I like the thoughts going into the previous interpretations. I see it as an ode to a love returning home. The whole drug aspect seems out of character for a Waits song. Sure he references stuff like booze a lot, but not the hard drugs in these metaphorical ways so much, as far as I know.
Mostly to me it's his typical colorful use of language to paint a feeling, much of which I don't think is even intended to mean anything in particular, or something only he would know but just fits the feel. Like for, all I know, Beulah's refers to Beulah's Kitchen in Middletown, California. Here's a line from a review: "Funky tiny little breakfast/lunch stop. It looks like a shack from outside." Sounds like a restaurant Waits would appreciate if he found it. And there is a Dry Creek right outside of town there.
@Hartyhar I'd have to agree, some other commentors seem to be stretching for the drugs aspect which seems more like a metaphore/tone he is setting about the environment he is in physically/mentally. "Dye your hair yellow and raise your *hem" more likely refers to the woman he's meeting with and him going out to town or to the festival that's mentioned.
@Hartyhar I'd have to agree, some other commentors seem to be stretching for the drugs aspect which seems more like a metaphore/tone he is setting about the environment he is in physically/mentally. "Dye your hair yellow and raise your *hem" more likely refers to the woman he's meeting with and him going out to town or to the festival that's mentioned.
And I took a look at google maps and street view and I think you're correct about Beulah's Kitchen. You can see Dry Creek Rd is a reasonable route to take to...
And I took a look at google maps and street view and I think you're correct about Beulah's Kitchen. You can see Dry Creek Rd is a reasonable route to take to Beulah's. It's a very pretty road out in the middle of the woods. It was fun to look around at it on street view to contextualize the song a bit more
I like the thoughts going into the previous interpretations. I see it as an ode to a love returning home. The whole drug aspect seems out of character for a Waits song. Sure he references stuff like booze a lot, but not the hard drugs in these metaphorical ways so much, as far as I know.
Mostly to me it's his typical colorful use of language to paint a feeling, much of which I don't think is even intended to mean anything in particular, or something only he would know but just fits the feel. Like for, all I know, Beulah's refers to Beulah's Kitchen in Middletown, California. Here's a line from a review: "Funky tiny little breakfast/lunch stop. It looks like a shack from outside." Sounds like a restaurant Waits would appreciate if he found it. And there is a Dry Creek right outside of town there.
@Hartyhar I'd have to agree, some other commentors seem to be stretching for the drugs aspect which seems more like a metaphore/tone he is setting about the environment he is in physically/mentally. "Dye your hair yellow and raise your *hem" more likely refers to the woman he's meeting with and him going out to town or to the festival that's mentioned.
@Hartyhar I'd have to agree, some other commentors seem to be stretching for the drugs aspect which seems more like a metaphore/tone he is setting about the environment he is in physically/mentally. "Dye your hair yellow and raise your *hem" more likely refers to the woman he's meeting with and him going out to town or to the festival that's mentioned.
And I took a look at google maps and street view and I think you're correct about Beulah's Kitchen. You can see Dry Creek Rd is a reasonable route to take to...
And I took a look at google maps and street view and I think you're correct about Beulah's Kitchen. You can see Dry Creek Rd is a reasonable route to take to Beulah's. It's a very pretty road out in the middle of the woods. It was fun to look around at it on street view to contextualize the song a bit more