Tom Waits - On The Nickel

I'd like to do a new song here. This is uh... it's about downtown Los Angeles on 5th Street and... all the winos uh... affectionately refer to it as The Nickel. So this is kind of a hobo's lullaby.

It says sticks and stones can break my bones
but I always will be true
And when your mama's dead and gone,
I'll sing this lullaby just for you

What becomes of all the little boys
who never comb their hair
They're lined up all around the block
on the nickel over there

And if you chew tobacco
and wish upon a star
You'll find out where the scarecrows sit,
now they just look like punch lines between the cars

And I know a place where a royal flush
can never beat a pair
And even Thomas Jefferson
is on the nickel over there

So ring around the rosy,
sleepin' in the rain
You're always late for supper
man you let me down again

I thought I heard a mockingbird,
Roosevelt knows where.
I'm whistling past the graveyard,
and they're on the nickel over there

So what becomes of all the little boys
who run away from home
The world keeps gettin' bigger
once you get out on your own

But you never know how rich you are,
you haven't got a prayer
It's heads you win and tails they lose,
You're on the nickel
and you're over there...

Category:

Music

Tags:

• tom
• waits
• on
• the
• nickel
• lullaby
• hobo

[ep13]

Tom would get crushed on 'American Idle' and if that aint enough proof to end that stupid fucking show and shoot Simon in the cock I don't know what is.

[BlueSkyShine]

@rexmundi2012

The first time I heard this song was 1981, I heard it only once, but I never forgot it. 20 years later I found Youtube and all that I remembered from this song was the word "Nickle" . As it turns out, that was all it took to find what is still to this day, my favorite song of all time. I can't imagine that this song would mean anything to me if it were sung by anyone other than Tom Waits.

[crcausey]

@BlueSkyShine I'm in complete agreement about this song must be done by no one other than Tom Waits. His interpretation, performance is the benchmark. For me this holds the esteem as I Left My Heart In San Francisco (Tony Bennett), The Thrill Is Gone (B.B. King) or Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison). But to be honest, I play with it, but because Mr Waits has taught me love it. I don't play it for others and I don't even try to simulate his gruff growl, but I always hear Tom. Its brilliant!

[Mwtorres24]

My left ear enjoyed this :)

[davidoffon]

@megadankk God ended up having no need for a wallet, Jesus clened him out!!

[ToneB1]

@ep13

Yes! Yes! YES!!!

[turdking]

i'm a jaded motherfucker and this will always bring tears to my eyes.

[talochIV]

@megadankk Next to His A A sponsors' number! :-D

[harkeill]

All yiu need to do is sit back, close your eyes and Tom's voice puts you into the song...

[shanecolin9]

This has always been my FAV Waits tune!

Definitely a unique singer/songwriter.