He started his career in the early 1970s as a singer in spit 'n' sawdust bars. Initially, he was deeply influenced by the beat generation, novelists like Jack Kerouac and William S. Burroughs, and poets like Allen Ginsberg and Charles Bukowski. Waits is often compared to Charles Bukowski, being similar both in content and lifestyle
Waits was unable to make a living from his music in the 70s because his classical bar music, based in pre-rock, and Americana, blues, and Vaudeville styles were not popular. Waits's voice back then was soft, warm and clear.
Waits subsequently developed a devoted cult following and has influenced subsequent songwriters, despite having little radio or music video support. In fact, his songs are perhaps best known to the general public in the form of cover versions of more visible artists, such as the Eagles, Bruce Springsteen and Rod Stewart.
Although Waits’s albums have met with mixed commercial success in his native United States, they have occasionally achieved gold album sales status in other countries.
Lyrically, Waits's songs are known for atmospheric portrayals of seedy characters and places; he sings about the losers on the streets: alcoholics, junkies, prostitutes and social outcasts, although he also includes more conventional and touching ballads in his repertoire.
While opening for Frank Zappa, the audience catcalled and refused to listen to him; he was an unsuitable match with Zappa's avantgarde style.
Countless cigarettes, gallons of alcohol and many all night parties eventually left their trace in his face and voice.
His more recent gravelly voice can be first heard on Small Change. This distinctive voice turned out to be his trademark. It is described by the Music Hound Rock Album Guide as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months and then taken outside and run over with a car". Small Change with its sentimental ballads, its bar-jazz attitude and Film Noir-oriented stories turned out to be his biggest commercial success in the 1970s.
Waits subsequently developed a more unique style. His songs have grown more abrasive since then, and the arrangements have turned more surreal and experimental with every new record. His life brings him to new visions, as indicated by the direction taken in his "Alice" release.
While composing the soundtrack for Francis Ford Coppola's One From The Heart Waits met Kathleen Brennan, his bride-to-be. They married in 1980 and she helped him quit drinking and smoking. Since their marriage they have been working together on his albums as co-producers and co-writers. It is hard to say which part belongs to her and which to him, but it's easy to see that they make a perfect team. Additionally, his eldest son Casey can be heard on turntables and percussion on Waits's album "Real Gone".
One of Waits's greatest successes was the album "Swordfishtrombones", released in 1983. It struck with his critics and fans alike. He achieved a new level of song writing and left former conventions (and his earlier career) behind. All songs, whether ballads, jive or jazz are played in a completely different way. It seems that Waits had taken the musical archetypes of these styles and made them his own. All tracks are in the quintessential Waits style. They have a striking rawness and listenability and they set the stage for his success and his future career.
The Bad As Me Songfacts reports that 36 years after the release of Waits' first album, Closing Time in 1973, Bad As Me became Waits's first ever top 10 album in the US when it debuted at #6 with 63,000 sales.
In the late 1980s Waits discovered an outlet for his creativity in composing musicals. His first Musical was named "The Black Rider", and is based on "Der Freischütz" by Carl Maria von Weber. It was co-produced by Robert Wilson and the lyrics come from William S. Burroughs. The story is slightly reminiscent of Kurt Weil's and Berthold Brecht's "Three Penny Opera" and the 1930s. The debut performance of the play was in 1990 at the Thalia Theater, Hamburg and has been played by various theatre groups since then.
Waits was also responsible for two other musicals, which later became albums released simultaneously in 2002. One was the musical "Blood Money," which covers the "Woyczek" theme of Georg Büchner. This one is one of the darkest works from Waits. The other musical is based on Lewis Carroll's classic children's novel, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". "Alice" is very romantic, dreamy and soft, and contains one of Waits most romantic songs. Even though they were released at the same time, the bootlegs of the "Alice" musical were long before traded between fans and were just rearranged and re-mastered for the official release.
