$29.00 Lyrics

Lyric discussion by babsdaddy 

Cover art for $29.00 lyrics by Tom Waits

I think the line in question is: The streets are dead They creep up and tear whatever's left on the bone (like a vulture)

Its a sad reminder that whatever little you possess, there is always some degenerate waiting to take it away from you. The streets are like demons
Competing for souls They'll lull you..sway you Then swallow you whole

At first I thought he was a pimp and was going to get her into prostitution.