This is a Leonard Cohen, Richard Thompson level of lyrical poetry, and that\'s the highest compliment. \n\nWhen I was a kid, and Rte 66 was still a viable way to get some places in the Southwest, I saw some of these signs. Surprisingly engaging, and Waits\' use of Burma Shave as a mysterious, undefined desert version of Shangri La is perfect, because neither the song nor the protagonists\' quest is about a destination, really.\n\nYou can tell Presley\'s from someplace little different from Marysville, and he wants...something. To be cool, at the very least. And so does she. The wonderful 3rd verse:\n"And with her knees up on the glove compartment\nShe took out her barrettes and her hair spilled out like root beer\nAnd she popped her gum and arched her back\nHell, Marysville ain\'t nothing but a wide spot in the road..."\n\nShows clearly: She wants to be cool, too. And there\'s sexual tension in the car, they both know it, but it\'s a long road, so there\'s no rush.\n\nWhen she says: \n"Why don\'t you take another swig\nPass that car, if you\'re so brave\nI wanna get there \'fore the sun comes up\nin Burma Shave"\nShe\'s adopted his "quest". To turn away from the self-destructive aspects...well, that wouldn\'t be cool. Been there, seen that.\n\nThe final result is, of course, tragic, and Waits leaves you with the perception that the mysterioso destination is still there, somewhere past the end of that straight-to-the-horizon road, though your reward might be small:\n\n"And when they pulled her from the wreck\nYa know she still had on her shades\nThey say that dreams are growin\' wild\nJust this side\nof Burma Shave"\n\nBut at least she\'s cool.
This is a Leonard Cohen, Richard Thompson level of lyrical poetry, and that\'s the highest compliment. \n\nWhen I was a kid, and Rte 66 was still a viable way to get some places in the Southwest, I saw some of these signs. Surprisingly engaging, and Waits\' use of Burma Shave as a mysterious, undefined desert version of Shangri La is perfect, because neither the song nor the protagonists\' quest is about a destination, really.\n\nYou can tell Presley\'s from someplace little different from Marysville, and he wants...something. To be cool, at the very least. And so does she. The wonderful 3rd verse:\n"And with her knees up on the glove compartment\nShe took out her barrettes and her hair spilled out like root beer\nAnd she popped her gum and arched her back\nHell, Marysville ain\'t nothing but a wide spot in the road..."\n\nShows clearly: She wants to be cool, too. And there\'s sexual tension in the car, they both know it, but it\'s a long road, so there\'s no rush.\n\nWhen she says: \n"Why don\'t you take another swig\nPass that car, if you\'re so brave\nI wanna get there \'fore the sun comes up\nin Burma Shave"\nShe\'s adopted his "quest". To turn away from the self-destructive aspects...well, that wouldn\'t be cool. Been there, seen that.\n\nThe final result is, of course, tragic, and Waits leaves you with the perception that the mysterioso destination is still there, somewhere past the end of that straight-to-the-horizon road, though your reward might be small:\n\n"And when they pulled her from the wreck\nYa know she still had on her shades\nThey say that dreams are growin\' wild\nJust this side\nof Burma Shave"\n\nBut at least she\'s cool.