@spruggins Me too. After a brief interlude of not listening (or simply not thinking to research him more) I jumped back in and listen to him way more than any other artist.
Look up "Tom Waits Digest" for any Waits fact known to man - don't know who maintains that site but it's like the official encyclopaedia of Mr. Waits.
I attended some final exam concerts for jazz students in Oslo last night. You probably know that type of students, some of them showing off with a bit too intricate and too clever performances. But Lars Andreas Aspesæter finished off his exam with his trio performing this song, simple and with ease, and even a cappella in the end, three young boys singing "Take care of all .." with their hands hanging: What a contrast! I heard it for the first time yesterday and I'm still humming it.
It might sound dumb but I always thought 'Come On Up To The House' and 'Take Care Of All Of My Children' would be amazing entrance/exit funeral music respectively.
@oisinallen Streetwise was one of the most amazing documentaries i ever saw, could not get it out of my mind for months. I have it on V.H.S. but agree that it should be released on DVD. xx
no fuckin kiddin, never seen a film that had as big as an emotional impact as that one, one of the best documentaries of all time and probably the most underated one
@DartmouthAlum96 I totally agree with you on that!!! You can find commercialized garbage on DVD at any given time...But Streetwise is something that can actually impact the kids today (And they NEED it!) so of course it's impossible to obtain!!! Thank god for youtube!!
Streetwise was how I was introduced to Tom Waits. At age 13 I was wise beyond my years for liking this, I was laughed at for liking this!
Got the vhs in a box of old movies after a friends' movie store business closed. I remember looking EVERYWHERE for this song on line back in the way early 2000's and had a helluva time finding it.
@bananaPLEASE I have seen Streetwise, but how you got introduced into Tom Waits with the film? I cant remember that good, but there was a song of Tom Waits in the movie?
I have watched STREETWISE--and taught it to classes--maybe 20 times. Each time I think I won't shed a tear at the end, I hear that opening riff and have to get the kleenex out!
It's on youtube. I haven't seen it in over 20 years, but this song was so perfect for it, I can see images of every one of those street kids when I listen to it.
I guess it was written to sound familiar. The opening few seconds always sounds like christmas, like something from It's a Wonderful Life, so that gets you feeling something straight away. Very clever, the way it sounds familiar draws you into it.
It has been said that music is the soul of a film. This axiom has never been truer than with the inclusion of this song in the stirring 1984 documentary "Streetwise."
God I love Tom Waits n I've done it for so many years now. I bow in reverence This man is my man. Thanks Tom and if you ever ever by any chance read this, just want you to know that your work always has n still does inspire me n makes me a much better person. Yea, really. For a second I wanted to explain why. Why tell the obvious?
I also thought it sounded familiar. I wonder if he took bits of other things for the music, but I bet the lyrics are all his. I think Dylan does the same thing.
I'm pretty certain that the music and lyrics are his, but like you say, it has the sound of a hymn, which will probably have been deliberate, so I can understand why people sort of recognise it. There are problem many old hymns with similar style, and similar meaning.
the context is heartbreaking but at the same time, we are all gods children and can make a difference. just say hello
tengobotas 1 week ago
Tom Waits at his very best!
revgen123 4 months ago
Like bananaPLEASE I first started listening to Tom Waits through this song, at the end of the the Streetwise documentary, back in the 1980s
Since then I have listened to him more than any other artist, and bought just about every album.
spruggins 7 months ago
@spruggins Me too. After a brief interlude of not listening (or simply not thinking to research him more) I jumped back in and listen to him way more than any other artist.
bananaPLEASE 6 months ago
Look up "Tom Waits Digest" for any Waits fact known to man - don't know who maintains that site but it's like the official encyclopaedia of Mr. Waits.
thomaslkp 8 months ago
I attended some final exam concerts for jazz students in Oslo last night. You probably know that type of students, some of them showing off with a bit too intricate and too clever performances. But Lars Andreas Aspesæter finished off his exam with his trio performing this song, simple and with ease, and even a cappella in the end, three young boys singing "Take care of all .." with their hands hanging: What a contrast! I heard it for the first time yesterday and I'm still humming it.
Bellocherchev 8 months ago
Comment removed
Brunstar123 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
It might sound dumb but I always thought 'Come On Up To The House' and 'Take Care Of All Of My Children' would be amazing entrance/exit funeral music respectively.
Brunstar123 1 year ago
Comment removed
Brunstar123 1 year ago
If anyone ever releases Streetwise on DVD, they deserve a sainthood.
oisinallen 1 year ago
@oisinallen Watch streets of pain, it has a little bit of hope.
