Sometimes words are just music themselves. Like 'Chicago' is a very musical sounding name. Tom Waits chicagomusicmusical Change image and share on social
Writing songs is like capturing birds without killing them. Sometimes you end up with nothing but a mouthful of feathers. Tom Waits birdcaptureend Change image and share on social
Most songs have meager beginnings. You wake up in the morning, you throw on your suspenders, and you subvocalize and just think. They seem to form like calcium. I can't think of a story right off the bat that was that interesting. I write things on the back of my hand, usually, and sing into a tape recorder. Tom Waits backbatbeginning share on social
Any place is good for eavesdropping, if you know how to eavesdrop. Tom Waits eavesdropgoodplace Change image and share on social
If you record the sound of bacon in a frying pan and play it back, it sounds like the pops and cracks on an old 33 1/3 recording. Almost exactly like that. You could substitute it for that sound. Tom Waits backbaconcrack Change image and share on social
Somebody said I sound like an old lady, and I was really insulted by that. I'm trying to sound like Skip James and Smokey Robinson and Marvin Gaye. Tom Waits gayeinsultjame Change image and share on social
When you're a kid and you're trying to find your own voice, it's rather daunting to hear somebody like Howlin' Wolf, because you know that you'll never achieve that. Tom Waits achievedauntfind Change image and share on social
All records are riddles, and whatever you may want people to think it's about, it may just be throwing them off. And you don't want it to get in the way of what someone else's understanding is. It's not really about anything. At the same time, it will find some meaning. Tom Waits findmeanpeople share on social
If you are making a record, you are the one saying 'action', and you are the one saying 'cut,' and you have to be sure that the most interesting thing is not going on outside the frame. Tom Waits actioncutframe Change image and share on social
I don't like the word 'poetry,' and I don't like poetry readings, and I usually don't like poets. I would much prefer describing myself and what I do as: I'm kind of a curator, and I'm kind of a night-owl reporter. Tom Waits curatordescribekind share on social