Tom Waits - Tom Traubert's Blues 'Waltzing Matilda' (Lyrics-Text)

Tom Waits - Tom Traubert's Blues "Waltzing Matilda"
Album: Used Songs

Lyrics-Text:
Wasted and wounded, it ain't what the moon did
I got what I paid for now
See ya tomorrow hey Frank can I borrow
a couple of bucks from you
To go waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda,
You'll go waltzing Matilda with me

I'm an innocent victim of a blinded alley
And I'm tired of all these soldiers here
No one speaks English, and everything's broken
and my Stacys are soaking wet
To go waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda,
You'll go waltzing Matilda with me

Now the dogs are barking
and the taxi cabs parking
A lot they can do for me
I begged you to stab me
you tore my shirt open
And I'm down on my knees tonight
Old Bushmills I staggered
you buried the dagger in
Your silhouette window light
To go waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda,
You'll go waltzing Matilda with me

Now I've lost my Saint Christopher
now that I've kissed her
And the one-armed bandit knows
And the maverick Chinaman, and the cold blooded signs
And the girls down by the strip tease shows, go
Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda,
You'll go waltzing Matilda with me

No, I don't want your sympathy
the fugitives say
That the streets aren't for dreaming now
manslaughter dragnets and the ghosts that sell memories
They want a piece of the action anyhow
Go waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda,
You'll go waltzing Matilda with me

And you can ask any sailor
and the keys from the jailor
And the old men in wheelchairs know
that Matilda's the defendant, she killed about a hundred
And she follows wherever you may go
Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda,
You'll go waltzing Matilda with me

And it's a battered old suitcase
to a hotel someplace
And a wound that will never heal
No prima donna the perfume is on an
Old shirt that is stained
with blood and whiskey
And goodnight to the street sweepers
the night watchmen flame keepers
And goodnight Matilda too

[scriptsaloud]

I'm over sixty years of age, how the FUCK have I never heard of Tom Waits? I pray I have enough time left to listen to all his works...

[effhorst]

One of our cats just LOVED Tom Waits. Her name was Sophie. She died in 2018. This is for her. Thank you Ma'am!

[Kiwibird]

All these years later and it still hits that part of my heart I thought died so long ago

[echtzat]

My grandfather had this song on his funeral. Literally the most beautiful funeral song I've heard. We laughed, we griefed, we were taken out of the moment to remember the great grandfather we had. I miss you old man, this song is a blessing in disguise to me.

[papantlaflyer]

BOY, I REMEMBER my late son, OSO (Leonard), saying that this was his favorite song because he LOVED the "COOKIE MONSTER" voice from "sesame street", and that the lyrics were mysterious enough to make drawings about it, he actually did a lot of drawings and always ASKED ME about things he didn´t understand, he became a big fan of tom because of this very song... MY ANGEL, you left us so soon, you should have lived a long and happy life as you deserved... miss you so much... AND GOOD NIGHT TO YOO TOO... thanks for sharing this treasure, man ...

[inaklingelhofer]

The best version of Waltzing Matilda oh yes.

[DavidHalChester]

When I was young, I heard this song at a record store (yes, I'm ancient). I bought the record, brought it home, listened to it... and cried my eyes out. I love Tom Waits. His songs touched me in a way that nothing else has.

[markverheirstraeten]

Melancholy is in his voice. A masterpiece from Tom Waits! (y)

[darekomernik]

I had this song on tape in my old reel-to-reel tape recorder. I was 16 years old. I replaced the tape recorder with another one, and then the era of CDs came. I forgot about this song for 40 years. Until today, by accident, it is here. Like a blow to the heart. Thank you.

[AnthonyvanderWesthuysen]

An absolute GENIUS combination of the strings and Tom's voice.

[afeine]

I want this played at my funeral
Tears have rolled down my cheeks every single time I've listened to this masterpiece since the very first time I heard it, way back in 1984 at the age of 12.

[nataliademiantseva]

Our live is waltzing away from us, ladies and gentlemen. So let us appraciate every moment of it. Thank you, Tom Waits for this wonderful song that is performed not only with your voice but with your soul and your heart. As a true artist should always do.

[thephoenix]

One of the most beautiful songs of all time! Moby should make a cover of this song, that would be tremendous!

[andyhowlett]

Dear God, I have to be careful NOT to hear this track in public as I am liable to dissolve into tears. It touches something so deep.

[brian]

I first heard this song when it first came out. I lived in Southern N.J. and was driving through the pinelands heading north to go to northern N.J. The song came on when I was only a few hundred feet from a delicatessen. I had to stop and listen to the song and by the time it was finished, I had to find a cloth to dry my eyes.

[chadhoffman]

"It's a battered old suitcase to a hotel someplace,
& a wound that will never heal."

Thank you Tom Waits

[Spuddleme]

You're not alone Andy. I can hardly stand it. This is a gift.

[andyhowlett]

I can barely listen to this song, especially Tom's version. It's absolutely beautiful and so sad. 'Everything's broken and no-one speaks English....'

[maddybhuyan]

"I am an innocent victim,
Of a blinded
Thanks Mr. Tom Waits; the artist extraordinaire, for singing out in consolation to the ones misjudged, defeated, misunderstood, fighting through loneliness, struggling with alcoholism, drug addiction, financial crisis, plus various other miseries, and you Sir, are the voice of support for all those who are metaphorically fallen in the battle of life.

[Bohonk]

Saw Tom at Frivolous Sal's Last Chance Saloon in Poughkeepsie, NY (Now just The Chance) way back when he was just getting started. He had the Chaplin tramp schtick going back then complete with a mock gas-streetlight pole on stage to lean against.
Always a fan.