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Tom Waits — Heartattack And Vine
Album: Heartattack And Vine
Avg rating:
6.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2613









Released: 1980
Length: 4:36
Plays (last 30 days): 1
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Liar liar with your pants on fire
White spades hangin' on the telephone wire
Gamblers reevaluate along the dotted line
You'll never recognize yourself on heartattack and vine

Doctor, lawyer, beggar man thief
Philly Joe remarkable looks on in disbelief
If you want a taste of madness, you'll have to wait in line
You'll probably see someone you know on heartattack and vine

Boney's high on china white, Shorty found a punk
Don't you know there ain't no devil, there's just God when he's drunk
Well this stuff will probably kill you, let's do another line
What you say you meet me down on heartattack and vine

See that little Jersey girl in the see-through top
With the peddle pushers sucking on a soda pop
Well I bet she's still a virgin but it's only twenty-five 'til nine
You can see a million of 'em on heartattack and vine

Better off in Iowa against your scrambled eggs
Than crawling down Cahuenga on a broken pair of legs
You'll find your ignorance is blissful every goddamn time
Your're waitin' for the RTD on heartattack and vine

Boney's high on china white, Shorty found a punk
Don't you know there ain't no devil, there's just God when he's drunk
Well this stuff will probably kill you, let's do another line
What you say you meet me down on heartattack and vine

Liar liar with your pants on fire
White spades hangin' on the telephone wire
Gamblers reevaluate along the dotted line
You'll never recognize yourself on heartattack and vine

Doctor, lawyer, beggar man thief
Philly Joe remarkable looks on in disbelief
If you want a taste of madness, you'll have to wait in line
You'll probably see someone you know on heartattack and vine

See that little Jersey girl in the see-through top
With the peddle pushers sucking on a soda pop
Well I bet she's still a virgin but it's only twenty-five 'til nine
You can see a million of 'em on heartattack and vine

Boney's high on china white, Shorty found a punk
Don't you know there ain't no devil, there's just God when he's drunk
Well this stuff will probably kill you, let's do another line
What you say you meet me down on heartattack and vine
Comments (327)add comment
Ah, Radio Paradise. Such a treat to hear three Tom Waits songs in a row. Two covers and then the one and only Tom here with Heart Attack and Vine. Does my heart good. ❤️
Posted 11 months ago by Laptopdog    [ Reply ]
3 in a row, with the best saved for last. Now we're talking. 
Thanks BillG
Posted 1 year ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
 jjbix37 wrote:

overrated, irritating



may i ask why?
Posted 1 year ago by jp33442    [ Reply ]
overrated, irritating
Posted 1 year ago by jjbix37    [ Reply ]
 eyke wrote:

a set of Tom...Norah Jones to John Hammond to the man himself...BillG you're one of a kind!

Makes me want to get out my Rhino mastered Nighthawks at the Diner.

Again 2 yrs later, such a set.
Followed by Traffic's Glad, for those who are glad Tom Waits is done. 
Posted 1 year ago by eyke    [ Reply ]
There aren’t no devil, it’s just God when he’s drunk. Love me some TW!
Posted 1 year ago by Sweet_Virginia    [ Reply ]
 acolt wrote:


I'm scandalized just thinking about the amount of spit flying whenever Tom Waits opens his mouth to sing,  but to each his own!

Ha, I was just thinking that's one show I may not want a front row seat for!
Posted 1 year ago by stevesaw    [ Reply ]

As Kneller in "Wristcutters: A Love Story"
Posted 1 year ago by eyke    [ Reply ]
 KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:


Tom Waits the miner.

"I'm coming for you Mr. Pocket"
Posted 2 years ago by scraig    [ Reply ]
And he did play Tom Waits after two back to back covers of his songs. Thanks!! Love Tom Waits.
Posted 2 years ago by smartn1    [ Reply ]
Don't like this cause of Tom's phony hardbitten vocal style.
Posted 2 years ago by belegato    [ Reply ]
There is nothing like Waits lyrics that can produce vivid images in your mind. Beautiful melodies, distorted by quirky instrumentation and a unique voice. I love it
Posted 2 years ago by SyncOne    [ Reply ]
How this even got published in 1980. It’s like a gift to future taste.
Posted 2 years ago by MassivRuss    [ Reply ]
Tom waits should be 8 or above IMOH
Posted 2 years ago by jp33442    [ Reply ]
 laozilover wrote:
Seriously scandalized by the 11% '1' votes! Un effing believable! 


