Tom Waits - On The Nickel

I'd like to do a new song here. This is uh... it's about downtown Los Angeles on 5th Street and... all the winos uh... affectionately refer to it as The Nickel. So this is kind of a hobo's lullaby.
It says sticks and stones can break my bones
but I always will be true
And when your mama's dead and gone,
I'll sing this lullaby just for you
What becomes of all the little boys
who never comb their hair
They're lined up all around the block
on the nickel over there
And if you chew tobacco
and wish upon a star
You'll find out where the scarecrows sit,
now they just look like punch lines between the cars
And I know a place where a royal flush
can never beat a pair
And even Thomas Jefferson
is on the nickel over there
So ring around the rosy,
sleepin' in the rain
You're always late for supper
man you let me down again
I thought I heard a mockingbird,
Roosevelt knows where.
I'm whistling past the graveyard,
and they're on the nickel over there
So what becomes of all the little boys
who run away from home
The world keeps gettin' bigger
once you get out on your own
But you never know how rich you are,
you haven't got a prayer
It's heads you win and tails they lose,
You're on the nickel
and you're over there...

[@simonchris2]

One of the saddest, greatest songs ever. Whenever it's raining out I manage to play this one. Hope he tours again just one more time so I can finally see him.

[@Bee-hf3fc]

2009 had been into waits a few years. He came to Phoenix a few miles from me. I had tickets to see Furhtur in CA (Living members of Grateful Dead). Figured I'd catch him next year. I had no idea how rare a tour was. I'll never forgive myself.

[@Wclmkay]

Thanks Tom, I lost my Mom on Tuesday this week but the opening lyrics make me appreciate my life with her so much God Bless RIP

[@gerpius]

sorry about that bill.

[@Aerospacer77]

Sorry Bill. I lost my mother too.

[@bobycollins]

i was lying on a bed in the hospital listening to that song.For the first time in my life, my father was there. FIRST .He pass away and that song bring me there again.Thankyou Frank.I still love you.

[@jenniferpage1462]

only discovered Tom Waits a couple of years ago but blown away by his awesome talent. Love this song most of all.

[@memphisdarkwolf]

I was playing this tonight, and my step-father who was born in the 50's was singing along to this. :D I love it.

[@Aerospacer77]

This is by far my favorite version of this song

[@wizardofwaste]

Tom Waits is Rembrandt with words.

[@DrummerBoyJason]

"I know a place where a royal flush//can never beat a pair." Fucking brilliant.

[@shiffy74]

I can't tell you how many times I've come back to this clip, since I first found it many moons ago. I pimp it out to whoever will watch. Best thing on the internets. Absolute perfection.

[@briteness]

Thank God for Tom Waits.

[@michael4dennis]

Spoke to Tom on the phone one time back in 1979. He was the kindest you could be to a stranger. I was asking him if I could borrow a line from a song for the title for a book of poems. He graciously said yes. Quarter On Its Edge wasn't much of a book but I always loved the title. Tom's music has been the soundtrack of my life since I first heard him in 1975, what I mean is that I've seen the world through altered lens of a Tom Waits perspective. There is no way to thank someone for that.

[@TomthatiscalledTom]

Sublime and tender melodies from the backend of nowhere. There's such compassion for this world's battered and marginal lives. Tom makes me proud to be human

[@rexmundi2012]

I found this song for the first time over a decade ago......and everytime I hear it I can still close my eyes and its 1935 all over again..... I remember an ancient 'wino' on our street when I was little who used to talk about Roosevelt like he was the Savior himself..... This song is beautiful. Sad, but beautiful. And sounds far older than it is. Thanks.

[@DoYouWorry]

Can't explain the feeling I get when I listen to this guy. It's poetry, it's otherworldly, and I listen to TONS and TONS of music. No one has lyrics like Waits, I feel like he's one of the only people alive who "gets" life.

[@njceltic88]

every living soul should get down on their knees every day and thank whatever god they pray to for sending us TOM WAITS!!!!!!

[@tonyceol]

for me, this is the definitive version... such feeling combined with beautiful melody... love this guy, may he live forever

[@Vladoslavoj]

I just love this position of Waits' music... Piano and his beautiful harsh voice... That's a combination... Simply great...

[@Cattwo12]

Tom waits "On The Nickel" is a beutiful poinant song by a man that truly understands his craft. A artist of understated wit.1977 seems like yesterday,my how icons grow.

[@vincentt8356]

The world should listen to Tom a truly gifted man

[@sirhuddlestonfuddleston5708]

My wife died when my son was 11, and I always think of him when I hear this song.

[@ceiderduck]

Wonderful. 'just' discovered tom on my way home in the car today. I say 'just' as I was aware of how talented he is, but it suddenly moved me to near tears when I heard 6 sheets to the wind in Copenhagen on the radio. One to add to the collection

[@248harry]

You said it man! I am 70 years of age and this song and the film "On the nickel" has never left me since I first heard it many years ago.I wasn't 'left behind ' but I can understand those that were when I listen to this song.

[@peacefrog1916]

not seen this for a while, its been in my favourites for years, but just thought i'd stop by and remind myself of toms greatness....

