Time

in 1985 tom waits released his album rain dogs, and among its odd rhythms and unusual instrumentation, one can find time, one of his most lovely and simple ballads. when he released a compilation album a few years ago, he decided to close the collection with this song, and a very recent rare live performance of his, did the same thing when he said goodbye to the crowd with time, one of his best works of art.

with a simple line-up of acoustic guitar, double bass and accordion, tom waits and his scruffy old voice sing in a poetic way about different situations where people are in need of love. the odd list of characters is very unique in his songs, and without hesitating, he includes them here. it's not a linear story, it works like different short stories pushed together in a desolate room, waiting for the writer to give each one a happy ending.

for those scattered characters, the end seems like a dream, you just can't imagine what's going to happen, IF something's going to happen... one might just think that things are going to stay the way they are, no matter how hard one tries. finally, in every chorus, tom waits, like a wanderer passing by, observes the situations and just makes a special note to them. "it's time that you love".

it's time indeed.

Time (Tom Waits)

Well the smart money's on harlow and the moon is in the street
And the shadow boys are breaking all the laws
And you're east of east saint louis and the wind is making speeches
And the rain sounds like a round of applause

And napoleon is weeping in a carnival saloon
His invisible fiancee's in the mirror
And the band is going home, it's raining hammers, it's raining nails
And it's true there's nothing left for him down here

And it's time time time,
and it's time time time
And it's time time time that you love
And it's time time time

And they all pretend they're orphans and their memory's like a train
You can see it getting smaller as it pulls away
And the things you can't remember tell the things you can't forget
That history puts a saint in every dream

Well she said she'd stick around until the bandages came off
But these mama's boys just don't know when to quit
And mathilda asks the sailors are those dreams or are those prayers?
So close your eyes, son, and this won't hurt a bit

Oh it's time time time,
and it's time time time
And it's time time time that you love
And it's time time time

Well things are pretty lousy for a calendar girl
The boys just dive right off the cars and splash into the street
And when they're on a roll she pulls a razor from her boot
And a thousand pigeons fall around her feet

So put a candle in the window and a kiss upon his lips
As the dish outside the window fills with rain
Just like a stranger with the weeds in your heart
And pay the fiddler off 'til I come back again

Oh it's time time time,
and it's time time time
And it's time time time that you love
And it's time time time