1986:my wife and I on climbing trip to Mt Kenya in East Africa. Alone high on the peak, camped in snow, hadn't seen another person for 10 days. Was saving the batteries for headlamps, but splurged and pulled out the walkman one day. The studio version of this song was on. It took us away. I looked in her eyes, and we both felt it. The closest thing I've ever had to a mystical or out of body experience. We had to look away - can't explain it. Like nothing I've experience since. Thanks Tom!
I bought a long sleeved shirt with horses on the front...and some gum and a lighter and a knife There is no better lyricist than this fellow. Forever and ever, amen.
Just... awe-inspiring. The comments here make me so happy because everyone is so connected. This song and performance has left a profound impression on us all.
I had the good sense and fortune to catch this movie at the theater on 'the big screen'. I can only hope that it gets released on bluray ASAP. It get's better with each viewing.
This guy is unbelievable Tom Waits Amazing Awesome Genius I agree with all this comments, absolutely. Specially with tehtapemonkey Thank you very much for sharing.
Sei il migliore veramente, ho 30 anni e ti ascolto da 10 anni..mi fai sempre viaggiare tra i tuoi racconti. Sei semplicemente magico, e la tua magia come dire..mi incanta. Non sono riuscito mai a vederti live..spero di riuscirci anche se è dura. Sei il re per me! Questa performance ogni volta che la vedo mi lascia senza parole, solo brividi e viaggi mentali. Grazie.
This version of this song almost made me cry the first time I saw it, on a friend's TV. I did not have such a response to either the album version nor the TH-cam clip, but I am still quite happy to see this again!
One of the best Waits songs ever, but I say that about all of them. A favourite line that my wife and I use regularly comes from this song "Squeezing all the life out of a lousy two day pass". This song is as close as humans come to teleportation.
i believe Tom Waits is jesus and the messiah together, preaching us all to go into a 4 week depression of drinking in a small shed with this song playing over and over on the turntable
I, of course, love his music, his recording tunes; but his live versions are so damn good. His live versions of telephone call from Istanbul, On the Nickel, Chocolate Jesus, and especially Way Down In The Hole are truly amazing.
Always been a great fan of his, from about 18-19 yrs. old - some time ago lol. I was today year's old when I heard this version the first time and am literally blown away. One of my favorites of his, live and....better than studio? Yeah, that's Tom for ya.
Sooo much passion on this version! Wouldn't have really thought much of this song if not for this performance - so glad the Big Time movie/soundtrack was what introduced me to Tom Waits back in my teens.
No comment , maybe exept - that´s the fu....g brilliant...!!! Exeptional performer...listening to him for last 30 years.. Thank you Tom..! :)) Yurri from Prague
Awesome version of an awesome song ... And then Marc Ribot starts soloing, which brings the whole lot beyond that. What's stronger than "awesome" ? Divine ?
All I have to say is MY GOD that is amazing. Tom Waits has an incredible amount of talent. This version of Shore Leave leaves me speechless. I am hunting down a copy of Big Time right this second! Great clip TombyStone! Thanks for sharing.
Yes! One of the best performances in a history. It's a mistery. People are waiting all over the world. Maybe we should form a pressure group, maybe they don't know, maybe the film is lying somewhere on a shelf in a cellar completely forgotten... Who's holding rights to this material anyway?
I'll be paying money to see Big Time in Janurary, so until then, I will do this to get by. Besides Tom bought his own bootleg on Ebay at least once... I just read an article about it last night... he uses the internet too! :P
Sorry to react so late, but I only saw this comment now. I totally agree with you. As I am dutch and english is not my native language, I never could describe exactely what I was feeling listening to TW, but what you said comes so close, I could have said it myself...lol what you say about catching your attention every time and getting goosebumps is so true, I can easily agree with you. thanks.......
Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car." Taken from Wikipedia and absolutely spot-on lol
2:29-2:39 - those lyrics, how he sings them, and the expression on his face... brings the goosebumps every time. The man just catches my attention every time. I know some say he's an acquired taste, but easily acquired, surely. Too much effort for some people to actually listen to, perhaps.
This is great, and even hat sounds like a poor describtion. Tom Waits has a way of painting life with a raw stroke, melancholical but still worthwhile because the chance it might get a golden edge, makes you go on and try to make peace with the pain of living.... I cannot stop listening to this song.
1986:my wife and I on climbing trip to Mt Kenya in East Africa. Alone high on the peak, camped in snow, hadn't seen another person for 10 days. Was saving the batteries for headlamps, but splurged and pulled out the walkman one day. The studio version of this song was on. It took us away. I looked in her eyes, and we both felt it. The closest thing I've ever had to a mystical or out of body experience. We had to look away - can't explain it. Like nothing I've experience since. Thanks Tom!