[@Jimmypppp]

tom waits on the piano and a moony little melody... fantastic music... simply a great musician...!

[@seckles]

BEAUTIFUL!! He's like Woody Guthrie, Jack Kerouac, Charles Dickens, and Howlin' Wolf all rolled into one.

[@chuk6551]

And Charles Bukowski!

[@owenhunt]

@@chuk6551 Especially Charles Bukowski

[@adamski177]

is therea more touching song ever compsed about this subject matter? NO. God bless you Tom.

[@rebekahlafever333]

Thank you so muchTom🎼💙

[@kevymangoman]

Without doubt, the most brilliant and original artist ever.

[@Marylandfarmer]

I recently found this song and I can’t listen to it enough. This live performance is the most touching thing I have ever listened to. Tom Waits is one of the best musicians of all time.

[@DeryckeJohan]

Man Waits you been bringin tears to me eyes for 20 years now... them tears have tought me a lot though... so I guess I owe you

[@MrCaseyAlexander]

I don't know how old I was when I first heard this sound. My father sang it to me often when I was little, for longer than I can remember. It's a song I've always loved and associated with him, and he with me, I'm sure. I love the deep melancholy that comes with it. Melancholy is possibly the most beautiful emotion I know, and this song is it.

[@clayhill8911]

Thanks Tom

[@TheLeftyGrove]

Thanks, Tom. So few people give a voice to the down-and-out, and those few are dwindling even fewer by the day. A true hero.

[@BackdoorPlumber]

This and Three Sheets to the Wind in Copenhagen are my two favorite songs. Love'em.

[@corneliakapelinski]

This nickel is worth millions of dollars, it warms the heart..great raspy voice

[@martse11]

This is beautiful. I'm always amazed that a man with such a gruff voice can make a song sound so sentimental.

[@owenhunt]

Ever hear Smoke Stack Lightning by Howlin' Wolf, 'No Excuses' by Alice in Chains or 'Lay Lady Lay' by Bob Dylan? A gruff voice is almost king at sentimentality

[@trufflehund]

Life would be poorer without Tom Waits. Original, talented and has had me by the balls since I first heard him in 1980

[@nursesusiep]

an awesome song...makes me cry everytime i hear it....love how he starts playing one song and without any effort he is playing another. a haunting voice and song..I LOVE YOU TOM !!!!!!!!!!!

[@madamvaudelune3298]

Does anyone realize how beautiful this man is? His songs melt my heart, and i have a heart made hard by an indifferent world and much pain.

[@BoundMusic]

I understand this song...i didn't live like this man did but fuck it must have been hard. I often imagine myself in this place, where everything is lost. This song is everything I can remember in that moment. Thank you Tom Waits. You did good and you will be remembered. When times are hard music like yours is richer than anything else in life.

[@mikkirozov]

God bless you, Tom! One of the greatist song, one of the greatist musician and melodist.

[@colinjohnrudd]

One of the greatest songs ever written...thank you xx

[@anuteamsterium]

Some songs break your heart, the first time you hear them. And ever after. Glad you found this one!

[@shanecolin9]

This has always been my FAV Waits tune! Definitely a unique singer/songwriter.

[@ispinimor1958]

You've hit the nail on the head, my friend. A sentimental Irishman, that's me.

[@cal-lg]

Absolute genius at work. One of the all time greats.

[@adamski177]

One of the most sublimely tender and beautiful songs ever. All wrapped in Tom's unique vocalistic stylings. Thanks for putting this one up!

[@deraugust]

"A know a place where a royal flush can never beat a pair" pure beauty

[@fivehoursaway]

man, I wish I was that hat surrounding his amazing head with his amazing brain in it that writes stuff like this. listen to it every night before I go to sleep. god, I love him.

[@Hendrix104]

Beautiful..........Absolutely Beautiful !

[@ThisisTedWells]

I would pay an ungodly amount of money to go back in time and watch this live

[@nursesusiep]

I agree with you kmt...but I love this version the best I think...how awesome is his voice...not another like him. His voice just knocks me on my ass. What fun to find this...happy here in virginia..thanks tom...you rock!!!!!!!!

[@puck30]

Saw Tom w/ Leon Redbone at the Morris Stage AKA the comunity theatre Morristown NJ back in the day. One of the greatest shows I ever saw.

[@bag101]

This is the anthem for anyone that's ever been despondent and homeless.

[@TheLeftyGrove]

Sheer genius. Heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time.

[@cometiv]

There's only one Tom Waits! Pure Magic.

[@andeejam]

i like how he starts with the waltzing matilda tune - the classic story of a person with out a home, searching for somewhere to belong

[@JohnMcCash]

This man is truly one of the greatest songwriters on the planet,if it wasn,t for Bob Dylan I,d say he was in a league of his own.Great song and lyrics,one of his best.

