I came here for an interpretation of the lyrics and you can't even GET THEM RIGHT.
Here is what I know for those who want real answers. The biographical background while interesting, is not that relevant.
A drunk wants to hit the rails (so to speak) so he borrows money
A waltzing Matilda is a hobo's bag on a stick (she follows wherever you may go)
justifications and booze bottles (soldier's here)
No one speaks English and everything's broken
And my suspenders (STACES, not STACY'S) are soaking wet to go
cabs and dogs, and stabbing as a dual reference, wanting to die and the "stab" when the booze (Old Bushmill's) hits your throat.
Lost my St. Christopher (out of luck) now that I've kissed her
Slot machines (one-armed bandit) drug dealers (maverick Chinamen)
neon signs (cold-blooded signs) and loose women cannot help.
No, I don't want your sympathy
Hobos are not as innocent anymore
Murder hunts and (ghosts that sell memories?)
all want you.
sailors, keys and invalids are not free.
Matilda (street life) kills.
And it's a battered old suitcase to a hotel someplace
And a wound that will never heal
No prima donna (he means he is a mess here),
the perfume is on an old shirt that is stained with blood and whiskey
And goodnight to the street sweepers
The night watchman flame keepers
And goodnight, Matilda, too
That's about it.
Staces or Braces are suspenders. What does Ghosts who sell memories mean? Antique store or book store people? Or maybe photography studio owners?
I agree with most of your analysis, but i just have one bone to pick. Its likely he IS saying Stacy's, a reference to the famous dress shoes. At the time the song was written these shoes were more well known, and owning a pair was a sign of prestige. What he is saying there is that he is so wasted and depressed that he could care less about ruining his expensive shoes.
I agree with most of your analysis, but i just have one bone to pick. Its likely he IS saying Stacy's, a reference to the famous dress shoes. At the time the song was written these shoes were more well known, and owning a pair was a sign of prestige. What he is saying there is that he is so wasted and depressed that he could care less about ruining his expensive shoes.
"Stacy's" is a reference to shoes made by Stacy Adams that were extremely popular in the 70s and early 80s. Everyone who had a pair referred to them as "my Stacy's". I personally thought they were the most uncomfortable damn shoes I ever wore in my life--all form, no function. I paid about$60 for them (almost a week's pay for a 17 year-old on his own in '78), wore them maybe 6 times and gave them to a guy in my building. Haven't given a crap about fashion trends since.
"Stacy's" is a reference to shoes made by Stacy Adams that were extremely popular in the 70s and early 80s. Everyone who had a pair referred to them as "my Stacy's". I personally thought they were the most uncomfortable damn shoes I ever wore in my life--all form, no function. I paid about$60 for them (almost a week's pay for a 17 year-old on his own in '78), wore them maybe 6 times and gave them to a guy in my building. Haven't given a crap about fashion trends since.
"Waltzing Matilda" in this song at least, refers...
"Waltzing Matilda" in this song at least, refers to being on the road, far from home and broke, period.
Two of my brothers were successful folk songwriters in the late 60s-early 70s who sold pieces to the likes of Mac Davis, John Denver and Johnny Cash. Both told me all manner of experiences and observations go into song lyrics. Some are specific, others are "hybrids" that come from many different yet similar experiences. Occasionally something totally unrelated just works its way in perfectly. To me, that explains the different "origins" of the song Waits gives in his live prefaces. In one show, he says it's about "throwing up in a foreign country". In another, he mentions the real Tom Traubert. In yet another he talks about something else.
I've also read interviews with Waits where he describes going through a period of thinking how "uniquely American" being a drunk is when he was writing many of the songs that appear on this album.
We all want to know the true meaning behind such powerful lyrics as these and other songs Waits has written. Unfortunately, without being a close personal friend of his, none of us will ever truly know.
My gosh, I remember how many wildly different theories I heard from friends & acquaintances for such songs as "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" & "25 or 6 to 4". Looking back, it's pretty damn funny.
Nice interpretation. One thing: Staceys were famous for their high class shoes - not braces. I dont think it would matter if you got your braces wet but your shoes...?
Nice interpretation. One thing: Staceys were famous for their high class shoes - not braces. I dont think it would matter if you got your braces wet but your shoes...?
