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Table Top Joe Lyrics
Tabletop Joe, Tabletop Joe
everyone knows Tabletop Joe
well his mama didn't want him
on the day he was born
born without a body
he got nothing but scorn
but he always loved music
all he had was his hands
and he dreamed he'd be famous
and he'd work at the Sands
Tabletop Joe, Tabletop Joe
everyone knows Tabletop Joe
he had trouble with the pedals
but he had a strong left hand
and he could play Stravinsky
on a baby grand
Tabletop Joe, Tabletop Joe
everyone knows Tabletop Joe
he said "I'm gonna join the circus
cause that's I where I belong"
and he went to Coney Island
singing this song
and they gave him top billing
in the Dreamland show
he had his own orchestra
starring Tabletop Joe
and the man without a body
proved everyone wrong
he was rich and he was famous
and he was where he belonged
singing Tabletop Joe, Tabletop Joe
now everyone knows, Tabletop Joe
now everyone knows, Tabletop Joe
singing Tabletop Joe, Tabletop Joe...
everyone knows Tabletop Joe
on the day he was born
born without a body
he got nothing but scorn
all he had was his hands
and he dreamed he'd be famous
and he'd work at the Sands
everyone knows Tabletop Joe
but he had a strong left hand
and he could play Stravinsky
on a baby grand
everyone knows Tabletop Joe
cause that's I where I belong"
and he went to Coney Island
singing this song
in the Dreamland show
he had his own orchestra
starring Tabletop Joe
proved everyone wrong
he was rich and he was famous
and he was where he belonged
now everyone knows, Tabletop Joe
now everyone knows, Tabletop Joe
singing Tabletop Joe, Tabletop Joe...
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The song is about Johnny Eck "The Amazing Half Boy." He was Born without the lower half of his body and was sideshow preformer in the early 20th century. Outside the circus relm he was a very gifted atrist, talented musician and orchestra conducter. And an amazing person.
the demo version is pretty creepy... like he's hitting bones
About a man who is just hands and a head who is a piano player??
you know what, the lyrics are "I" instead of "he" i'll think about the meaning for this later ahah. this is a pretty cool song though.
Wow, I had no idea this was based on a true story. I think Johnny Eck may have been one of the freaks in "Freaks". Tom Waits never ceases to fascinate. Having only heard this recently for the first time it has quickly become one of my TW favourites.