Tom Waits - Burma-Shave

Licorice tattoo turned a gun metal blue
Scrawled across the shoulders of a dying town
Took the one eyed Jacks across the railroad tracks
And the scar on its belly pulled a stranger passing through
Hes a juvenile delinquent, never learned how to behave
But the copsd never think to look in Burma-Shave

And the road was like a ribbon, and the moon was like a bone
He didnt seem to be like any guy shed ever known
He kind of looked like Farley Granger, with his hair slicked back
She says Im a sucker for a fella in a cowboy hat.
How far are you going?
Said Depends on what you mean
He says Im only stopping here to get some gasoline
I guess Im going thataway, just as long as its paved
And I guess youd say Im on my way to Burma-Shave

And with her knees up on the glove compartment
She took out her barrettes, and her hair spilled out like rootbeer
And she popped her gum and arched her back
Hell, Marysville aint nothing but a wide spot in the road
Some nights my heart pounds like thunder
Dont know why it dont explode
Cause everyone in this stinking towns got one foot in the grave
And Id rather take my chances out in Burma-Shave

Presleys what I go by, why dont you change the stations
Count the grain elevators in the rearview mirror
She said, Mister, anywhere you point this thing
It got to beat the hell out of the sting
Of going to bed with every dream that dies here every mornin
And so drill me a hole with a barber pole
And Im jumping my parole just like a fugitive tonight
Why dont you have another swig, and pass that car if youre so brave
I wanna get there fore the sun comes up in Burma-Shave

And the spider web crack and the mustang screamed
The smoke from the tires and the twisted machine
Just a nickels worth of dreams, and every wishbone that they saved
Lie swindled from them on the way to Burma-Shave

And the sun hit the derrick and cast a bat wing shadow
Up against the car door on the shotgun side
And when they pulled her from the wreck
You know, she still had on her shades
They say that dreams are growing wild
just this side
of Burma-Shave
Licorice tattoo turned a gun metal blue
Scrawled across the shoulders of a dying town
Took the one eyed Jacks across the railroad tracks
And the scar on its belly pulled a stranger passing through
Hes a juvenile delinquent, never learned how to behave
But the copsd never think to look in Burma-Shave

And the road was like a ribbon, and the moon was like a bone
He didnt seem to be like any guy shed ever known
He kind of looked like Farley Granger, with his hair slicked back
She says Im a sucker for a fella in a cowboy hat.
How far are you going?
Said Depends on what you mean
He says Im only stopping here to get some gasoline
I guess Im going thataway, just as long as its paved
And I guess youd say Im on my way to Burma-Shave

And with her knees up on the glove compartment
She took out her barrettes, and her hair spilled out like rootbeer
And she popped her gum and arched her back
Hell, Marysville aint nothing but a wide spot in the road
Some nights my heart pounds like thunder
Dont know why it dont explode
Cause everyone in this stinking towns got one foot in the grave
And Id rather take my chances out in Burma-Shave

Presleys what I go by, why dont you change the stations
Count the grain elevators in the rearview mirror
She said, Mister, anywhere you point this thing
It got to beat the hell out of the sting
Of going to bed with every dream that dies here every mornin
And so drill me a hole with a barber pole
And Im jumping my parole just like a fugitive tonight
Why dont you have another swig, and pass that car if youre so brave
I wanna get there fore the sun comes up in Burma-Shave

And the spider web crack and the mustang screamed
The smoke from the tires and the twisted machine
Just a nickels worth of dreams, and every wishbone that they saved
Lie swindled from them on the way to Burma-Shave

And the sun hit the derrick and cast a bat wing shadow
Up against the car door on the shotgun side
And when they pulled her from the wreck
You know, she still had on her shades
They say that dreams are growing wild
just this side
of Burma-Shave
Tom Waits-Burma Shave (album version)

Burma Shave at its finest. Taken off the compilation album Used Songs 1973-1980. The album version deserved to be online somewhere so here it is. Lyrics also included. Tom Waits rocks.

Tom Waits Burma Shave Full video) YouTube

Tom Waits - Burma Shave (Summertime)

Tom Waits December 5, 1978. (lyrics, please)

Tom Waits - Burma shave

from the album Asylum Years.

Tom Waits - BURMA SHAVE - San Remo (live) 1986

Tom Waits sings BURMA SHAVE, recorded live at San Remo Festival, November 22, 1986, Club Tenco, Teatro Ariston, San Remo Italy. Greg Cohen on upright bass. Aired on Italian television by RAI...

Tom Waits

Tom Waits