I'm scandalized just thinking about the amount of spit flying whenever Tom Waits opens his mouth to sing,  but to each his own!
Posted 2 years ago by acolt    [ Reply ]
 eyke wrote:

a set of Tom...Norah Jones to John Hammond to the man himself...BillG you're one of a kind!

Makes me want to get out my Rhino mastered Nighthawks at the Diner.

Loaned that to my best friend one time - she did not understand what I found incredible about it. What's not to?

Great sax in this one.
Posted 2 years ago by xcranky_yankee    [ Reply ]
Bill: We need an 11 button.
Posted 3 years ago by bkrans9    [ Reply ]


Tom Waits the miner.
Posted 3 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
 acolt wrote:

I'm solidly in the minority here, but good lord this voice is just grating and horrible. The growl of Leonard Cohen without any of the soul. 

Tom Waits and Eddie Vedder should get together and form the most unintelligible group in rock history.






I really love the lyrics, but honestly can't take the vocals either. It sounds like he's slobbering through half of the song.
Posted 3 years ago by ksschapp    [ Reply ]
Great piece! And to me one of those unfathomable cases where a cover (Screamin' Jay) is even better than the original! God knows how.
Posted 3 years ago by tarkus72    [ Reply ]
My favorite Waits line," There ain't no devil, that's just God when he's drunk."
Posted 3 years ago by zenhead    [ Reply ]
 Izzyman wrote:


WHERE did you ever find this film to view? I've been looking for years and it's nowhere to be found. I recall it was a tremendous flop and created legal nightmares for all the relevant parties.
 

Looks like you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video.
Posted 3 years ago by Gee_Aiche    [ Reply ]
watch him belt it
Posted 3 years ago by RabbitEars    [ Reply ]
 redeyespy wrote:
I watched Francis Ford Coppola's One From The Heart this past weekend, and was really struck by (among other things) Tom's haunting, wounded, and even jadedly hopeful songs and scoring. Crystal Gayle croons quite nicely along with him on several tunes, too. This is a soundtrack worth owning.
 

WHERE did you ever find this film to view? I've been looking for years and it's nowhere to be found. I recall it was a tremendous flop and created legal nightmares for all the relevant parties.
Posted 3 years ago by Izzyman    [ Reply ]
Seriously scandalized by the 11% '1' votes! Un effing believable! 
Posted 3 years ago by laozilover    [ Reply ]
 zurcronium wrote:
Hard to imagine but he opened for Janice Ian back in the day. How do I know? I was there. He was booed of course by the Ian fans. I became one of his fans that evening. 

April 30, 1976 Municipal Auditorium, Austin, TX (supporting Janis Ian)

Jimi Hendrix opened for The Monkees once upon a time...?-)

Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.
 

Posted 3 years ago by tonyinnj    [ Reply ]
a set of Tom...Norah Jones to John Hammond to the man himself...BillG you're one of a kind!

Makes me want to get out my Rhino mastered Nighthawks at the Diner.
Posted 4 years ago by eyke    [ Reply ]
I'm solidly in the minority here, but good lord this voice is just grating and horrible. The growl of Leonard Cohen without any of the soul. 

Tom Waits and Eddie Vedder should get together and form the most unintelligible group in rock history.
Posted 4 years ago by acolt    [ Reply ]
Nice set, Bill!
Posted 4 years ago by derhey9416    [ Reply ]
"You know there ain't no Devil; there's just God when he's drunk."

Amen to that.

Highlow
American Net'Zen
Posted 4 years ago by Highlowsel    [ Reply ]
Put your masks on! {#Umbrella}
Posted 4 years ago by CoYoT51    [ Reply ]
 zurcronium wrote:
Hard to imagine but he opened for Janice Ian back in the day. How do I know? I was there. He was booed of course by the Ian fans. I became one of his fans that evening. 

