New Coat of Paint
Tom Waits Lyrics
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On this lonesome old town
Set 'em up, we'll be knockin' 'em down
You wear a dress
Baby I'll a tie
We'll laugh at that old bloodshot moon
In that burgundy sky
All our scribbled love dreams are lost or thrown away
Here amidst the shuffle of an overflowin' day
Our love needs a transfusion let's shoot it full of wine
Fishin' for a good time starts with throwin' in your line.
So let's put a new coat of paint
On this lonesome old town
Set em' up, set em' up we'll be knockin' 'em down
You wear a dress baby
I'll wear a tie
We'll laugh at that old bloodshot moon
In that burgundy sky
The opening line of Tom Waits's song "New Coat of Paint" suggests that the singer and his lover are living in a town that has lost its luster and has perhaps become lonely and desolate. The singer's suggestion to put a new coat of paint on the town implies that they should bring some color, excitement, and fun back into their lives. The following lines, "Set 'em up, we'll be knockin' 'em down," suggest that they plan to go out on the town and have a good time together.
The singer's suggestion to his lover to wear a dress and for him to wear a tie implies that they are planning to go out for a special occasion. The line, "We'll laugh at that old bloodshot moon in that burgundy sky" suggests that they plan to spend the evening together, perhaps on a rooftop or balcony, sipping wine and enjoying each other's company.
The verses also contain a sense of longing and nostalgia for their lost love, evident in the lines "All our scribbled love dreams are lost or thrown away", suggesting that their relationship has gone through a difficult phase. However, the singer suggests that their love needs a transfusion and that they should inject it with wine to revive it. The last line, "Fishin' for a good time starts with throwin' in your line," suggests that they need to make an effort to enjoy life and have a good time.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's put a new coat of paint
Let's spruce up this run-down town
On this lonesome old town
This place is lonely and needs a change
Set 'em up, we'll be knockin' 'em down
We'll have a great time partying and drinking
You wear a dress
I want to see you looking your best
Baby I'll a tie
And I'll dress up too for this special occasion
We'll laugh at that old bloodshot moon
We'll enjoy ourselves no matter how crazy things get
In that burgundy sky
Even the sky looks different and more lively tonight
All our scribbled love dreams are lost or thrown away
Our past aspirations and hopes for love are forgotten
Here amidst the shuffle of an overflowin' day
We're busy with the chaos and hustle of everyday life
Our love needs a transfusion let's shoot it full of wine
Our relationship needs rejuvenation, so let's indulge in wine
Fishin' for a good time starts with throwin' in your line.
We need to actively pursue fun and happiness to have a good time
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, JALMA MUSIC
Written by: TOM WAITS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind