I always get teary when I listen to this song- all year round. Tom can move me to laughter or tears. I'm currently in a hospital bed and just played Shake, Rattle and Roll- the patient next to me thinks I'm a nutter becuz I quietly did those howls- I highly recommend the great Tom Waits to anybody who needs a shoulder to cry on or a metaphorical hug and oh yeah, I don't wanna grow up either...Love you Tom. Namaste from Canada
There's a special kind of broken, dirt-smeared place that Tom Waits' music lumbers out of, laughing a tired kind of laugh and shedding a nostalgic kind of tear, and, God help me, I love every minute of it. I hope you're better.
"i don't want to grow up either" is this a line from one of his songs? I have a feeling it may be and i'm just learning to appreciate Mr. Waits. I loved his role in Dracula as Renfield. And somehow I ended up here. Happy Holidays however and wherever you are.
My daughter spent 10 days across Christmas 2018 in the children’s hospital when she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. I didn’t sleep the entire time. Every night on PBS around 3am, they played this ACL. I would sit there in her dark hospital room listening to the beeps and machines and this special on a tiny handheld speaker nestled between my shoulder and ear. This song still breaks me every single time.
You ever need any help or suggestions with it, been a type 1 for 22 years...mine was Christmas 2002. Anything you ever need brother, leave me a comment and I'll do anything I can to help you/her with any tips.
I even hear the audience’s laughter sound like crying. The lyrics of this song tear people’s heart apart. Our lives may be filled with crying and laughing.
The gifted genius of Tom Waits art-form, his poetry and musical talent combined, firmly anchors his legacy amongst the greatest story-tellers of all time. Merry Christmas to everyone / 2024.
On Christmas eve, i like this as an intro to my watching William Burroughs' "The Junky's Christmas". I feel these two really set the mood for the Holiday.
Only performer that I can not cover. Whenever I try I just find myself trying to do exactly what Tom does. Since theres no way I can, I just let it go. I am NOT experienced enough to cover King. Long live good sir, long live.
My buddies and I discovered Tom Waits in college in the mid-70s. We absolutely LOVED the guy. Nighthawks at the Diner (hell YEAH!!!) Small Change...more HELL YEAH! This song is on the "Blue Valentines" album but this performance makes it a much more personal experience. He once said in an interview that he'd "rather be in a room surrounded by vomit than play to a clean-cut audience of rich asshole kids with coke spoons around their necks." Nobody painted pictures of bowery-esque shit like he did (except for Charles Bukowski) YOU ROCK, TOM!
On the contrary I think they laugh at the funny bits and Tom gets a kick out of it. "Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh"
It makes it better for me. Just adds to the whole idea that the story is about people nobody gives a shit about, everybody else is having fun at Christmas etc.
The way there's such desperation yet hope in the character is testament to the lyricism of a genius. Live this song aches in poignancy, and delivered by a craftsman. A video that everybody who ever meant anything to you should hear. Share the beauty
Tom always lifts me out of the doldrums. Always. He reminds me that life is about living no matter how difficult living can prove to be. We all have a life to live and a story to tell. Happy New Year. 2025.
You know you are a great artist when people enjoy your music 43 years later. I am 33 and was'nt even born when this took place. And I am very sad to be born in the wrong time.
This is not a song. This is a whole Universe. A movie made by all great American directors at once, from John Ford to Lynch, Scorcese and Tarantino rolled into one... This is a life in a nutshell. Five and a half minutes of greatness.
Time, as I was telling my beautiful wife, earlier tonight, whom I met in college, thirty odd years ago, is having its way with us. Nothing we can do about it. Be merry, my friends, be mery.
If you don't think this song is beautiful, you have no idea what it means to be down and out, broke, and addicted. I know all kinds of people just like this hooker from Minneapolis... I understand her. I left Omaha 14 years ago, and have been 100% sober since, I won't ever go back.
I've seen lots of Waits videos and own all the albums. This vid is special for showing the relaxed and musically solid style in this amazing man. I like artists that never play the same song the same way twice... \\\\\
I like how Tom makes the audience think that the song is a big joke, and then he gives then a kick right in the guts, and they realize that the song really isn't funny at all. The saddest Christmas song ever recorded.
@@vulcanred4500 They are laughing at his obvious jokes within the song. They aren't laughing when he's belting out beautiful vocals a couple of seconds later. It's part of his brilliance, from drawing laughter to tears within the same song. There's nothing shallow about it, he's capturing the full range of what it is to be human.
![TOM WAITS "On the Nickel" [LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN 1983]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/fi068_YlQvY/mqdefault.jpg)
Happy Christmas to everyone listening to this perfection in 2024.
