After time in the Army Reserves, Paxton moved to New York City where he frequented the city's Greenwich Village coffeehouse circuit. His early success in Greenwich Village coffeehouses led to an ever-increasing circle of work. He made his professional debut at the Gaslight, the renowned folk haunt that also issued the singer's first album. In 1962 Gaslight Records would press 2,000 copies of his debut album, I'm The Man Who Built The Bridges.
Paxton also auditioned to join the Chad Mitchell Trio, but although he failed, the group enjoyed a 1963 hit with "The Marvelous Toy," one of Paxton's early songs. Paxton performed at the 1963 Newport Folk Festival, a performance that would be recorded-and released-by Vanguard Records. Paxton would go on to record a second album with Vanguard-at the Newport Folk Festival the following year - but his association with that record company lapsed, and it would not be until the year 2000 that Vanguard once again released a Tom Paxton album, Tom Paxton: Best of the Vanguard Years. In 1964 Paxton was signed to Elektra Records for whom he recorded his best-known work. Then in 1965 he made his first tour of the United Kingdom - the beginning of a still-thriving professional relationship that has included at least one tour in each of the succeeding years.
He and his wife Midge have been married since 1963 and have two daughters, Jennifer and Kate. All three women have served as inspiration for many of Paxton's songs. He now has three grandsons, Christopher, Sean, and Peter.
In addition to songwriting, Tom Paxton has written many critically acclaimed children's books, some of which were inspired by his songs for children.
He has performed thousands of concerts around the world in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Scandinavia, France, Italy, Belgium, Holland, England, Scotland, Ireland and Canada. Paxton enjoys a strong relationship with fans throughout the world. His songs have experienced enduring appeal, including modern standards such as "The Last Thing on My Mind" (perhaps Paxton's best-known song, it has been recorded by dozens of artists, including Judy Collins, Sandy Denny, Dolly Parton, and Porter Wagoner), "Ramblin' Boy", "Bottle of Wine", "Whose Garden Was This", "The Marvelous Toy", and "The Hostage" (which recounts the 1971 uprising at Attica State Prison).
In February 2002, Tom Paxton was honored with the ASCAP Lifetime Achievement Award in Folk Music. A few days later, he received three Wammies (Washington, DC, Area Music Awards); as Best Male Vocalist in the "traditional folk" and "children's music" categories, and for Best Traditional Folk Recording of the Year for Under American Skies (the duo album he made with Anne Hills in 2001). This was the first Paxton album to receive an award of any kind.
Paxton has been nominated four times for Grammy Awards in his career, all since 2002.
In 2004, the Martin Guitar Company introduced the HD-40LSH Tom Paxton Signature Edition acoustic guitar in his honor.
In 2005, Paxton received a Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting at BBC Radio 2's Folk Awards at London's Brewery Arts Centre.
In 2006, Paxton received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance.
On January 22, 2007, Paxton was honored with an official UK Parliamentary tribute at the British House of Commons at the start of his 2007 United Kingdom tour.
On May 3, 2008, Paxton was honored with a special lifetime tribute from the World Folk Music Association, and a concert was held at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria Campus, in Alexandria, Virginia.
Victoria Dines Alone
Tom Paxton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Victoria begins her meal with greens and tomatoes.
Reading the newspaper carefully folded beside her.
Hanging her coat by her table and letting it hide her.
Victoria dines alone, her dress is old-fashioned.
Victoria watches her weight, each meal is rationed.
Salisbury steak, and news of the student disorders.
Victoria's feet are tired she wants to go home.
She orders her coffee with cream, and drinks it alone.
Victoria dines alone with Hollywood fables.
The waiters are counting the time and polishing tables.
Victoria's reading of strong astrological forces.
Cheesecake and coffee, and columns of Reno divorces.
Victoria's feet are tired she wants to go home,
She orders her coffee with cream, and drinks it alone.
Victoria dines alone, she skips the potatoes.
Victoria begins her meal with greens and tomatoes.
Reading the newspaper carefully folded beside her.
Hanging her coat by her table and letting it hide her.
The song "Victoria Dines Alone" by Tom Paxton paints a picture of a woman dining alone in a restaurant. The lyrics suggest that she is a woman of a certain age who is conscious of her appearance and health as she skips the potatoes and begins her meals with greens and tomatoes. She is also a regular reader of newspapers, keeping herself up-to-date with current events. The lyrics also suggest that she is tired as she orders her coffee with cream and drinks it alone. Throughout the song, Victoria is depicted as a lonely figure, lost in her thoughts and the world around her.
The song is a poignant representation of loneliness, particularly among elderly individuals. The lyrics highlight that just because someone is eating alone, it does not mean they are lonely. However, the song suggests a feeling of abandonment and neglect, as the waiters are counting the time and polishing tables, as Victoria eats her meal. The lyrics also illustrate how Victoria finds solace in reading about astrology and Hollywood fables, in addition to seeking out gossip in columns about Reno divorces.
Overall, the song evokes empathy for the character Victoria and her daily routine of dining in solitude, often seeking refuge in her reading material to pass the time. The lyrics also highlight the isolation that many elderly individuals face and emphasise the importance of social interaction and community support.
Line by Line Meaning
Victoria dines alone, she skips the potatoes.
Victoria chooses a healthier meal by skipping the potatoes and opting for greens and tomatoes.
Reading the newspaper carefully folded beside her.
Victoria is engrossed in the newspaper that is neatly folded beside her while she eats.
Hanging her coat by her table and letting it hide her.
Victoria hangs her coat close to where she sits, making herself hidden from public view while she eats.
Victoria dines alone, her dress is old-fashioned.
Victoria is not concerned with fashion and is content with her old-fashioned dress as she eats alone.
Salisbury steak, and news of the student disorders.
Victoria's meal is accompanied by news of student disturbances in the form of Salisbury steak.
Parsnips in butter, and armies patrolling their borders.
Victoria's meal consists of parsnips in butter while she reads about armies surveying their borders.
Victoria's feet are tired she wants to go home.
Victoria is tired and wants to leave her current location.
She orders her coffee with cream, and drinks it alone.
Victoria orders coffee with cream and drinks it by herself, continuing her quiet dining experience.
Victoria dines alone with Hollywood fables.
Victoria indulges herself in Hollywood stories while she dines alone.
The waiters are counting the time and polishing tables.
The waiters are waiting for Victoria to leave so they can close the restaurant, as they have finished their other duties like polishing tables.
Victoria's reading of strong astrological forces.
Victoria reads intently about her astrological sign and its predicted future events.
Cheesecake and coffee, and columns of Reno divorces.
Victoria enjoys cheesecake and coffee while perusing columns about Reno divorces.
Writer(s): Thomas R. Paxton
Contributed by Cameron C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.