Besides many film contributions as composer – the Internet Movie Database imdb.com lists 47 appearances of Waits as composer and 38 soundtracks containing songs by Waits - he also is an actor with a total of 25 appearances, ranging from some mini-roles as a trumpeter in "Heart of Saturday Night" and the R. M. Renfield in "Bram Stoker's Dracula" to the major role of Zack in Jim Jarmusch's "Down by Law". He recently appeared in Roberto Benigni's "The Tiger and the Snow", playing You Can Never Hold Back Spring at Benigni's wedding dream. Even more recently, Waits played Mr.Nick (the Devil) in Terry Gilliam's "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus".
In addition to a number of concert videos, he also appeared in the critically-acclaimed concert feature film "Big Time" (1990).
Waits has always refused to allow the use of his songs in commercials. He has filed several lawsuits against advertisers for using his material without permission. Waits also successfully sued an advertiser for using a work that was stylistically similar to his work, after he had declined to sell them the rights to his song. He has been quoted as saying, "Apparently the highest compliment our culture grants artists nowadays is to be in an ad — ideally naked and purring on the hood of a new car. I have adamantly and repeatedly refused this dubious honor."
Bad as Me
Tom Waits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're the nail on the cross
You're the fly in my beer
You're the key that got lost
You're the letter from Jesus on the bathroom wall
You're mother superior in only a bra
You're the same kind of bad as me
I'm the coffee instead
The fish or cut bait
I'm the detective up late
I'm the blood on the floor
The thunder and the roar
The boat that won't sink
I just won't sleep a wink
You're the same kind of bad as me
No good you say
Well that's good enough for me
You're the wreath that caught fire
You're the preach to the choir
You bite down on the sheet
But your teeth have been wired
You skid in the rain
You're trying to shift
You're grinding the gears
You're trying to shift
And you're the same kind of bad as me
They told me you were no good
I know you'll take care of all my needs
You're the same kind of bad as me
I'm the mattress in the back
I'm the old gunnysack
I'm the one with the gun
Most likely to run
I'm the car in the weeds
If you cut me I'll bleed
You're the same kind of bad as me
You're the same kind of bad as me
"Bad As Me" is a song by Tom Waits that describes two individuals who exhibit a wild and unrestrained way of life. These people are drawn to each other as they share a number of characteristics that make them "bad" in the eyes of society. The opening lines of the song are particularly striking as they compare the two individuals to various symbols of martyrdom and rebellion. The singer sings to his lover that she is the head on the spear, the nail on the cross, the fly in his beer, and the key that got lost. All these symbols represent her contribution to his suffering and their shared rebelliousness.
The lyrics of "Bad As Me" suggest that the individuals in the song are not good for each other - and it's unlikely that they'll be good for anyone else. Waits sings about how they're both "the same kind of bad." They both have a dark side that's drawn them to each other. Although they say "no good," to each other, it's "good enough for them". Despite all their flaws, they're extremely loyal to each other and find comfort in their "badness."
Overall, "Bad As Me" is a song that celebrates living life on the edge and finding someone who is equally wild and crazy to share it with.
Line by Line Meaning
You're the head on the spear
You are the forefront of any situation, leading the charge.
You're the nail on the cross
You are the sacrificial element in a difficult situation.
You're the fly in my beer
You are the irritating factor, causing disruption and annoyance.
You're the key that got lost
You are the element that was necessary but failed to meet expectations.
You're the letter from Jesus on the bathroom wall
You are the unexpected message or solution in the most unusual place.
You're mother superior in only a bra
You are a seemingly conservative or religious figure who is in reality edgy and unconventional.
You're the same kind of bad as me
You have the same flaws or qualities as I do.
I'm the hat on the bed
I am the symbol for some sort of a loss or failure.
I'm the coffee instead
I am the preferable or alternative choice.
The fish or cut bait
The situation demands a decision or resolution, no matter how unpleasant.
I'm the detective up late
I am the one putting in the extra effort to solve the problem, even when it is inconvenient.
I'm the blood on the floor
I am the evidence, the red flag, that something is amiss.
The thunder and the roar
I am the loud and powerful voice of something significant.
The boat that won't sink
I am the reliable and resilient element that will not falter or fail.
I just won't sleep a wink
I am too restless or preoccupied to find rest or peace.
No good you say
You may be described as insufficient or disqualifying.
