Tom Waits - Christmas Card From A Hooker in Minneapolis Reaction

[@SPKdesign1]

This is such a great LP and this is one of the Best Tracks from it.

[@michaeltudyk8660]

No i play this every christmas. And almost every other day.

[@optimisticwarrior6867]

Hey Charley I'm pregnant Living on 9th Street Right above a dirty bookstore Off Euclid Avenue I stopped taking dope And I quit drinking whiskey And my old man plays the trombone And works out at the track He says that he loves me Even though its not his baby He says that he'll raise him up Like he would his own son He gave me a ring That was worn by his mother And he takes me out dancin' Every Saturday night Hey Charley I think about you Every time I pass a fillin' station On account of all the grease You used to wear in your hair I still have that record Of Little Anthony and The Imperials But someone stole my record player How do ya like that? Hey Charley I almost went crazy After Mario got busted I went back to Omaha To live with my folks Everyone I used to know Was either dead or in prison So I came back to Minneapolis This time I think I'm gonna stay Hey Charley I think I'm happy For the first time since my accident I wish I had all the money That we used to spend on dope I'd buy me a used car lot And I wouldn't sell any of 'em I'd just drive a different car every day Dependin' on how I feel Hey Charley, for chrissakes Do you want to know the truth of it? I don't have a husband He don't play the trombone I need to borrow money To pay this lawyer And Charley, hey I'll be eligible for parole Come Valentine's Day

[@RobotsWithKnivesCartoons]

I don't know about you but I've been playing this on the holidays for years.

[@gazoontight]

There’s a live version on YT that’s even better than this one. Tom has the audience giggling and thinking it’s a funny song, and that last verse or so hits them like a kick in the guts. It is well worth checking out.

[@tedr3586]

I would also recommend "Hell Broke Loose" by Tom Waits. One the best anti-war songs ever and along with the accompanying video wakes a very powerful statement. It is about a veteran Jeff Lucey who served in Iraq and suffered prom ptsd. Jefferey.sadly committed suicide in 2004 at age 23. A large portion of the lyrics are taken from the suicide note left by

[@lurx2024]

Not many people get or appreciate Tom Waits, but you do.

[@timmierose8488]

Well put

[@kennymcleod3016]

Great stuff - another in a similar downbeat mood is Merry Christmas from Scotland (Lulled with a stiff drink) by Laurie Cameron - highly recommended

[@NicolasPotvin-e8x]

Sad but nice

[@johnroberts1708]

I know you do 'who did it better'...maybe Tom Waits or Rod Steward doing Downtown Train? (Obviously, no contest).....and dont forget Moving Hearts doing Hiroshima Nagasaki Russian Roulette!

[@SM-jg8fr]

And the Boss doing "Jersey Girl".

[@TZ61]

Neko Case does a version of this for a woman's take in the first-person narrative, of course.

[@Starburst_Candy]

Shades of Ray Charles here. I really like it.

[@Sandy-dd4le]

Tom has done some amazing stuff over the years, he's musical marmite though, not for everyone, sadly. A weird xmas song for you...Dead By Xmas by Hanoi Rocks.

[@davidellis5141]

I just watched Risky Business where future enterpriser Joel Goodson ( Well Played by Tom Cruise ) proudly proclaims " I deal in human fulfillment ..isn't life grand ! " Movie has an excellent soundtrack by Tangerine 🍊 Dream .

[@dbitgood1]

Another reaction thought this song is a satire. I don't really see that.

[@jaymacgee_A_Bawbag_Blethering]

The guy can’t and never could sing and I find it quite grinding tbh .. the music itself is quite palatable but would be better served by someone else singing it with a decent set of pipes .. Micheal Buble springs to mind …👀 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@SPKdesign1]

That was a bit Sharp.

[@jaymacgee_A_Bawbag_Blethering]

@@SPKdesign1 I genuinely think he’s a good songwriter and piano player - but a good singer he us not sir - that’s surely undeniable ? 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@SPKdesign1]

@@jaymacgee_A_Bawbag_Blethering I think it suits the songs but then I like Nina Hagen so what do I know.

[@jaymacgee_A_Bawbag_Blethering]

@@SPKdesign1 it’s funny SPK how just a name can conjure an image .. dunno where it came from but .. when you mention Nina Hagen my default mental image is “ Unshaved armpits “… 😝..thing is I’ve never seen a pic of Nina.. I think I’m conflating her with the 99 Red balloons lady who did espouse that lifestyle choice in her video - her name escapes me right now 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@SPKdesign1]

@@jaymacgee_A_Bawbag_Blethering Her First two LPs are in German but you might like them anyways. I don't think I've seen a photo of her with Hairy Pits but it is possible, but she definitely isn't Nena. Check the Nina Hagen Band and Unbehagen LPs.