On the Nickel, Heartattack and Vine, Tom Waits [074]

This week on Song by Song, Vera Chok takes us all the way back to the beginning by questioning "this whole Tom Waits thing", as well as going through one of Waits's most hobo-centric songs in this lullaby for the down-and-out. We also revisit the perennial question of authenticity, as well as some of Larry Taylor's bass-playing excursions outside of his Heartattack work. Also: Martin has a cold. 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: On The Nickel, Heartattack And Vine, Tom Waits (1980) Fried Hockey Boogie, Boogie With Canned Heat, Canned Heat (1968) 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 - On The Nickel Sticks and stones will break my bones I always will be true and when your mama's dead and gone I'll sing this lullaby just for you and what becomes of all the little boys who never comb their hair they're lined up all around the block on the nickel over there so better bring a bucket there's a hole in the pail and if you don't get my letter then you'll know that I'm in jail and what becomes of all the little boys who never say their prayers they're sleepin like a baby on the nickel over there and if you chew tobacco and wish upon a star you'll find out where the scarecrows sit just like punch lines between the cars and I know a place where a royal flush can never beat a pair and even Thomas Jefferson is on the nickel over there so ring around the rosie sleepin in the rain and you're always late for supper man you let me down let me down again and I thought I heard a mockingbird Roosevelt knows where you can skip the light with Grady Tuck on the nickel over there so what becomes of all the little boys who run away from home the world just keeps gettin bigger once you get out on your own so here's to all the little boys the sandman takes you where you're sleepin with a pillow man on the nickel over there so climb up through that button hole and fall right up the stairs and I'll show you where the short dogs grow on the nickel over there