Tom Waits' debut album is a minor-key masterpiece filled with songs of late-night loneliness. Within the apparently narrow range of the cocktail bar pianistics and muttered vocals, Waits and producer Jerry Yester manage a surprisingly broad collection of styles, from the jazzy "Virginia Avenue" to the up-tempo funk of "Ice Cream Man" and from the acoustic guitar folkiness of "I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love With You" to the saloon song "Midnight Lullaby," which would have been a perfect addition to the repertoires of Frank Sinatra or Tony Bennett. Waits' entire musical approach is stylized, of course, and Read Full BioTom Waits' debut album is a minor-key masterpiece filled with songs of late-night loneliness. Within the apparently narrow range of the cocktail bar pianistics and muttered vocals, Waits and producer Jerry Yester manage a surprisingly broad collection of styles, from the jazzy "Virginia Avenue" to the up-tempo funk of "Ice Cream Man" and from the acoustic guitar folkiness of "I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love With You" to the saloon song "Midnight Lullaby," which would have been a perfect addition to the repertoires of Frank Sinatra or Tony Bennett. Waits' entire musical approach is stylized, of course, and at times derivative — "Lonely" borrows a little too much from Randy Newman's "I Think It's Going to Rain Today" — and his lovelorn lyrics can be sentimental without being penetrating. But he also has a gift for gently rolling pop melodies, and he can come up with striking, original scenarios, as on the best songs, "Ol' 55" and "Martha," which Yester discreetly augments with strings. Closing Time announces the arrival of a talented songwriter whose self-conscious melancholy can be surprisingly moving.
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Ol' 55
Tom Waits Lyrics
Well, my time went so quickly
I went lickety-splickly
Out to my old '55
As I pulled away slowly, feeling so holy
God knows, I was feeling alive
Now the sun's coming up
I'm riding with Lady Luck
Freeway cars and trucks
Stars beginning to fade
And I lead the parade
Just a-wishing I'd stayed a little longer
Oh, Lord, lemme tell you that the feeling's getting stronger
And at six in the morning, gave me no warning
I had to be on my way
Well there's trucks all a-passing and and the lights all a-flashing
I'm on my way home from your place
And now the sun's coming up
I'm riding with Lady Luck
Freeway cars and trucks
Stars beginning to fade
And I lead the parade
Just a-wishing I'd stayed a little longer
Oh, Lord, lemme tell you the feeling's getting stronger
And my time went so quickly
I went lickety-splickly
Out to my old '55
As I pulled away slowly, feeling so holy
God knows, I was feeling alive
And now the sun's coming up
I'm riding with Lady Luck
Freeway cars and trucks
Freeway cars and trucks
Freeway cars and trucks
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Tom Waits
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Humboldt Gift
Stunning when a poet/songwriter like Tom can capture common experience so well. I mean, has anyone described driving away from a lover's house after spending the night better than:
"As I pulled away slowly/feeling so holy /God knows I was feeling alive"?
"Feeling so holy" so captures it brilliantly!
And then to stay with with scene as the day dawns and describe how the feeling (riding with Lady Luck) makes it seem like he's leading a parade - brilliant again. And then, true to life, the tough of longing hits "Just a-wishing I'd stayed a little longer ...") Kudos!
"Now the sun's coming up
I'm riding with Lady Luck
Freeway, cars, and trucks
Stars beginning to fade
And I lead the parade
Just a-wishing I'd stayed a little longer
Oh Lord, let me tell you that the feeling getting stronger....
MichaeLJQ1
Well, my time went so quickly
I went lickety-splitly
Out to my ol' 55
As I pulled away slowly
Feeling so holy
God knows I was feeling alive
Now, the sun's coming up
I'm riding with Lady Luck
Freeway, cars and trucks
Stars beginning to fade
And I lead the parade
Just a-wishin' I'd stayed a little longer
Oh Lord, let me tell ya that the feeling getting stronger
And it's six in the morning
Gave me no warning
I had to be on my way
Well, there's trucks all a-passin' me
And the lights all are flashing
I'm on my way home from your place
And now the sun's coming up
And I'm riding with Lady Luck
Freeway, cars and trucks
Stars beginning to fade
And I lead the parade
Just a-wishin' I'd stayed a little longer
Oh Lord, let me tell ya, the feeling getting stronger
And my time went so quickly
I went lickety-splitly
Out to my ol' 55
As I pulled away slowly
Feeling so holy
God knows I was feeling alive
And now the sun's coming up
I'm riding with Lady Luck
Freeway, cars and trucks
Freeway, cars and trucks
Freeway, cars and trucks
brandi reinhart
I had to look up this song while watching Jon Huber's farewell on AEW. I have to say that even though I'd never heard it before it is now saved to my music playlist and I will always listen to this. RIP Jon. Dont know if your family will ever see this but your in my prayers. 12/27/2020 will be a day that AEW & fans will always remember. This song also reminds me of my father. He's still here an he would love this song.
Anon Omis
We just had the 1 year anniversary and it doesn't get any easier
James Clarke
sang by the eagles
Joseph Porterfield
I have played this song dozens of times since I first heard it Wednesday. (You know what that means.) It has taken root in my head and I can't stop listening to it over and over.
Kasil
RIP Jon Huber, truly THE EXALTED ONE. Forever in our hearts.
Bruno 149
Wrestling Fans. Today is Wednesday. You know what that means. Fly high Jon Huber.
Beeg Chongoos
Found this song because of him
TS From TX
Wednesday is fo Brodie forever
Phillip Butcher
@Boris Veselinov 😂😂😂
Boris Veselinov
Damn right i do. Randomly bursts into your room and hits you with a bunch of paper