9th & Hennepin
Tom Waits Lyrics

Well, it's Ninth and Hennepin
The singer is describing the location as being located in the Ninth and Hennepin area.

All the doughnuts have names that sound like prostitutes
The food establishments in the area have unique names that allude to the sexual nature of the area.

And the moon's teeth marks are on the sky
The moon is so bright that it creates marks in the sky resembling teeth marks.

Like a tarp thrown all over this
The moon's brightness affects everything in the area like a tarp covering it all.

And the broken umbrellas like dead birds
The area is littered with broken and discarded umbrellas that look like dead birds.

And the steam comes out of the grill like the whole goddamn town's ready to blow
The steam coming from the grills of food establishments adds to the overall tension in the area, like everything is about to explode.

And the bricks are all scarred with jailhouse tattoos
The bricks of the buildings in the area have numerous marks etched into them that resemble prison tattoos.

And everyone is behaving like dogs
People in the area are acting like animals with little regard for others.

And the horses are coming down Violin Road and Dutch is dead on his feet
Horses are coming down the street, and a character named Dutch is exhausted and in poor condition.

And all the rooms they smell like diesel
The area has a strong smell of diesel fuel, which permeates even indoor spaces.

And you take on the dreams of the ones who have slept here
The singer is suggesting that the area has a negative impact on people who spend time or sleep there and takes on their dreams.

And I'm lost in the window, and I hide in the stairway
The artist feels lost or detached from reality, seeking refuge in the stairway of a building.

And I hang in the curtain, and I sleep in your hat
The singer is hiding behind a curtain and sleeping in someone's hat.

And no one brings anything small into a bar around here
People only bring big problems into the bars in this area.

They all started out with bad directions
People in the area seem to have come from bad situations, leading them to where they are now.

And the girl behind the counter has a tattooed tear
The girl who is working at the establishment has a tattoo of a tear drop, which usually symbolizes a loss or hardship experienced.

One for every year he's away, she said
The tattooed tear drop represents a loss of a loved one or significant person who has been gone for many years.

Such a crumbling beauty
The area is beautiful but in a way that is slowly falling apart and decaying.

Ah, there's nothing wrong with her that a hundred dollars won't fix
Money can solve the girl's problems, which are likely financial in nature.

She has that razor sadness that only gets worse
Despite her beauty and potential, the girl seems to be dealing with a profound sadness that is only growing worse over time.

With the clang and the thunder of the Southern Pacific going by
The sound of the train passing by is deafening and adds to the chaos of the area.

And the clock ticks out like a dripping faucet
Time passes slowly and monotonously in this area, like a dripping faucet that never stops.

Till you're full of rag water and bitters and blue ruin
Drinking here will only fill you up with cheap alcohol and leave you feeling miserable and unhappy.

And you spill out over the side to anyone who will listen
People in the area are so miserable that they will unload their troubles onto anyone who will listen.

And I've seen it all
The singer has seen the worst the area has to offer and is tired of it all.

I've seen it all through the yellow windows of the evening train
The singer has observed the area from the safe distance of the passing train and is grateful to be leaving it behind.