I'm here, looking at the comments for stories like this, 15 years later but not late. Thank you.
This is some of the most brilliant performance art of Tom Waits' career here in Big Time. That's not even an understatement.
It's also one of the best songs, from the best album. A masterful composition, absolutely gorgeous transitions and everything.
this song in that performance makes me a Tom Waits fan >30 years ago.
at the end of the song it sounds like he's crying out for his wife... absolutely raw and incredible
Some guys should live for ever....
I don't know how he hits those notes but when he does... sends chills down my back.
i saw him in 1978 at the Leroy Theatre in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
the best indivdual act i 've ever seen.
he is a genius.
thanks for posting
I bought a long sleeved shirt with horses on the front...and some gum and a lighter and a knife
There is no better lyricist than this fellow. Forever and ever, amen.
This is one of those rare musical performances that just makes the hair on my arms stand at attention all the way through.
The way he turns off that lamp at the end...so perfect, so smooth, so Waits.
i got chills every time i listen to this song. what a voice...
Just... awe-inspiring. The comments here make me so happy because everyone is so connected. This song and performance has left a profound impression on us all.
So powerful. I can't think of anyone that even comes close to Tom's stage presence.
Tom Waits will always occupy a dark but humorous corner of my brain, chained to my soul.
The saxophone in this song wraps itself around Tom's ankles like a slinky cat. This man is a genius...
This performance just blew me away. It's so powerful and emotional and amazing. I am in awe of Tom Waits.
once you 'get' this song and Tom Waits, hopefully you will never recover!
This performance is just mesmerizing.
AMAZING!!!!!! Even after 25 years it steel be amazing for me!!!!
Yeah tom waits is a genius! An innovator and too honest for ordinary narrow minded souls.
I love Tom Waits. He is such a musical and lyrical genius.
Play this, on your home entertainment system, at full blast! From start to finish! Wow!
I rather won't do that or the neibourgh start to complain. They have no taste.
Get new neighbors! :)
+Raap123 the neighbours complain? Don't give a hoot what they say.
Can listen to this on repeat for hours
Es increible lo que este hombre puede hacer con su voz.Magnifico
I had the good sense and fortune to catch this movie at the theater on 'the big screen'. I can only hope that it gets released on bluray ASAP. It get's better with each viewing.
This guy is unbelievable
Tom Waits
Amazing
Awesome
Genius
I agree with all this comments, absolutely.
Specially with tehtapemonkey
Thank you very much for sharing.
This movie is so amazing... I had forgotten this song was on it.
Listening to this song while actually being in Hong Kong is pretty great, had a chance to do it a few years ago. Quite an experience.
Absolute genius this man is xx
Sei il migliore veramente, ho 30 anni e ti ascolto da 10 anni..mi fai sempre viaggiare tra i tuoi racconti. Sei semplicemente magico, e la tua magia come dire..mi incanta. Non sono riuscito mai a vederti live..spero di riuscirci anche se è dura. Sei il re per me! Questa performance ogni volta che la vedo mi lascia senza parole, solo brividi e viaggi mentali. Grazie.
Oh the fearless drama, the dirty beauty and the pure poetry... one of a kind.
This is miles ahead from the original version. Same with Yesterday is Here. Big Time was a fucking really good performance
This version of this song almost made me cry the first time I saw it, on a friend's TV. I did not have such a response to either the album version nor the TH-cam clip, but I am still quite happy to see this again!
One of the best Waits songs ever, but I say that about all of them. A favourite line that my wife and I use regularly comes from this song "Squeezing all the life out of a lousy two day pass". This song is as close as humans come to teleportation.
i believe Tom Waits is jesus and the messiah together, preaching us all to go into a 4 week depression of drinking in a small shed with this song playing over and over on the turntable
Lyrically, this is off the scale. And one of my favourite ever live performances.
Thats the whole point
Tom waits is moving,if he moves you of scares you.
This performance is just hypnotic.
Watch it again its addictive
I, of course, love his music, his recording tunes; but his live versions are so damn good. His live versions of telephone call from Istanbul, On the Nickel, Chocolate Jesus, and especially Way Down In The Hole are truly amazing.
Do you know anyone else who can sing whispering?
He gives me the shivers. And the blues. And the music.
One of his greatest songs
Always been a great fan of his, from about 18-19 yrs. old - some time ago lol. I was today year's old when I heard this version the first time and am literally blown away. One of my favorites of his, live and....better than studio? Yeah, that's Tom for ya.
I am so very in love with Tom Waits
if it was on DVD i'd love to spend cash on this, it's beyond amazing.
One of the most amazing things I have ever seen in my life. I wish I was there.