MultiBuakaw 1 year ago
@oisinallen Streetwise was one of the most amazing documentaries i ever saw, could not get it out of my mind for months. I have it on V.H.S. but agree that it should be released on DVD. xx
leedskcrw 1 year ago
@leedskcrw I never saw the whole film, which makes it even worse that you can't get it anywhere. I'd do just about anything for a VHS or DVD of it.
oisinallen 1 year ago
@oisinallen Hey, the movie is uploaded to youtube. Just search for Streetwise part 1.
l0lidude 10 months ago
I found this song through TheAmazingAtheist, and I like it.
failedassassin 1 year ago
♥ u Tom
punksweetyy 1 year ago
Fantastic. Muchas gracias.
robbiejohnson2001 1 year ago
Isn't it amazing that there are three different DVD versions of the Hannah Montana movie on the market, but "Streetwise" is only available on VHS?
DartmouthAlum96 1 year ago
no fuckin kiddin, never seen a film that had as big as an emotional impact as that one, one of the best documentaries of all time and probably the most underated one
adoy89 1 year ago 2
@DartmouthAlum96 I totally agree with you on that!!! You can find commercialized garbage on DVD at any given time...But Streetwise is something that can actually impact the kids today (And they NEED it!) so of course it's impossible to obtain!!! Thank god for youtube!!
RainbowBrite80 1 year ago 2
Streetwise was how I was introduced to Tom Waits. At age 13 I was wise beyond my years for liking this, I was laughed at for liking this!
Got the vhs in a box of old movies after a friends' movie store business closed. I remember looking EVERYWHERE for this song on line back in the way early 2000's and had a helluva time finding it.
bananaPLEASE 1 year ago 6
@bananaPLEASE my friends still laugh at me for some of his stuff i like but i will always <3 waits
Jesusplant 1 year ago
@bananaPLEASE I have seen Streetwise, but how you got introduced into Tom Waits with the film? I cant remember that good, but there was a song of Tom Waits in the movie?
Od1n90 1 year ago
@Od1n90 I believe the song is at the end of the movie. The very end if I'm not mistaken. :)
bananaPLEASE 1 year ago
Grossartig...ich bin begeistert !
vulkan7av 2 years ago
Comment removed
badbela 2 years ago
I have watched STREETWISE--and taught it to classes--maybe 20 times. Each time I think I won't shed a tear at the end, I hear that opening riff and have to get the kleenex out!
wick1860 2 years ago 2
Brilliant. Makes me get up in the morning. Gotta love tom waits.
metalheadoj666 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
this song is horrible!!!
loveyengu 2 years ago
@loveyengu Wtf? Why do you even listen to it then? ... If you comment, say something useful.
TheTedminator 1 year ago
Well, I HAVENT saw the damn film yet, but still found it and totally ADORE it!
JiS01 2 years ago
It's on youtube. I haven't seen it in over 20 years, but this song was so perfect for it, I can see images of every one of those street kids when I listen to it.
padraiggillon 2 years ago 8
i just love this song...the rhythm and the lyrics, and the way he sings it...it's just great :D
Crstn4440 2 years ago
I guess it was written to sound familiar. The opening few seconds always sounds like christmas, like something from It's a Wonderful Life, so that gets you feeling something straight away. Very clever, the way it sounds familiar draws you into it.
phatbassman 2 years ago
Just finished watching "Streetwise" here on youtube, so had to look this up too.
BumDog007 2 years ago
I love this song.
Lehchen1991 2 years ago
It has been said that music is the soul of a film. This axiom has never been truer than with the inclusion of this song in the stirring 1984 documentary "Streetwise."
DartmouthAlum96 2 years ago 4
*Thumbs up* Just for the way you said that.
KiraPlaysGuitar 2 years ago
streetwise was an intense movie...way before it's time...this song is the movie's signature...great post...5 stars.
sirg31 2 years ago
streetwise is such a good movie.....
adoy89 2 years ago
grossartig !
vulkan7av 3 years ago
I heard the song from the movie "Streetwise" loved it ever since.
Mike81069 3 years ago
God I love Tom Waits n I've done it for so many years now. I bow in reverence This man is my man. Thanks Tom and if you ever ever by any chance read this, just want you to know that your work always has n still does inspire me n makes me a much better person. Yea, really. For a second I wanted to explain why. Why tell the obvious?
D. Spicer
Barbapapa2020 3 years ago
did he write this one??? probably but i could have swore i heard this long before i starting listening to waits
alauclair 3 years ago
Can't be totally sure... But I did a quickie search, and it does look like he wrote it. As I say though, I'm not sure.
luxbug 3 years ago
I also thought it sounded familiar. I wonder if he took bits of other things for the music, but I bet the lyrics are all his. I think Dylan does the same thing.
botanyboy2 3 years ago
it sounds like an old hymn
mrsdarcydepp 3 years ago
I'm pretty certain that the music and lyrics are his, but like you say, it has the sound of a hymn, which will probably have been deliberate, so I can understand why people sort of recognise it. There are problem many old hymns with similar style, and similar meaning.
BigFootAlan 3 years ago
Also, I love the drums in this. Very martial sound to them.
BigFootAlan 3 years ago
@alauclair He wrote it.
DrunkenPiano 1 year ago