Eggs & Sausage

Tom Waits · Other Songs - Tom Waits

Nighthawks at the diner, Emma's 49er

There's a rendezvous of strangers around the coffee urn tonight

All the gypsy hacks, the insomniacs

Now the paper's been read

Now the waitress said

"Eggs and sausage and a side of toast

Coffee and a roll, hash browns over easy

Chile in a bowl with burgers and fries, what kind of pie?"

In a graveyard charade, a late shift masquerade

And it's two for a quarter, dime for a dance

With Woolworth Rhinestone diamond earrings

And a sideway's glance and now the register rings

Now the waitress sings

"Eggs and sausage and a side of toast

Coffee and a roll, hash browns over easy

Chile in a bowl with burgers and fries, what kind of pie?"

Now, the classified section offers no direction

It's a cold caffeine in a nicotine cloud

As the touch of your fingers

Lingers burning in my memory

I've been 86ed from your scheme

Now I'm in a melodramatic nocturnal scene

Now I'm a refugee from a disconcerted affair

Now I lead pipe morning falls

Now the waitress calls

"Eggs and sausage and a side of toast

Coffee and a roll, hash browns over easy

Chile in a bowl with burgers and fries, now what kind of pie?"

About Eggs & Sausage

Tom Waits' "Eggs & Sausage" stands as a quintessential example of his gritty, blues-infused storytelling, capturing the raw energy of his early career. The track exemplifies Waits' signature style, blending jazz improvisation with a brooding, noir-adjacent atmosphere that defines his discography. Recorded during a pivotal era in his work, the song showcases his ability to weave mundane subjects into narratives of urban struggle and resilience. Its rhythmic drive and Waits' distinctive vocal delivery create an immersive soundscape that has become a staple in his catalog of evocative recordings. This piece reflects the broader influence of his music on alternative and roots genres, cementing his reputation as a master of atmospheric and character-driven songwriting.