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Big in Japan Lyrics
I got the style but not the grace
I got the clothes but not the face
I got the bread but not the butter
I got the window but not the shutter
But I'm big In Japan
I'm big in Japan
Hey, but I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
I got the house but not the deed
I got the horn but not the reed
I got the cards but not the luck
I got the wheel but not the truck
But hey, I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
But hey, I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
I got the moon, I got the cheese
I got the whole damn nation on their knees
I got the rooster, I got the crow
I got the ebb, I got the flow
I got the powder but not the gun
I got the dog but not the bun
I got the clouds but not the sky
I got the stripes but not the tie
But hey, I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
Hey-ho, they love the way I do it
Hey-ho, there's really nothing to it
I got the moon, I got the cheese
I got the whole damn nation on their knees
I got the rooster, I got the crow
I got the ebb, I got the flow
I got the sizzle but not the steak
I got the boat but not the lake
I got the sheets but not the bed
I got the jam but not the bread
But hey, I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
Hey! I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
I got the clothes but not the face
I got the bread but not the butter
I got the window but not the shutter
I'm big in Japan
Hey, but I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
I got the horn but not the reed
I got the cards but not the luck
I got the wheel but not the truck
I'm big in Japan
But hey, I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
I got the whole damn nation on their knees
I got the rooster, I got the crow
I got the ebb, I got the flow
I got the dog but not the bun
I got the clouds but not the sky
I got the stripes but not the tie
I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
Hey-ho, there's really nothing to it
I got the whole damn nation on their knees
I got the rooster, I got the crow
I got the ebb, I got the flow
I got the boat but not the lake
I got the sheets but not the bed
I got the jam but not the bread
I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
Hey! I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
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I like how he loses the bread halfway through the song.
haha, good observation!
haha, good observation!
This song might be one of his more gimmicky, but I like it a lot. One line that stands out for the purposes of this site is "I got the sizzle but not the steak." "Sell the sizzle, not the steak" is an old saying in advertising, urging ads to promote the experience, the aura of a product more than the product itself. (I.e., show the cool guy surrounded by women drinking a soft drink, don't show the drink alone.)
he may not have everything, but HE'S BIG IN JAPAN!
He is admired for the art he makes, although he knows that there is no real meaning behind it ("Heh ho, there's really nothing to it...").
"Big In Japan" has been a phrase for a long time about Superficial Bands that make it big only in Japan. It generally means a band is really quite crap.
Tom is obviously huge the world over for being one of the true mavericks and has loads of content to his work so...
It's about Spinal Tap?
I never noticed that before! You're right, he does lose the bread. Tragic...
This is a bit of a reference to Spinal Tap. Tom waits is laughingly observing that if you fail to make it commercially in the West (vacuous Beatlemania type fame) then the Jap's will admire and understand you as they are a bit more profound and broad minded with their musical appreciation.