Tom Waits - 'Chicago' (Live on David Letterman, 2012)

Tom Waits performs "Chicago" from the album 'Bad As Me' live on Late Show With David Letterman on September 7, 2009

#tomwaits #badasme

[pac]

David Hidalgo (Los Lobos) and Big Bill Morganfield (Muddy Waters son) on guitars, Larry Taylor on bass, Augie Meyers on piano and Tom’s son Casey on drums.

[arieswaters]

I've been loving this song for a few weeks. But I just realized tonight while I was getting ready to leave the house that if you're standing up and dancing to the song it's even better

[potatosarereal]

Pls come back, it’s what this world needs

[JesseLandau]

One note. One chord. One amazing song.

[davesmith]

I love this version. Makes me wish Tom would do the whole album live

[vancouverterry]

Tom deserves some kind of award for writing this song, it so brilliantly captures the spirit and bravery of the migration from the South. Hats off to you, Tom! As true a troubador as there ever was!

[thedevilinthecircuit]

The sound of the train coming to a stop at the station at the end of the song. GENIUS.

[Liquid__Living]

Brilliant. From the band to Tom and his "train" vocal musings that build and lands at the end. Truly a 1/1 talent

[suzimilligan]

I love how the band watches Tom for any cues he may throw out. He is capable of anything!

[adamspiegelofchicagoonhand]

I saw Tom and his band perform at the University of Chicago in 1979 or 80. I was a photographer for the school paper and arts journal, so I was inside the venue for the show and for the sound check, during which Tom and I had a nice little chat. He was very nice to this 19 year old college kid, and the show is still one of the best shows I've ever seen of any performer.

[charleshagen]

always liked that Dave had Tom on his show so many times. Good on Dave, good for us.

[benelh]

What a showman, absolutely brilliant. One of a kind! Love this.

[BW_Maher]

What a joy to hear Tom sing one of my favorites from his catalog of timeless classics. Thanks!

[lurx]

A Tom Waits performance is more authentic than life.

[MrMuel]

He sings like some mad southern preacher at the end of days. Whether he’s possessed by God or the Devil is hard to say. I love it.

[dreamwell]

"We won't have to say goodbye if we all go."

[NorthFlaMan]

One of the most radically enhanced masterful freakouts that you can throttle your gray matter with! Gritty with perfection!

[vancouverterry]

I gotta say it again, but more insistently: TOM HAS *** GOT *** to be given some kind of award for this song. The more one knows about the migration of jazz, blues, and Black culture from the South the more it's just GRIPPING to listen to and the more one can FEEL the tugging at the heart and the fledgling hope for a better future at the other end of the railway line as folks accept and act on "the seeds are planted here but they can't grow / we won't have to say goodbye if we all go". If needs be, some music mogul or group should INVENT AN AWARD for this song, as far as capturing the guts and the heart of that history it takes it to a new high. If anyone reading this comment has the connections to get Tom an award for the song, I'd say that would be a contribution opportunity to act on. Absolutely brilliant, Tom, absolutely brilliant!

[johnblanchard]

Just can't stop watching this incredible performance Tom at his absolute peak. The band mesmerising. Perfection.

[lesmccracken]

He’s such a class act, up there with the top, Dylan, Cohen etc. just great!