Same to you, friend. 🎄
Same to you! From Hull Massachusetts 🎄🙏💜
This is my first sober Christmas... makes listening to this a little different.
@@tommiefunk2099Not alone brother. Sober too. Tough road but we're gonna make it.
Back atcha!
I always get teary when I listen to this song- all year round. Tom can move me to laughter or tears. I'm currently in a hospital bed and just played Shake, Rattle and Roll- the patient next to me thinks I'm a nutter becuz I quietly did those howls- I highly recommend the great Tom Waits to anybody who needs a shoulder to cry on or a metaphorical hug and oh yeah, I don't wanna grow up either...Love you Tom. Namaste from Canada
Beauty. “On the Nickel, over there..”
There's a special kind of broken, dirt-smeared place that Tom Waits' music lumbers out of, laughing a tired kind of laugh and shedding a nostalgic kind of tear, and, God help me, I love every minute of it.
I hope you're better.
Hope you’re doing good now!
"i don't want to grow up either" is this a line from one of his songs? I have a feeling it may be and i'm just learning to appreciate Mr. Waits. I loved his role in Dracula as Renfield. And somehow I ended up here. Happy Holidays however and wherever you are.
Im crying all over myself, with a needle in my teeth, a hole in my heart, and a tear in my eye ❤ You Tom W
One of the best live performances in history, period.
My daughter spent 10 days across Christmas 2018 in the children’s hospital when she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. I didn’t sleep the entire time. Every night on PBS around 3am, they played this ACL. I would sit there in her dark hospital room listening to the beeps and machines and this special on a tiny handheld speaker nestled between my shoulder and ear. This song still breaks me every single time.
I think three a.m. would be a really good time to be listening to this. I hope your daughter's doing better.
hope you’re doing well man, keep on keeping on out there
You ever need any help or suggestions with it, been a type 1 for 22 years...mine was Christmas 2002. Anything you ever need brother, leave me a comment and I'll do anything I can to help you/her with any tips.
I listen to this every year, with a cigar, candles on and a glass of bourbon in hand.
I even hear the audience’s laughter sound like crying. The lyrics of this song tear people’s heart apart. Our lives may be filled with crying and laughing.
There is great power in music.
Thank you for this one, Tom Waits.
The gifted genius of Tom Waits art-form, his poetry and musical talent combined, firmly anchors his legacy amongst the greatest story-tellers of all time. Merry Christmas to everyone / 2024.
At last someone who 5:05 knows
Here once again to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Be safe and love one another.
More soulful and packed with meaning than any other Christmas carol I've ever heard.
On Christmas eve, i like this as an intro to my watching William Burroughs' "The Junky's Christmas". I feel these two really set the mood for the Holiday.
I really am only living for the day when this song makes it into the Christmas song rotation at an Old Navy.
My favourite Christmas song ever. So heartbreaking.
This and "Fairytale of New York" by the Pogues are my favorites!
Only performer that I can not cover. Whenever I try I just find myself trying to do exactly what Tom does. Since theres no way I can, I just let it go. I am NOT experienced enough to cover King. Long live good sir, long live.
What a legend
My buddies and I discovered Tom Waits in college in the mid-70s. We absolutely LOVED the guy. Nighthawks at the Diner (hell YEAH!!!) Small Change...more HELL YEAH! This song is on the "Blue Valentines" album but this performance makes it a much more personal experience. He once said in an interview that he'd "rather be in a room surrounded by vomit than play to a clean-cut audience of rich asshole kids with coke spoons around their necks." Nobody painted pictures of bowery-esque shit like he did (except for Charles Bukowski) YOU ROCK, TOM!
Unreal songwriting.
Absolutely, a true master at work
The 1978 crowd are oblivious to the tragedy... Tom Waits is amazing.
On the contrary I think they laugh at the funny bits and Tom gets a kick out of it.
"Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh"
I think they 'got it'. Agreed, there won't be another Tom this century. God-willing, not after this one, either.
It makes it better for me. Just adds to the whole idea that the story is about people nobody gives a shit about, everybody else is having fun at Christmas etc.
The way there's such desperation yet hope in the character is testament to the lyricism of a genius. Live this song aches in poignancy, and delivered by a craftsman. A video that everybody who ever meant anything to you should hear. Share the beauty
Tom always lifts me out of the doldrums. Always.
He reminds me that life is about living no matter how difficult living can prove to be. We all have a life to live and a story to tell.
Happy New Year. 2025.
My life doesn't copy this song, but there are some times it harmonizes... Merry Christmas, all.
