Reviews for Tom Traubert's Blues Lyrics
Performed by Tom WaitsAdd Your New Review About The Song
Unique | Reviewer: Mac.Hawk | 8/6/09
Startlingly brilliant. Reached the masses via Rod Stewart's version (and to think people thought HE had a rough voice!). Stewart brought out the melody, similarly on Downtown Train, but the minimalism of the original and Tom's voice make this a classic track. There are a few theories to the subject matter: it's about an alcoholic: a drug taker: a Vietnam veteran (drug taking) or, as Tom has been quoted as saying, 'it's about throwing up in a foreign country'. Whichever one you choose, it matters not, it's just a brilliant piece of work!
ellie | Reviewer: Anonymous | 7/7/09
This song nearly had me weeping the first time i heard it. The line 'and i begged you to stab me' does it...
First time i heard Tom's voice i was shocked, i wasn't really sure if it was good or bad, but i've gotten used to his gravelly tones and can always hear the pain in his voice seeping through, brilliant song writer.
Tom Taubert's Blues | Reviewer: Darius Barnes | 7/5/08
I have played piano since I was 5 and I am now 46. One evening I was watching the David Letterman show and he introduced Tom Waits. I had never heard of Tom. He came out looking like a hobo and I was not impressed. He talked to Dave a few minutes and then went to the piano and played "On The Nickel". I was completely amazed. I quickly learned that song and many others from all the Tom Waits albums I immediately purchased. When I would do a Tom Waits number I would always sing it in the Tom Waits voice because nothing else would do it justice. My mother, who had heard me play piano for years, heard me doing Ruby's Arms one day and couldn't figure out why I was singing with a scratchy voice. I said Mom, thats the way Tom does it. I asked her what she thought of the songs and she said they were beautiful. Now almost 30 years later, I still do the Tom Waits songs and anytime my mother hears one on TV she says...."hey theres that guy you do". This song has a sad sort of feel to it, as does many of Toms wok, but when it is being performed correctly, you will have everyones attention.
b-e-a-utiful (listen to patrick stump's version!) | Reviewer: Christine | 4/27/08
I like reading about what musicians have to say about other music and their feelings about it. So, yesterday, I went to Patrick Stump's website and he had one a cover of this song. (you HAVE to go check it out) The way he sings it is just beautiful. He just has this way of really connecting with a song and that's something I admire greatly. He's [Patrick] a wonderful musician and one that I look up to when it comes to music. The lyrics are just mesmerizing and have such power and meaning that i can't help but be drawn to it. I looked up the original song on youtube and I was just in awe by Tom Waits' voice. I've never heard anything like it. This song is the type of song I always look to when I want inspiration. The way a song sounds (i.e. chords, vocals, dynamics, emotion) is what really gives me my inspiration. I've rambled on long enough I believe. What can I say? I'm a music nerd. :)
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