Take it with me

In the middle of writing a paper on the molecular diagnostics of multi- and extensively drug-resistant TB, I just wanted to post something about Tom Waits. I don't know anybody in Real Life who likes him or listens to him. He's virtually unknown in the circles I move in, though his "Roxanne" might sound familiar to those who know the Moulin Rouge soundtrack. I don't know how to describe this singer and songwriter. His voice is unique, and might not be everyone's cup of tea--a few years back, while I was playing a Tom Waits song, Cedes popped her head into my room to ask the equivalent of "What in the heck kind of voice is that?"--but you only have to listen to the melodies, and the arrangements, and the words of his songs to understand that his is real talent. I first found him through (what else) the SSHG fandom; apparently his "Take it with me" is Alan Rickman's favorite love song. It's mine as well, and it has been for many years.

This is Tom Waits with "Take it with me", and the lyrics follow.



Phone's off the hook
No one knows where we are
It's a long time since I
Drank champagne
The ocean is blue
As blue as your eyes
I'm gonna take it with me
When I go

Old long since gone
Now way back when
We lived in Coney Island
Ain't no good thing
Ever dies
I'm gonna take it with me
When I go

Far far away a train
Whistle blows
Wherever you're goin
Wherever you've been
Waving good bye at the end
Of the day
You're up and you're over
And you're far away

Always for you, and
Forever yours
It felt just like the old days
We fell asleep on Beaula's porch
I'm gonna take it with me
When I go

All broken down by
The side of the road
I was never more alive or
Alone
I've worn the faces off
All the cards
I'm gonna take it with me
When I go

Children are playing
At the end of the day
Strangers are singing
On our lawn
It's got to be more
Than flesh and bone
All that you've loved
Is all you own

In a land there's a town
And in that town there's
A house
And in that house
There's a woman
And in that woman
There's a hart I love
I'm gonna take it
With me when I go
I'm gonna take it
With me when I go.

My two other favorite songs of his are "Alice" (because I love Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and I love the poetry in his Alice songs) and "Fish & Bird" from the same album. But to put the lyrics here would be too much beauty for one blog post.