Anywhere I Lay My Head
Tom Waits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My heart is in my shoes, yeah
I went and set the Thames on fire, oh
Now I must come back down
She's laughing in her sleeve, boys
I can feel it in my bones
Oh, but anywhere, anywhere I'm gonna lay my head
Oh, I'm gonna call my home
Well, I see that the world is upside-down
Seems that my pockets were filled up with gold
And now the clouds, Well they've covered everything over
And the wind is blowing cold
Well, I don't need anybody
Because I learned, I learned to be alone
Well, I said anywhere, anywhere, anywhere I lay my head, boys
Well, I'm gonna call my home
Tom Waits's song "Anywhere I Lay My Head" speaks to the idea of finding a home in one's self when the outside world seems to be chaotic and unstable. The opening lines "My head is spinning round, my heart is in my shoes," suggest a sense of dizziness and disorientation, with the singer feeling overwhelmed by the world around them. The line "I went and set the Thames on fire" could be interpreted as the singer causing chaos and destruction, perhaps unintentionally, before realizing they need to come back down to earth.
In the second verse, the singer notes that the world seems upside down and their pockets were once filled with gold, possibly referring to a past time of prosperity and stability. However, the clouds have covered everything, and the wind is blowing cold. Despite this, the singer asserts that they don't need anybody, having learned to be alone. The repetition of "anywhere, anywhere" highlights the idea that home is subjective and can be found anywhere. The final line, "I'm gonna call my home," suggests that the singer has found a sense of comfort and belonging within themselves, regardless of external circumstances.
Overall, the song speaks to the universal desire to find a sense of home and belonging, even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty. It highlights the importance of self-reliance and inner strength in finding a place of comfort and security.
Line by Line Meaning
My head is spinning round
I feel disoriented and confused
My heart is in my shoes, yeah
I am feeling sad and depressed
I went and set the Thames on fire, oh
I made a big mistake and caused chaos
Now I must come back down
I must face the consequences of my actions
She's laughing in her sleeve, boys
Someone is secretly laughing at me
I can feel it in my bones
I have a deep intuition about something
Oh, but anywhere, anywhere I'm gonna lay my head
I will find comfort and peace no matter where I am
Oh, I'm gonna call my home
I will make wherever I am my home
Well, I see that the world is upside-down
I realize that everything is chaotic and confusing
Seems that my pockets were filled up with gold
I was once rich and privileged
And now the clouds, Well they've covered everything over
Now everything seems bleak and hopeless
And the wind is blowing cold
I feel alone and isolated
Well, I don't need anybody
I have learned to be independent
Because I learned, I learned to be alone
Being alone is a valuable skill I have acquired
Well, I said anywhere, anywhere, anywhere I lay my head, boys
No matter where I am, I will make it my home
Well, I'm gonna call my home
I will find comfort and security no matter where I am
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, JALMA MUSIC
Written by: THOMAS ALAN WAITS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cipher Serpicø
I first heard about Tom Waits around 2008. I liked some songs, on some of his albums, but apart from his early stuff—I felt like I just didn’t “get it”, when it came to his later, more “eccentric” work.
But, I always felt like there was something that I liked about his music.
So, for YEARS, even though I didn’t really “love” his Albums, I bought a bunch of them and I would regularly listen to them, because I felt like I was missing something.
Then, after 5 or 6 years, one night I was listening to Rain Dogs, and it got to the final track, ‘Anywhere I Lay My Head’.
The second I heard Tom start to sing this song — I had an epiphany, and everything “clicked”.
I immediately understood all of his Music. I played the song again as soon as it was over, then directly after that, I listened to Bone Machine, Mule Variations, and Alice.
By the next day, I was obsessed with his entire Discography.
I bought Swordfish, Bad As Me, Blood Money, Real Gone, Orphans, as well as some others—and I could not stop listening to them.
Since then, Waits has become one of my 10 favorite Artists.
