Waits, Tom - On The Nickel Lyrics






sticks and stones will break my bones, but i always will be true, and when
your mama is dead and gone, i'll sing this lullabye just for you, and what
becomes of all the little boys, who never comb their hair, well they're lined
up all around the block, on the nickel over there.

so you better bring a bucket, there is a hole in the pail, and if you don't
get my letter, then you'll know that i'm in jail, and what becomes of all the
little boys, who never say their prayers, well they're sleepin' like a baby,
on the nickel over there.

and if you chew tobacco, and wish upon a star, well you'll find out where
the scarecrows sit, just like punchlines between the cars, and i know a place
where a royal flush, can never beat a pair, and even thomas jefferson, is on
the nickel over there.

so ring around the rosie, you're sleepin' in the rain, and you're always
late for supper, and man you let me down again, i thought i heard a
mockingbird, roosevelt knows where, you can skip the light, with grady tuck,
on the nickel over there.

so what becomes of all the little boys, who run away from home, well the
world just keeps gettin' bigger, once you get out on your own, so here's to
all the little boys, the sandman takes you where, you'll be sleepin' with a
pillowman, on the nickel over there.

so let's climb up through that button hole, and we'll fall right up the
stairs, and i'll show you where the short dogs grow, on the nickel over there.





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Waits, Tom On The Nickel Comments
  1. G.... E....

    A masterpiece of multi-layered pathos.

  2. L.... C....

    Wow, one of the best....Lloyd :)

  3. i.... m....

    That grazy american dream, you got it fron uppity european gits.

  4. j.... -....

    For some reason i find myself right here every year when december hits.

  5. C.... A....

    You only appreciate this work of art if you have ever hit rock bottom. Then you know pain and despair and hopelessness. Tom offers a healing balm of magical music.

  6. a.... a....

    jeez you stole my other nick name

  7. a.... a....

    wish this Christmas I could open my house to a few even more down and out folks and give them a Christmas dinner- but... THAT is something to CELEBRATE not SHOPPING

  8. D.... D....

    Tom Waits is a master of making us think and feel. The comments on this video say that in spades. I cried when I read the comment that this song made them think of their son in jail. Tom Waits makes me think deeply about issues more than any other artist I can think of

  9. M.... N....

    DEAR TOM, YOU HAVE KILLED ME SINCE I FOUND YOU SO LONG AGO . YEAH YOU BUST MY HEART AND KNOCK THIS STUFF RITE OUT THE PARK ! THANK YOU SO MUCH ! YOUR SONGS ARE ... BEST!!

  10. C.... C....

    💜💜💜💜

  11. n.... f....

    this breaks my heart

  12. J.... C....

    Amen Tom

  13. k.... f....

    or maybe on the actual nickel lolok this is still fun

  14. k.... f....

    lol on the dollar glad there not on the nickel

  15. S.... t....

    ''Wherever your goin' or think you have been.
    Tom always Waits there for you.'' -111519

  16. L.... L....

    Inarrivabile Tom Waits

  17. Z.... ....

    Sticks and stones will break my bones
    But I always will be true
    And when your mama is dead and gone
    I'll sing this lullaby just for you
    So what becomes of all the little boys
    Who never comb their hair?
    They're lined up all around the block
    On The Nickel over there

    So you better bring a bucket
    There is a hole in the pail
    If you don't get my letter
    Then you'll know that I'm in jail
    So what becomes of all the little boys
    Who never say their prayers?
    They're sleepin' like a baby
    On The Nickel over there

    If you chew tobacco, and wish upon a star
    You'll find out where the scarecrows sit
    Just like punchlines between the cars
    I know a place where a royal flush
    Can never beat a pair
    And even Thomas Jefferson
    Is On The Nickel over there

    So ring around the rosie, you're sleepin' in the rain
    And you're always late for supper
    And man you let me down, let me down again
    I thought I heard a mockingbird, Roosevelt knows where
    You can skip the light with grady tuck
    On the Nickel over there

    So what becomes of all the little boys
    Who run away from home?
    The world just keeps gettin' bigger
    Once you get out on your own
    So what becomes of all the little boys
    The sandman takes you where
    You'll be sleepin' with a pillowman
    On the Nickel over there

    So let's climb up through that button hole
    And fall right up the stairs
    I'll show you where the short dogs grow
    On the Nickel over there

  18. D.... C....

    So versatile.

