Starving in the Belly of a Whale

Tom Waits

Life is whittled
Life's a riddle
Man's a fiddle that life plays on
When the day breaks
And the earth quakes
Life's a mistake all day long

You, tell me, who gives a good gooddamn
You'll never get out alive
Don't go dreaming
Don't go scheming
A man must test his mettle
In a crooked old world

Starving in the belly
Starving in the belly
Starving in the belly of a whale
'Fore you're starving in the belly
Starving in the belly
Starving in the belly of a whale

Don't take my word
Just look skyward
They that dance must pay the fiddler
Sky is darkening
Dogs are barking
But the caravan moves on

You, tell me, who gives a good gooddamn
You'll never get get out alive
Don't go dreaming
Don't go scheming
A man must test his mettle
In crooked old world

Starving in the belly
Starving in the belly
Starving in the belly of a whale
Oh, you're starving in the belly
Starving in the belly
Starving in the belly of a whale

As the crow flies
It's there the truth lies
At the bottom of the well
E-o-leven goes to heaven
Bless the dead here as the rain falls

Don't trust a bull's horn
A doberman's tooth
A runaway horse or me
Don't be greedy, don't be needy
If you live in hope
You're dancing to a terrible tune

Starving in the belly
Starving in the belly
Starving in the belly of a whale
Oh, starving in the belly
Starving in the belly
Starving in the belly of a whale


Lyrics submitted by merchantpierce, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Starving in the Belly of a Whale Lyrics as written by Thomas Alan Waits

Lyrics © JALMA MUSIC

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Starving in the Belly of a Whale song meanings
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    General Comment

    I think it means that we have everything but don't know it, and just keep searching for an elusive thing.

    Catherinepcson August 23, 2013   Link

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