One, two, three, four
Pale-face said to the eyeball kid
She just goes clank and boom and steam
A halo, wings, horns, and a tail
Shoveling coal inside my dreams
There are no laws
She's made of cream
She's such a scream

Qui bon tres bien, nails in cement
A Donnie gal from mortal clay
The plow is red, the well is full
Inside the dollhouse of her skull
A cheetah coat fills up with steam
She's such a scream

All crooked lines
Her fireplace
A milktrain so clean
Machine-gun haste
You'll ride the only wall of shame
And drag that chain across the state
Her lips are red
She is the queen
She's such a scream, aah
Hoo

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Tom Waits's song Such A Scream appear to be a surreal exploration of the subconscious mind. The song begins with a conversation between two characters, "Pale-face" and the "eyeball kid," who describe a mysterious woman who "just goes clank and boom and steam." This woman is characterized by a strange combination of religious symbolism - a halo, wings, horns, and a tail - and industrial machinery - "shoveling coal inside my dreams." This juxtaposition suggests a clash between spirituality and technology, and the image of the woman herself is both alluring and menacing.

As the song progresses, the imagery becomes increasingly abstract and dreamlike. The lyrics describe a "Donnie gal from mortal clay" who lives in a "dollhouse" within her own mind. The use of the term "mortal clay" implies a fragile, transient nature to human existence. The woman's mind, on the other hand, is characterized by an almost inhuman power and capability, suggested by the imagery of a "cheetah coat" filling up with steam. The final verse of the song is particularly disturbing, with its references to a "wall of shame" and a "chain" being dragged across the state. This is an evocation of a kind of punishment that is not explicitly defined, but it suggests a deep sense of anxiety or even danger.

Overall, Such A Scream is a haunting and enigmatic song that challenges the listener to interpret its unusual imagery and symbolism.

Line by Line Meaning

One, two, three, four
Counting to start the song

Pale-face said to the eyeball kid
An unidentified person talks to another person with unusual features

She just goes clank and boom and steam
The person being talked about makes mechanical sounds

A halo, wings, horns, and a tail
Describing the appearance of the person being talked about as angelic and devilish

Shoveling coal inside my dreams
An imaginary person is creating fuel for Tom's dreams

There are no laws
In the dream world, there are no restrictions

She's made of cream
Tom's perception of the person being talked about is luxurious and smooth

She's such a scream
The person being talked about is exciting and unpredictable

Qui bon tres bien, nails in cement
French for 'who benefits? Very well.' Describing a woman as strong-willed and unchanging

A Donnie gal from mortal clay
A rough and tumble woman from ordinary origins

The plow is red, the well is full
The woman's world is prosperous and thriving

Inside the dollhouse of her skull
Describing the woman's head as a place of imagination and creativity

A cheetah coat fills up with steam
A descriptive metaphor for the woman

She's such a scream
The woman being talked about is exciting and unpredictable

All crooked lines
Things are imperfect and unusual in the woman's world

Her fireplace
A place of comfort in the woman's home

A milktrain so clean
A pristine mode of transportation in the woman's world

Machine-gun haste
The woman moves quickly and efficiently

You'll ride the only wall of shame
A prediction of experiencing humiliation

And drag that chain across the state
Carrying something burdensome across a large distance

Her lips are red
The woman's beauty is highlighted

She is the queen
The woman is in control and powerful

She's such a scream, aah
The woman being talked about is exciting and unpredictable

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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Mike P.

3y↑6

Well pale face said
To the eyeball kid
She just goes clank and boom and steam
A halo, wings, horns and a tail
Shoveling coal inside my dreams
There are no laws
She's made of cream
She's such a scream

Qui bon tres bien, nails in cement
A Donnie gal from mortal clay
The plow is red
The well is full, inside
The dollhouse of her skull
A cheetah coat fills up with steam
She's such a scream

All crooked lines
Her fireplace
A milktrain so clean
Machine gun haste
You'll ride the only wall of shame
And drag that chain across the state
Her lips are red
She is the queen
She's such a scream...

tyron dardizian

3y↑7

All comments from YouTube:

Scodiddly

2y↑4

The ballads are always great... but this is just another level of Waits. The purest form.

Shawn Marie

3y↑4

Tom Waits can do no wrong!!
I'd meet him in the heart of Saturday Night any day ;)
I'm so thankful I got to see him live. SO AWESOME!!!

John Stewart

47w

Absolutely insane! I love bone machine. No other artist is like Waits.

Solon Coburn

4y↑29

I used to play this in my shop. I would offer to buy this album for any kid who could jeep up with the main drum in the first few minutes. It was fun to see the attempts.