“Life is whittled, life’s a riddle, Man’s a fiddle that life plays on, when the day breaks and the earth quakes, life’s a mistake all day long”
Washing the dishes ranks high on my list of domestic drudgeries – but everything changed when Starving in the Belly of a Whale came through the speakers. Suddenly, the kitchen transformed into a stage, and I was joyfully bopping along to the song’s wild concoction of clanging percussion, off-kilter rhythms, and Waits’ unmistakable gravelly howl. The track is a carnival of sound – just after the opening church-bell sounds out it becomes a fine platter of harpsichords, violins, tubas and all sorts of instruments I can’t name. Proper intimidating arty noise. It’s chaotic, yes, but also liberating.
Try it yourself next time when you’re knee-deep in an undesirable chore: crank up Starving in the Belly of a Whale and let it drown out the dullness. I’d previously overlooked this track in my Music Library Project, but after this unexpected moment of euphoria, it’s getting the recognition it deserves.
Blood Money is the record that gifted us Starving In The Belly Of A Whale. Basically the Jonah fable all over again. Only this time it’s Tom inside the belly of the beast. It’s said, there is more earth and gravel and grit in his voice on this album than on his 80’s releases. In his own words, “Blood Money is flesh and bone, earthbound. The songs are rooted in reality: jealousy, rage, the human meat wheel”. On the very same day that he released Blood Money, Tom Waits also released the album Alice. He described it as being made up of “adult songs for children, or children’s songs for adults”.
[Verse 1]
Life is whittled, life’s a riddle
Man’s a fiddle that life plays on
When the day breaks and the earth quakes
Life’s a mistake all day long
[Pre-Chorus]
You tell me who gives a good goddamn
You’ll never get out alive
Don’t go dreaming
Don’t go scheming
A man must test his mettle
In the crooked old world
[Chorus]
Starving in the belly, starving in the belly
Starving in the belly of a whale
Oh, you’re starving in the belly, starving in the belly
Starving in the belly of a whale
[Verse 2]
Don’t take my word, just look skyward
They that dance must pay the fiddler
Sky is darkening, dogs are barking
But the caravan moves on
[Verse 3]
As the crow flies, it’s there the truth lies
At the bottom of the well
E-O-eleven goes to Heaven
Bless the dead here as the rain falls
Don’t trust a bull’s horn, a Doberman’s tooth
A runaway horse or me
Don’t be greedy
Don’t be needy
If you live in hope, you’re dancing
To a terrible tune
For more information about the album Blood Money and this song in particular, I point you to Steve For the Deaf’s excellent article – Starving In The Belly Of A Whale
Wait a minute. This song isn’t actually about a whale at all. It’s about hopelessness. He’s talking about bull’s horns, doberman teeth and runaway horses while repeating the song title over and over but there are no boats, no penitent whalers and no oars snapped by the teeth of mighty beasts. There’s no dingy resting on the guts of a titanic beast. There’s just lousy hopeless luck. Life like a torrid ocean. I doubt this character has ever even hoisted a main brace. He’s a bar room drunk with a bad case of the pity meeeeees.
References:
1. 2002: Blood Money – Tom Waits – Together Through Life
2. Starving In The Belly Of A Whale – Steve For the Deaf
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
Never heard this one before. I love his writing and unlike some others I like his voice. I still can’t believe when I hear his debut album…thinking…this is the same person?
The writing here by him and wife Kathleen Brennan is so potent. I just love the groove and instrumentals here.
Great writers. Sometimes songs are like jigsaw puzzles…the great ones fit them together seamlessly.
Great insight Max!
Thanks Matt! I’m listening to something now Matt. Something I would NEVER have thought I would. I can’t explain this right…but it’s a rock fusion with jazz. It’s floored me. As a songwriter I listen to songs but these guys…it’s like I’m seeing molecules that make up the songs. Anyway…I’ll be posting them next week. I don’t think a lot of people will like…but I’m floored. The reason I brought this strange comment up was because of songwriting.
I look forward to your post on it Max. I’m more than intrigued. You stated you were a songwriter!? Have you been delving into rejigging your love of the band scene, but in practice?
It’s just music now Matt…no lyrics. Yea I want to get more into it again and recording. But this band…I can’t explain it…it’s like that jigsaw puzzle…when I hear their music I know why a piece goes there and there.
That’s fantastic you are dusting off your beloved instruments and recording again. I wish you lots of fun and success with that.
In general, I find much of Tom Waits’ music I’ve heard an acquired taste. A lot of it has to do with his vocals. That said, I’m intrigued with “Starving In The Belly Of A Whale.” There’s something weirdly catchy about it!
‘An acquired taste’. Yes, that it is. Also sometimes I have to be in the mood to hear him, because his music is often so audaz and off-kilter. I’m glad you were intrigued by it Christian.
Could you imagine Tom looking at photos and choosing the one for the cover. Gotta like the guy for that. And yes his music grabs me.
I hadn’t considered Tom selecting his photo for the album, but come to think of it I find a lot of album covers pretty cool.
Why albums are so cool. The covers are like art work.
Great track, Blood Money: I bought when it came out and been a fan since Rain Dogs. It’s another strong Tom album and saw me through some tough times back in the early 2000’s.
I am a relative late comer to Tom’s music having only started delving into his extensive discography from about a decade ago. But he has made a striking impression since his music has featured here so prominently. However ‘Starving..’ is the only song to feature here so far from his Blood Money album. I’m listening to the quaint ‘Coney Island Baby’ and it’s very sweet. I adore the ‘festival park’ delicate instrumentals and trumpet sounds. Good recommendation. Thank you.
I ranked Coney Island Baby very highly on a recent Top 40 TW countdown on the Steve Hoffman website. Great track.
Coney Island Baby is another favourite off BM.