Blessed be fellow human being
The quality of this video is amazing
You know you are a great artist when people enjoy your music 43 years later. I am 33 and was'nt even born when this took place. And I am very sad to be born in the wrong time.
You're very lucky to have such easy access to all the songs in the world. In the sixties we didn't even have mixtapes.
Perspective is important. Thanks for this,@@Neearm
Whenever it is now is the right time.
You're never the wrong time for great music and artistry, partner.
This version of the song never fails to make me cry. Love you so much, Tom.
Classic
It's December. I'm back.
Same. Every year.
holy crap this is good
Man. This is everything. Rough Christmas. First time was decades ago with another rough one. Thanks. Means lot
Every time,yes,every time listen to this song,tears keep on falling
Just how brilliant is Tom Waits.
Genius at work ❤
You find hope where you can find it.
Someday I hope to visit Tom Waits home planet damn I'll bet it's Groovy
I’ve watched the other version in poor quality again and again over the years.
Thank you for this incredible version 🙂
Watch the version that has Australian TV in the title - it hits home a lot more!
Merry Christmas, everybody!
Merry Christmas everyone!
This is not a song. This is a whole Universe. A movie made by all great American directors at once, from John Ford to Lynch, Scorcese and Tarantino rolled into one... This is a life in a nutshell. Five and a half minutes of greatness.
Melodramatic much, wordsworth?
No one in Hollywood is worthy to even be in the same company as this Giant.
All art aspires to music
I like it cause i can feel the while thing in my Spirit. Us humans are a very special species.
Time, as I was telling my beautiful wife, earlier tonight, whom I met in college, thirty odd years ago, is having its way with us. Nothing we can do about it. Be merry, my friends, be mery.
If you don't think this song is beautiful, you have no idea what it means to be down and out, broke, and addicted. I know all kinds of people just like this hooker from Minneapolis... I understand her. I left Omaha 14 years ago, and have been 100% sober since, I won't ever go back.
Magnifique!
I've seen lots of Waits videos and own all the albums. This vid is special for showing the relaxed and musically solid style in this amazing man. I like artists that never play the same song the same way twice...
\\\\\
a story of the fragile Americana... superior writing... the one and only Tom Waits
No dislikes!!!!!!
The world has been put to right x
Merry Christmas everyone :)
Beautiful.
The great Old Tom Frost
I like how Tom makes the audience think that the song is a big joke, and then he gives then a kick right in the guts, and they realize that the song really isn't funny at all. The saddest Christmas song ever recorded.
I love the dead silence at the end, he really pulled the rug out
Exactly
I mean it ends with a punchline
A true Masterpiece.
Too Gorgeous 😢 And Tom sings going out of my head too ❤
The one and only.
This is it; what it means to be human.
Back again... and damn this hits hard.
Qualquer dia é natal com esse vídeo
Just brilliant
It’s perfect
Merry Xmas folks ! Tom is king
every year these days.. love y Tom.
The realest OG
❤️
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
on repeat
I play this song at my bar. So far nobody has gotten in my face for it. People laughing at some of his lines here just don't really get him.
So bloody true
❤🙏
A Nobel Prize for Tom & Kath as well
Wow
Can I like this twice ?
Been on both sides. It means as much either way.
That one dislike is from charlie himself
still here in 24 hope i make 25
happy vday
No matter who he sings about, his characters always have a sad, kind of dignity.
Ron Bennington brought me here. Thanks Ronnie B.
!!!
Just found out that it is a lie that this song was inspired by a Bukowski poem. Someone made that up and it lived on the internet for years.
minneapolis is burning dude
I'm a little late this year. But that's okay. Our imperfections make us real, right?
Waits...'with swimming head, needs knot the belly, idle hands numb, beside the speeding traffic'. [John Dos Passos, USA].😂
I can hear Waits' greasy cigarette smelling voice as a woman, its nuts he pulls off such a crazy performance
Gotta like the grease at ...
Always wondered about people laughing.
Me too. Seems shallow, rude, and disrespectful.
I hope the people laughing have never heard this song before
@@vulcanred4500
They are laughing at his obvious jokes within the song. They aren't laughing when he's belting out beautiful vocals a couple of seconds later. It's part of his brilliance, from drawing laughter to tears within the same song. There's nothing shallow about it, he's capturing the full range of what it is to be human.
The one dislike is someone who didn't like the song.
I think Ron Pearlman is possibly Tom Waits Dad. 🤣🤣
That audience got NOTHING
P.
I know and agree with the meme that Freddie Mercury is god but Tom Waits makes me polytheistic
My all time fave song.
the sound of dying Los Angeles.
❤