Tom Waits - Table Top Joe Lyrics
I knew one day
One, one, two, one, two, three
Well my mama didn't want me
On the day I was born
I got nothing but scorn
But I always loved music
All I had was my hands
I dreamed I'd be famous
And I'd work at The Sands
Singing, Tabletop Joe, Tabletop Joe
Now everyone will know
That I'm Tabletop Joe
But I had a strong left hand
And I could play Stravinsky
On a baby grand
I said, 'I'm gonna join the circus
Cause that's where I belong'
So I went to Coney Island
I was singing this song
Tabletop Joe, Tabletop Joe
Now everyone knows
Yeah I'm Tabletop Joe
They gave me top billing
In the Dreamland show
I had my own orchestra
Starring Tabletop Joe
And the man without a body
Proved everyone wrong
I was rich and I was famous
I was where I belonged, yeah
Tabletop Joe, Tabletop Joe
Now everyone knows, yeah
Tabletop Joe
Take it home boy
Other Lyrics by Artist
- Tom Waits - 2:19
- Tom Waits - The Part You Throw Away
- Tom Waits - Starving In The Belly Of A Whale
- Tom Waits - Lullaby
- Tom Waits - Another Man's Vine
- Tom Waits - God's Away On Business
- Tom Waits - All The World Is Green
- Tom Waits - Coney Island Baby
- Tom Waits - Everything Goes To Hell
- Tom Waits - Misery Is The River Of The World
- Tom Waits - Barcarolle
- Tom Waits - Fish & Bird
- Tom Waits - I'm Still Here
- Tom Waits - Reeperbahn
- Tom Waits - Watch Her Disappear
- Tom Waits - We're All Mad Here
- Tom Waits - Lost In The Harbour
- Tom Waits - Woe
Rand Lyrics
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Tom Waits Table Top Joe Comments
Beer, gimme a-nother barman!!
As long as the liver holds and the money unfolds you can drink responsibly all the way to the graveyard dying.
That's sort of what my doctor told me!
Yeah I’m having a(nother) 🍻
Ten people can't play Stravinsky on a baby grand...
I'll have whatever he's drinking
There is another even stranger version of this.
Heard this song 15-16 years ago, forgot it existed and rediscovered it in 2018! I like it even better than when I was a little kid, probably because I actually know what the lyrics are about.
I am about to get drunk
Once a year I get fucking thrashed on wine. This year I decided to spend that time listening to this.
I came here because of Johnny Eck
boogers, spit, blood, and naked hoo hahs
I have trouble with the pedals but I have a strong LEFT hand
God bless Johnny Eck!
modern classic jazz... great song!
The whole atmosphere of Alice is insane, just imagining the Caterpillar getting hammered and playing this in a saloon makes me smile.
"Take it home, boy ..." *best outro ever*
I always imagined this was Tom's interpretation of the Cat.
Aha that makes much more sense since Cheshire Cat's body does disappear. I remember reading a terrific review/interpretation of this whole album which referred to this song as the Caterpillar's, so I just assumed it was so. Guess I should have thought more about it. Thanks for the enlightenment.
Caterpillar makes more sense as the real Table Top Joe was indeed *born* without a body. You can see him in the movie Freaks rolling a cigarette with only his mouth
Drunk's the way to be.
I'll add to that. Drunk and lucid, making promises you'll never keep. I'll sort my car crash life out, just after this track finishes.
I hear you brother.
EjectorSeat I liked the second comment much better
curiousofsigns I'll drink to that, and that pun was 100% intended!
whats up bro?
the 1st time i heard this song, a few weeks ago, i got this image of a drunk guy singin in the bathtub. and i liked the sound and rawness of it.
Totally scrubbing hisself down with a bath handle broom...I get ya! 6 years later Lol!
it was'nt me
I'M DRINKIN'
Good, and I hope you are still drinkin' today.
oh yea, feelin that Lousiannnaaa vibe
Well played
Cheers! Bottoms up! ;)
Does Table Top Joe know the Eyeball kid?
(BTW, that's Stewart Copeland on drums.)
No!!! Stewart?? Really?!
@Nuncotics according to wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_(Tom_Waits_album)
I thought about the Eyeball Kid too. And whaaaaaaat about the drums?!?!
Listening to Waits and knowing the lyrics are two different things. As a musician/composer just listening makes you appreciate it, knowing his lyrics makes you respect him as a story teller. but singing Waits... It makes your throat bleed.
I'm growing tonsil stones from the heavy vibrations disturbing my tonsils, and I sound like I just smoked an oak tree, but damn, is it satisfying to sing along!
That's diaphragm singing, not throat.
IM DRUNK AGAIN
me too friend, me too
IM DRUNK
Love this song, one of my favorites for sure.
Classic.... just classic.