Marc Ribot (Guitar)
Casey Waits (d… Read Full Bio ↴Tom Waits (Vocals, guitar, tablas)
Marc Ribot (Guitar)
Casey Waits (drums)
Charlie Musselwhite (harmonica)
Augie Meyers (vox organ)
Larry Taylor (guitar)
Flea (bass)
Raised Right Men
Tom Waits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said there ain't enough raised right men
It takes a raised right man to keep a happy hen
I said there ain't enough raised right men
Heavens to murgatroyd
Miners to coal
A good women can make a diamond out of a measly lump of coal
If you can wait that long
Open up his window and admit it that you're wrong
They're ain't enough raised right men
I said there ain't enough raised right men
It takes raised right men to keep a happy hen
I said there ain't enough raised right men
Mackey Debiasi
Was a complicated man
He quarreled with his woman
And she quarreled with her man
His head was just too thick
So she knocked out a tooth
He's that lonely man on the turnpike in the toll takers booth
They're ain't enough raised right men
I said there just ain't enough raised right men
It takes raised right men to keep a happy hen
I said there ain't enough raised right men
Gunplay Maxwell and Flat Nose George
Ice Pick Ed Newcomb on a slab in the morgue
Flat Nose looked at Gunplay
And they all looked at me
With a good woman's love we
Could have saved all three
And there ain't enough raised right men
Ain't enough raised right
Ain't enough raised right
Ain't enough raised right me
I said there ain't enough raised right men
It takes raised right men to keep a happy hen
I said there ain't enough raised right men
I said there ain't enough raised right men
I said there ain't enough raised right men
Where are the raised right men
Tom Waits’s “Raised Right Men” is a bluesy commentary on the lack of gentlemen in contemporary society, and the particular qualities necessary to be one. The song opens with the repetition of the phrase “there ain’t enough raised right men,” drawing attention to the singer’s disappointment in the lack of such individuals. The second line of the chorus speaks to the idea that it takes a “raised right man to keep a happy hen,” referencing traditional gender roles and responsibilities. Overall, the lyrics suggest that a proper upbringing is necessary to become a “raised right man,” highlighting the importance of upbringing, values, and behavior.
The lyrics continue with musings on the necessity of patience and a good woman to keep a man in check. The line “Heavens to murgatroyd/Miners to coal” emphasizes the challenges of finding such a man; the task is compared to finding a diamond in a lump of coal. The following verse references Mackey Debiasi, a man who is unable to communicate effectively in his relationship. The verse deploys sarcasm such as “His head was just too thick,” and eventually implies that Mackey is a lonely man. “Raised Right Men” speaks to larger social challenges such as crime and violence, referencing the men named Gunplay Maxwell and Flat Nose George who are presumed dead. At the end of the song, the singer suggests that if these men had had a good woman’s love, they might have been saved.
Line by Line Meaning
There ain't enough raised right men
The world is lacking in men who have been brought up with good values and morals.
I said there ain't enough raised right men
I am emphasizing the shortage of men who have been raised with proper values and morals.
It takes a raised right man to keep a happy hen
In order to maintain a happy and healthy relationship, the man needs to possess good values and morals.
I said there ain't enough raised right men
I am emphasizing the shortage of men who have been raised with proper values and morals.
Heavens to murgatroyd
An exclamation of surprise or disbelief.
Miners to coal
Reminding the listener of the old saying: patience can turn coal into diamonds.
A good women can make a diamond out of a measly lump of coal
A good woman can turn a rough, unrefined man into someone with good values and morals.
You need the patience of a glacier
It takes an immense amount of patience to wait for someone to change their ways.
If you can wait that long
Changing someone's character and values takes an incredibly long time and effort.
Open up his window and admit it that you're wrong
Sometimes, it takes admitting one's own faults and wrongdoings to get a person to change their ways.
They're ain't enough raised right men
The world is lacking in men who have been brought up with good values and morals.
I said there ain't enough raised right men
I am emphasizing the shortage of men who have been raised with proper values and morals.
It takes raised right men to keep a happy hen
In order to maintain a happy and healthy relationship, the man needs to possess good values and morals.
I said there ain't enough raised right men
I am emphasizing the shortage of men who have been raised with proper values and morals.
Mackey Debiasi was a complicated man
Mackey Debiasi was a complex person with many issues and faults.
He quarreled with his woman
Mackey Debiasi had arguments and conflicts with his significant other.
And she quarreled with her man
Mackey Debiasi's significant other had arguments and conflicts with him.
His head was just too thick
Mackey Debiasi was stubborn and close-minded.
So she knocked out a tooth
In frustration, Mackey Debiasi's significant other resorted to violence against him.