[@robertwoodward829]

Tom sounds as though he has just smoked a carton of Marlboros, drank a fifth of Jack, and swallowed a pack of razor blades..Please never change Tom~~

[@cmp2nite2]

Lol

[@hicks727]

+Robert Woodward "smoked a carton of Marlboros, drank a fifth of Jack, and swallowed a pack of razor blades"..this song is about people that did all of that but don't have any talent

[@snaebjorn53]

Fabulous song! My hero! Thanks for posting this lovely lullaby, I still play my old vinyl copy of Heartattack and Vine, its fantastic. Tom is Genius!

[@psychoant]

I think I saw on another live session of this song that it's a cover from some movie. Regardless, this song is absolutely beautiful. Tom Waits encapsulates people (both good and bad, up on their luck and down) in such a interesting way -- really knows how to bring the rich to the poor and the poor to the rich. One of my personal favorites.

[@thomasbroderick6388]

Yes it was from the movie. The film wasn't great but well worth watching. I had it on VHS.

[@BlueSkyShine]

@rexmundi2012 The first time I heard this song was 1981, I heard it only once, but I never forgot it. 20 years later I found KZbin and all that I remembered from this song was the word "Nickle" . As it turns out, that was all it took to find what is still to this day, my favorite song of all time. I can't imagine that this song would mean anything to me if it were sung by anyone other than Tom Waits.

[@jibberjabber86]

Such a beautiful song. I love it more each time I hear it.

[@krstofc]

Very nice Tom!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

[@DachshundAdvil]

A true Hall of Famer! It's about time really.

[@Orangeman82]

most probably the greatest lyricist ever and one of the most diverse artists in general just compare this to whistlin past the graveyard or i dont wanna grow up. this guys has no peer

[@kurikokaleidoscope]

Brilliant ⚘

[@tigerboy1966]

This clip was my first introduction to Waits-it was played on a British TV show in the 80s and the presenter just took the piss about Waits being drunk and incoherent, but thought it was an incredibly beautiful song, sung from the heart. Still love every word and every note.

[@spudbeau]

Beautiful! From a true surrealist poet.

[@waldofudd]

Beautiful performance of Ironic Understatement. The Guy's a Genius!

[@theiceman6941]

Reduces me to tears, so beautiful

[@jacob95124]

I'm a looooong time fan of Tom Waits. He is a genius!

[@TheAmira1000]

Thank you Tom ! Thank you.

[@gnaku]

Saw this at the Wiltern in LA for the Mule Variations tour. Almost the same intro, but the song was just as heart-wrenchingly performed. I will never forget seeing his reflection in the black lacquer of the upright piano he rolled out abut halfway through this set. Unreal, unmatched, unbelievable man! There is no other grown man who can make me weep like a schoolgirl except Tom Waits.

[@Growler57]

Damn it this song gets me every time

[@joanlagoy]

This video is just wonderful! I love Tom!!!

[@ispinimor1958]

Just listened to it again, a classic.

[@pedroqueiroz1000]

should be mandatory to hear this...what a song!!

[@Luna810]

Tom is a genius,and a beautiful soul.

[@myMUSICrocks1000]

All class love the honesty

[@Martzoerst]

This song is from the album Heartattack and Vine. This is the first song I really fell for, after playing this song on one of my dad's old records.

[@scaryguy101]

i listen to this every night before i go to bed. its pure genius

[@the1knownasDustin]

I've listened to a lot of the versions of him playing this on youtube, but this one is by far my favorite. the lyric choice(he modifies them in some versions), the perfect mix of singing rough in some parts, and so softly in others; it just really takes the breath right out of you. 2:47 - 3:12 is a perfect example of him starting a line rough and ending it so softly. it brings a tear to the eye.

[@transporter222003]

I want this played as they lay me to rest on that permenant vacation.

[@snaebjorn53]

5 Stars all the way. Fantastic! Just Fantastic!

[@michaelmiele1177]

Tom Waits. So talented. Enchanted by this one… he does a version on Letterman that is outstanding

[@BiffBallbag]

Another one of God's greatest, thanks.

[@Wclmkay]

true genius! You are a legend Tom

[@DiamondSoul]

So beautiful.

[@Ireland1]

@gondor420 Im from Ireland and think Toms songs and the way he tells a story is something which everyone can relate to. He doesnt make you understand, he make you become, if only for a few minutes. Thanks for posting this most excellent video

[@loz5491]

Some song you carry with you ..always

[@juanmiguelmunoz5970]

Beautiful, thanks, Tom!!!

[@Coffeeforevah]

Tom lived on the edge of this life for many years, his music and scratching out a living at it kept him from falling over the edge. He sober'd up. This song was made into a movie called by the song's namesake. Rent it sometime

[@JariLiitolaPikkuApuri]

Thank you, Tom.

[@volksball]

its too good to even describe.

[@sandyman1960]

saw him in dublin in 2008 a genuis

[@MacRoibin]

A really great rendition,a gem

[@Manonija]

Beautiful!Just beautiful...:)

[@1earflapping]

"So what becomes of all the little boys who run away from home The world keeps gettin' bigger once you get out on your own"

[@wait4waits]

Way back when this came out - I bought the cassette. The lyrics were so hard to read on that. He writes like on one else. Thank you for this.

[@barney23]

beautiful, just beautiful