April 30, 1976 Municipal Auditorium, Austin, TX (supporting Janis Ian)
 

Makes you wonder what kind of drugs the person who booked that concert was on!

I am both a Janis Ian fan (say her in concert way too long ago) and Tom Waits but....not the same evening!
Posted 4 years ago by megsaint    [ Reply ]
This always makes me want to dance in an unbecoming way, ie as if my hips are looking for the sort of hotel that lets rooms by the hour...
Posted 4 years ago by SpinyNorma    [ Reply ]
Hard to imagine but he opened for Janice Ian back in the day. How do I know? I was there. He was booed of course by the Ian fans. I became one of his fans that evening. 

April 30, 1976 Municipal Auditorium, Austin, TX (supporting Janis Ian)
Posted 4 years ago by zurcronium    [ Reply ]
Is that really him ?
Posted 4 years ago by Dalsir    [ Reply ]
The first two rows are the splash zone.
Posted 4 years ago by mrselfdestruct    [ Reply ]
blasphalicious lyrics 
Posted 4 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
Listen to Waits' early stuff and you can hear a much "sweeter" voice. He worked hard to get his voice to sound like that. His voice fits his music -  to the ambiance that he creates. On Letterman, he once said that his doctor told him if he kept singing like that he would end up like Sinatra. To that he responded, "What? Rich and famous?"

He is one of my all time favs. There is no one like him. Started seriously listening to him in the early 80s. Just amazing.
Posted 5 years ago by Spuck    [ Reply ]
I love this guy, can do no wrong in my opinion. I love his stories in songs.
Posted 5 years ago by bsmith1    [ Reply ]
 kingart wrote:
He sounds like he's trying to HAVE a heart attack. 
 
Yeah! Awesome...

Posted 5 years ago by Sweet_Virginia    [ Reply ]
For me one of the most beautiful things about this track is the harmony between Tom's voice and the guitar.  There's barbed wire in both, and the track is the better for it. Tom has a story to tell us.  It isn't pretty but it's damned interesting.   I don't think he could tell it any other way.  For that he has my gratitude and great appreciation.
Posted 5 years ago by garyalex    [ Reply ]
 curtkare wrote:
All I can think about is the poor guy whose job it is to disinfect the microphone. 

 
That phlegm made it's way through my Bose speaker. 
Posted 5 years ago by deepwoodskev    [ Reply ]
Three Tom Waits songs in a row? I love it but any more and I'm gonna start looking for his obituary.
Posted 5 years ago by ScottD    [ Reply ]
 slowchair@sbcglobal.net wrote:
>> it's the way he performs the song that I like.
 
I watched the Woodstock video last weekend. Yeah, the whole thing. Really blown away (again, after many years) by the delivery of almost all the performers. Jefferson Airplane, meh. But Joe Cocker, wow. I hear that same commitment in Tom Waits, and it's too freaking rare.
Posted 6 years ago by dingleberry    [ Reply ]
Not my thing...
Posted 6 years ago by Queue    [ Reply ]
ugh......archive this one already.  I freakin hate it!  
Posted 6 years ago by pigtail    [ Reply ]
I love Tom Waits. I know he doesn't have a pretty voice but it's the way he performs the song that I like. Kind of like another favorite that does not have a pretty voice, Bob Dylan. It's just the way they do it that I like and I guess truth be told the fact that it is different pleases me.
Posted 6 years ago by slowchair    [ Reply ]
Hit PSD and got Beethoven's 'Fur Elise'. {#Crown}

Posted 6 years ago by sfyi2001    [ Reply ]
Tom Waits.... I just don't get it....
Posted 6 years ago by ckcotton    [ Reply ]
Well played sir!
Posted 6 years ago by sjolliff    [ Reply ]
Thuffering thockatash! Yer man's doing a grand impression of Sylvester the cat in this one. It's a wonder the mike didn't short out with the moisture ;-)

