@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
The broken glass
And the rusty nails
Where the violets grow
Say goodbye to the railroad
And the mad dogs of summer
And everything that I know
What some men will do here for diamonds
What some men will do here for gold
Wounded but they just keep on climbin'
Sleep by the side of the road
There's a hole in the ladder
A fence we can climb
Mad as a hatter
You're thin as a dime
Go out to the meadow
The hills are agreen
Sing me a rainbow
Steal me a dream
Small-time Napoleons
Shattered his knees
But he stays in the saddle for Rose
And all his disciples
They shave in the gutter
And gather what's left of his clothers
What some men will do here for diamonds
What some men will do here for gold
Wounded but they just keep on climbin'
They sleep by the side of the road
And the rusty nails
Where the violets grow
Say goodbye to the railroad
And the mad dogs of summer
And everything that I know
What some men will do here for diamonds
What some men will do here for gold
Wounded but they just keep on climbin'
Sleep by the side of the road
There's a hole in the ladder
A fence we can climb
Mad as a hatter
You're thin as a dime
Go out to the meadow
The hills are agreen
Sing me a rainbow
Steal me a dream
Small-time Napoleons
Shattered his knees
But he stays in the saddle for Rose
And all his disciples
They shave in the gutter
And gather what's left of his clothers
What some men will do here for diamonds
What some men will do here for gold
Wounded but they just keep on climbin'
They sleep by the side of the road
Lyrics submitted by yuri_sucupira, edited by Mellow_Harsher
Diamonds & Gold Lyrics as written by Thomas Alan Waits
Lyrics © JALMA MUSIC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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amazing song about those who chaise fortunes and their unfortunate lifes.
one of my favorite songs
and the lines "And all his disciple<br /> They shave in the gutter<br /> And gather what's left of his clothes"<br /> describes what's left of these men after death
I'm in love with these lyrics.
tom waits is one of the most fantastic lyricists of all time. i love this song~
Its about people who would do anything for fortune, and he is saying that he won't be like that. Great song.
Anybody else think the stanza starting with "There's a hole in the ladder" and ending with "Steal me a dream" sounds strangely like Chim-Chim-Cheree or whatever that song from Mary Poppins is called?
hahaha i know what you mean!
@ThomYorkeGuyGarvey92 Yes, it's a fantastic use of quoting the melody from Chim-Chim-Chimeree, which totally matches the vibe on this album, where all the songs apparently have some connection with a nursery rhyme/theme. It's uncanny how well it fits into the overall melody and feel of Diamonds & Gold.
i think its also about how they'll leave everyone behind to chase their fortunes "all his disciples, they shave in the gutter / and they gather whats left of his clothes"
For me it's about how a man leaves behind the way of life he used to live before - the railroad, the glass and the mad dogs of summer. Now he tries to live like everyone else, but preserve some of his ideals, however seeing his used-to-be friends chasing for their fortunes he both envies them and feels how ugly the way of life their living is.