I'd sell your heart to the junkman
Baby, for a buck, for a buck
If you're looking for someone to pull you uut of that ditch
You're out of luck, you're out of luck

Ship is sinking
The ship is sinking
The ship is sinking

There's leak, there's a leak, in the boiler room
The poor, the lame, the blind
Who are the ones that we kept in charge?
Killers, thieves, and lawyers

God's away, God's away
God's away on business
Business
God's away, God's away
God's away on business
Business

Digging up the dead with a shovel and a pick
It's a job, it's a job
Bloody moon rising with a plague and a flood
Join the mob, join the mob

It's all over, it's all over, it's all over

And there's a leak, there's a leak, in the boiler room
The poor, the lame, the blind
Who are the ones that we kept in charge?
Killers, thieves, and lawyers
God's away, God's away, God's away
On Business
Business
God's away, God's away
On Business
Business, ha

Goddamn there's always such a big temptation
To be good, to be good
There's always free cheddar in a mousetrap, baby
It's a deal, it's a deal
God's away, God's away, God's away
On business
Business

God's away, God's away, God's away
On business
Business

I narrow my eyes like a coin slot baby
Let her ring, let her ring

God's away, God's away
God's away on business
God's away, God's away
God's away on business, business

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Lyrics submitted by daffy

God's Away on Business Lyrics as written by Thomas Alan Waits Kathleen Brennan

Lyrics © JALMA MUSIC

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God's Away on Business song meanings

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11 Comments

+4
Song Meaning
The initial verse makes it very clear that there will be no romance in this song, and to not even bother looking for them. It's smacks of inflicted disillusionment. I believe the ship is not just a metaphor for the world, but for human society afloat in the world. When the society starts to "sink" or everyone doesn't have to pay equally. Tom says the ones who pay are "the poor, the lame, the blind" which is quite obviously the lower classes (I don't think Tom means the Blind to be the religious, as is the common translation. That seems a bit out of line with the rest of Blood Money), while the upper classes are left in charge. If you apply the song to Wall Street's near total destruction of the world economy, then it really takes shape. That's why "lawyers" are equal with "killers and thieves" (warmongers, investment bankers etc). Into 2011 we're looking at hard economic times, but it's the lower classes in the "boiler room" that get drowned in the seawater, while the upper echelons have life boats and a vague idea that something bad may be going on below decks. "God's away on business" anthropomorphizes God as a paternal figure. It could be read to say "Dad's away on business, so he can't set things right for you." In the context of Tom's other songs relating to paternal figures (especially when he's taking the role) it's pretty easy to assume that the God/Dad isn't coming home at all. So the children are left at the mercy of an unfair, indifferent universe. A masterpiece of bitterness is an understatement.

The initial verse makes it very clear that there will be no romance in this song, and to not even bother looking for them. It's smacks of inflicted disillusionment. I believe the ship is not just a metaphor for the world, but for human society afloat in the world. When the society starts to "sink" or everyone doesn't have to pay equally. Tom says the ones who pay are "the poor, the lame, the blind" which is quite obviously the lower classes (I don't think Tom means the Blind to be the religious, as is the common translation. That seems a bit out of line with the rest of Blood Money), while the upper classes are left in charge. If you apply the song to Wall Street's near total destruction of the world economy, then it really takes shape. That's why "lawyers" are equal with "killers and thieves" (warmongers, investment bankers etc). Into 2011 we're looking at hard economic times, but it's the lower classes in the "boiler room" that get drowned in the seawater, while the upper echelons have life boats and a vague idea that something bad may be going on below decks. "God's away on business" anthropomorphizes God as a paternal figure. It could be read to say "Dad's away on business, so he can't set things right for you." In the context of Tom's other songs relating to paternal figures (especially when he's taking the role) it's pretty easy to assume that the God/Dad isn't coming home at all. So the children are left at the mercy of an unfair, indifferent universe. A masterpiece of bitterness is an understatement.

Reason:

Raven113on March 30, 2011 Link
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@Raven113
+3
General Comment
Enron.

Enron.

