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."
Shiver Me Timbers
Tom Waits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And leavin' my friends
My body's at home
But my heart's in the wind
Where the clouds are like headlines
On a new front page sky
My tears are salt water
And the moon's full and high
And I know Martin Eden's
Gonna be proud of me
And many before me
Who've been called by the sea
To be up in the crow's nest
And singin' my say
Shiver me Timbers
I'm a-sailin' away
The fog's liftin'
And the sand's shiftin'
And I'm driftin' on out
And Ol' Captain Ahab
Ain't got nothin' on me
So come on and swallow me, don't follow me
I travel alone
Blue water's my daughter
And I'm gonna skippin' like a stone
And please call my missus
Tell her not to cry
My goodbye is written
By the moon in the sky
And nobody knows me
I can't fathom my stayin'
And shiver me timbers
I'm a-sailin' away
And the fog's liftin'
And the sand's shiftin'
And I'm driftin' on out
Ol' Captain Ahab
He ain't got nothin' on me
So come on and swallow me, don't follow me
I travel alone
Blue water's my daughter
And I'm skippin' like a stone
And I'm leavin' my family
And I'm leavin' my friends
My body's at home
But my heart's in the wind
Where the clouds are like headlines
On a new front page sky
And shiver me timbers
I'm a-sailin' away
The lyrics of Tom Waits's song Shiver Me Timbers describe the feeling of the singer as he leaves behind his life on land and sets sail, alone, on the sea. He feels like he is being called by the sea, just like many others before him who have sung their say up in the crow's nest. The song captures the sense of freedom and adventure that comes with setting out into the open water, but also the heartache of having to say goodbye to loved ones. His tears are salt water, and the moon is full and high, symbolizing the emotional turmoil he feels as he embarks on this journey.
The second verse describes the singer's complete detachment from the world he is leaving behind. He compares himself to Captain Ahab, the singer of the book Moby Dick, who spent his life pursuing a giant whale. However, the singer of Shiver Me Timbers is not pursuing anything in particular, he simply feels a pull to the sea. He asks others not to follow him, as he travels alone. The blue water becomes his daughter, and he feels like he is skipping like a stone through it. The song ends with him repeating the opening lines, emphasizing that he is leaving behind everything he knows for the freedom of the open sea.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm leavin' my family
I am leaving my family behind to sail away
And leavin' my friends
I am also leaving my friends behind as I embark on this journey
My body's at home
Although my physical body is still at home, my heart is set on the open sea
But my heart's in the wind
My soul is stirred by the wind and the vastness of the open sea
Where the clouds are like headlines
The clouds remind me of headlines, constantly changing and always moving forward
On a new front page sky
The sky represents a new chapter in my life, with endless possibilities for adventure and exploration
My tears are salt water
The mist of salt water and sea air makes me emotional and reflective of what I'm leaving behind
And the moon's full and high
The full moon reminds me of the mystery and majesty of the sea, and that I should embrace the journey ahead
And I know Martin Eden's
I think that Martin Eden, a literary figure who also took to sea, would understand and respect my decision
Gonna be proud of me
It feels gratifying to know that someone I admire would approve of my choices
And many before me
I am not alone in my quest for adventure
Who've been called by the sea
Countless others have heard the call of the sea and set sail just as I am doing now
To be up in the crow's nest
I am ready to climb to the highest point on the ship, to take in the view and feel the rush of wind in my hair
And singin' my say
I want to sing out loud and express myself in the way that only this journey can allow
Shiver me Timbers
My excitement is overwhelming, and the phrase feels like a fitting exclamation for the moment
I'm a-sailin' away
I am setting off on my voyage, leaving my old life behind
The fog's liftin'
As I depart, the fog clears, both literally and figuratively, offering a clear path ahead
And the sand's shiftin'
The sand is a metaphor for change, and things are moving, shifting, and evolving
