Bad as Me is the seventeenth studio album by American rock musician Tom Wai… Read Full Bio ↴Bad as Me is the seventeenth studio album by American rock musician Tom Waits, released on 2011 October 21 by ANTI- Records. Upon its release, Bad as Me received widespread critical acclaim. It is Waits' first album since 2004's Real Gone to consist completely of new material. All songs on Bad as Me are written and composed by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan.

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Chicago
Tom Waits Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The seeds are planted here
But they won't grow
We won't have to say goodbye
If we all go
Maybe things will be better in Chicago

To leave all we've ever known
For a place we've never seen
Maybe things will be better in Chicago

Well It's brave for us to stay
Even braver to go
Wherever she goes I go
Maybe things will be better in Chicago

What we need the lord will give us
All we want we carry with us
You know where I can be found
Where the rainbow hits the ground
I'm not alone
I'm not afraid
'Cause this bird has flown from his cage
There's so much magic we have known
On this sapphire we call home
With my coat and my hat
I say goodbye to all that

Maybe things will be better in Chicago
Maybe things will be better in Chicago
All aboard
All aboard

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Tom Waits's song Chicago tell the story of a group of people who are dissatisfied with their current situation and are considering leaving everything they know behind to start fresh in Chicago. Despite the uncertainty of leaving their homes behind, the group is hopeful about the future, believing that things will be better in the Windy City.

The first line, "The seeds are planted here but they won't grow," suggests that the characters feel trapped and unfulfilled where they currently are. They believe that the grass may be greener on the other side and that leaving everything they know behind will improve their quality of life. Despite their reluctance to say goodbye to their familiar surroundings, they believe that leaving is the only way forward.

The lyrics mention the bravery required to both stay and leave. However, the hopefulness of the characters gives them the courage to take a leap of faith and relocate to Chicago. The song's theme of adventure and discovery is emphasized in the final lines "All aboard, all aboard," as if the group is embarking on a journey to an unknown destination.

Line by Line Meaning

The seeds are planted here
We have established a life here

But they won't grow
Our life here has become stagnant

We won't have to say goodbye
We can avoid the emotional pain of leaving our home

If we all go
If we all leave together

Maybe things will be better in Chicago
Perhaps a new location can provide opportunities and fulfillment

To leave all we've ever known
We must abandon our familiar surroundings

For a place we've never seen
We are taking a risk and entering the unknown

Well It's brave for us to stay
Staying in this current life takes courage

Even braver to go
Leaving and embarking on a new life is even more courageous

Wherever she goes I go
I will follow my partner in this journey

What we need the lord will give us
We trust that our needs will be provided for