Tom Waits - 'Big In Japan'

"Big In Japan" by Tom Waits from the album 'Mule Variations'

Lyrics

I got the style but not the grace
I got the clothes but not the face
I got the bread but not the butter
I got the winda but not the shutter

But I'm big in Japan I'm big in Japan But heh I'm big in Japan

I got the house but not the deed
I got the horn but not the reed
I got the cards but not the luck
I got the wheel but not the truck

But heh I'm big in Japan I'm big in Japan I'm big in Japan

I got the moon I got the cheese I got the whole damn nation
On its knees I got the rooster I got the crow
I got the ebb I got the flow

I got the powder but not the gun
I got the dog but not the bun
I got the clouds but not the sky
I got the stripes but not the tie

But heh I'm big in Japan I'm big in Japan I'm big in Japan

Heh ho they love the way I do it
Heh ho there's really nothing to it

I got the moon I got the cheese
I got the whole damn nation on their knees
I got the rooster I got the crow
I got the ebb I got the flow

I got the sizzle but not the steak
I got the boat but not the lake
I got the sheets but not the bed
I got the jam but not the bread

But heh I'm big in Japan I'm big in Japan I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan, I'm big in Japan.

#tomwaits #mulevariations

[fwog_on_youtube]

When my son was eleven months old, he went deaf. He had a major surgery to try to restore some hearing. They asked us to keep sound to a minimum while he was healing. One day, I turned this song on very softly. Suddenly, he squealed and crawled over to the stereo, pulled himself up and started dancing. That's when I knew the surgery was a success and my baby could hear! Every time I hear this, I see that eleven month old baby, standing there with a huge smile and dancing, because he could hear the music!

[scottprice]

I like that Tom Waits creates original music and does not just pump out formulaic songs.

[GregDiamond-whob]

Few artists make great albums. Even fewer make perfect albums, and most, if they do make one, make only one. This is a perfect album, and Waits has several. There has never been anyone like him, and there never will be again. Enlightenment attained, the cycle of Samsara, broken completely free. We can only sit at his feet staring at an inner smile, a dream of learning.

[vinniecentz]

Guitar, bass and drums in this one were basically recorded by the Brown Album/Antipop era Primus: Les Claypool, Larry LaLonde and Bryan Mantia

[timt]

Super weird that I first heard Tom Waits on a Punk-O-Rama compilation, but I'll take it. I got there by whatever path I needed to take.

[coandog]

Tom Waits can not make a bad song!!! The man is AMAZING!

[garyclarke]

Great album. This album proved to be the catalyst for buying the Tom Waits back catalogue back in the day. Thank you.

[jasonsphinx]

Sittin' around reprising this masterpiece with endless inspired verses for posterity. Pass the time.
Take us all on back Mr. W.~

[Vandolleyez]

There's just not enough people in this world who appreciate our Tomcat

[musicandcoffee]

Love this album....well all his work really 🤙🏼

[the-bottom-of-a-black-hole-.]

"I have all these beautiful thoughts on my mind and nothing to pale them by except for most things my eyes see."
, dan'

[johnplank]

Got the rooster, got the crow - yeah this rocks!

[jennyteaganballejo]

"The wreck of the Weaverville stage..." I never noticed that specific lyric before. I have family that lived in Weaverville for a number of years. Nice little town, I miss visiting I'm the summer.

[gedrodger]

Such a great image... Such a great album... Xxxxx

[ronaldchives]

Beautiful, it’s got everything you’d want from a Beefheart kind of thing, and then it’s got slam, oh wow

[rawbhonn]

When I had my shop all to myself at 5:00 a.m. I'd crank this up to start my day!

[Bricameron]

I’m getting a lot of Tom Waits in my feed without any context as to why and what for.

[LukeMaynard]

When the captions kick in, they read: "Bluesy rock music." I guess that's... sort of right. But it does such a poor job of explaining what you're listening. to.

[aaronwimberleymbamsf]

Classic & Timeless & Priceless=] You can always count on Tom Waits for some levity

[WALLYDRAG]

This song is so cool because when I played magic the gathering and won a couple big tournaments my decklist in a small way made me big in japan for a bit lol 😆 and couple other places