Hold On

[JonesCarpeDiem]

They hung a sign up in our town "If you live it up, you won't live it down"

So she left Monte Rio, son Just like a bullet leaves a gun With her charcoal

eyes and Monroe hips She went and took that California trip Oh, the moon

was gold, her hair like wind Said, "don't look back, just come on, Jim" Oh,

you got to hold on, hold on You gotta hold on Take my hand, I'm standing

right here, you gotta hold on Well, he gave her a dimestore watch And a

ring made from a spoon Everyone's looking for someone to blame When

you share my bed, you share my name Well, go ahead and call the cops You

don't meet nice girls in coffee shops She said, "baby, I still love you"

Sometimes there's nothin' left to do Oh, but you got to hold on, hold on

Babe, you gotta hold on and take my hand I'm standing right here, you

gotta hold on Well, God bless your crooked little heart St. Louis got the

best of me I miss your broken China voice How I wish you were still here

with me Oh, you build it up, you wreck it down Then you burn your

mansion to the ground Oh, there's nothing left to keep you here But when

you're falling behind in this big blue world Oh, you've got to hold on, hold

on Babe, you gotta hold on Take my hand, I'm standing right here, you

gotta hold on Down by the Riverside motel It's ten below and falling By a

ninety-nine cent store She closed her eyes and started swaying But it's so

hard to dance that way When it's cold and there's no music Oh, your old

hometown's so far away But inside your head there's a record that's

playing A song called "Hold On", hold on Babe, you gotta hold on Take my

hand, I'm standing right there, you gotta hold on You gotta hold on, hold

on Babe, you gotta hold on Take my hand, I'm standing right there, you

gotta hold on You gotta hold on, hold on Babe, you gotta hold on And take

my hand, I'm standing right here, you gotta hold on You gotta hold on,

hold on Babe, you gotta hold on And take my hand, I'm standing right

here, you gotta hold on You gotta hold on You gotta hold on You gotta hold

on You gotta hold on You gotta hold on, baby You gotta hold on, girl You

gotta hold on.

~Tom Waits

[Giulia]

Wow did you just bring back memories.  Tom Waits.  Such a one-of-a-kind.  Never heard this one though.  Did nobody ever take his songs and adapt them to themselves?  Hmmmm.  

Thanks.

[Mandolinrain]

He's awesome, he reminds me of John Prine

[JonesCarpeDiem]

I watched a movie called deserted yesterday and this song was the end credits. I had never heard it either.

I was going to make a video with scenes from the movie. It's all filmed in the desert. and use the hold on part of the song. I got it started but need to do some work. (reminded me of no mans land)

[JonesCarpeDiem]

yes

[Giulia]

I have his Closing Time album.  I loved "Martha" and many of his songs on that album.  But snooping him out now, it looks like he turned really dark in his material.  Seems a lot of "cutters" enjoy his material.   In any event, I love his phrasing and his lyrics and especially his earlier "jazz-based" material.  He's so gifted.  

Now onto another point - the reason the guy has the voice he does is to due to smoking and booze.  That's what both will give you.  Destroy your vocal chords.  

I can talk to anybody in a store in the check out or passing by and you can hear that raspy smoke-destroyed voice.  It's as clear as a sad tolling bell.  Makes me want to stop and shove a BecomeAnEx card into their hands and say, "I always wanted to quit.  Tried and failed.  Finally got there.  This place might help you  Look for my G."  

His sound is unique, as is his talent.  I hope his broken voice doesn't end up killing him.