Tom Waits - Martha (Rare Live Performance - Denver, CO 1974) 

Man is a total genius, how on earth did he have such an in-depth understanding of the sorrows of love at such a young age. Living legend.

I just cry when I listen to this and as I age this song hurts more😢

Absolutely heartbreaking and timeless...I was lucky enuff to see him live in SF eons back. And tho I treasure the recordings, his live show...about 2 hrs or more is to this day one of the best. He truly is bigger than life on stage, and yet isn't afraid to expose every aspect of his very old soul...warts and all. What u see/hear is the essence of the man, not some wannabe rock star. Love ya Tom!

All I had was you, and all you had was me. When I was 16. I'm 78.

"And those were the days of roses Poetry and prose and Martha All I had was you and all you had was me There was no tomorrows We'd packed away our sorrows And we saved them for a rainy day And I remember quiet evenings Trembling close to you"

This is one of the only live recordings I've ever heard of Tom Waits with his "original voice." What an incredible lost gem. He already sounded like grownup Tom Waits by the time he did Nighthawks. Thank you for preserving this.

This has to be one of the greatest songs ever written..the lyrics are amazing

I always wanted someone to write a song about me - now I wish my name were Martha. Thank you for this, first time I've heard it. It's lovely....

I am sure there are millions still alive to enjoy this song and many others from Waits like I do.

It is so great to hear this. Tom Waits played a small club in Denver called Ebbets Field that seated 240 and he played there 34 times. I first saw him opening for Jerry Jeff Walker and I was totally blown away in 1974, so maybe I was there. Probably cost $5, and a couple of beers! Each song he played that night opened my heart and yes so much, he was so funny, interacted with the crowd I became a forever fan. Ebbets hosted BB KIng, Freddie King, Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Willie Nelson, Emmylou, . just to name a few. When you greatness in such a small venue, you never forgot it. Denver was lucky to have this place, only 73-77. This is such a treasure. Any more of this concert available, it would be great to hear.

amazing what this guy can do just with a piano his voice and liquor

What I love about this version that its NOT flawless. So Beautiful.

Did you ever not once to have someone from your past to get back in touch? Especially if you'd made a big mistake. I wish I was Martha and that Tom had given me a call.

Man, I have broken three bones and not cried a single tear, but this makes me just pour out tears

Just discovered this, my oh my how this mimics my life but in my case I got to spend some years with my first and only true love before she sadly died os a rare cancer in 2016

come on, this is absolutely brilliant

what a time to be alive

First love ...quiet evenings...Martha (Chuck). Whew, it makes the eyes run extra, when the head of hair atop such big sweet memories has gone silvery. "All I had was you and all you had was me."

Funny after all these years still fills like I'm hearing it for the first must be nearly 40 year since I first heard it, lot of water under the bridge and even more friends passed on but the magic remains thank you

One of the best songs by one of our greatest song writers! Love the rare live recording! It provides a taste of Tom's voice in the days when the gruffness and gravel was less pronounced and hearing him sing his own wonderful songs was a bit easier on the ears..

Brilliance. We all have a Martha in our past.

This version has the end cut off (possibly the best part) where the MC says Tom will be back tomorrow night for "the price of one tenth of a dimebag, it's only a dollar", then says "Tom will be joined Thursday night through the end of the week with John Wa.. John Stewart.. John Wait..? [mumble] did I [mumble] John Wait?...... Tom Waits, once again, come on!" [followed by awkward pause, hesitant applause] I think the MC probably made use of his own dimebag during the show.

And here I am again. Even the great Tim Buckley covered this beautiful magic in his short time with us. Thanks, Tom.

Absolutely love this song. Sad thing is I have myself a bit of a Martha. Haven't seen her in more than five years, don't know what she's doing today, and now at 44 i don't see how I'll ever be able to get used to us not being together. Maybe in twenty years, at 64 I'll be like old Tom Frost. Not a joyous prospect, but the song is still beautiful. Hope I'll be able to keep liking it.

Todos tenemos nuestra Martha

I was there that night....Ebbets Field in Denver...It is etched in my mind forever...

Been listening to this five times this evening, could do with 5 more times.

Gosh all mighty that song kicks you square in the feels doesn't it.

Still tugs to break your heart ... poignant stuff.

This one of my all time favorite Tom Waits songs.There is so much emotion in this song.

Wish there were more recordings of waits with his original voice

He sounds wasted

Thank you, thank you, what a surprise tonight!

This can't be 74'

Meat Loaf is right. This song is one of his two favorites and I understand why. Meat did a version, too.

thank you this is one of my favorite waits songs. tears everytime

I was at all those mid 70s shows at Ebbett's Field. What great memories. We were all so young then.