I came here for an interpretation of the lyrics and you can't even GET THEM RIGHT.
Here is what I know for those who want real answers. The biographical background while interesting, is not that relevant.
A drunk wants to hit the rails (so to speak) so he borrows money A waltzing Matilda is a hobo's bag on a stick (she follows wherever you may go) justifications and booze bottles (soldier's here) No one speaks English and everything's broken And my suspenders (STACES, not STACY'S) are soaking wet to go cabs and dogs, and stabbing as a dual reference, wanting to die and the "stab" when the booze (Old Bushmill's) hits your throat.
Lost my St. Christopher (out of luck) now that I've kissed her Slot machines (one-armed bandit) drug dealers (maverick Chinamen) neon signs (cold-blooded signs) and loose women cannot help.
No, I don't want your sympathy Hobos are not as innocent anymore Murder hunts and (ghosts that sell memories?) all want you.
sailors, keys and invalids are not free. Matilda (street life) kills.
And it's a battered old suitcase to a hotel someplace And a wound that will never heal No prima donna (he means he is a mess here), the perfume is on an old shirt that is stained with blood and whiskey And goodnight to the street sweepers The night watchman flame keepers And goodnight, Matilda, too
That's about it. Staces or Braces are suspenders. What does Ghosts who sell memories mean? Antique store or book store people? Or maybe photography studio owners?
I agree with most of your analysis, but i just have one bone to pick. Its likely he IS saying Stacy's, a reference to the famous dress shoes. At the time the song was written these shoes were more well known, and owning a pair was a sign of prestige. What he is saying there is that he is so wasted and depressed that he could care less about ruining his expensive shoes.
I agree with most of your analysis, but i just have one bone to pick. Its likely he IS saying Stacy's, a reference to the famous dress shoes. At the time the song was written these shoes were more well known, and owning a pair was a sign of prestige. What he is saying there is that he is so wasted and depressed that he could care less about ruining his expensive shoes.
"Stacy's" is a reference to shoes made by Stacy Adams that were extremely popular in the 70s and early 80s. Everyone who had a pair referred to them as "my Stacy's". I personally thought they were the most uncomfortable damn shoes I ever wore in my life--all form, no function. I paid about$60 for them (almost a week's pay for a 17 year-old on his own in '78), wore them maybe 6 times and gave them to a guy in my building. Haven't given a crap about fashion trends since.
"Stacy's" is a reference to shoes made by Stacy Adams that were extremely popular in the 70s and early 80s. Everyone who had a pair referred to them as "my Stacy's". I personally thought they were the most uncomfortable damn shoes I ever wore in my life--all form, no function. I paid about$60 for them (almost a week's pay for a 17 year-old on his own in '78), wore them maybe 6 times and gave them to a guy in my building. Haven't given a crap about fashion trends since.
"Waltzing Matilda" in this song at least, refers...
"Waltzing Matilda" in this song at least, refers to being on the road, far from home and broke, period.
Two of my brothers were successful folk songwriters in the late 60s-early 70s who sold pieces to the likes of Mac Davis, John Denver and Johnny Cash. Both told me all manner of experiences and observations go into song lyrics. Some are specific, others are "hybrids" that come from many different yet similar experiences. Occasionally something totally unrelated just works its way in perfectly. To me, that explains the different "origins" of the song Waits gives in his live prefaces. In one show, he says it's about "throwing up in a foreign country". In another, he mentions the real Tom Traubert. In yet another he talks about something else.
I've also read interviews with Waits where he describes going through a period of thinking how "uniquely American" being a drunk is when he was writing many of the songs that appear on this album.
We all want to know the true meaning behind such powerful lyrics as these and other songs Waits has written. Unfortunately, without being a close personal friend of his, none of us will ever truly know.
My gosh, I remember how many wildly different theories I heard from friends & acquaintances for such songs as "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" & "25 or 6 to 4". Looking back, it's pretty damn funny.
Nice interpretation. One thing: Staceys were famous for their high class shoes - not braces. I dont think it would matter if you got your braces wet but your shoes...?
Nice interpretation. One thing: Staceys were famous for their high class shoes - not braces. I dont think it would matter if you got your braces wet but your shoes...?