Putnam County
Tom Waits Lyrics


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I guess things were always quiet
Around Putnam County
Kind of shy and sleepy as it clung to the skirts
Of the 2-lane, that was stretched out like an
Asphalt dance floor where all the oldtimers would
Hunker down in bib jeans and store bought boots
Lyin' about their lives and the places that they'd been
Suckin' on Coca Colas and be spittin' Days Work
They's be suckin' on Coca Colas
And be spittin' Day's Work
Until the moon was a stray dog on the ridge and
The taverns would be swollen until the naked eye
Of two a.m., and the Stratocaster guitars slung over
Burgermeister beer guts, and the swizzle stick legs
Jacknifed over naugahyde stools and the
Witch hazel spread out over the linoleum floors,
The pedal pushers stretched out over midriff bulge
And the coiffed brunette curls over Maybelline eyes
Wearing Prince Machiavelli, Estee Lauder,
Smells so sweet
I elbowed up at the counter with mixed feelings
Over mixed drinks
And Bubba and the Roadmasters moaned in pool hall
Concentration as they knit their brows to
Cover the entire Hank Williams Song Book
And the old National register was singing to the
Tune of $57.57
Until last call, one last game of 8 ball
And Berneice would be putting the chairs on the tables,
Someone come in say "Hey man, anyone got
Any Jumper Cables, is that a 6 or a 12 volt?"
And all the studs in town would toss 'em down
And claim to fame as they stomped their feet
Boasting about being able to get more ass
Than a toilet seat.
And the GMCs and the Straight 8 Fords
Were coughing and wheezing and they
Perculated as they tossed the gravel
Underneath the fenders to weave home
A wet slick anaconda of a two lane
With tire irons and crowbars a rattlin'
With a tool box and a pony saddle
You're grinding gears, shifting into first
Yea and that goddam tranny's just getting worse
With the melodies of "see ya later"
And screwdrivers on carburettors
Talkin' shop about money to loan
And palominos and strawberry roans
See ya tomorrow, hello to the Mrs.
Money to borrow and goodnight kisses
The radio spittin' out Charlie Rich
Sure can sing that sonofabitch
And you weave home, weavin' home
Leaving the little joint winking in the
Dark warm narcotic American night
Beneath a pin cushion sky and it's
Home to toast and honey, start
Up the Ford, your lunch money's there on the
Draining board, toilet's runnin' shake the
Handle, telephone's ringin' it's Mrs Randal
Where the hell are my goddam sandals
And the porcelain poodles and the glass swans
Staring down from the knick knack shelf
With the parent permission slips for the
Kids' field trips
Pair of Muckalucks scraping across
The shag carpet
And the impending squint of
First light, that lurked behind
A weeping marquee in downtown Putnam
And would be pullin' up any minute now
Just like a bastard amber
Velveeta yellow cab on a rainy corner




And be blowin' its horn, in every window
In town.

Overall Meaning

Tom Waits's song "Putnam County" paints a vivid picture of life in a small town in America. The town is portrayed as sleepy and uneventful, with the only excitement being found in the local taverns. The oldtimers gather there and spin yarns about their lives and where they have been, all while drinking Coca Colas and Day's Work chewing tobacco. The scene is set with a description of the 2-lane that runs through the town - an "asphalt dance floor" - over which the moon rises and sets like a stray dog.


As the night wears on, the tavern becomes crowded with people drinking and playing pool. The men brag about their sexual exploits while others tinker with cars outside. The radio plays Charlie Rich and the patrons weave their way home, leaving the tavern to close for the night. The scene ends with a glimpse of the mundane domesticity of the town - toast and honey for breakfast, draining board stacked with dishes, porcelain poodles and glass swans on knick-knack shelves.


"Putnam County" is a commentary on the boredom and mundanity of small town life in America. It captures the essence of a place where nothing exciting ever happens and people spend their time drinking and reminiscing about the past. Despite this, Waits's lyrics are filled with memorable and evocative images that bring the town to life. The song is a reminder that even in the most uneventful places, there are stories to be told and memories to be made.