Well that's good enough for me
I accept that dissenting opinion or judgment.
You're the wreath that caught fire
You are the unexpected event that destroys or disrupts a peaceful or serious situation.
You're the preach to the choir
You are stating a point to an audience who already agrees with you, making it redundant or unnecessary.
You bite down on the sheet
You are in a painful or uncomfortable situation, nervously gritting your teeth.
But your teeth have been wired
Your reaction or feelings have been premeditated or restrained, despite the struggle.
You skid in the rain
You are losing control or barely maintaining it, in a challenging circumstance.
You're trying to shift
You are attempting to change or improve something about yourself or a situation.
You're grinding the gears
Your method or plan of action is flawed or ineffective, causing additional issues.
And you're the same kind of bad as me
You share the same issues, mistakes, or vices as I do.
They told me you were no good
Others have warned me against you, stating that you are not trustworthy or adequate.
I know you'll take care of all my needs
Despite the warnings, I trust that you will fulfill or handle everything I require or desire.
I'm the mattress in the back
I am the location or option for unorthodox or unconventional situations.
I'm the old gunnysack
I am the out-of-date or obsolete idea or solution.
I'm the one with the gun
I am the person with the power or leverage in a threatening or dangerous scenario.
Most likely to run
I am the person who will evade or avoid confrontation or engagement if possible.
I'm the car in the weeds
I am the vehicle or entity that is stuck or obstructed by an obstacle or setback.
If you cut me I'll bleed
Despite my image, I am still vulnerable and susceptible to harm or injury.
You're the same kind of bad as me
You and I share similarities or liabilities.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, JALMA MUSIC
Written by: Thomas Alan Waits, Kathleen Brennan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dora Maria Vassiliou
You’re the head on the spear
You’re the nail on the cross
You’re the fly in my beer
You’re the key that got lost
You’re the letter from Jesus on the bathroom wall
You’re mother superior in only a bra
You’re the same kind of bad as me
I’m the hat on the bed
I’m the coffee instead
The fish or cut bait
I’m the detective up late
I’m the blood on the floor
The thunder and the roar
The boat that won’t sink
I just won’t sleep a wink
You’re the same kind of bad as me
No good you say
Well that’s good enough for me
You’re the wreath that caught fire
You’re the preach to the choir
You bite down on the sheet
But your teeth have been wired
You skid in the rain
You’re trying to shift
You’re grinding the gears
You’re trying to shift
And you’re the same kind of bad as me
They told me you were no good
I know you’ll take care of all my needs
You’re the same kind of bad as me
I’m the mattress in the back
I’m the old gunnysack
I’m the one with the gun
Most likely to run
I’m the car in the weeds
If you cut me I’ll bleed
You’re the same kind of bad as me
You’re the same kind of bad as me
Михаил Сергопольцев
Ты — голова на копье,
Гвоздь в кресте,
Муха в моём пиве,
Потерявшийся ключ,
Послание от Иисуса на стене ванной,
Мать-настоятельница в одном бюстгальтере,
Ты такая же плохая, как я.
Я — шляпа на кровати,
Чашка кофе вместо
Рыбы или наживки,
Сыщик до мозга костей,
Кровь на полу,
Гром и рык,
Лодка, которая не потонет.
Я глаз не сомкну.
Ты такая же плохая, как и я.
"Плохо", — говоришь ты.
Ну, для меня — хорошо.
Ты — загоревшийся венок,
Проповедь перед хором.
Ты кусаешь простыню,
Но твои зубы сомкнуты.
Ты скользишь под дождём,
Пытаешься изменить направление,
Переключаешь передачи,
Пытаешься съехать.
Ты такая же плохая, как я.
Мне сказали, что ты была плохой.
А я знаю, что обо мне ты позаботишься,
Мы одинаково плохие.
Я — матрац на спинке кровати,
Старый мешок,
Одиночка с пистолетом,
Предпочитающий бегство.
Я — машина среди сорняков.
Порежешь меня, и я истеку кровью.
Ты такая же плохая, как я.
Ты такая же плохая, как я.
James !
