You’re the head on the spear
You’re the nail on the cross
You’re the fly in my beer
You’re the key that got lost
You’re the letter from Jesus on the bathroom wall
You’re mother superior in only a bra
You’re the same kind of bad as me
Tom Waits’ Bad as Me was released on his critically acclaimed 16th album of the same name in 2011. It was also nominated for a grammy award for best alternative music album. The title track featured today was digitally released as a single on Itunes and he netted his first top 10 album.
The lyrics of Bad as Me are lean and mean, but in typical Tom Waits fashion he presents it with a feeling of loose joy and abandon. The press release at the time of it’s release stated: This pivotal work refines the music that has come before and signals a new direction. Waits, in possibly the finest voice of his career, worked with a veteran team of gifted musicians and longtime co-writer/producer Kathleen Brennan.
I like this song a lot. He presents it in an debauched theatrical manner and he even cackles after he says:
‘No good you say
Well that’s good enough for me!’
I like the pounding percussion and brash guitars. It’s a self affirming song, that’s resolved in the character he has constructed although he’s still keeping himself fresh.
Someone described in the you tube comments below: ‘He’s like a stray cat who was transformed into a man by a genie or a shaman’.
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
once you join the Cult of Tom, the world becomes a better place
I’m still getting familiar with his music. It’s going to be slow going, since I find his music an acquired taste.
It is indeed. If you’re not in the mood it is insane.
It’s great music to drink to, I know that! His music makes me smirk and sometimes chuckle. He sounds frivolous, but there’s something profound lurking beneath.
exactly. to the casual listener it is the ranting of a lunatic. after more time with it, there is magic in the story telling
Great description! The funny this is, my kids love him. I like his more outlandish songs like ‘Big in Japan’, ‘Hell Broke Loose’ and ‘Step Right Up’. The latter is probably the funniest song I”ve ever heard.
How did you get into him?
Leonard Cohen. He started me on a rabbit hole of these brilliant post folk artists. I’m big into our k rock and you don’t get much more punk than Tom.
Sidenote, his short in the latest Coen Bros film, Ballad of Buster Scruggs, stole the show
I’m also a big fan of Leonard. His songs have featured a lot here and there’s plenty more to come. I think I tried sampling Tom’s music through Dylan fan sites.
Yeh, that Coen Bros gold digger vignette with Tom was excellent.
He is really in your face with this one. How can you not love the lyrics to this?
I can see how Bukowski and the Beatniks were a great influence on Tom. Often when I read his material I think of Bukowski’s writings.
Well this is just awesome. Have not heard it before to my knowledge. Loved your description of it, just perfect!
I’m thrilled you enjoyed it so much! I admit I often find it difficult to think of a suitable description for Tom’s music. There’s probably a bit of ‘love and theft’ in what I came up for this song.
It was really good, all through! Especially: “The lyrics of Bad as Me are lean and mean, but in typical Tom Waits fashion he presents it with a feeling of loose joy and abandon” — that really summed it up.
I’m glad you connected with that Nadine. That’s kind of you mentioning it. I really appreciate it.
Ghosts of Captain Beefheart (Howlin Wolf). I like your eclectic style. This music just sounds good to my ears.
‘Ghosts’ I’ll check out. Thanks CB.
I really dig Tom, Beefheart and the like but they would be the first to give a nod to Wolf.