Reason:

bkat004on May 09, 2009 Link
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@bkat004

bkat04 has it...this song was even used, perfectly positioned, as the closing music for the documentary "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room." The ship is sinking! It's all over.

The phrase "God's away on business" refers to businessmen who set aside morality for the sake of making a buck. We're doing business, they say, there are no ethics here. They would sell your heart to make a buck.

They "narrow their eyes to a coin slot," unable to see anything but the profit motive. And if you expect them to pull you out of the ditch (the collapse caused by their own greed), then you are out of luck. Any evil thing "digging up the dead" is okay, it's just a job.

Even those who might want to be good, are lured by the temptation of a big deal...though in the end if will lead to destruction.

1anomalyon January 08, 2010
+2
General Comment
The song was probably written before Enron went under. I think it's just a general song about shitty humans being shitty to each other.

The song was probably written before Enron went under. I think it's just a general song about shitty humans being shitty to each other.

Reason:

xdvron July 20, 2011 Link
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@xdvr
+1
General Comment
I agree with bkat and Raven... On a more specific scale this deals with the Enron crisis, and on a more poetic scale, all crises. Waits is definitely trying to emphasize that we are ALONE in trying to solve these huge profit-motivated disasters. Tom Waits is a fucking genius.

I agree with bkat and Raven... On a more specific scale this deals with the Enron crisis, and on a more poetic scale, all crises. Waits is definitely trying to emphasize that we are ALONE in trying to solve these huge profit-motivated disasters. Tom Waits is a fucking genius.

Reason:

justletgoandbeLIFTEDon May 28, 2011 Link
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@justletgoandbeLIFTED
+1
General Comment
youtube.com/…

<a rel="nofollow" href="http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5X4N2exOsU">youtube.com/…</a>

Reason:

xdvron September 07, 2011 Link
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@xdvr

@xdvr - thanks for posting that link. I was headed to this site to post it but you beat me to it. One of the greatest viral vids I've seen in a long while.

writerlyon September 11, 2011
0
General Comment
This one is a masterpiece of bitterness. "Who are the ones that they left in charge? / Killers, thieves and lawyers". I love it. He's at his most incisive here, this is one of the best tracks on Blood Money.

This one is a masterpiece of bitterness. "Who are the ones that they left in charge? / Killers, thieves and lawyers". I love it. He's at his most incisive here, this is one of the best tracks on Blood Money.

Reason:

thitheron July 28, 2005 Link
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@thither
0
General Comment
i agree completely.also think his voice sounds really sinister and rather scary

i agree completely.also think his voice sounds really sinister and rather scary

Reason:

emilieeon April 07, 2006 Link
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@emiliee
0
General Comment
I think i saw the video for this, but i dont remember, but i think of a clown when this song plays. Was there one in the clip? Agreed, very siniste and bitter. Love this song.

I think i saw the video for this, but i dont remember, but i think of a clown when this song plays. Was there one in the clip? Agreed, very siniste and bitter. Love this song.

Reason:

big timmyon May 06, 2007 Link
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@big timmy
0
General Comment
"I'd sell your heart to the junkman baby For a buck, for a buck If you're looking for someone to pull you out of that ditch You're out of luck, you're out of luck" Shows are people are becoming more and more heartless. "Ship is sinking The ship is sinking The ship is sinking" The ship is a metaphor for the world, and it's going down hill, or in this case, it's "sinking." "God's away, God's away God's away on business, business God's away, God's away God's away on business, business" God has deserted us. "Digging up the dead with a shovel and a pick It's a job, it's a job" Dead rising in the end times. "Bloody moon rising with a plague and a flood Join the mob, join the mob." The people are angry that God has deserted them and let the world die. "It's all over, it's all over It's all over" Self explanatory.. "There's a leak, there's a leak in the boiler room The poor, the lame, the blind" About the ship (world) starting to "sink" not sure about the "poor, the lame, the blind." "Who are the ones that we kept in charge? Killers, thieves and lawyers" We put corupt people in power to tell us what to do. "God's away, God's away God's away on business, business God's away, God's away on business, business" Again, God has left us... "Godddamn there's always such a big temptation To be good, to be good" Being "good" is looked at as weak, while being "bad" is looked at as being strong, therefore it's the norm.. "There's always free cheddar in a mousetrap, baby It's a deal, it's a deal" For every action there is a consequence. "God's away, God's away God's away on business, business God's away, God's away God's away on business, business" Do I need to say it again?!!?!?!?!?!? lol "I narrow my eyes like a coin slot baby Let her ring, let her ring" He's keeping an eye on someone waiting for them to slip up. "God's away, God's away God's away on business, business God's away, God's away God's away on business, business " Umm... yea, you know what what it means. Good song..