And I'm driftin' on out
I am floating into the future, letting the sea take me where it will
And Ol' Captain Ahab
The infamous captain from Moby Dick, a symbol of obsession and madness
Ain't got nothin' on me
I am not weighed down by anything so destructive as Ahab's obsession, I am sailing purely for the joy of it
So come on and swallow me, don't follow me
I am warning anyone who might be tempted to follow in my footsteps that they must be ready to take on the full risk and adventure of the open sea, and not just chase after my wake
I travel alone
I am alone but not lonely, and relishing my solitude for the time being
Blue water's my daughter
The sea symbolizes a child of mine, both vulnerable and fiercely loyal
And I'm gonna skippin' like a stone
I am full of youthful joy and energy and am embracing the freedom that the sea affords me
And please call my missus
I am thinking of my wife, who I am leaving behind, but am confident that she will understand and support me on this journey
Tell her not to cry
I want to reassure my wife that there is no need for tears, that I am setting forth on this journey out of love and excitement, not sadness or loss
My goodbye is written
I have said goodbye and am ready to move forward. There is no need for regrets or second-guessing
By the moon in the sky
The moon is a symbol of continuity and unchanging nature in the midst of my journey. It reminds me that I have a constant anchor that I can depend on through all my travels
And nobody knows me
I am excited by the anonymity of my journey. There are no expectations or preconceived notions about who I am and what I can do
I can't fathom my stayin'
I cannot stay where I am, I must set forth on this journey to embrace the new and unknown
And shiver me timbers
My excitement is bubbling up again, and I can hardly contain it
I'm a-sailin' away
I am fully committed to this journey, and nothing will hold me back or make me second-guess my decision
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, JALMA MUSIC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: TOM WAITS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pedro Sousa
I'm leavin' my family
And leavin' my friends
My body's at home
But my heart's in the wind
Where the clouds are like headlines
On a new front page sky
My tears are salt water
And the moon's full and high
And I know Martin Eden's
Gonna be proud of me
And many before me
Who've been called by the sea
To be up in the crow's nest
And singin' my say
Shiver me Timbers
I'm a-sailin' away
The fog's liftin'
And the sand's shiftin'
And I'm driftin' on out
And Ol' Captain Ahab
Ain't got nothin' on me
So come on and swallow me, don't follow me
I travel alone
Blue water's my daughter
And I'm gonna skippin' like a stone
And please call my missus
Tell her not to cry
My goodbye is written
By the moon in the sky
And nobody knows me
I can't fathom my stayin'
And shiver me timbers
I'm a-sailin' away
And the fog's liftin'
And the sand's shiftin'
And I'm driftin' on out
Ol' Captain Ahab
He ain't got nothin' on me
So come on and swallow me, don't follow me
I travel alone
Blue water's my daughter
And I'm skippin' like a stone
And I'm leavin' my family
And I'm leavin' my friends
My body's at home
But my heart's in the wind
Where the clouds are like headlines
On a new front page sky
And shiver me timbers
I'm a-sailin' away
Dwarf Dragonwulf
I'm leavin' my family
And leavin' my friends
My body's at home
But my heart's in the wind
Where the clouds are like headlines
On a new front page sky
My tears are salt water
And the moon's full and high
And I know Martin Eden's
Gonna be proud of me
And many before me
Who've been called by the sea
To be up in the crow's nest
And singin' my say
Shiver me Timbers
I'm a-sailin' away
The fog's liftin'
And the sand's shiftin'
And I'm driftin' on out
And Ol' Captain Ahab
Ain't got nothin' on me
So come on and swallow me, don't follow me
I travel alone
Blue water's my daughter
And I'm gonna skippin' like a stone
And please call my missus
Tell her not to cry
My goodbye is written
By the moon in the sky
And nobody knows me
I can't fathom my stayin'
And shiver me timbers
I'm a-sailin' away
And the fog's liftin'
And the sand's shiftin'
And I'm driftin' on out
Ol' Captain Ahab
He ain't got nothin' on me
So come on and swallow me, don't follow me
I travel alone
Blue water's my daughter
And I'm skippin' like a stone