He's a great street poet, but it's fair to say that his voice is very much an acquired taste, a bit like Stinking Bishop. I much prefer covers done by artists with more tuneful voices, as was the case in the two songs preceding this one on RP.
Posted 7 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
I just feel......dirty.
Posted 7 years ago by skyguy    [ Reply ]
https://www.nytimes.com/section/t-magazine  March 5, 2017
Three Iconic Musicians on Artistic Creation — and Its Importance Now

Posted 7 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
And for today's discussion folks... Tom Waits the singer versus Tom Waits the actor. Lets discuss!
Posted 7 years ago by citybiker    [ Reply ]
 marcedeleon wrote:
What a great mix of Tom Waits covers, followed by the man himself. Please play this more often Bill!!  ♥
 
I came here to say that finally, we had the real thing, but I find myself agreeing with you.

Posted 8 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
What a great mix of Tom Waits covers, followed by the man himself. Please play this more often Bill!!  ♥
Posted 8 years ago by marcedeleon    [ Reply ]
 GetBakedTonight wrote:
That's very true...I hadn't (consciously) thought about before but I get images of Waits with blood running out of his mouth down his throat from the gigantic, flesh-tearing effort that (it sounds like) it is for him to produce his artistic gems...interesting!
Like a difficult child birth...every time...how very affecting if not affected.
One must remember this; he wants to, nay, insists on being viewed as an 'artiste' - it wouldn't do for him to simply sing a song, unaffected.
Perhaps he's suffering for his art? So sad.
 
Try listening to his earlier stuff, the first 4 or 5 albums; he sang in a more "traditional" style back then.
Bill occasionally plays "I hope that I don't fall in love with you", which is a good example.
As for this tune, yep, it sounds like it hurts.
Posted 8 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
 FlatCat wrote:
Fantastic song writing, but I can hardly listen to him ripping his vocal cords out.

 
That's very true...I hadn't (consciously) thought about before but I get images of Waits with blood running out of his mouth down his throat from the gigantic, flesh-tearing effort that (it sounds like) it is for him to produce his artistic gems...interesting!
Like a difficult child birth...every time...how very affecting if not affected.
One must remember this; he wants to, nay, insists on being viewed as an 'artiste' - it wouldn't do for him to simply sing a song, unaffected.
Perhaps he's suffering for his art? So sad.
Posted 8 years ago by GetBakedTonight    [ Reply ]
Fantastic song writing, but I can hardly listen to him ripping his vocal cords out.
Posted 8 years ago by FlatCat    [ Reply ]
Snippet from the Tom Waits wiki page,

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."

so true: {#Drunk}
Posted 8 years ago by maxvonevil    [ Reply ]
great song as well as the whole album. 9!
Posted 8 years ago by whomhow    [ Reply ]
See gadzillion of them with one vote.
Posted 8 years ago by twoplain2sea    [ Reply ]
Maybe, possibly, definitely the coolest song ever.
Posted 8 years ago by david927    [ Reply ]
A tasty trifecta o' Waits.
Posted 8 years ago by nevar23    [ Reply ]
 passsion8 wrote:
3 Tom Waits songs in a  row!?!!?
 If I were to vote them all higher, would that be considered "lifting Waits"?

 
Oh you sly dog!

The answer is: need another set yet. 
Posted 8 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]

    tom waits for no one 
Posted 8 years ago by Mtntuna    [ Reply ]
3 Tom Waits songs in a  row!?!!?
 If I were to vote them all higher, would that be considered "lifting Waits"?
Posted 9 years ago by passsion8    [ Reply ]
Tom Waits is genius! 
Posted 9 years ago by trosati    [ Reply ]
Great song and lyrics.  Quibbling here, but he could have simply left the song short rather than repeat the whole set of lyrics.
Posted 9 years ago by ScottN    [ Reply ]
interesting vocal chords
Posted 9 years ago by RickyBel    [ Reply ]
mellifluous growling spittle perfect -  {#Good-vibes}  LIKE!
Posted 9 years ago by gregr79    [ Reply ]
 apd wrote:
gets a 10 for "Don't you know there ain't no devil, that's just God when he's drunk" alone.

 
Exactly!


Posted 9 years ago by Sunman    [ Reply ]
Great song from a unique songwriter and singer, I think. 2 using my rating system.
Posted 9 years ago by Carl    [ Reply ]
Brilliant. Just brilliant.