  19. M.... P....

    It's impossible to listen to this song without getting sad feelings and goose bumps. My father loved this song so much. He and I agreed that sad songs were the best songs because they made you feel the most emotions. Long live Tom Waits!

  20. t.... ....

    This & Kentucky Avenue & I'm done

  21. L.... D....

    When my mom passed away this song kept me on the ground when I thought I could just float away.

  22. g.... s....

    Tom Waits hangs the moon. I had a dog that threw tinsel.

  23. D.... S....

    "Climb up through
    that button hole.
    Fall right up the stairs"

  24. S.... J....

    So beautiful. Such talent. Thank you, Tom Waits.

  25. c.... d....

    Compromiso con la vida...

  26. L.... L....

    ONE OF HIS BEST- FROM B/W PERIOD.

  27. Z.... ....

    Sticks and
    stones will break my bones

    But I always will be true

    And when your mama is dead and gone

    I'll sing this lullaby just for you

    So what becomes of all the little boys

    Who never comb their hair?

    They're lined up all around the block

    On The Nickel over there



    So you better bring a bucket

    There is a hole in the pail

    If you don't get my letter

    Then you'll know that I'm in jail

    So what becomes of all the little boys

    Who never say their prayers?

    They're sleepin' like a baby

    On The Nickel over there



    If you chew tobacco, and wish upon a star

    You'll find out where the scarecrows sit

    Just like punchlines between the cars

    I know a place where a royal flush

    Can never beat a pair

    And even Thomas Jefferson

    Is On The Nickel over there



    So ring around the rosie, you're sleepin' in the rain

    And you're always late for supper

    And man you let me down, let me down again

    I thought I heard a mockingbird, Roosevelt knows where

    You can skip the light with grady tuck

    On the Nickel over there



    So what becomes of all the little boys

    Who run away from home?

    The world just keeps gettin' bigger

    Once you get out on your own

    So what becomes of all the little boys

    The sandman takes you where

    You'll be sleepin' with a pillowman

    On the Nickel over there



    So let's climb up through that button hole

    And fall right up the stairs

    I'll show you where the short dogs grow

    On the Nickel over there

  28. A.... ....

    One of the best songs ever written, makes me nearly cry everytime

  29. J.... M....

    I love any song that mentions scarecrows.

  30. x.... ....

    They play this in Heaven, you know? Where the short dogs grow.

  31. S.... C....

    Iv been all the way here but now I’m not . Help those who cannot help themselves . From a dime to a dollar it’s just your throw away change . Follow your heart not the money . Take a look how justice is shared out . Would you not breath for those who cannot .

  32. M.... P....

    Gott segne ihn

  33. R.... M....

    Thank you Tom

  34. D.... ....

    I have not listened to this song in maybe 30 years, beats me why I stopped listening but I will not wait another 30 to listen again I guarantee that. Tom is right up there with the best in the world.

  35. c.... K....

    American history

  36. c.... K....

    Masterpiece

  37. A.... B....

    No one writes such deeply moving songs about the gentle souls who slip through life's safety nets quite like Tom Waits. Songs like "A Soldier's Things", Kentucky Avenue" Invitation To The Blues" and so many more. He is truly their patron saint making sure that we don't completely forget them or our own humanity.

  38. T.... L....

    One day I’ll get all the way through this song without tearing up, and that will be a sad and crazy day.

  39. M.... P....

    Great man

  40. M.... P....

    Genial.Danke Tom.
    Grüße aus Deutschland.