It’s just crazy to think that you can go from: not really liking someone’s Music—to, being obsessed with their entire catalog, in the span of a minute, after listening to them regularly for years.
The point I’m trying to get across with my story, is . . . Always keep an open mind.
Never say that you hate something, because you never know—you might end up loving it.
MOON ARCH DAY DREAM
My head is spinning round
My heart is in my shoes, yeah
I went and set the Thames on fire, oh
Now I must come back down
She's laughing in her sleeve, boys
I can feel it in my bones
Oh, but anywhere, anywhere I'm gonna lay my head
Oh, I'm gonna call my home
Well, I see that the world is upside-down
Seems that my pockets were filled up with gold
And now the clouds, Well they've covered everything over
And the wind is blowing cold
Well, I don't need anybody
Because I learned, I learned to be alone
Well, I said anywhere, anywhere, anywhere I lay my head, boys
Well, I'm gonna call my home
Tom (still) Waits
Cipher Serpicø
I first heard about Tom Waits around 2008. I liked some songs, on some of his albums, but apart from his early stuff—I felt like I just didn’t “get it”, when it came to his later, more “eccentric” work.
But, I always felt like there was something that I liked about his music.
So, for YEARS, even though I didn’t really “love” his Albums, I bought a bunch of them and I would regularly listen to them, because I felt like I was missing something.
Then, after 5 or 6 years, one night I was listening to Rain Dogs, and it got to the final track, ‘Anywhere I Lay My Head’.
The second I heard Tom start to sing this song — I had an epiphany, and everything “clicked”.
I immediately understood all of his Music. I played the song again as soon as it was over, then directly after that, I listened to Bone Machine, Mule Variations, and Alice.
By the next day, I was obsessed with his entire Discography.
I bought Swordfish, Bad As Me, Blood Money, Real Gone, Orphans, as well as some others—and I could not stop listening to them.
Since then, Waits has become one of my 10 favorite Artists.
It’s just crazy to think that you can go from: not really liking someone’s Music—to, being obsessed with their entire catalog, in the span of a minute, after listening to them regularly for years.
The point I’m trying to get across with my story, is . . . Always keep an open mind.
Never say that you hate something, because you never know—you might end up loving it.
alyson
Such a great comment, and I totally agree. Also had an epiphany on first hearing this song. It's hard to describe the way it made me feel without sounding kinda pretentious , but I seriously felt like a door opened inside me that allowed access to a deeper, more meaningful way of looking at life.. It's not an exaggeration to say that this song is one of the reasons I'm still on this planet.
Pringles Man Had A Shave
Tom Waits and Aesop Rock. Two artists I used to shit on consistently and dislike, thinking they were overrated in their respective communities. Never understood either.
Now Aesop is my favourite artist of all time, and Tom Waits is definitely in my top 5.
It taught me that I may not like something at first, and if I don't, try a different approach, and come back.
Ruby Smith
My favorite song of his.
Ruby Smith
@alyson We're glad that you and Tom are on the planet. ❤️❤️ Besides being here for yourself, 🥳 you could be an epiphany for someone you haven't yet met.
David Anderson
Interesting comment. It’s definitely not for everyone but it is for the people who like good storytelling. Every song is the equivalent to a motion picture movie. The Tom Waits persona is a complete act, it’s not who he really is. It’s the Andy Griffin character Lonesome Rhodes from the 1958 movie A face in the crowd. Check it out. Once you watch you will understand.
dAvrilthebear
This is such a genius album! All the diverse musical sources, the intricate arrangements, the rhythms, the stories, the atmosphere!..
Richard P
Such a powerful, devastating song
alyson
So many of his songs are like that... he's figured out a way to make devastation good💔💙🎼
Shane Flanary
I listen to this song when I feel sorry for myself and contemplate my life. It will be played at my funeral and hopefully people dance at the end when the cabaret music hits.