Alexander Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 (edited) So I'm in my classroom, eating lunch, and listening to "Swordfishtrombones" by Tom Waits. "Frank's Wild Years" just came on. Just wanted to celebrate this wonderful song. Here are the lyrics, in full. Frank settled down in the Valley, and he hung his wild years on a nail that he drove through his wife's forehead. He sold used office furniture out there on San Fernando Road and assumed a $30,000 loan at 15 1/4 % and put a down payment on a little two bedroom place. His wife was a spent piece of used jet trash Made good bloody-marys, kept her mouth shut most of the time, had a little Chihuahua named Carlos that had some kind of skin disease and was totally blind. They had a thoroughly modern kitchen; self-cleaning oven (the whole bit) Frank drove a little sedan. They were so happy. One night Frank was on his way home from work, stopped at the liquor store, picked up a couple of Mickey's Big Mouth’s. Drank 'em in the car on his way to the Shell station; he got a gallon of gas in a can. Drove home, doused everything in the house, torched it. Parked across the street laughing, watching it burn, all Halloween orange and chimney red. Frank put on a top forty station, got on the Hollywood Freeway headed North. Never could stand that dog. Edited April 3, 2008 by Alexander Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDK Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 Great song. Love that last line about Carlos. Always wondered if this was the same Frank Tom's writing about... What's he building in there? What the hell is he building In there? He has subscriptions to those Magazines... He never Waves when he goes by He's hiding something from The rest of us... He's all To himself... I think I know Why... He took down the Tire swing from the Peppertree He has no children of his Own you see... He has no dog And he has no friends and His lawn is dying... and What about all those packages He sends. What's he building in there? With that hook light On the stairs. What's he building In there... I'll tell you one thing He's not building a playhouse for The children what's he building In there? Now what's that sound from under the door? He's pounding nails into a Hardwood floor... and I Swear to god I heard someone Moaning low... and I keep Seeing the blue light of a T.V. show... He has a router And a table saw... and you Won't believe what Mr. Sticha saw There's poison underneath the sink Of course... But there's also Enough formaldehyde to choke A horse... What's he building In there. What the hell is he Building in there? I heard he Has an ex-wife in some place Called Mayors Income, Tennessee And he used to have a consulting business in Indonesia... but what is he building in there? What the hell is building in there? He has no friends But he gets a lot of mail I'll bet he spent a little Time in jail... I heard he was up on the Roof last night Signaling with a flashlight And what's that tune he's Always whistling... What's he building in there? What's he building in there? We have a right to know... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DTMX Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 I remember hearing that song for the first time in my teenage years and liking it. I hear it now in now in my forties and I understand it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niko Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 I remember hearing that song for the first time in my teenage years and liking it. I hear it now in now in my forties and I understand it. one of my favorite Waits songs (favorite being the title track from swordfishtrombones)... i have the feeling i can understand it pretty well already now, hope i won't learn to understand it much better... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HolyStitt Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 I believe he performed it on Letterman to promote the album. From what I can recall it is memorable because he seems a little nervous during performance and not as sharp during the interview. After I watching it I came to the realization that it was likely one of his first public appearance after he quit drinking. I love the song but one of my favorite things about it is how it fits, to me, so well with Swordfishtrombone starting right after it, which really connects with me on another level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niko Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 I believe he performed it on Letterman to promote the album. From what I can recall it is memorable because he seems a little nervous during performance and not as sharp during the interview. After I watching it I came to the realization that it was likely one of his first public appearance after he quit drinking. I love the song but one of my favorite things about it is how it fits, to me, so well with Swordfishtrombone starting right after it, which really connects with me on another level. you got me curious... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Man with the Golden Arm Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 I believe he performed it on Letterman to promote the album. From what I can recall it is memorable because he seems a little nervous during performance and not as sharp during the interview. After I watching it I came to the realization that it was likely one of his first public appearance after he quit drinking. I love the song but one of my favorite things about it is how it fits, to me, so well with Swordfishtrombone starting right after it, which really connects with me on another level. you got me curious... That Paul the Shiv provides some excellent accompaniment! I watched a whole raft of Waits-tube a month or so back. Make sure to check him on Fernwood. Classic! http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=-gwUtEEjZJ8&...feature=related Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost of miles Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 (edited) Always loved that last line myself. This thread reminded me of seeing Waits on Letterman to promote RAIN DOGS...he closed the show with a beautiful version of "Time" (in spite of an out-of-tune guitar string). Hadn't seen it in 20+ years, but sure enough, it's on YouTube. Weird to watch it now and remember, quite clearly, being 19 and living in my own apartment for the first time, staying up late and watching it on an old TV with crappy reception, but being so moved by hearing that song as the show's credits rolled. Edited April 3, 2008 by ghost of miles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDK Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 I believe he performed it on Letterman to promote the album. From what I can recall it is memorable because he seems a little nervous during performance and not as sharp during the interview. After I watching it I came to the realization that it was likely one of his first public appearance after he quit drinking. I love the song but one of my favorite things about it is how it fits, to me, so well with Swordfishtrombone starting right after it, which really connects with me on another level. you got me curious... I remember seeing that when it first aired. But damn if that isn't an awkward and uncomfotrable interview. Looks like Tom's still getting over the DTs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted April 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 Tom Waits and Iggy Pop share some coffee and cigarettes Love this movie... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porcy62 Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 (edited) Well, I owe to the Man at least a couple of true love stories of mine, including my wife, just taped "Blue Valentine" for the ladies...and add something of mine...girls with refined taste. Edited April 3, 2008 by porcy62 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elissa Posted April 4, 2008 Report Share Posted April 4, 2008 By only the most tangential of relations to this topic: I was thinking of Frank and his post-Wild era today, because when I came into work, first thing I was debriefed on was that a co-worker, who we all liked a great deal but who'd been missing a week or two, seems to have turned up in Texas (someone found this out when they Googled him!) collared by cops while apparently on his way to Mexico fleeing child molestation charges. Could be another fellow - there were no pix - but same name, similar dates etc... Odd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted April 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2008 By only the most tangential of relations to this topic: I was thinking of Frank and his post-Wild era today, because when I came into work, first thing I was debriefed on was that a co-worker, who we all liked a great deal but who'd been missing a week or two, seems to have turned up in Texas (someone found this out when they Googled him!) collared by cops while apparently on his way to Mexico fleeing child molestation charges. Could be another fellow - there were no pix - but same name, similar dates etc... Odd. How'd he feel about the dog? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crabgrass Posted April 4, 2008 Report Share Posted April 4, 2008 Great song. Love that last line about Carlos. Always wondered if this was the same Frank Tom's writing about... What's he building in there? I have always thought that the guy "building in there" was more of a Buzz Fledderjon than a Frank. I stood on the roof, stood toward dark To get a better look at the Fledderjons' lawn Big sharp pistols, ammo too Nothing but books about World War II Rottweiler, Dobermann, a Pinkerton guard I ain't allowed in Buzz Fledderjon's yard I ain't allowed No, I ain't allowed I said, I ain't allowed in Buzz Fledderjon's yard I seen a python swallowing a Dobermann whole Piranhas swimming in a mixing bowl Buzz Fledderjon Paper's full of stabbings, the sky's full of crows She's singing in Italian while she's hanging out her clothes Carp in the bathtub and it's raining real hard I ain't allowed in Buzz Fledderjon's yard I said that I ain't allowed No, I ain't allowed No, I ain't allowed in Buzz Fledderjon's yard. Well, the sailor's ringing doorbells, the sinner's in the pew Weathervane's squeaking to the west I seen the cliffs of Dover and the deepest ocean blue One thing in the world I can't recommend to you Because I ain't allowed I said, I ain't allowed No, I ain't allowed in Buzz Fledderjon's yard I said, I ain't allowed No, I ain't allowed I ain't allowed in Buzz Fledderjon's yard I ain't allowed I ain't allowed I said, I ain't allowed in Buzz Fledderjon's yard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elissa Posted April 4, 2008 Report Share Posted April 4, 2008 How'd he feel about the dog? it was how he felt about bunnies that threw me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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