  41. S.... L....

    If you can watch this without tears, you may have a stone heart

  42. L.... F....

    no images can show me what I see when I hear Tom Waits

  43. L.... C....

    such a beautiful song

  44. W.... B....

    So much heart

  45. P.... X....

    Lived on the. Nickle. God bless you, Tom Waits.

  46. P.... M....

    emozioni indescrivibili

  47. �.... �....

    That's what happens to the little boys that don't combe their hair and don't say their prayers!

  48. D.... C....

    An immortal masterpiece, this hard-bitten 60 yr old tradesman weeps every time he plays it

  49. M.... B....

    Sticks and stones will break my bones, but i always will be true, and when
    your mama is dead and gone, i'll sing this lullabye just for you, and what
    becomes of all the little boys, who never comb their hair, well they're lined
    up all around the block, on the nickel over there.

    so you better bring a bucket, there is a hole in the pail, and if you don't
    get my letter, then you'll know that i'm in jail, and what becomes of all the
    little boys, who never say their prayers, well they're sleepin' like a baby,
    on the nickel over there.

    and if you chew tobacco, and wish upon a star, well you'll find out where
    the scarecrows sit, just like punchlines between the cars, and i know a place
    where a royal flush, can never beat a pair, and even thomas jefferson, is on
    the nickel over there.

    so ring around the rosie, you're sleepin' in the rain, and you're always
    late for supper, and man you let me down again, i thought i heard a
    mockingbird, roosevelt knows where, you can skip the light, with grady tuck,
    on the nickel over there.

    so what becomes of all the little boys, who run away from home, well the
    world just keeps gettin' bigger, once you get out on your own, so here's to
    all the little boys, the sandman takes you where, you'll be sleepin' with a
    pillowman, on the nickel over there.

    so let's climb up through that button hole, and we'll fall right up the
    stairs, and i'll show you where the short dogs grow, on the nickel over there.

  50. J.... S....

    I KNOW A PLACE WHERE A ROYAL FLUSH NEVER BEAT A PAIR

  51. d.... ....

    How are him and Charles Bukowski NOT the same person?!!

    d.... ....

    Kindred spirits.

  52. B.... R....

    on the nickel..

  53. T.... A....

    13 banksters don't understand this song...

  54. T.... A....

    I LOVE this song... I really think it's the very best thing Tom Waits EVER wrote... but it brings me to tears... especially when I hear it along with this video, which was obviously made by someone who actually understands what it really means... Big thumbs up dude... even though you made a grown man cry! :D

    T.... A....

    Theseustoo Astyages - as far as choosing my favorite Tom Waits song, its difficult, but I think it’s a coin toss between “On The Nickel”, and “Kentucky Avenue”; they’re both similar in their lyrical vibes, similar with their gorgeous string arrangements, and even though I’ve heard both songs countless times, they still bring tears to my eyes when I hear them. I LOVED this era of Tom Waits; with albums like “Blue Valentine”, and “Heart Attack And Vine”.
    Both albums were beyond incredible. ❤️

  55. J.... M....

    Tom waits, En su plenitud, emocionante, inborrable

  56. J.... R....

    This song for me sums up Tom's genius more than any other in my opinion. It shows his ability to capture the pain and hardships of people who are down and out in society through his voice and lyrics and then juxtapose it with some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard which makes it all the more heartbreaking for those who can't even begin to imagine the reality of their struggles. I know genius is a word that gets thrown around a lot and very loosely these days, but in Tom's case I think it's a title he's well and truly earned.

    J.... R....

    Well said!

  57. F.... M....

    i have listened to this song over the years and for some reason it hasn't aged in any way it encompasses our lives in so many ways to the fragility of the human .

    F.... M....

    Absolutely agree. Astounding song

  58. A.... L....

    awesome, awesome. Never again will we hear such music made.

  59. M.... H....

    There's so many great things about Tom Waits' music, and the fantastic thing about this particular masterpiece is that it brings out the intelligent Americans. The thoughtful Americans. The Americans capable of artistic appreciation. And that's good, because we all know there's not many of you. But those that there are - I salute you, and thank you.

