Tom Waits

[GuinnessIsFood]

I was wondering if someone could post the poem Tom Waits wrote about the The Pogues in the sleeve notes of the RSATL REMASTERD CD

[Caukill]

Their music is like
the brandy of the damned
Pogue Mahone
they are the last
pure hearts
from Dickens , Joyce,Dylan Thomas
to Christy Moore
like Red Diamonds
Pirates full of malarkey
they're little giants
they're Bill Sykes
They are all orphans
and they are leaving
on the 2:10 train
with no ticket
Rapscallion, angry, weeping
passed out songs,songs
that seem to be born
effortlessly, or
not born but found
on top of an old wood stove
like a Bowler hat
and the Pogues know
where the little people go
and they follow them
they're as old as treasure island
songs that we should all carry
i learnt 'em and sung 'em
and changed 'em
and passed them on
down the wild blue road
as Shane MacGowan & the Pogues
warm their hands
on a fire
made from chopsticks
and a horse pulls a milk wagon
up the steep, wet cobblestone
streets & stumbles
to his knees, bloodying them
as a man
no bigger than my thumb
dances in the broken glass
and jumps rope with a shoe lace
the song he sings

Tom Waits
California , March 2004

(typed as it appears in booklet - hope i haven't infringed any copyright )

Whilst i'm here , is it just me or has Tom Waits always looked the same age? He never ages but i don't remember him ever looking young either?! Think he was born into middle-age!

[Eric V]

You are right. He must be undead. That's why he is so good. He has had ages to perfect his music.

[GuinnessIsFood]

I wonder what The Pogues would wright about Mr Waits?

[cougar]

I wonder what The Pogues would wright about Mr Waits?

at one point in his life, Shane called Tom his favorite American "rock 'n' roller. i wouldnt call it rock for a million bucks though. i've got all his albums and think one lor two of his are in my top ten favorite.

[anfield boy]

Hey Cougar, correct me if I'm wrong, but is your quote from the Springsteen song, Frankie?

[cougar]

Wow. It is. Don't ask me why, but I've always loved that lyric especially when in relation to the rest of the song. I had never heard it before Tracks came out, however. Im not sure if or when it was released as a b-side, but I am glad they at least got it out there. Not many people know that song let alone that piece of it.

[cougar]

i think i cheated Bruce on that one - i think its "into" not "in"

[anfield boy]

No, They never released it. I think it was the left over stuff from the Born in the USA sessions. I got a hold of it from a Japanese bootleg, which also included "Murder inc, My Love will..., and This Hard Land" but the sound quality was horrible. Needless to say I was thrilled to see it on the box set.

[ginggang]

There are some gems on the "Tracks" box set.