Whislin Past The Graveyard
Tom Waits · Other Songs - Tom Waits
With an arm full of box cars
On the wings of a magpie
Cross a hooligan night
And I busted up a chifforobe
Way out by the cocomo
Cooked up a mess a mulligan
And got into a fight
Chorus:
Whistlin past the graveyard
Steppin on a crack
I'm a mean motherhubbard
Papa one eyed jack
You propably seen me sleepin
Out by the railroad tracks
Go on and ask the prince of darkness
What about all thet smoke
Come from the stack
Sometimes I kill myself a jacket
Suck out all the blood
Steal myself a stationwagon
Drivin through the mud
Chorus
I know you seen my headlights
And the honkin of my horn
I'm callin out my bloodhounds
Chase the devil through the corn
Last night I chugged the mississippi
Now that suckers dry as a bone
Born in a taxi cab
I'm never comin home
Chorus
My eyes have seen the glory
Of the draining of the ditch
I only come to baton rouge
To find myself a witch
I'm-ona snatch me up a
Couple of em every time it rains
You see a locomotive
Probably thinkin it's a train
Chorus
What you think is the sunshine
Is just a twinkle in my eye
That ring around my fingers
Just the 4th of july
When I get a little bit lonesome
And a tear falls from my cheek
Theres gonna be an ocean in
The middle of the week
Chorus
I rode into town on a night train
With an arm full of box cars
On the wings of a magpie
Cross a hooligan night
I'm-ona tear me off a rainbow
And wear it for a tie
I never told the truth
So I can never tell a lie
Chorus
About Whislin Past The Graveyard
Tom Waits' "Whislin Past The Graveyard" stands as a quintessential example of his gritty, noir-infused storytelling, capturing the weary soul of a man navigating the shadows of urban life. Released within the broader scope of his discography, the track embodies the genre-defining blend of jazz, blues, and folk that characterized his early career and subsequent evolution. The song's atmosphere is built on Waits' distinctive vocal delivery and rhythmic percussion, creating a soundscape that feels both intimate and expansive, reminiscent of the cinematic scores he often composed for his own films. Rather than focusing on specific narrative details, the piece serves as a mood piece, reflecting the existential drift and moral ambiguity often explored in Waits' work. It connects to the thematic undercurrents found in albums like *Blue Valentine* and *Small Change*, where he delved into the complexities of human relationships and the passage of time. The recording captures the raw energy of his live performances, showcasing his ability to transform simple melodies into profound emotional experiences that resonate across generations of fans.