Line by Line Meaning

I guess things were always quiet
The singer reflects on the long-standing uneventfulness of Putnam County.


Around Putnam County
The singer clarifies the location of the setting.


Kind of shy and sleepy as it clung to the skirts
The atmosphere of the town is withdrawn and unenergetic, symbolized by the imagery used.


Of the 2-lane, that was stretched out like an
The artist compares the layout of the roads to a linear or geometrical structure.


Asphalt dance floor where all the oldtimers would
The artist attributes the roads to being a social gathering place, where elders would come together.


Hunker down in bib jeans and store bought boots
The dress code of the attendees is specified to be simple and unremarkable.


Lyin' about their lives and the places that they'd been
The singer reveals that the conversations at these gathering would revolve around self-glorifying tales.


Suckin' on Coca Colas and be spittin' Days Work
The attendees drink Coca Colas and chew tobacco, connoting working-class culture.


They's be suckin' on Coca Colas
The artist repeats the previous statement to emphasize its significance.


And be spittin' Day's Work
The artist repeats the previous statement to emphasize its significance.


Until the moon was a stray dog on the ridge and
The singer provides a time reference for the end of the event.


The taverns would be swollen until the naked eye
The artist emphasizes the majority of attendees being present until the end of the night.


Of two a.m., and the Stratocaster guitars slung over
The singer describes a musical performance to be taking place at the event.


Burgermeister beer guts, and the swizzle stick legs
The physical description of the attendees suggests strong indulgence in food and alcohol.


Jacknifed over naugahyde stools and the
The singer describes the sitting arrangement of the attendees.


Witch hazel spread out over the linoleum floors,
The artist adds a detailed visual of the surroundings.


The pedal pushers stretched out over midriff bulge
The fashion of the female attendees is detailed.


And the coiffed brunette curls over Maybelline eyes
The fashion of the female attendees is detailed further.


Wearing Prince Machiavelli, Estee Lauder,
The brands used by the females are stated.


Smells so sweet
The artist details a pleasant aroma, possibly from fragrances or food.


I elbowed up at the counter with mixed feelings
The artist expresses conflicting emotions regarding their own attendance.


Over mixed drinks
The artist clarifies that they're drinking alcoholic beverages.


And Bubba and the Roadmasters moaned in pool hall
The singer describes another group present at the event, involved in a different activity.


Concentration as they knit their brows to
The artist describes the intensity of the activity involving Bubba and the Roadmasters.


Cover the entire Hank Williams Song Book
The singer specifies the material being played by Bubba and the Roadmasters.


And the old National register was singing to the
The singer describes another auditory aspect of the event.


Tune of $57.57
The singer clarifies the sound being made by the National register.


Until last call, one last game of 8 ball
The artist indicates that the game being played ended after the event was closed.


And Berneice would be putting the chairs on the tables,
The artist suggests a possible attendee who works at the establishment.


Someone come in say "Hey man, anyone got
The singer introduces a character and their statement.


Any Jumper Cables, is that a 6 or a 12 volt?"
The character requests a tool, and specifies the version needed.


And all the studs in town would toss 'em down
The artist describes a group of people that owns the requested tool.


And claim to fame as they stomped their feet
The artist suggests the social currency that the group holds, likely due to their tool ownership.


Boasting about being able to get more ass
The artist implies a vulgar and false claim, made by the aforementioned group.


Than a toilet seat.
The singer emphasizes the vulgar nature of the aforementioned claim.


And the GMCs and the Straight 8 Fords
The artist describes the vehicles used to leave the event.


Were coughing and wheezing and they
The singer describes the sound of the vehicles starting.


Perculated as they tossed the gravel
The singer describes the effect the vehicle's movements had on its surroundings.


Underneath the fenders to weave home
The singer describes the appearance of being able to weave through obstacles.


A wet slick anaconda of a two lane
The artist uses creative comparison to describe the path taken by the vehicles.


With tire irons and crowbars a rattlin'
The artist describes the sounds of machinery being transported.


With a tool box and a pony saddle
The singer describes the miscellaneous items being transported.


