica or accordian or what? i must know!

[HalfaU0mega]

@zzestyturkey if you listen very closely to the song, you should hear clicking of buttons and keys from an accordion.

[ravenhawk82]

@zzestyturkey It's an accordion. There's another version on here somewhere where you can see the guy playing it.

[zzzippo55]

@zzestyturkey he played the piano and the accordian

[zzestyturkey]

@zzzippo55 fudge, now i need to learn the accordian

[hsujim]

WOW: who's that ONE person who "thumb-downed" this track?

[punkpoetry]

@hsujim

don't think it was me this time, but sometimes I thumb down stuff I adore out of utter contempt to YT ratings

[LaaaMaZ]

What genre is this would u say?

[TheReegar]

@LaaaMaZ tom waits transcends genre. you would need to invent a new genre for every album he releases.

he is so far ahead of everybody else in the so called "music biz" that genre is irrelevant for him, when every one else catches up to where he is now he'll be lightyears ahead of us all again. if you had to pin me down tho id say it was countryfolkjazzbluesclassicalp­unkdrunkenbummusic i hope thats cleared up the question of the genre of tom waits for you. ok nice one

[LaaaMaZ]

@TheReegar Hehe oh woow ok :P

[nyomythus]

i always thought he preformed this song to fast a tempo needs to be slower somehow

[Softmachine505]

there are so many recordings of this on you tube-but this one has an amazing montage. LOVE IT. It does him justice, if that's possible. ;)

[rodtipton]

So beautiful it makes my heart heart and feel wonderful at the same time.

[FunnyCowboyDance]

Most beautiful song in the world.

[minka75]

Music for your soul!

[LeCutter]

Gimme a Winchester rifle and a whole box of shells

Blow the roof off the goat barn

Let it roll down the hill

The piano is firewood

Times square is a dream

I find we'll lay down together in the cold cold ground

Cold cold ground

Cold cold ground

[girlwitdehtwist]

Thank You for uploading.

[slitor]

Hope is dead!

[unreallxx]

song of my life adore ADORE ADORE!!!!!

[smnt990]

who the fuck is that 1 person who disliked this song

[NevadaBoss]

First heard this song on His Bobness' Theme Time Radio Hour show (Bob loves Tom)...and as always, Bob's taste was indisputably brilliant.

An all-too overlooked classic from the Caucasian world's answer to Howlin' Wolf.

[corinnaschicker]

Wonderful, magical... takes me back 25 years!

[MrTropics64]

Thank you for uploading this. I was watching a replay of the TV series Homicide and this song was on there. Thanks!

[LHCLEGION]

@MrTropics64 That's how I discovered Tom Waits, many years ago!

[breesana]

@MrTropics64 same here, homicide was incredible with a great soundtrack.

[drmcify]

leolo ,one of the best movies ever,sick funny, tragic....life

[DubvibeProd]

I just noticed the bass player plays a bad note at 2.49 The track sounds great though, glad they didn't re-do it as it's one of my fav TW recordings.

[mikemorrissey1234]

love this fucking song

[salvadordalionfire]

Leolo!

[agnetes8]

vil også være meget grimt abemenneske med godt brugt stemme ... tager lige et par smøger til, så skulle den være der ...

[juanitasbluedonkey]

my favorite song

[unreallxx]

adore Tom Waits...only and one..pure artist oo man I live you!!!!!!!

[TheBubbles9]

love Tom

[disalitervisum]

blow the roof off the goat farm let it roll down the hill

thanks poster and thanks tom...everyone who likes tom, try "franks wild years" and every other waits album you can get

[matteblack357]

Once you hear his music you will never be quite the same again. Have been listening to this man for twenty years and this song still gets me every time. An american legend. Thanks for posting...

[58bloodlight]

great voice -- great song -- never get tired of listening to it -- heard it on an episode of " HOMICIDE" -- TOM is like a drug -- try his music and "BAM" you're addicted -- wanting more of his music -- you just can't forget the voice -- the words -- you can relate to the songs ( something or someone you know has experienced the lyrics -- REAL LIFE drama --- keep it going

[DoonieO]

@58bloodlight That episode of "HOMICIDE" was the first time I ever heard this song. Had to Google it, and I've been a Tom Waits fan ever since. There are some great early Mike Douglas interviews here on YouTube you should check out if you've never seen them.

[SuperWoody69]

Give me a Winchester rifle and a whole box of shells...

[drewcox010101]

hey guys it's cold call ground which means selling somthing to someone on the phone who hasn't been soled to before

[MrMrprawn]

good song

[Boodledang]

ya ever think sometimes the world doesn't deserve tom waits?

[alexanderwotl]

@Boodledang No, I think Tom Waits does not deserve this shitty world.

[TheBubbles9]

@Boodledang

maybe the world doesn't deserve Tom Waits, but people like us do. :)

[sircharlesnow]

Al igual que KJRF17 he perdido a mi anciano perro de 15 años esta semana. En su recuerdo posteé una hermosa cancion titulada He was a friend of mine, en version de Willie Nelson. La recomiendo. Tom Waits es el mas grande. Greatest.

[IAMJWB]

With every play the 4 minutes seems to get shorter. It's impossible not to go back and listen again.

[ziegenbart87]

nice :)

[felipemanonegra]

theeeeeeeeeeeee maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnn .....thank you sir

[ferret12]

I'm 18 and I sleep to this song quite regularly, you're never too old for a lullaby.

