Tom Traubert's Blues
Tom Waits
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Wasted and wounded, it ain't what the moon did I got what I paid for now See ya tomorrow, hey Frank can I borrow A couple of bucks from you To go waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda, you'll go waltzing Matilda with me I'm an innocent victim of a blinded alley And I'm tired of all these soldiers here No one speaks English, and everything's broken And my Stacys are soaking wet To go waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda, you'll go waltzing Matilda with me Now the dogs are barking And the taxicabs parking A lot they can do for me I begged you to stab me You tore my shirt open And I'm down on my knees tonight Old Bushmills I staggered You buried the dagger in Your silhouette window light To go waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda, you'll go waltzing Matilda with me Now I've lost my St. Christopher Now that I've kissed her and the And the one-armed bandit knows And the maverick Chinaman, and the cold-blooded signs And the girls down by the strip tease shows go Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda, you'll go waltzing Matilda with me No, I don't want your sympathy The fugitives say that the streets aren't for dreaming now Manslaughter dragnets and the ghosts that sell memories They want a piece of the action anyhow Go waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda, you'll go waltzing Matilda with me And you can ask any sailor And the keys from the jailer And the old men in wheelchairs know That Matilda's the defendant, she killed about a hundred And she follows wherever you may go Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda, you'll go waltzing Matilda with me And it's a battered old suitcase To a hotel someplace And a wound that will never heal No prima donna, the perfume is on An old shirt that is stained with blood and whiskey And goodnight to the street sweepers The night watchman flame keepers And goodnight Matilda, too
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Written by: Tom Waits
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, JALMA MUSIC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
6 facts about this song
Creation and Inspiration"Tom Traubert's Blues" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Tom Waits and first released on his 1976 album, "Small Change." The song was later covered by several artists, including British rock singer Rod Stewart.
- The song’s name has often been said to come from Tom Waits’ befriending of a person who called himself Tom Traubert during a European tour. The individual’s life was troubled with many of his friends dying from drugs and alcohol, all of which significantly inspired this song.
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Rod Stewart's VersionRod Stewart's version of the song, often known as "Waltzing Matilda,” became a commercial success.
- Stewart’s version almost achieved a top-twenty hit in the UK Singles Chart, reaching position 21 in 1992.
- His version featured a more polished sound compared to Waits' raw original and took some lyrical liberties that brought the song some criticism.
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Lyrics and ThemesThe song's lyrics were written by Waits after a drunken binge in Los Angeles.
- It tells a sad story of a man in a deep state of grief, drinking to numb his pain.
- The chorus uses the melody of the Australian folk song "Waltzing Matilda," altering the words, including replacing the title phrase with "Waltzing Matilda, you'll go a-waltzing Matilda with me.”
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Awards and RecognitionIn 2005, the song was used in a British television commercial for Tennent's Lager.
- It was identified as a standout track from the "Small Change" album by AllMusic reviewer William Ruhlmann.
- Rod Stewart’s version was positively reviewed by several music critics, with many praising his vocal delivery and the orchestral arrangement.
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Live Performances and CoversTom Waits has rarely performed "Tom Traubert's Blues" in his live shows, but whenever he did, it garnered a strong reaction from the audience.
- Apart from Rod Stewart's notable cover, the song has also been covered by artists like Tim Armstrong, Scarlett Johansson, and Tori Amos.
- Rod Stewart performed the song live during his Unplugged... and Seated performance with Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones.
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Cultural Influence"Tom Traubert's Blues" has had a significant cultural impact since its release. Its sad tone and raw emotion have moved listeners and inspired other musicians.
- The song is recognized as one of the most poignant and bleak compositions in Tom Waits' catalogue.
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