Clap Hands, Big Time, Tom Waits [159]

Helen Zaltzman returns to take another listen to this track from Rain Dogs, now with 100% more terrifying childcatcher. More deprioritised lyrics here, and as Waits works more to enhance the sinister feel of the song, we discuss some of its limitations as a piece of writing. Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order. website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e-mail: [email protected] Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include: Clap Hands, Big Time, Tom Waits (1988) We think your Song by Song experience will be enhanced by hearing, in full, the songs featured in the show, which you can get hold of from your favourite record shop or online platform. Please support artists by buying their music, or using services which guarantee artists a revenue - listen responsibly. Lyrics - Clap Hands Wine wine Why the goose drank wine And the monkey chewed tobacco on a streetcar line Now the line broke and the monkey got choked And they all went to heaven in a little row boat Clap hands Sane sane they're all insane fireman's blind the conductor's lame A Cincinnati jacket and a sad-luck dame Hang out the window with a bottle full of rain Clap hands Oh clap hands Oh clap hands Well clap hands I said roar It's the thunder and the roar I ain't never coming back no more There's a moon in the window A bird on the pole I can always find a millionaire To shovel all the coal Well clap hands baby Well clap hands clap hands I said dream It's a hundred bad dreams Going up to Harlem with a pistol in my jeans A Cincinnati jacket and a sad-luck dame Hanging out the window with a bottle full of rain Now it's roar it's the thunder and the roar I ain't coming back no more I got a moon in the window A bird on the pole I can always find a millionaire To shovel all the coal Clap hands well clap hands Baby well clap hands Clap hands clap hands Shine shine a Roosevelt dime All the way to Baltimore And running out of time Salvation Army seemed to wind up in the hole All went to heaven in a little row boat It's roar it's the thunder and the roar I ain't coming back no more I got a moon in the window a bird on the pole I can always find a millionaire to shovel all the coal Clap hands well clap hands clap hands Clap hands clap hands clap hands Clap hands clap hands clap hands Clap hands clap hands clap hands Clap hands clap hands clap hands Clap hands clap hands clap hands Clap hands clap hands clap hands