[cbkspa]

Thanks for the great post netwpl1108..... : )

[AboyWhisKeyboard]

kinda tears at my heart-stings...it is just one of those soft-bittersweets that combine to bring me to, well, sad feelings and good memories. Thanks Mr. Waits.

[jpr227]

@AboyWhisKeyboard same here, I can realte to it alot cos this song makes me think of the small and poor town I live in.

[borderraven]

I first heard Tom Waits in 1977. He only gets better.

[jpr227]

@borderraven He's like whiskey, he gets better with age.

[circleofice]

beautiful reflection of an artist beyond beauty

thank you so much

[LandoftheShanks]

ok lmfao my comment got posted 3 times, i am sorry about that. youtube's new system is a hobag. but my comment stands. this is fucking amazing.

[tomwaitsfornoone1]

has anyone else found themselves hopelessly addicted to toms music?

[MavisHyacinth]

@tomwaitsfornoone1 YES!!

[iNStiNktBlues]

great song, it fits perfectly in "leolo" movie

[Crstn4440]

my favorite Waits song... just love it!!!

[JamesVibe]

Take a weathervane rooster

Throw rocks at his head

Stop talking to the neighbors

Til we all go dead

Beware of my temper

And the dog that I've found

Break all the windows in the

Cold cold ground

Cold cold ground

[mashacuenca]

I'd like to play this song with my accordion, does anybody know the notes?

[boosh90]

I think it's just messin about in C really.

That's how it sounds to me.

[mashacuenca]

Thanks, I was wondering whether there was an original melody or something, but I've also noticed that it's just improvising, as in every version the accordion sounds different. Thanks a lot anyway.

[PrincessaDulcinea]

@Hellzyead Yeah! because I dream, im not...

[videosfm1]

One of those classics that stays with you, never gets old; how about Los Lobos David Hidalgo in accordion.

[PrincessaDulcinea]

When i die,I wanna go listening this...it's like being in paradise.Love it!!!!!!!

[netwpl1108]

i wanna say "thank you" to everyone of you, for your comments.

[myrtesmaracaja]

@netwpl1108

[JeepersCreepersJJP]

@netwpl1108 many thanks for posting this great performance

[runswithwolves61]

This song is one of my personal mental therapy songs (Sit in the dark with a 1/2 pint of Jack Daniels and a pack of cigarettes. Listen and wallow in self pity until I feel better.) TW has helped saved me a MINT in therapists bills! Thank you!

[mauricemorning]

My favorite line has always been, "the piano is firewood, Time Square is a dream"....

[lobolokoloko]

The magic about TW is that his songs are near your heart, near your life. Even if you don't understand the words properly, even if you don't know the meaning and background... even then TW is straight right in the heart...

[MavisHyacinth]

@lobolokoloko Beautiful

[DrBlowfins]

Doesn't get any better than this. Legend!

[mathiascooper]

Great song. Thanks for sharing.

[markobegus]

Times in life when you hear toughts and advices of your close ones are just an eyeblink of what you hear from this mans music, nothing is sacred yet everything is sane when I hear his soul in my ears.

[runswithwolves61]

TW IS a true genius. This song never fails to move me. 21 years after hearing it for the first time, it remains just as powerful.

[jpr227]

Exactly how I feel in my small town with no work and nothing to do. Me and my friends are all waiting to be embraced in the arms of the cold cold ground. This is my favorite TW song, pure genius.

"When the roads washed out we'll pass the bottle of rum, and wade in the arms of the cold cold ground."

[Clockworkz]

There needs to be more music like this.

[KJRF17]

I had lost my dog to old age and I heard this song on a foriegn film I rented a day later. The song was so introspective and meaningful in my healing process and cast such a somber and mature tone to the human condition. I had never heard any waits music before. Truly great stuff.

[DogsOfAnnwn]

I lost my dog three weeks ago, when she was a puppy she'd know that I'd turn the gas fire on when I played this album and would be there in an instant to warm herself. It's a storming song, and an amazing album, I looked for it tonight here to remember her.....

[kkkaldav]

@KJRF17 I don't think any artiste has ever produced better music to mourn a much loved dog by.

[bigmikevt]

@KJRF17 first song i ever heard of his was "What's he building in there?" Made me a convert for life

[ciroac30]

@KJRF17 what film?

[ZachWalther]

@KJRF17 Was the foreign film Léolo?

[giuyu003]

@KJRF17 me too! a listened this song when i saw Léolo

[ZoeSquared21]

@KJRF17 Oh my goodness... was the film called "Léolo?" That's where I found this song, too! I mean, I already knew and loved Tom Waits, but this was one of the few I didn't know...

[punkpoetry]

@ZoeSquared21

strange shit: same here... I am a HUGE Tom Waits fan, but somehow I payed less attention than to Frank's Wild Years than, say, to Rain Dogs or Bone Machine. I saw Léolo today and was blown away by this extraordinary film, and here I am, binging on this song

[harthandsoul]

Thanks for you post

[provengillt]

GREATEST SONG EVER

[SuperAnalyser]

it is it has the true pathos of life, all poets seek

[THrockfan]

@provengillt and greatest singer ever...

[jarro66]

thanks a lot...I will enjoy it

[Acidonesjoder]

Thanks for you post! nice movie!