Incredible delivery from one of Americas greatest artists - dead or alive.

I seem to recall that this one has Tom on guitar, or am I senile? Either way, I love the playing. 
Posted 9 years ago by zigzag    [ Reply ]
Caught you Bill, playing a rerun!:
Norah Jones — The Long Way Home
Shawn Colvin — (Looking For) The Heart of Saturday Night
Tom Waits — Heartattack And Vine
Thank you!
Posted 9 years ago by akdavey    [ Reply ]
this here is a proper christmas-carol, cheers!!!
Posted 9 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
gets a 10 for "Don't you know there ain't no devil, that's just God when he's drunk" alone.
Posted 9 years ago by apd    [ Reply ]

Norah Jones — The Long Way Home
Shawn Colvin — (Looking For) The Heart of Saturday Night
Tom Waits — Heartattack And Vine

Covers by Norah, Shawn...  For a minute I thought you were going to play the Eagles version of Ol' 55 next. You made the right move. Whew!  :-)
Posted 9 years ago by bseib    [ Reply ]
{#Bounce} 
j1sey wrote:
YES!  Thanks, RP.  {#Clap}

 


Posted 10 years ago by haretic    [ Reply ]
YES!  Thanks, RP.  {#Clap}
Posted 10 years ago by j1sey    [ Reply ]
A1 unadulterated raspy, juicy spittle fleckin' St. Tom in his Glory!   I need a bourbon...
Posted 10 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
Such a smooth and mellifluous voice. 
Posted 10 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
Love Tom.  Probably one of his most accessible songs/albums.  Wish he would tour more the lazy git.
Posted 10 years ago by monbro    [ Reply ]
Poor microphone!
Don't smoke near it if you don't want to make it blow in fire.
Posted 10 years ago by CoYoT51    [ Reply ]
10 next
Posted 10 years ago by Peter_Bradshaw    [ Reply ]
There 'aint no god, it's just the devil when he's high.
Posted 10 years ago by sajitjacob    [ Reply ]
Norah Jones — The Long Way Home
Shawn Colvin — (Looking For) The Heart of Saturday Night
Tom Waits — Heartattack And Vine

Bill & Rebecca: You made an old man happy! Thanks.
Posted 10 years ago by von_Hayek    [ Reply ]
"Don't you know there ain't no devil, that's just God when he's drunk." One of my favorite Waits lyrics.
Posted 10 years ago by zenhead    [ Reply ]
All I can think about is the poor guy whose job it is to disinfect the microphone. 
Posted 10 years ago by curtkare    [ Reply ]
don't you know there ain't no devil, it's just god when he's drunk
Posted 10 years ago by ashmj000    [ Reply ]
 Agree totally-great album; too bad the throat is currently shot, it's like trying to like the 'Dead' - I just can't do it. Give me old Waits, only


TheLib wrote:
For those who don't like Tom's voice on this song (after the cigarettes and booze had turned it to gravel), check out his "Heart of Saturday Night" album.  He recorded that back when he could still sing, and it's got a bunch of great songs.  Still one of my favorites 30+ years after I first heard it.

I encourage Bill to add all of the songs from "Heart of Saturday Night" to the playlist, and play them often.


 


Posted 11 years ago by pinem    [ Reply ]
loving this set....{#Dance}
Posted 11 years ago by oldfart48    [ Reply ]
Vocals you can taste! Excellent.
Posted 11 years ago by chyk5    [ Reply ]
Dear Tom,

You're killing us down here. Give us a rest, eh?

Sincerely,

Your Vocal Chords
Posted 11 years ago by deepwoodskev    [ Reply ]
 kuril wrote:
Pure awesome after two pints and two awful covers.

 
What s/he said!
Posted 11 years ago by thatslongformud    [ Reply ]
Love Tom Waits, 9 minimum
Posted 11 years ago by Stranglersfan    [ Reply ]
Hate him worse?   Is that the right direction or maybe the left?  Or maybe you're just beginning to see the light in the dark?

 Athyrius wrote:
Every time I hear this guy I hate him worse.
 


