Tom Waits - "On The Nickel" & Interview (Live on David Letterman, 1983) 

Shit. I can't listen to this song without crying. Nobody captures the feel of a place like he does. He's a DaVinci in song.

I was born on this exact day!

Thanks for the video. Also, the song is from the album Heartattack and Vine.

So beautiful

He sings it so unusually softly here. I've not heard him sing it like this before

I don't know why I'm seeing this right now but it's what I need

I started listening to Tom Waits when I was 15, 45 years ago- he gets even better and more relevant as you get older. 🙏

I’m glad this is happening

How good is he !

George DuVivier played on Eric Dolphy's "Out There" with Ron Carter on cello in 1958 or 1960.

My mother has gone 1 week ago... Thank you Tom....

man oh man

Underneath his unique mannerisms and anecdotes lies an incredible songwriter with an amazing ear for melodies. Tom Waits is the shit!

One of the GREATS - Legend

My fave Joker, loooove him

Sticks and stones will break my bones But I always will be true And when your mama is dead and gone I'll sing this lullaby just for you So 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 you better bring a bucket There is a hole in the pail If you don't get my letter Then you'll know that I'm in jail So what becomes of all the little boys Who never say their prayers? They're sleepin' like a baby On The Nickel over there If you chew tobacco, and wish upon a star You'll find out where the scarecrows sit Just like punchlines between the cars 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, you're sleepin' in the rain And you're always late for supper And man you let me down, let me down again 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 what becomes of all the little boys The sandman takes you where You'll be sleepin' with a pillowman On the Nickel over there So let's climb up through that button hole And fall right up the stairs I'll show you where the short dogs grow On the Nickel over there

On the Mount Rushmore of American songwriting I see Tom's face there

Ahhh Tom. Thank you.

A beautiful mess💝😍😅

He is so humble.

I like a lot of Tom's work but this is my favorite piece of his. Ralph Waite wrote a real classic here and there's no one else who could sing it better than Tom Waits, imo

"Even Thomas Jefferson's on the nickel over there".

The hands in the pockets...Heath took that..but I still don't know what short dogs are.

I know the Nickel

I have so much love for Tom Waits! ...and such a bad taste in my mouth from puking a little when I hear David Letterman....

He is the American version of our Shane McGowan. A beautiful person and song writer

The man!

Letterman blows.