No One Can Forgive Me but My Baby
John Hammond [song by Tom Waits] Lyrics

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Crack a mean whip, carry a big gun
Cast a long shadow till the day is done
Do ninety miles an hour down the Devil's trail
Done hard time in a hundred jails
No one can forgive me but my baby
No one can forgive me but my baby
No one can forgive me but my baby

Now Jesus don't know, Mary don't know
Preacher don't know, Momma don't know
Daddy don't know, my brother don't know
St. John don't know, St. Peter don't know
No one can forgive me but my baby

I took a hundred dollars from a blind man's hand
I slept with the whores on the burnin' sand
Got twenty-seven children I've never seen
Got blood on my hands that will never come clean
I got long arms, tell big lies
Stole the pennies from my dear mother's eyes
I'm tall in the saddle, about six foot nine
I beat up revenuers all the time
No one can forgive me but my baby
Oh, no one can forgive me but my baby

I got a mean temper, I'm a big liar
Broke all the laws, set the house on fire
When I stand before Jesus and he asks me to kneel
I'll tell him maybe we can make a deal
No one can forgive me but my baby
No one can forgive me but my baby

I don't pay no bills, I don't say no prayers
Give back nothin', and I take all dares
Stole a car and I got me a gun
If there ain't no road I'm gonna make me one
Broke my baby's heart, and I whip my dog
I don't say nothin' when I meet my God
No one can forgive me but my baby
No one can forgive me but my baby

No one can forgive me but my baby
No one can forgive me but my baby

No one can forgive me but my baby
Forgive me, baby

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Tom Waits' song "No One Can Forgive Me But My Baby" describe a persona of a reckless and ruthless man who has committed a plethora of crimes, broken many laws, and seems to be unremorseful about them. The singer talks about taking a hundred dollars from a blind man's hand, sleeping with prostitutes on the burning sand, having blood on his hands that will never come clean, and beating up revenuers all the time. He also talks about his temper, lies, and setting the house on fire.

The central theme of the song lies in the title, "No One Can Forgive Me But My Baby." Here, the singer seems to confess his misdeeds to the listener, and perhaps even to himself. He acknowledges that his actions are unforgivable to everyone, except his baby. The character of the baby could be interpreted in multiple ways; it could either be a real child, an idea, or a coping mechanism for the singer, allowing him to face his own demons.

The repeated phrase, "No one can forgive me but my baby" creates an ominous tone, which is further accentuated by the final line of the song where the singer seems to plead, "Forgive me, baby." This shows that the singer wants to be forgiven but knows he doesn't deserve forgiveness.

Line by Line Meaning

Crack a mean whip, carry a big gun
I am intimidating and powerful

Cast a long shadow till the day is done
My influence lasts until the sun goes down

Do ninety miles an hour down the Devil's trail
I live life dangerously and recklessly

Done hard time in a hundred jails
I have been in prison many times

No one can forgive me but my baby
Only my partner can look past my flaws and forgive me

Now Jesus don't know, Mary don't know
Even religious figures cannot comprehend my actions

Preacher don't know, Momma don't know
Even those closest to me cannot fully understand me

Daddy don't know, my brother don't know
My family also cannot understand my behavior

St. John don't know, St. Peter don't know
Even the saints cannot forgive me for my sins

I took a hundred dollars from a blind man's hand
I have committed despicable acts without remorse

I slept with the whores on the burnin' sand
I have indulged in immoral and dangerous behavior

Got twenty-seven children I've never seen
I have neglected my responsibilities as a parent

Got blood on my hands that will never come clean
I have done unspeakable things that cannot be undone

I got long arms, tell big lies
I am deceitful and manipulative

Stole the pennies from my dear mother's eyes
I have even stolen from my own family

I'm tall in the saddle, about six foot nine
I am confident and imposing

I beat up revenuers all the time
I have no qualms about using violence to get my way

Oh, no one can forgive me but my baby
Only my partner can look past my flaws and forgive me

I got a mean temper, I'm a big liar
I am quick to anger and prone to deception

Broke all the laws, set the house on fire
I have no regard for rules or authority

When I stand before Jesus and he asks me to kneel
I am aware of my inevitable judgment and punishment

I'll tell him maybe we can make a deal
I am so corrupt and selfish that I refuse to accept responsibility for my actions

I don't pay no bills, I don't say no prayers
I have no respect for societal conventions or religion

Give back nothin', and I take all dares
I am selfish and greedy

Stole a car and I got me a gun
I have committed serious crimes without remorse

If there ain't no road I'm gonna make me one
I am resourceful and not afraid to break the rules

Broke my baby's heart, and I whip my dog
I am capable of causing emotional pain to those closest to me, as well as physical pain to those who cannot defend themselves

I don't say nothin' when I meet my God
I am so irredeemable that I cannot even bring myself to communicate with a higher power

No one can forgive me but my baby
Only my partner can look past my flaws and forgive me

Contributed by Cameron I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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