| Tom Waits – Swordfishtrombone Lyrics | 11 years ago |
| Incidentally, Cadillac DeVilles (particularly the longer-bodied Brougham) are often used as the base chassis for hearses. So, a "modified Brougham Deville" would be a hearse. Not that this character was literally driving one, but I think it says he had death on his mind.... | |
| Tom Waits – Swordfishtrombone Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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What makes people say this is about a WWI veteran? I've always assumed Vietnam. Tenkiller Lake didn't exist before 1947 (it's a dammed river; the dam was built in '47), and the Cadillac DeVille didn't exist until 1949. Not that Tom necessarily did historical research to write this song (and of course he didn't have access to wikipedia, like me), and there's obviously a lot of metaphor in this song... it certainly doesn't qualify as "realism." But... I don't see any lyrical cues indicating World War I. Why do you think it's about WWI? |
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