You're grinding gears, shifting into first
The singer describes the movements needed to start the vehicle.


Yea and that goddam tranny's just getting worse
The artist conveys a negative attitude towards the vehicle's condition.


With the melodies of "see ya later"
The artist adds a hopeful tone to the line, suggesting that the driver will return later.


And screwdrivers on carburettors
The artist describes the activity the driver must do to maintain the vehicle's condition.


Talkin' shop about money to loan
The singer suggests the driver's interest in lending or borrowing money.


And palominos and strawberry roans
The artist introduces different types of horses, possibly as an analogy for the vehicles.


See ya tomorrow, hello to the Mrs.
The singer conveys the hopeful possibility of seeing the addressees the next day, and sending greetings.


Money to borrow and goodnight kisses
The singer implies a romantic aspect to the goodbye gestures imagined in the previous line.


The radio spittin' out Charlie Rich
The singer describes another audio element present during the drive home.


Sure can sing that sonofabitch
The artist offers their appreciation for the music being played.


And you weave home, weavin' home
The artist repeats the previous action in a different form.


Leaving the little joint winking in the
The singer provides a visual of the building left behind.


Dark warm narcotic American night
The singer describes the setting of the aforementioned visual, using extensive adjectives to convey the mood.


Beneath a pin cushion sky and it's
The artist describes the sky present during the drive home, using a creative comparison.


Home to toast and honey, start
The artist describes what awaits them at home.


Up the Ford, your lunch money's there on the
The artist leaves a message to their family regarding lunch money, implying trust in the audience to find it later.


Draining board, toilet's runnin' shake the
The singer offers instructions to solve two household issues.


Handle, telephone's ringin' it's Mrs Randal
The artist adds another observed due to the ringing phone.


Where the hell are my goddam sandals
The singer reveals a personal issue that they want to solve.


And the porcelain poodles and the glass swans
The singer describes elements present in their house, possibly as decoration.


Staring down from the knick knack shelf
The singer describes the location of the aforementioned objects.


With the parent permission slips for the
The artist suggests the presence of objects as practical uses in the house.


Kids' field trips
The artist clarifies the intended purpose of the aforementioned objects.


Pair of Muckalucks scraping across
The singer describes a noise emanating from an attendee's footwear.


The shag carpet
The singer specifies where the aforementioned noise occurs.


And the impending squint of
The artist describes another visual present in the culminating scene.


First light, that lurked behind
The artist specifies the source of the light.


A weeping marquee in downtown Putnam
The artist specifies the location of the marquee in relation to the setting.


And would be pullin' up any minute now
The singer suggests the likelihood of the light arriving soon.


Just like a bastard amber
The artist uses creative comparison to describe the light's color.


Velveeta yellow cab on a rainy corner
The singer uses creative comparison to describe another taxi, possibly being similar to the one carrying the light.


And be blowin' its horn, in every window
The singer suggests the sound produced by the taxi's action.


In town.
The singer clarifies the location of the window-dwelling audiences.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, JALMA MUSIC
Written by: TOM WAITS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

David Carpenter

I bought this double LP when I was a freshman in college, but back then I somehow failed to notice how amazing this song was. It is one of his best: a warm, funny, well-observed portrait of a world that is now long gone.

Geezer Gonewild

Another Tom Waits masterpiece!

Max Azzopardi

the line "To lie about their lives and the places that they'd been" really got to me. people want to feel special but few are special

Harpoon

I've lived this night so many times. This song blows me away.

Frank Moyer

In 1980 I was driving a restored 1959 MGA from Miami to California, via Philly, Champagne Illinois, Kansas City. With only this Tape and a Joni Mitchell cassette.
And just outside of Indianapolis, I broke down on the outskirts of a town just like this. Pitched a tent beside a cow pasture. Woken up by the local sheriff, who fetched me a tow truck just as soon as he finished his coffee in town.

Joe Kokasko

Can he paint a picture or what? What a talented wordsmith

imminent hippo

warm narcotic american night

imminent hippo

@Strangersname @4:43