You're the head on the spear
You're the nail on the cross
You're the fly in my beer
You're the key that got lost
You're the letter from Jesus on the bathroom wall
You're mother superior in only a bra
You're the same, you're the same
You're the same kind of bad as me
You're the same kind of bad as me
I'm the hat on the bed
I'm the coffee instead
I'm the fish or cut bait
I'm the detective up late
I'm the blood on the floor
The thunder and the roar
I'm the boat that won't sink
I just won't sleep a wink
You're the same kind of bad as me
You're the same kind of bad as me
You're the same kind of bad as me
You're the same kind of bad as me
No good you say
Well that's good enough for me
You're the wreath that caught fire
You're the preach to the choir
You bite down on the sheet
But your teeth have been wired
You skid in the rain
You're trying to shift
You're grinding the gears
You're trying to shift
And you're the same kind of bad as me
You're the same kind of bad as me
Yes, the same kind of bad as me
You're the same kind of bad as me
They told me you were no good
I know you'll take care of all my needs
You're the same kind of bad as me
I'm the mattress in the back
I'm the old gunnysack
I'm the one with the gun
Most likely to run
I'm the car in the weeds
If you cut me I'll bleed
You're the same kind of bad as me
You're the same kind of bad as me
Same kind of bad as me
You're the same kind of bad as me
You're the same kind of bad as me
Same kind of bad as m
Małgorzata Mrówczyńska
Można śmiało mówić ,że ktoś ma kontakt ze zjawą, duchem lub szatanem
ale jeśli powiesz ,ze masz kontakt z A Bogiem
To jesteś wariatem.
Jesteś wariatem.
„Jesteś tak zły jak ja” -śpiewa Tom Waits
A A Bóg na to do niego:
„Jesteś takim dzieckiem ,jak Ta”.
„Ty go nie nawracaj' mówiła do Boga, o Innym ,którego piosenek słuchała.
Bo On jest taki, jak mój syn
Wszystkiego się boi.”
A Bóg A Go stamtąd wraca (pisze wielką literą, bo nie używam imion)
Bóg A śmiał się ze mnie i stamtąd wrócił to Sa.
Go stamtąd powrócił.
Ja tego nie rozumiem, dlaczego Bóg a małym misiem się być zgodził
i dlaczego wrócił życie tej,
która już była zygzakiem w cyberprzestrzeni.
„Ty jej nie ożyj, bo się jej boję,
Ty jej nie ożyj”
A Bóg A ją ożył.
„Obym jej nigdy nie widziała. Tak się jej boję”
A On Ją ożył.
...i dlatego ją ożył,że tego dożył
i wrócił na Ziemię
Dlatego,że „ta mała”
tak strasznie płakała
bo cierpienie jej było jak morze
tak płakała
w czasie drogi krzyżowej
głośno szlochała w kościele
w czasie drogi krzyżowej
że Bóg Jezus ożył
i ją odnalazł
i ona z nim rozmawiała ,tak jak się z diabłem rozmawia, mentalnie ,
w myśli się jej wtopił
bo płakała tak strasznie
bo płakała tak strasznie.
..i kiedy ja natchnął,
kiedy z nią rozmawiał, czuł jak potwornie cierpiała, to mówił
„Niż Nią, wolę być Jezusem”
Cierpiała jak, ci co głowy w celach o mur sobie rozwalają,
cierpiała jak ci, co z bólu się podpalają.
[I jeden taki psychiatra, psycholog , też zadrutowany
terapię znalazł dla niej
i datę śmierci jej wyznaczył, dwa tygodnie
by kres bólu znała, kres bólu znała.
„Ja nie wytrzymam tyle, dwa tygodnie ja nie wytrzymam, nawet chwili nie wytrzymam”
a on , ten psychiatra i psycholog znowu, nową datę jej śmierci wyznaczył,
tylko dlatego ten ból przetrwała
nadzieję w śmierci tylko miała.]
I kiedy czuła Jego Byt
Byt Jezusa Boga
i kiedy miała „ustaw”
i rozedrgano druty na jej głowie tak ,że chciała się zabić,
Wtedy, jak na parkingu, siedziała w samochodzie,
jak ją zagadała jej koleżanka pedagog
To chciał od niej uciekać
bo nie mógł znieść jej upokorzenia i potwornego cierpienia.