Sooo much passion on this version! Wouldn't have really thought much of this song if not for this performance - so glad the Big Time movie/soundtrack was what introduced me to Tom Waits back in my teens.
No comment , maybe exept - that´s the fu....g brilliant...!!! Exeptional performer...listening to him for last 30 years.. Thank you Tom..! :)) Yurri from Prague
WHAT IS THIS
This is something very special.
This song breaks my heart.
this is just the best, first time i heard it but im hooked, just like 16 shells a few minutes ago, this guy is such a great singer and storyteller.
absolutely pure genius
Jesus... I really got the emotion of the letter from this version. So powerful, and I totally didn't expect it. I felt the desperation.
Mhhhhhhh so gooood❤❤❤❤
That's the part that almost made me cry, it's so good! Feel it.
I cant help myself - I just LOVE this song...
and I wondered how the same moon outside
over this Chinatown fair
could look down on Illinois
and find you there
and you know I love you Baby
Beautiful
Una magnifica versione dal vivo
Every time I read that line I get goosebumps
THE Best Version of this song... Deep, habited and inspiring ...
Great song fantastic performance
sums us all up and cuts us to the bone with a lyric.
Ohhhhhhhhhh❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
i saw this 26 years ago for the first time and it blew my mind, i hope it does yours
czy to bylo w TVP? Mnie to zahipnotyzowało wtedy. Wczesniej nie wiedzialem że Tom Waits istnieje
Awesome version of an awesome song ... And then Marc Ribot starts soloing, which brings the whole lot beyond that. What's stronger than "awesome" ? Divine ?
I ain't stackin nothing.
Just here to say Tom is The Man.
carry on...
I love his facial expressions hehe. Great performance.
All I have to say is MY GOD that is amazing. Tom Waits has an incredible amount of talent. This version of Shore Leave leaves me speechless. I am hunting down a copy of Big Time right this second! Great clip TombyStone! Thanks for sharing.
If a better love song exists I ain't heard it.
I'm so far away from home, I miss my baby so..........
man, Tom Waits is amazing...
This should be the most-viewed Tom Waits video. This shit should be taught at the university.
Masterpiece, by all means.
I can't make it by myself, I love you so!!! PERFECTION!!!!!
this is INCREDIBLE.
Best Tom Wait's song..
Couldn't agree more. Well said.
wonderfull!!
You know what, it EVOKES something because its so profoundly different than anything else.
Hot damn! Sing it. SSSSSShhhhhhooooooorrrrreeeee lllleeeaaaavvvvvvvveeee
Probably the greatest Artist since Hannah Hoch.......
Yes!
One of the best performances in a history.
It's a mistery. People are waiting all over the world.
Maybe we should form a pressure group,
maybe they don't know, maybe the film is lying somewhere on a shelf in a cellar completely forgotten...
Who's holding rights to this material anyway?
Pure Magic / Genius
If this guy isn't a genius then none is. Fucking absolute genius. Absolute genius.
just great
I'll be paying money to see Big Time in Janurary, so until then, I will do this to get by. Besides Tom bought his own bootleg on Ebay at least once... I just read an article about it last night... he uses the internet too! :P
Has anyone ever conveyed the pain of loneliness like Waits.
There is no one better
Fantastic!
Sorry to react so late, but I only saw this comment now. I totally agree with you.
As I am dutch and english is not my native language, I never could describe exactely what I was feeling listening to TW, but what you said comes so close, I could have said it myself...lol
what you say about catching your attention every time and getting goosebumps is so true, I can easily agree with you. thanks.......
no one like Tom Waits to ply the soft underbelly of america's uncovered broken down soul....
doktorfuture: It's because there has not yet been a rating system invented that can truly convey the brilliance of Waits. ;^)
Another great example of Tom Waits being better live than album version :)
Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."
Taken from Wikipedia and absolutely spot-on lol
GENIUS!
i wish this was on the cd!
For me Tom is up there with Beetoven, mozart etc. true genius and as good a lyricist as ANYONE out there and I'm including Dylan in that
put out with passion!!
he has an almost creepy husky voice...love the lyrics
thumbs up for the random work light!
2:29-2:39 - those lyrics, how he sings them, and the expression on his face... brings the goosebumps every time.
The man just catches my attention every time. I know some say he's an acquired taste, but easily acquired, surely.
Too much effort for some people to actually listen to, perhaps.
This is amazing!
This is great, and even hat sounds like a poor describtion.
Tom Waits has a way of painting life with a raw stroke, melancholical but still worthwhile because the chance it might get a golden edge, makes you go on and try to make peace with the pain of living....
I cannot stop listening to this song.
Superior !
COOL-EVERYTHING-ESPECIALLY THE GUITAR