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Singapore
Tom Waits Lyrics


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We sail tonight for Singapore
We're all as mad as hatters here
I've fallen for a tawny moor
Took off to the land of nod
Drank with all the Chinamen
Walked the sewers of Paris
I danced along a colored wind
Dangled from a rope of sand
You must say goodbye to me

We sail tonight for Singapore
Don't fall asleep while you're ashore
Cross your heart and hope to die
When you hear the children cry
Let marrow bone and cleaver choose
While making feet for children's shoes
Through the alley, back from hell
When you hear that steeple bell
You must say goodbye to me

Wipe him down with gasoline
Till his arms are hard and mean
From now on boys this iron boat's your home
So heave away, boys

We sail tonight for Singapore
Take your blankets from the floor
Wash your mouth out by the door
The whole town's made of iron ore
Every witness turns to steam
They all become Italian dreams
Fill your pockets up with earth
Get yourself a dollar's worth
Away boys, away boys, heave away

The captain is a one-armed dwarf
He's throwing dice along the wharf
In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king
So take this ring

We sail tonight for Singapore
We're all as mad as hatters here
I've fallen for a tawny moor
Took off to the land of nod
Drank with all the Chinamen
Walked the sewers of Paris
I drank along a colored wind
I dangled from a rope of sand
You must say goodbye to me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Tom Waits's song "Singapore" depict a group of people embarking on a journey to Singapore. They are all "mad as hatters" and have fallen for various temptations, including a "tawny moor." They have had experiences in different parts of the world, such as drinking with "all the Chinamen" and walking the sewers of Paris. The lyrics hint at a darker side, as they mention "making feet for children's shoes" and wiping someone down with gasoline to make them hard and mean. Throughout the song, there is a sense of danger and urgency. The singer warns to not fall asleep ashore and to say goodbye to him when the steeple bell rings.


The lyrics of "Singapore" can be interpreted in many different ways, but a common theme is the idea of escaping reality and indulging in vices. The references to different cultures and locations suggest a desire to explore and experience new things. The darker themes, such as the idea of making shoes from human bones and wiping someone down with gasoline, create a sense of unease and danger. The urgency in the lyrics, such as the warning to not fall asleep ashore, adds to the sense of unease and emphasizes the idea that the journey to Singapore is not a leisurely one.


Line by Line Meaning

We sail tonight for Singapore
We're leaving tonight for Singapore.


We're all as mad as hatters here
We're all insane or crazy here.


I've fallen for a tawny moor
I'm in love with a beautiful but dark-skinned woman.


Took off to the land of nod
I fell asleep.


Drank with all the Chinamen
I drank with all the Chinese people.


Walked the sewers of Paris
I strolled through the underground tunnels of Paris.


I danced along a colored wind
I moved along with a wind of various colors.


Dangled from a rope of sand
I was in a precarious or unstable position.


You must say goodbye to me
You need to bid farewell to me.


Don't fall asleep while you're ashore
Don't sleep while you're not on the ship.


Cross your heart and hope to die
Promise to be faithful or swear to keep a secret.


When you hear the children cry
When you hear the kids screaming.


Let marrow bone and cleaver choose
Let fate or destiny decide.


While making feet for children's shoes
While engaging in the task of making shoes for kids.


Through the alley, back from hell
Back into civilization from a place or situation that was very unpleasant.


When you hear that steeple bell
When you hear the church bell ringing.


Wipe him down with gasoline
Clean him up with gasoline.


Till his arms are hard and mean
Until his arms are tough and rough.


From now on boys this iron boat's your home
From now on, guys, this boat made of iron is where you'll be staying.


So heave away, boys
Get moving, fellas.


Take your blankets from the floor
Pick up your blankets from the ground.


Wash your mouth out by the door
Clean your mouth by the doorway.


The whole town's made of iron ore
The entire city is situated over a mine where iron is extracted.


Every witness turns to steam
All the onlookers disappear without a trace.


They all become Italian dreams
They all turn into illusions or delusions.


Fill your pockets up with earth
Put soil into your pockets.


Get yourself a dollar's worth
Buy something for one dollar.


The captain is a one-armed dwarf
The leader of the ship only has one arm and is short.


He's throwing dice along the wharf
He's gambling and playing a game of dice on the pier.


In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king
In a situation where everyone is ignorant, someone who has limited knowledge or insight can still be a leader or an expert.


So take this ring
So, accept this ring as a gift.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, JALMA MUSIC
Written by: THOMAS ALAN WAITS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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