And I'm leavin' my family
And I'm leavin' my friends
My body's at home
But my heart's in the wind
Where the clouds are like headlines
On a new front page sky
And shiver me timbers
I'm a-sailin' away
ape 2 regina forse
I'm leaving my family, I'm leaving all my friends
My body's at home, but my heart's in the wind
Where the clouds are like headlines on a new front-page sky
My tears are salt water, and the moon's full and high
And I know Martin Eden's gonna be proud of me now
And many before me, who've been called by the sea
To be up in the crow's nest, and singing my say
Shiver me timbers, cause I'm a-sailing away
And the fog's lifting, and the sand's shifting, and I'm drifting on out
Old Captain Ahab, he ain't got nothing on me now
So swallow me, don't follow me, I'm traveling alone
Blue water's my daughter, and I'm gonna skip like a stone
So please call my missus, gotta tell her not to cry now
'Cause my goodbye is written by the moon in the sky
Hey, and nobody knows me, I can't fathom my staying
And shiver me timbers, cause I'm a-sailing away
And the fog's lifting, and the sand's shifting, and I'm drifting on out
And old Captain Ahab, he ain't got nothing on me
So come and swallow me, follow me, I'm traveling alone
Blue water's my daughter, I'm gonna skip like a stone
And I'm leaving my family, I'm leaving all my friends
My body's at home, but my heart's in the wind
Where the clouds are like headlines upon a new front-page sky
And shiver me timbers, 'cause I'm a-sailing away
masseis
words
"Shiver Me Timbers"
I'm leavin' my fam'ly
Leavin' all my friends
My body's at home
But my heart's in the wind
Where the clouds are like headlines
On a new front page sky
My tears are salt water
And the moon's full and high
And I know Martin Eden's
Gonna be proud of me
And many before me
Who've been called by the sea
To be up in the crow's nest
Singin' my say
Shiver me Timbers
'Cause I'm a-sailin' away
And the fog's liftin'
And the sand's shiftin'
I'm driftin' on out
Ol' Captain Ahab
He ain't got nothin' on me, now.
So swallow me, don't follow me
I'm trav'lin' alone
Blue water's my daughter
'n I'm gonna skip like a stone
So please call my missus
Gotta tell her not to cry
'Cause my goodbye is written
By the moon in the sky
Hey and nobody knows me
I can't fathom my stayin'
Shiver me timbers
'Cause I'm a-sailin' away
And the fog's liftin'
And the sand's shiftin'
I'm driftin' on out
Ol' Captain Ahab
He ain't got nothin' on me
So come and swallow me, follow me
I'm trav'lin' alone
Blue water's my daughter
'n I'm gonna skip like a stone
And I'm leavin' my family
Leavin' all my friends
My body's at home
But my heart's in the wind
Where the clouds are like headlines
Upon a new front page sky
And shiver me timbers
'Cause I'm a-sailin' away
Eleanor Borrett
Thankyou Tom Waits. Had this played at my beloved brother Andrew’s funeral a few weeks ago, it’s heartbreaking but perfect at the same time. Love you forever best brother.
duster71
My condolences
Sylvain Fernandez
Lost my brother 10 years ago. Listening to this and reading this comment is something. Sometimes a song just makes you feel understood, like if you were with a sweet caring aunt telling you it’s ok to be sad. It is indeed the perfect song. 🙏 bless you
Shez Phillips
@Gareth Howard Davies oh no! I'm so sorry. Lost my beloved Mum in 2019 too. I hope you're coping, as best you can! I still cry 😭 daily, but I talk to her and remember her saying..."don't cry, you'll ruin your makeup"! Lol
Vanity, eh? 🙄 Joking apart, grief, loss ain't no picnic! Is it! People "mean well" but we all manage it?? In our own way, don't we?..or not! As the case may be!
Wish I cud say something to make you "feel better"..but I doubt it! Apart from, you aren't alone in your grief.🤗🇬🇧
Shez Phillips
I too played this at my Dad's funeral...He loved Tom Waits, but I only discovered this track, when he had passed! Weird but wonderful, eh? That was 2005. So sorry for your loss😭and others who have commented, loved and lost 🤗🇬🇧
Gareth Howard Davies
Sorry to hear that. My brother Phil was a big Tom Waits fan and we played this at his funeral in November 2019. Seems many do. His was particularly sad as he did it to himself and was only 36.
Heather M
Tom Waits has a way of just ripping my heart out and handing it right back to me. I love him.
Xa Vi
Dido.
Ju Fernetti
@Thom Alexander blissful her!
Thom Alexander
You got an old soul Heather