„Nie odchodź” -bała się zostać sama
„to tylko druty
i SS siła sugestii.
I został.
On w takim cierpieniu jak , ona wtedy miała, śmiertelnie zastygł
a on trwała.
Ciągle się Boga A pytała: „Mogę się zabić?”
N a to milczenie miała.
To trwało dwa lata.
Był Bóg Jezus a Boga A nie było.
Był gdzieś Tam.
Nie wiem ,czemu Bóg Jezus sprawił,
że Bóg A wezwał Go na posłuchanie
i On opowiedział mu o amo
że amo na Ziemi życie zdławiono
i tak Bóg A przybył na Ziemie.
Przybył przez medium.
Tak jak prze media przybywają Tamci
i jak rządzą przez szamanów
szamanów,którzy mają konchę
kanał komunikacyjny z Bogiem
kanał komunikacyjny z daibłem
i stąd to wszystko
Bóg A ma taką moc
taka materii przejrzystość,
że widzi nawet jak biała kartka „drga”,ukrta pod stosem drewna,
która jest moją nicią porozumienia z A Bogiem.
Pragnę nadmienić,że klecha, niejeden
wiedział to, czego nie wiedziałam Ja
„Ukryta koncha.
Koncha ukryta.”
I jeśli mogę wskazać kata,
to jest to klecha i siostra zakonna.
„Ona ma to, czego nie ma nikt na świecie” raz usłyszałam będąc dzieckiem
Ale ,co ?,nie wiedziałam.
Przemoc wobec mnie była tak absurdalnie wielka,
bo całe życie klecha się mną bawił, moim cierpieniem i moją niewiedza,
Anioła Sa dławił.
I stało się tak:
Poddałam ,z bólu się poddałam ,ich eksperymentom
By skończyć mękę
By się z demonów oczyścić.
Byłam już tak „zajęta”,że nie mogłam ustać na jednej nodze.
Dwa dni i dwie noce siedziałam w ciemności , bez jedzenia w piwnicy, tylko z komórką,
aż miałam biało- zielone halucynacje
to wizje podświadome
i tak ożył mój Sa anioł, anioła Sa ożyłam.
I stoję już na jednej nodze i się nie trzęsę.
Pisze to imieniu To Ma
Penny Kent
Like a fine wine, Tom just gets better with a nother year. Every performance/song is GOLD!
Google PlusSucks
I'm not sure what tom waits is doing, but whatever it is, it's fucking awesome.
Joe Douglas
this is my most favorite comment ever
Jessica McKinney
Hes doing whatever he wants, because he can. Hes got nothing to prove.💜
Henry Snubnose
He is hella vibing!
Crux 89
Why because he's famous? Should pay more attention to what you watch and listen to.
Dora Maria Vassiliou
You’re the head on the spear
You’re the nail on the cross
You’re the fly in my beer
You’re the key that got lost
You’re the letter from Jesus on the bathroom wall
You’re mother superior in only a bra
You’re the same kind of bad as me
I’m the hat on the bed
I’m the coffee instead
The fish or cut bait
I’m the detective up late
I’m the blood on the floor
The thunder and the roar
The boat that won’t sink
I just won’t sleep a wink
You’re the same kind of bad as me
No good you say
Well that’s good enough for me
You’re the wreath that caught fire
You’re the preach to the choir
You bite down on the sheet
But your teeth have been wired
You skid in the rain
You’re trying to shift
You’re grinding the gears
You’re trying to shift
And you’re the same kind of bad as me
They told me you were no good
I know you’ll take care of all my needs
You’re the same kind of bad as me
I’m the mattress in the back
I’m the old gunnysack
I’m the one with the gun
Most likely to run
I’m the car in the weeds
If you cut me I’ll bleed
You’re the same kind of bad as me
You’re the same kind of bad as me
Qwazier3
Only thing left to do is....Make It Rain....( =
Far Rider
Thanks 😎
Conil Musician
I love this. Thank you for uploading, KeySea.