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Tom Waits

Tom Waits Quotes

Singer-songwriter

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Famous Tom Waits Quotes

“Once upon a time there was a crooked tree and a straight tree. And they grew next to each other. And every day the straight tree would look at the crooked tree and he would say, "You're crooked. You've always been crooked and you'll continue to be crooked. But look at me! Look at me!" said the straight tree. He said, "I'm tall and I'm straight." And then one day the lumberjacks came into the forest and looked around, and the manager in charge said, "Cut all the straight trees." And that crooked tree is still there to this day, growing strong and growing strange.”

LooksSaidStillsNextStrongCuttingGrowingTreeStrangeGrewOne DayForestsManagersThis DayTallConformityLook At MeCrookedOnce Upon A TimeNon Conformity
Author:Tom Waits
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“Well you wave your hand and they scatter like crows They have nothing that will ever capture your heart They're just thorns without the rose Be careful of them in the dark Oh, if I was the one you chose to be your only one Oh baby can't you hear me now, can't you hear me now Will I see you tonight on a downtown train Every night it's just the same, you leave me lonely now”

IfsWellsHeartHandsNightSongDarkBabyLonelyTrainRoseWaveCarefulTonightCaptureBe CarefulEvery NightLeaving MeCrowThornsDowntown
Author:Tom Waits
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“Your hands are like dogs, going to the same places they've been. You have to be careful when playing is no longer in the mind but in the fingers, going to happy places. You have to break them of their habits or you don't explore; you only play what is confident and pleasing. I'm learning to break those habits by playing instruments I know absolutely nothing about, like a bassoon or a waterphone.”

KnowsMindPlayHandsBreakDogHabitInstrumentsFingersCarefulBe CarefulAbsolutely NothingHappy PlacePlaying InstrumentsBassoon
Author:Tom Waits
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“It's a battered old suitcase to a hotel someplace, and a wound that will never heal. No prima donna, the perfume is on an old shirt that is stained with blood and whiskey. Goodnight to the street sweepers, the night watchmen flame keepers and goodnight, Matilda, too.”

NightBloodStreetsTravelWoundsHealFlamesShirtsHotelPerfumeWhiskeyKeepersSuitcasesBatteredSweepersPrima Donnas
Book:The Early Years: The Lyrics of Tom Waits 1971-1983
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“I guess I've always lived upside down when I want things I can't have. My wife actually thinks I have a syndrome called Reality Distortion Field. It's kind of like drugs, only you can't come back from it. Reality Distortion is almost a permanent condition. Things come in and they go out: Presto, chango! To a certain extent, I did that with myself. As a kid, I did want to be an old-timer, since they were the ones with the big stories and the cool clothes. I wanted to go there. Now, I guess I want to bring that with me and go back in time.”

ThinkingWantKindI CanStoriesBigsRealityKidsWantedCertainWifeConditionsFieldsDrugClothesMy WifePermanentUpside DownDistortionSyndromesBack In TimeGo Back In TimeTimerOld Timers
Author:Tom Waits
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