    M.... H....

    Matt Hopkins Great statement! True statement!!

    M.... H....

    ''There are artists who wrest us up, & place us into themselves.
    These are the 'One's Who' continue to wrest us up...
    Even beyond their appointed rests in peace.'' -gilpin 111519

  60. I.... R....

    Tom I'm 59yrs old now. Isa X

  61. A.... O....

    What the nickel mean in this song?

    A.... O....

    5th Ave NY aka skidrow

    A.... O....

    ​@Pegirae Tig Anderson After listening this song a lot, I figure out that the "nickel" is when someone is homeless asking for money. Probably in 5th Ave NY as you said.

  62. M.... L....

    Genial schön!

  63. j.... f....

    Somehow, I had missed this one until recently, but it's become one of my favorite Waits songs.

  64. Q.... M....

    That ugly singing voice in the world plays the most gentle and beautiful music in the world.

  65. R.... K....

    My long lost uncle passed away this spring. He ran away and changed his name so many years ago. I find he had been homeless...and drunk...and in jail far too many times. I wish I would have known him. I hope that he is peaceful now, sleeping, "on a nickel over there."

  66. T.... s....

    That ending line, I’ll show you where the short dogs grow.

    Don’t know what it means, sounds almost like nonsense but he has the way of just taking a peculiar phrase making it sound so powerful

    T.... s....

    Short dog is an old time hustler, in Ireland they call people that scraped to get through life a short dog.

    T.... s....

    @Carla Fox There's also an element of magical transformation - a (literal) short dog grows (metaphorically) in this world he's described of solidarity and compassion (the pair, the pillow etc). And incorporated into Waits's art ("I'll show you ... ") they grow in dignity. He does similar things in Kentucky Ave. Great, great poetry.

  67. N.... H....

    That a human can be so gifted disgusts me. Go away!

    N.... H....

    To, please stay!

  68. �.... ....

    これもまた青春

  69. M.... F....

    Sleeping in the rain gets me every time I used to be homeless and all I had was a cheap mp3 player and I'd listen to this and it gave me strength somehow

    M.... F....

    On the "streets" 5 1/2 yrs, and if weren't for music and guitars that came and went, I would never have survived.

    M.... F....

    Thank You.. for reminding us
    How important music can be
    Especially the roots in the
    Heart of Tom Waits.

    M.... F....

    Bless you my man. Understanding and standing up ain't easy. Never give up, and if you must just roll with the punches (Young MC).

    M.... F....

    Mark Fields I’m so sorry you had to go through that. Hope things have picked up for you

  70. I.... R....

    ahhh our poor souls. love you X

  71. e.... ....

    Itś gratest on all time. I ll lav that song. Thans Tom Waits!

  72. L.... L....

    “The Nickel” is street slang from a few years ago for 5th Street, skid row in downtown Los Angeles. Today it is has been renovated and it is hip. Something gained, and something lost.

  73. U.... ....

    Nickel ?... Can someone lend me a dime?

    U.... ....

    Small change?

  74. J.... M....

    Una perfecta belleza

  75. C.... L....

    Can anyone help me? What is a "pillowman"? :-) I don`t get this whole last passage.... Thanks <3

    C.... L....

    A well padded individual

    C.... L....

    I hear it as "pillow of man" - in other words, he's leaning on somebody else while sleeping.

  76. A.... M....

    excellent

  77. D.... W....

    I know where Im gonnae start crying. I've started already.

  78. A.... D....

    bella canzone

  79. m.... k....

    Canada had cohen and the states has waits. they both should be on the dollar.

    m.... k....

    Waits is on The Nickel.

    m.... k....

    The “Nickle” was slang in those days, for 5th street in downtown Los Angeles, a.k.a “Skid Row”.

    m.... k....

    i remember goin to a show. saw the minibosses and totally radd at a place called "the smell" it was on i think 3rd n main. next to the nickel. between the parking lot and the entrance there were prolly 100 or more people sleepin on the sidewalks

    m.... k....

    and bob dylan

    m.... k....

