I Can't Wait To Get Off Work (And See My Baby On Montgomery Avenue)
Tom Waits · Original Album Series [2011]
'Cause I used to be jerkin off
Most of my time in the bars
I've been a cabbie and a stock clerk
And a soda fountain jock jerk
And a manic mechanic on cars
It's nice work if you can get it
Now who the hell said it
I got money to spend on my gal
But the work never stops
And I'll be busting my chops
Working for Joe and Sal
And I can't wait to get off work
And see my baby
She said she'd leave the porch lite on for me
I'm disheveled I'm disdainful
And I'm distracted and it's painful
But this job sweeping up here is
Is gainfully employing me tonight
Tom do this and Tom do that
Tom, don't do that
Count the cash, clean the oven
Dump the trash oh your loving
Is a rare and a copasetic gift
And I'm a moonlight watch manic
It's hard to be romantic
Sweeping up over by the
Cigarette machine
Sweeping up over by the cigarette machine
I can't wait to get off work and see my baby
Well she'll be waiting up with a magazine for me
Clean the bathrooms, clean them good
Oh your loving I wish you would
Come down here and sweep Ame off my feet
This broom'll have to be my baby
If I hurry, I just might
Get off before the dawns early light
About I Can't Wait To Get Off Work (And See My Baby On Montgomery Avenue)
Tom Waits' "I Can't Wait To Get Off Work (And See My Baby On Montgomery Avenue)" stands as a quintessential example of his gritty, noir-infused storytelling. Recorded for the "Original Album Series," this track captures the weary, urban atmosphere that defines much of his discography. The song reflects Waits' signature blend of jazz, blues, and folk, often delivered with a raw, percussive vocal style that mimics the sounds of a city at night. It evokes the tension between labor and love, a recurring theme in his work that explores the struggles of everyday life in America. The recording showcases his ability to create immersive soundscapes that feel both intimate and expansive, grounding the narrative in a specific, recognizable place while maintaining universal emotional resonance.