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People get frightened that success is going to take them out of life. They’re no longer going to be on the corner of Bedlam and Squalor; life will only be something you can get through the mail.

Tom Waits

I always liked the idea that America is a big facade. We are all insects crawling across on the shiny hood of a Cadillac. We’re all looking at the wrapping. But we won’t tear the wrapping to see what lies beneath.
TOM WAITS

Ideas Insect Lying Myself See
Living with kids is like living with a bunch of drunks. You know you really have to be on your toes all the time. Things are falling over and breaking and spilling. If you live on the second story, you really have to keep the windows shut all the time.
TOM WAITS

Break Children Fall Live Time Window Yourself
I dunno when I started writing really. I was, like, filling out applications and stuff real early. Last name first, first name last, sex. ‘occasionally’ , stuff like that. Then I was writing letters, filling out forms, writing on bathroom walls.
TOM WAITS

Application Fill Myself Sex Start Writing
If I exorcise my devils, all my angels may go, too.
TOM WAITS

Angel Devil Myself
I’ll tell you all my secrets but I lie about my past.
TOM WAITS

Lying Myself Past Secret
I made a wish on a sliver of moonlight A sly grin and a bowl full of stars.
TOM WAITS

Bowl Moon Myself Stars
The way you do anything is the way you do everything.
TOM WAITS

Action Style Way Yourself
Writing songs is like capturing birds without killing them. Sometimes you end up with nothing but a mouthful of feathers.
TOM WAITS

Capture End Feature Song Writing
Songs are really just very interesting things to be doing with the air.
TOM WAITS

Air Interest Song
Come down off the cross, we could use the wood.
TOM WAITS

Cross Wood
A gentleman is someone who can play the accordion, but doesn’t.
TOM WAITS

Gentle Man Play
We have a deficit of wonder right now.
TOM WAITS

Imagination Right Wonder
I can’t listen to so much music at the same time. I think you really have to have a diet. You’re just processing too much, there’s no place to put it. If you go a long time without hearing music, then you hear music that nobody else hears.
TOM WAITS

Listening Music Mysekf Place Procession Time
I never told the truth so i can never tell a lie.
TOM WAITS

Lying Myself Talk Truth
I don’t like the stigma that comes with being called a poet. So I call what I’m doing an improvisational adventure or an inebriational travelogue.
TOM WAITS

Adventure Call Improvisation Myself Poet
Don’t look back, because someone might be gaining on you.
TOM WAITS

Back Sight Yourself

People get frightened that success is going to take them out of life. They’re no longer going to be on the corner of Bedlam and Squalor; life will only be something you can get through the mail.

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People get frightened that success is going to take them out of life. They’re no longer going to be on the corner of Bedlam and Squalor; life will only be something you can get through the mail.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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