He's that lonely man on the turnpike in the toll takers booth
Mackey Debiasi is now a lonely and isolated man, working in a toll booth on the turnpike.
They're ain't enough raised right men
The world is lacking in men who have been brought up with good values and morals.
I said there just ain't enough raised right men
I am emphasizing the shortage of men who have been raised with proper values and morals.
It takes raised right men to keep a happy hen
In order to maintain a happy and healthy relationship, the man needs to possess good values and morals.
I said there ain't enough raised right men
I am emphasizing the shortage of men who have been raised with proper values and morals.
Gunplay Maxwell and Flat Nose George
Referring to two disreputable men.
Ice Pick Ed Newcomb on a slab in the morgue
Referring to a deceased person who met a violent end.
Flat Nose looked at Gunplay
Flat Nose and Gunplay share a look, indicating their shared culpability.
And they all looked at me
Everyone present, including the artist, felt a sense of responsibility.
With a good woman's love we could have saved all three
If these men had positive and loving influences in their lives, they may not have met violent ends.
And there ain't enough raised right men
The world is lacking in men who have been brought up with good values and morals.
Ain't enough raised right
There is not a sufficient number of men who have been raised with proper values and morals.
Ain't enough raised right
There is not a sufficient number of men who have been raised with proper values and morals.
Ain't enough raised right me
The artist is acknowledging that he may not be one of the men who has been raised with proper values and morals.
I said there ain't enough raised right men
I am emphasizing the shortage of men who have been raised with proper values and morals.
It takes raised right men to keep a happy hen
In order to maintain a happy and healthy relationship, the man needs to possess good values and morals.
I said there ain't enough raised right men
I am emphasizing the shortage of men who have been raised with proper values and morals.
I said there ain't enough raised right men
I am emphasizing the shortage of men who have been raised with proper values and morals.
Where are the raised right men
The singer is expressing his frustration and disappointment at the lack of men who have been brought up with good values and morals.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KATHLEEN BRENNAN, THOMAS A. WAITS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Михаил Сергопольцев
"Raised Right Men"
There ain’t enough raised right men
It takes a raised right man to keep a happy hen
I said there ain’t enough raised right men
Heavens to murkatroid
Miners to coal
A good women can make a diamond out of a measly lump of coal
You need the patience of a glacier
If you can wait that long
Open up his window and admit it that you’re wrong
They’re ain’t enough raised right men
It takes raised right men to keep a happy hen
Mackey Debiasi
Was a complicated man
He quarreled with his woman
And she quarreled with her man
His head was just too thick
So she knocked out a tooth
He’s that lonely man on the Turnpike in the
Toll takers booth
They’re ain’t enough raised right men
Gunplay Maxwell and
Flat Nose George
Ice Pick Ed Newcomb
On a slab in the morgue
Flat Nose looked at Gunplay
And they all looked at me
With a good woman’s love we
Could have saved all three
And there ain’t enough raised right men
It takes raised right men to keep a happy hen
There ain’t enough raised right men
Joe Horizon
The band sounds like a bone crushing machine designed by David Lynch. And then there's Tom. Somebody played an album back in '78 junior year of high school. Game over. Saw him live twice. Mule tour, then Glitter and Doom tour. Two of the best nights ever.
rei das plataformas
Se minha vida fosse um filme de suspense esse álbum seria a minha soundtrack
Romi
Desde Argentina saludamos y seguimos esperando al talentoso Tom Waits.
Михаил Сергопольцев
"Raised Right Men"
There ain’t enough raised right men
It takes a raised right man to keep a happy hen
I said there ain’t enough raised right men
Heavens to murkatroid
Miners to coal
A good women can make a diamond out of a measly lump of coal
You need the patience of a glacier
If you can wait that long
Open up his window and admit it that you’re wrong
They’re ain’t enough raised right men
It takes raised right men to keep a happy hen
Mackey Debiasi
Was a complicated man
He quarreled with his woman
And she quarreled with her man
His head was just too thick
So she knocked out a tooth
He’s that lonely man on the Turnpike in the
Toll takers booth
They’re ain’t enough raised right men
Gunplay Maxwell and
Flat Nose George
Ice Pick Ed Newcomb
On a slab in the morgue
Flat Nose looked at Gunplay
And they all looked at me
With a good woman’s love we
Could have saved all three
And there ain’t enough raised right men
It takes raised right men to keep a happy hen
There ain’t enough raised right men
Catherine S. Todd
Gracias for posting!
KERKTHEJERK
Damn straight.
Dana Anderson
HOWZ MY MONSTA MAN? LOL 🤣
The Beany Mac
better at 0.75 :D
The Beany Mac
heavens to murgatroyd!
Clumsy Dad
of course there ain't ... look at the goddamn gop ,,, yikes !!