The Lyrics of Tom Waits 1971-1982: The Early Years book cover

The Lyrics of Tom Waits 1971-1982: The Early Years

Author(s): Tom Waits (Author)

Publisher: Ecco
Publication Date: December 4, 2007
Edition: First Edition
Language: English
Print length: 192 pages
ISBN-10: 0061458007

Book Description

Known for his growling vocals and for the distinct poetry of his lyrics, Tom Waits has amassed over the course of three decades a devoted cult following. The Early Years collects the lyrics—formative and classic—from the first ten albums of this true bard of hard living. A celebration of both his words and of the artist himself, this lyrical biography charts the course from Wait’s emotional debut album, Closing Time (1977), to the experimental stirrings in Heartattack and Vine (1991) and One from the Heart (1992). Here the words achieve a new potency, adding further dimension to this singularly gifted artist.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“[I]t’s interesting to get a look at Waits’ writing away from the context of his gravelly, whiskey-soaked, cigarette-burned voice.” – New York Post

“The man is a romantic . . . there’s emptiness, but not without yearning. . . . watch him loosen with the years, wriggle free of his own iambic tendencies and trusty metaphors . . . the stories seem to grow more acutely tragic, prices paid are greater than the next whiskey.” – San Diego Union-Tribune

From the Back Cover

About the Author

Tom Waits is an American singer, songwriter, composer, and actor. By integrating pre-rock styles such as blues, jazz, and Vaudeville with genres verging on the industrial, Waits has created a distinct musical persona. He has won two Grammy Awards and has been nominated for a number of other major music awards as well as an Academy Award for his soundtrack work.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The Early Years

The Lyrics of Tom Waits 1971-1983By Tom Waits

HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Ol’ 55

Well my time went so quickly,
I went lickety-splickly out to my old ’55
As I drove away slowly, feeling so holy,
God knows, I was feeling alive.

Now the sun’s coming up,
I’m riding with Lady Luck,
freeway cars and trucks,
Stars beginning to fade,
and I lead the parade

Just a-wishing I’d stayed a little longer,
Oh, Lord, let me tell you
that the feeling’s getting stronger.

And it’s six in the morning,
gave me no warning; I had to be on my way.
Well there’s trucks all a-passing me,
and the lights are all flashing,
I’m on my way home from your place.

And now the sun’s coming up,
I’m riding with Lady Luck,
freeway cars and trucks,
Stars beginning to fade,
and I lead the parade

Just a-wishing I’d stayed a little longer,
Oh, Lord, let me tell you
that the feeling’s getting stronger.

And my time went so quickly,
I went lickety-splickly out to my old ’55
As I pulled away slowly, feeling so holy,
God knows, I was feeling alive.

Now the sun’s coming up,
I’m riding with Lady Luck,
Freeway cars and trucks,
freeway cars and trucks,
freeway cars and trucks . . .

Continues…
Excerpted from The Early Yearsby Tom Waits Copyright © 2007 by Tom Waits. Excerpted by permission.
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