"I'd sell your heart to the junkman baby For a buck, for a buck If you're looking for someone to pull you out of that ditch You're out of luck, you're out of luck" Shows are people are becoming more and more heartless. "Ship is sinking The ship is sinking The ship is sinking" The ship is a metaphor for the world, and it's going down hill, or in this case, it's "sinking." "God's away, God's away God's away on business, business God's away, God's away God's away on business, business" God has deserted us. "Digging up the dead with a shovel and a pick It's a job, it's a job" Dead rising in the end times. "Bloody moon rising with a plague and a flood Join the mob, join the mob." The people are angry that God has deserted them and let the world die. "It's all over, it's all over It's all over" Self explanatory.. "There's a leak, there's a leak in the boiler room The poor, the lame, the blind" About the ship (world) starting to "sink" not sure about the "poor, the lame, the blind." "Who are the ones that we kept in charge? Killers, thieves and lawyers" We put corupt people in power to tell us what to do. "God's away, God's away God's away on business, business God's away, God's away on business, business" Again, God has left us... "Godddamn there's always such a big temptation To be good, to be good" Being "good" is looked at as weak, while being "bad" is looked at as being strong, therefore it's the norm.. "There's always free cheddar in a mousetrap, baby It's a deal, it's a deal" For every action there is a consequence. "God's away, God's away God's away on business, business God's away, God's away God's away on business, business" Do I need to say it again?!!?!?!?!?!? lol "I narrow my eyes like a coin slot baby Let her ring, let her ring" He's keeping an eye on someone waiting for them to slip up. "God's away, God's away God's away on business, business God's away, God's away God's away on business, business " Umm... yea, you know what what it means. Good song..

Reason:

jpr227on May 05, 2008 Link
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@jpr227

I mostly agree with this interpretation. A few adjustments on how i see it:

"Digging up the dead with a shovel and a pick
It's a job, it's a job"

I related this back to being heartless; the people who bury the dead see them as "bodies" not "humans" ... and its just another way to get the bills paid.

"There's a leak, there's a leak in the boiler room
The poor, the lame, the blind"

The boiler room is what makes the ship GO... "the poor, the lame, the blind" are the common people who get taxed and pretty much keep the economy rolling. Its a direct connection to "killer, thieves and lawyers," who are at the controls at the front of the ship. *note: He put lawyers in with the killers and thieves because it is their job to defend them IF they are representing that person. Defending the guilty is just as bad as doing the deed.

"I narrow my eyes like a coin slot baby
Let her ring, let her ring"

Wasting money on the lotto... i see it as literal. Instead of working to earn money, people are wasting it to get richer the easier way.

Walk2Pathson November 05, 2009
0
General Comment
I find it funny that he mentions lawyers together with killers and thieves.

I find it funny that he mentions lawyers together with killers and thieves.

Reason:

TheEmilon August 20, 2009 Link
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@TheEmil

Me too, that was funny.

sketchfordawnon February 07, 2010

the original song was "killers, thieves and whores" in the play woyzeck (where the blood money album comes from). whores was replaced with lawyers for the studio version.

still very funny though

mr093242on September 18, 2011

Very astute observation from Tom.

This song is probably more relevent than it was 20 years ago.

Don't take God to be the literal/literary (take you're pick) figure, it's an allegory, to say "No-one's getting us out of this mess."

xdvron October 26, 2011