Posted 11 years ago by justin_cook    [ Reply ]
 ick wrote:

God's out getting drunk.
 
"You know there ain't know Devil; there's just God when he's drunk." 

Always liked that line.  {#Clap}

Highlow
American Net'Zen
Posted 11 years ago by Highlowsel    [ Reply ]
Every time I hear this guy I hate him worse.
Posted 11 years ago by Athyrius    [ Reply ]
 Decoy wrote:
would truly hate to be the microphone on this one.
 
I would hate to be the next guy having to use that microphone.... Love the performance though.
Posted 11 years ago by tovarisch    [ Reply ]
 PLC wrote:

Listen to "Nighthawks At The Diner" from front to back, late at night with a few drinks under your belt and you'll become a convert.

 
after your wife left you for the milk man and cleared out your checking account. 
Posted 11 years ago by michaelc    [ Reply ]

Listen to "Nighthawks At The Diner" from front to back, late at night with a few drinks under your belt and you'll become a convert.


Posted 11 years ago by PLC    [ Reply ]
 dwlangham wrote:
god fucking save me.
 
God's out getting drunk.
Posted 11 years ago by ick    [ Reply ]
 kuril wrote:
Pure awesome after two pints and two awful covers.
 
He is singing like he finished the case for you. Hick, spit and slur. His fans idolize that.
Posted 12 years ago by martinc    [ Reply ]
would truly hate to be the microphone on this one.
Posted 12 years ago by Decoy    [ Reply ]
Mediocracy?  You're sure that's the word you wanted to use?
Posted 12 years ago by bachbeet    [ Reply ]
Not his best but still good.  A bit too much of the "gravel" in this one.  I really like this lyric: "there ain't no devil, there's just God when he's drunk."  He's had some great lines in his songs.  He even used one from Dorothy Parker in an early one: "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy."
Posted 12 years ago by bachbeet    [ Reply ]
god fucking save me.
Posted 12 years ago by dwlangham    [ Reply ]
i'll give him 8 for the hair
Posted 12 years ago by coy    [ Reply ]
 ziakut wrote:
Oh I hate Tom Waits! Over rated mediocracy at it's finest!  Ok...bring it on folks! 
 

I can understand why some don't like him, but mediocre? Really?{#Stupid} That's just crazy talk!
Posted 12 years ago by sandpebble    [ Reply ]
ok so who stepped on the frog?
Posted 12 years ago by kkat    [ Reply ]
Oh I hate Tom Waits! Over rated mediocracy at it's finest!  Ok...bring it on folks! 
Posted 12 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
He sounds like he's trying to HAVE a heart attack. 
Posted 12 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
 TheLib wrote:
For those who don't like Tom's voice on this song (after the cigarettes and booze had turned it to gravel), check out his "Heart of Saturday Night" album.  He recorded that back when he could still sing, and it's got a bunch of great songs.  Still one of my favorites 30+ years after I first heard it.

I encourage Bill to add all of the songs from "Heart of Saturday Night" to the playlist, and play them often.

 

Yes, it's reminiscent of Neil Diamond. I prefer the gravel.
Posted 12 years ago by sandpebble    [ Reply ]
Tom Waits in his Prime!
Great Stuff, thank you for playing.
Love It!
Posted 12 years ago by Stranglersfan    [ Reply ]
Pure awesome after two pints and two awful covers.
Posted 12 years ago by kuril    [ Reply ]
 charlesperkins wrote:
Fine song, but he shouldn't sing it. In fact, he can't. 
 
Father forgive them, they know not what they do.
Posted 12 years ago by Dahnyul    [ Reply ]
Does anyone feel like clearing their throat?
Posted 12 years ago by Rockit    [ Reply ]
Fine song, but he shouldn't sing it. In fact, he can't. 
Posted 12 years ago by charlesperkins    [ Reply ]
Absol-freakin'-lutely! I cannot see the fascination with Tom Waits. This song literally gives me a headache.

 zair99 wrote:

Agreed!  I'd hate to be the one that has to clean his microphone when he's done with it!
 


Posted 12 years ago by mbolch30307    [ Reply ]