Walk Away
Tom Waits Lyrics


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Dot King was whittled from the bone of Cain
With a little drop of poison in the red red blood
She need a way to turn around the bend
She said I want to walk away and start over again

There are things I've done I can't erase
I want to look in the mirror see another face
I said, "never", but I'm doing it again
I wanna walk away, start over again

No more rain, no more roses
On my way, shake my thirst in a cool cool pond

There's a winner in every place
There's a heart that's beating in every page
The beginning of it starts at the end
When it's time to walk away and start over again

Weather's murder at a hundred and three
William Ray shot Corabell Lee
A yellow dog knows when he has sinned
You wanna walk away and start over again

No more rain, no more roses
On my way, shaking my thirst in a cool cool pond

Cooper told Maui the whole block's gone
They're dying for jewelry, money, and clothes
I always get out of the trouble I'm in
I want to walk away, start over again

I left my bible by the side of the road
Carve my initials in an old dead tree
I'm going away but I'm going to be back when
It's time to walk away and start over again

Ho ho yeah, hmm, yeah
Gotta walk away, gotta walk away, gotta walk away




Just wanna walk away yeah, wanna walk away and start over again
Wanna walk away, wanna walk away, wanna walk away

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Tom Waits's "Walk Away" tell a story of a woman named Dot King who is seeking redemption for the things she has done in her past. Dot King is described as being made "from the bone of Cain," implying that she is marked by sin and guilt. She has a "little drop of poison" in her blood, representing her dark past, and she wants to "walk away and start over again." She longs to look in the mirror and see a new face, one that is free from her troubled past.


The lyrics suggest that Dot King is not alone in her desire to start over. There are others who have sinned and want to walk away from their past lives. The song mentions a few examples, such as William Ray who shot Corabell Lee, and Cooper who tells Maui that "the whole block's gone" due to their desire for material possessions. Despite these examples, the song suggests that redemption is possible, and that by walking away and starting over again, one can find a new beginning.


The chorus of the song, which repeats "no more rain, no more roses, on my way, shake my thirst in a cool cool pond," implies that Dot King is seeking a simpler life, free from the complications of her past. The final verse, in which the singer carves his initials in an old dead tree, suggests that he too is seeking a fresh start, but leaves the story open-ended, allowing listeners to interpret it in their own way.


Line by Line Meaning

Dot King was whittled from the bone of Cain
Dot King is a dark, sinister character who is believed to have inherited her evilness from her ancestor Cain.


With a little drop of poison in the red red blood
Her wickedness is further facilitated by the poison flowing in her veins.


She need a way to turn around the bend
She wants to escape her past and find a new direction in life.


She said I want to walk away and start over again
She desires a fresh start, an opportunity to leave everything behind and begin afresh.


There are things I've done I can't erase
She has committed terrible actions that she cannot undo.


I want to look in the mirror see another face
She wants to change her reflection to see someone new and different, to move away from the ugliness of her past self.


I said, 'never', but I'm doing it again
Despite initially resisting the temptation to start afresh, she is now back to considering the prospect.


I wanna walk away, start over again
She reiterates her desire for a new beginning and a fresh start.


No more rain, no more roses
She wants to leave behind her past pain and suffering in favor of a new beginning.


On my way, shake my thirst in a cool cool pond
She envisions a peaceful, calm place where she can quench her thirst for renewal and rebirth.


There's a winner in every place
Every new beginning is an opportunity for success and triumph.


There's a heart that's beating in every page
In every new chapter of life, there are people who share the same struggles and heartaches.


The beginning of it starts at the end
In order to have a new beginning, one must first end the previous chapter of their life.


When it's time to walk away and start over again
She acknowledges that the idea of starting anew is bound to occur only when it is the right time.


Weather's murder at a hundred and three
The scorching heat of summer can play havoc with people's lives.


William Ray shot Corabell Lee
Violent actions can ruin lives and leave permanent scars.


A yellow dog knows when he has sinned
Even animals, which are not purposely malicious, know when they have committed wrongdoings.


You wanna walk away and start over again
People feel the urge to leave their past behind and start anew when they reach their breaking point.


Cooper told Maui the whole block's gone
The singer is aware of the decay and moral breakdown in their surroundings.


They're dying for jewelry, money, and clothes
People are being driven to desperation and even death for material gain and status symbols.


I always get out of the trouble I'm in
The artist has always managed to overcome past troubles thanks to their resilience and resourcefulness.


I want to walk away, start over again
The artist reiterates their desire for a completely fresh start.


I left my bible by the side of the road
The singer is leaving behind their past beliefs and stories to embrace a new way of life.


Carve my initials in an old dead tree
The artist wants to leave their mark and be remembered even if their past self is left behind.


I'm going away but I'm going to be back when
The singer is confident that they will return, albeit as a different and improved person.


It's time to walk away and start over again
The singer emphasizes that one should commence a new chapter of life only when they feel it's the right time to do so.


Ho ho yeah, hmm, yeah
An expression of affirmation and agreement regarding the necessity of change and new beginnings.


Gotta walk away, gotta walk away, gotta walk away
The artist emphasizes the urgency and necessity of starting afresh fully.


Just wanna walk away yeah, wanna walk away and start over again
The artist reiterates the desire for a fresh start, emphasizing its importance.


Wanna walk away, wanna walk away, wanna walk away
The artist emphasizes anew their desire for change and renewal.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KATHLEEN BRENNAN, THOMAS ALAN WAITS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@Maelvamp

Dot King was whittled from the bone of Cain
With a little drop of poison in the red red blood
She need a way to turn around the bend
She said I want to walk away and start over again

There are things I've done I can't erase
I want to look in the mirror see another face
I said, "never", but I'm doing it again
I wanna walk away, start over again

No more rain, no more roses
On my way, shake my thirst in a cool cool pond

There's a widower in every place
There's a heart that's beating in every page
The beginning of it starts at the end
When it's time to walk away and start over again

Weather's murder at a hundred and three
William Ray shot Corabell Lee
A yellow dog knows when he has sinned
You wanna walk away and start over again

No more rain, no more roses
On my way, shaking my thirst in a cool cool pond

Cooper told Molly the whole block's gone
They're dying for jewelry, money, and clothes
I always get out of the trouble I'm in
I want to walk away, start over again

I left my bible by the side of the road
Carve my initials in an old dead tree
I'm going away but I'm going to be back when
It's time to walk away and start over again

Ho ho yeah, hmm, yeah
Gotta walk away, gotta walk away, gotta walk away
Just wanna walk away yeah, wanna walk away and start over again
Wanna walk away, wanna walk away, wanna walk away



All comments from YouTube:

@brandonman94

This is true for any Waits song. Nothing compares to slamming some beers, stepping out on your tiny apartment's balcony with another drink in hand, and lighting up while listening to Tom Waits.

@weca123

Dude I know it's been 7 years since your comment, but you've described it so well. Actually doing it right now ))

@schnook11

I need to revisit this way of listening to Tom...

@Yantryman

9 years. Still the essence.

@brandonman94

@@Yantryman And I'm still here, livin' the life! Had to cut back a little from college, but not much haha.

@Yantryman

@Steven  respect and all the best! Also we still enjoy with Tom!

@hatorimatori

Mr. Waits thank you for existing.

@sunshinekwon9516

This song is my number one favorite song of Tom Waits...and then the list goes on. Love this guy, such a unique and eccentric talent.

@carlweiskott7623

I agree it's da bomb. 💣 Check out 'Who are you this time?" Different emotions, but a similarly hard hitting Waits song (imo)

@hellradiolives

I never realized how damn much I liked Tom Waits ... until I listened just one more time.

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