Mr Siegal, Heartattack and Vine, Tom Waits [075]

More detritus of Americana this week, as Vera, Martin and Sam look at the inspiration provided by Bugsy Siegel, Murder Inc. and the early days of Las Vegas on this Waits track. With some discussion of the juxtaposition of sexiness and violence in this track (and many, many others), as well as the contributions of listener Mike Smith speaking on behalf of London's own Chas & Dave, we edge towards the end of season 7 of Song by Song. 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: Mr. Siegal, Heartattack And Vine, Tom Waits (1980) Ain't No Pleasing You, Mustn't Grumble, Chas & Dave (1982) 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 - Mr. Siegal I spent all my money in a Mexican whorehouse baby cross the street from a Catholic church and I wiped off my revolver and I buttoned up my burgundy shirt I shot the morning in the back with my red wings on told the sun he better go back down and if I can find a book of matches I'm goin to burn this hotel down you got to tell me brave captain why are the wicked so strong how do the angels get to sleep when the devil leaves his porch light on well I dropped thirty grand on the nugget slots I had to sell my ass on Fremont Street and the drummer said theres sanctuary over at the bagdad room oh and now thats one for the money two for the show three to get ready and go man go I said tell me mister Siegel how do I get out of here Willard's knocked out on a bottle of heat drivin dangerous curves across the dirty sheets he said man you ought to see her when her parents are gone man you ought to hear her when the sirens on I said tell me brave captain why are the wicked so strong how do the angels get to sleep when the devil leaves the porch light on don't you know that ain't no broken bottle that I picked up in my headlights on the other side of the Nevada line where they live hard die young and have a good lookin corpse every time well you know the pit boss said: I should keep movin this is where you go when you die so I shot a black beauty and I kissed her right between the eyes oh well Willard's knocked out on a bottle of heat drivin dangerous curves across the dirty sheets he said when the bitch is wound up and her parents are gone man you ought to hear her with the siren on I said tell me brave captain why are the wicked so strong how do the angels get to sleep when the devil leaves his porch light on I spent all my money now in a Mexican whorehouse cross the street from a Catholic church and then I wiped off my revolver and I buttoned up my burgundy shirt I shot the morning in the back with my red wings on I told the sun he'd better go back down and if I can find a book of matches I'm goin to burn this hotel down well it's one for the money two for the show I said three to get ready and go man go I said tell me mister Siegel how do I get out of here