    Prophets, Seers, & Sages...
    Angels of the ages. -Mark Bolan

  80. A.... P....

    "I know a place where a royal flush never beat pair
    And even Thomas Jefferson is on the nickel over there"

    What an incredible piece of imagery.

    A.... P....

    He is a Poet

    A.... P....

    Yes, Mr. Waits an imagination enough to convey in the most artistic way the human condition. Warm Beer and Cold Women from Nighthawks at the Diner. Or better yet, Putnam County. Suggested to you by an old Viet Vet with time on his hands!

  81. P.... D....

    So many memories glad I found this been so long takes me so way back

  82. N.... P....

    'The world just keeps getting bigger once you get out on your own' - that line gets me right in the gut.

    N.... P....

    Good thing it made an impression on you. Reality does just that.

  83. h.... m....

    i never tire of this song

  84. A.... M....

    Could someone please be kind enough to explain to me what Tom Waits is trying to convey here? I've listened to this song to no end, and love it beyond words can explain, but it'd get that much more special if I could get the connotation. :)

    A.... M....

    Anshul Mittal ........Tom was writing about the street people who live on 5th street in Los Angeles. The street became so crowded with homeless street people that it has since spread to the surrounding blocks around 5th street. However the local street people affectionately call their home The Nickle referring to the street name...fifth street. He refers to this song as a wino’s lullaby. The reference to Thomas Jefferson is that some of the street people are somewhat demented and think they are still little children or are passed presidents or kings or queens of countries or other important dignitaries. The locals give them nicknames such as Thomas Jefferson. Hope this helps.

    A.... M....

    The “Nickle” was slang in those days, for 5th street in downtown Los Angeles, a.k.a “Skid Row”.

  85. K.... S....

    My favourite Tom Waits song

  86. E.... M....

    This is how I found tom waits, epic voice

  87. j.... ....

    Amazing song

  88. J.... B....

    thinking of my son in jail tonight.

    J.... B....

    Jackie Bugdale hope he's OK now

    J.... B....

    Ill be hoping girl.

    J.... B....

    prob 2 late but most of us have been there ain't no thing

    J.... B....

    It has been a year since you posted this comment. I hope your son is doing well.

    J.... B....

    @Tony Lombardo im here too, i hope he is all well and safe

  89. T.... M....

    This guy sings from his bollocks,wonderful wonderful song!

  90. z.... ....

    This song brings tears even to my boyfriend's eyes - and boyfriend hates Tom Waits songs...

  91. U.... ....

    Classic

  92. P.... S....

    summary

  93. T.... H....

    how can a song that sounds so beautiful be so sad

    T.... H....

    Tom Houlihan
    Tom Waits is a genius. It's his special talent to combine sad lyrics with beautiful music. He is a master in this.

    T.... H....

    @Schelby LO Well said!

  94. C.... R....

    I.

    grandissima arte...

  95. F.... M....

    Tom Waits is the one.

  96. i.... ....

    Makes me want a chair, a quiet place, a cigarette and a drink.

  97. v.... h....

    so beautiful

  98. M.... H....

    Oh Christ.... this is the only song that'll make me openly blub! As soon as I hear those opening strings, damnit! Masterpiece... what else can you say?? Tom Waits - Truly the LAST of the original artists. A genius who far too few people know we still posess.

    M.... H....

    Manning Bartlett f

    M.... H....

    Manning Bartlett - yep I'm with you there.

    M.... H....

    I'm an ex special forces, the bad guys didn't get me, Tom does every time. so powerful.

    M.... H....

    I agree about this amazing song. Grapefruit moon has the same effect on me.

    M.... H....

    Well said Matt..... They don't make musical geniuses like Waits anymore - It's all crap.  Ya, like Waits' wife said: "He either writes Grim Reapers, or Grand Weapers".  But they're all part of the human soul in my opinion.