I listen to this song all day, it means a lot to me! Thank you!

Damn, if Tom would play this at a future show, it would be awesome.

la versione più bella che abbia mai sentito del celebre brano di tom. un grande musicista, voce graffiante e spirito romantico. arriva immediatamente al cuore di chi ascolta un'intensa malinconia come d'autunno, sembra di veder un incontro tra due persone, il tutto racchiuso in sentimenti d'amore e semplici tenerezze lungo viali di foglie secche ingiallite. mitico tom. the most introspective and interesting storyteller i've ever heard.

So sad, but in a good way.

Saw him in the Olympia Dublin at a midnight show long long ago.He was amazing.Genius.

I like to imagine that the character in the song is still young and has just split up with the girl. He's drowning his sorrows in a bar, and imagining the rest of it (getting older, and then phoning her years later after realising that he'd never meet anyone like her).

Slow, slow connection, choppy download, but what a perfect song! Makes me grateful for what I have.

I have seen him twice in the 70's. Two of the best concerts ever. What you see is what you get...

Beautiful

Operator, number, please: It's been so many years Will she remember my old voice While I fight the tears? Hello, hello there, is this Martha? This is old Tom Frost And I am calling long distance Don't worry 'bout the cost. 'Cause it's been forty years or more Now Martha please recall Meet me out for coffee Where we'll talk about it all. And those were the days of roses Poetry and prose and Martha All I had was you and all you had was me. There was no tomorrows We'd packed away our sorrows And we saved them for a rainy day. And I feel so much older now And you're much older too How's your husband? And how's the kids? You know that I got married too? Lucky that you found someone To make you feel secure 'Cause we were all so young and foolish Now we are mature. And those were the days of roses Poetry and prose and Martha All I had was you and all you had was me. There was no tomorrows We'd packed away our sorrows And we saved them for a rainy day. And I was always so impulsive I guess that I still am And all that really mattered then Was that I was a man. I guess that our being together Was never meant to be. And Martha, Martha I love you can't you see? And those were the days of roses Poetry and prose and Martha All I had was you and all you had was me. There was no tomorrows We'd packed away our sorrows And we saved them for a rainy day. And I remember quiet evenings Trembling close to you...

Isn’t this the same version as the Live at Ebbet’s Field album?

Great, thank you for sharing...

Such a great song. I'd love to get a copy of this show.

This is o so beautiful, so straight from the heart, a jewel. 👍👍👍👍👍

Just so beautiful.

definitely my favourite tom waits song. and this version is amazing.

I would love to be Tom Frost 10 years from now..

@misterpeteface thanks so much for uploading this...amazing performance

I love this

Reminds me of a wonderful girl

Beautiful.

i used to believe tom waits was atleast 70 years old.... because of this song and how he sings it

Epic

One of my fav. :0) Thanks for uploading this gem.

it's so cool that this was filmed in denver!

I honestly was this is my sisters account! :D

Rare and awesome

I believe in Texas. It’s America last chance for me dream of hope the constitution. We to keep trying have hope It’s the one that makes the difference in this world.

Impressive, very impressive.

Where's the live???

No, your namne is Ally Danish.

Sweet, beyond compare.

Great quality. Thanks!

One of the best versions of the song

one of my all time favorites. thank you.

I was born in Denver and was 5yrs. old when this genius played there

The first of his most loved songs. I love this still now all these years later. I have been a fan for so many years.

Martha... Tom. Love.

So many years since I first listening to this song. Now I’m much older, too, had my days of roses with Martha, and I don’t love anymore

Just another, "Martha my dear"~i pray & dream yo can't forget me, your stubborn Welsh nanny goat~my sweet billy goat

I sang this with my friend Susan, I gave it my best shot but Tom is the best.

Always was impulsive....

Thank you. The Bette Midler on SNL version is also excellent. What an amazing songwriter/performer.

God bless you

@misterpeterface Does that offer of sending the recording also count for other people? :-)

@mickeycrist Really? I could send you a recording of the whole thing if you're interested?

I'd love to have a listen also, if you can still upload. It would be greatly appreciated.

this particular recorded album "nickel and dime store" (I think) is fantastic... "one from the heart" has amazing songs as well...

All I had was you and all you had was me...

@misterpeterface Thanks! You have one new subscriber. ;-)

It's like the one that got away like by Katy Perry

@mickeycrist Oh God yes.....how?

Not surprising this song makes me feel like I belong..

im not crying you are crying

uploaded the day i celebrate my birthday. thanks

dont worry bout the cost

He also great actor.

Amazing. True.

My baby is called martha

So beautiful, thank you so much, joanie

I wish I was or had a Martha

Sad songs make me happy :'( >> :)

25 year old...