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Tom Waits — Singapore
Album: Rain Dogs
Avg rating:
5.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 867









Released: 1985
Length: 2:41
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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We sail tonight for Singapore
We're all as mad as hatters here
I've fallen for a tawny moor
took off to the Land of Nod
Drank with all the Chinamen
Walked the sewers of Paris
I danced along a colored wind
Dangled from a rope of sand
You must say goodbye to me

We sail tonight for Singapore
Don't fall asleep while you're ashore
Cross your heart and hope to die
When you hear the children cry
Let marrow bone and cleaver choose
While making feet for children's shoes
Through the alley
Back from Hell
When you hear that steeple bell
You must say goodbye to me

Wipe him down with gasoline
Till his arms are hard and mean
From now on boys this iron boat's your home
So heave away boys

We sail tonight for Singapore
Take your blankets from the floor
Wash your mouth out by the door
The whole town is made of iron ore
Every witness turns to steam
They all become Italian dreams
Fill your pockets up with earth
Get yourself a dollar's worth
Away boys, away boys, heave away

The captain is a one-armed dwarf
He's throwing dice along the wharf
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is King
So take this ring

We sail tonight for Singapore
We're all as mad as hatters here
I've fallen for a tawny moor
took off to the Land of Nod
Drank with all the Chinamen
Walked the sewers of Paris
I danced along a colored wind
Dangled from a rope of sand
You must say goodbye to me
Comments (104)add comment
Bought this album second hand because it was mentioned in a Worthikids animation (the one with the skeletons :p ) plus the cover made me curious... it has lived in my car since then, and I've been thoroughly charmed by the rest of his music. So much character!
Posted 3 months ago by matheMayjicks    [ Reply ]
I wouldn't even know how to aggregate the data but I bet this is one of the most divisive songs that RP has in its playlist.  
Posted 1 year ago by djblitz    [ Reply ]
Everywhere I go I hear this playing
Posted 1 year ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
Posted 1 year ago by jam420888    [ Reply ]
ohhhhh my

i may need to dance
Posted 1 year ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
Tom Waits' appeal eluded a lot of people in 1985. Not in the circles I ran in. All my friends suddenly sounded like Tom Waits. One friend, Mark, even named his band Rain Dogs.  
Posted 2 years ago by itsme_bygolly    [ Reply ]
I love Tom Waits
Posted 2 years ago by smartn1    [ Reply ]
so...try to walk down the sidewalk like how this songs sounds

yeah baby
Posted 2 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
 dmcanany wrote:

Ain't nothing like this. You might hate it, but nobody can imitate it. No one even tries.



I have heard all kinds of people try to imitate Tom...I am one....it's fun
Posted 2 years ago by rbrise    [ Reply ]
 WelshDruid wrote:

Really like this....Sounds like a theme song from a quirky HBO series



Um, like maybe The Wire?
Posted 2 years ago by Phlegmaticman    [ Reply ]
 Alastair wrote:

Jeez, they took some drugs back then, didn't they.



And tons of them by the sounds off this.
Posted 2 years ago by reallylost    [ Reply ]
 maxvonevil wrote:





Laugh!?...That cookie monster cracked me up!
Posted 2 years ago by floydpink    [ Reply ]
And he and Ricki Lee Jones were a couple! 

Imagine those jam sessions.  
Posted 2 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
Jeez, they took some drugs back then, didn't they.
Posted 2 years ago by Alastair    [ Reply ]
 SchoepTone wrote:

I bought this album back when it came out and I swear to this day that that's Tom on the cover. I know it's not but sure could be.




Looks like Buster Poindexter/David Johansen to me.
Posted 3 years ago by kazoo    [ Reply ]
Love my psd....just sayin
Posted 3 years ago by molson    [ Reply ]
 maxvonevil wrote:

totally the cookie monster!!!!


Posted 3 years ago by molson    [ Reply ]
I think Bill gets a real kick whenever he plays this. May his thought goes something like "I OWN this station. I can play WHATEVER I WANT!" 

Let'er rip, Bill.
Posted 3 years ago by dmcanany    [ Reply ]
I wonder if it would be less enjoyable without the Cookie Monster clip rolling
Posted 3 years ago by mikegrinker    [ Reply ]
This came out when I was finishing high school.  It blew my mind.  I was never the same.  Thank got for Tom Waits!  :-)
Posted 3 years ago by smdeeg    [ Reply ]
Not a fan...
Posted 3 years ago by gilmore.dave    [ Reply ]
Really like this....Sounds like a theme song from a quirky HBO series
Posted 3 years ago by WelshDruid    [ Reply ]
Bloody great album.
So funny - so Tom Waits
Posted 3 years ago by diggyduffy    [ Reply ]
I met Tom Waits when I was an extra on the set of Rumble Fish back in the 80s. I really had no idea who he was at the time, but after meeting and talking with him a while (very cool, laid back dude), I decided to check out his music. I became a huge fan of his music and his acting roles. If I met him again, I'd probably make a pretty big fool of myself, gushing and such. 
Posted 3 years ago by Laptopdog    [ Reply ]
I bought this album back when it came out and I swear to this day that that's Tom on the cover. I know it's not but sure could be.
Posted 3 years ago by SchoepTone    [ Reply ]
Ain't nothing like this. You might hate it, but nobody can imitate it. No one even tries.
Posted 3 years ago by dmcanany    [ Reply ]
Knew without looking that this was Tom. Not the first of this type.
Posted 3 years ago by dkgillett    [ Reply ]
Definately darker than, but probably just about as quirky as Raymond Scott.  I wouldn't mind hearing, "Powerhouse" some time. 
Posted 4 years ago by Cueburned    [ Reply ]
 DJBlack wrote:
That was wierd! I thought the beginning of this song was being sung by Cookie Monster from Sesame Street! Listen carefully... it's him, I'm sure of it!
 

Posted 4 years ago by maxvonevil    [ Reply ]
 DJBlack wrote:
That was wierd! I thought the beginning of this song was being sung by Cookie Monster from Sesame Street! Listen carefully... it's him, I'm sure of it!
 

Has anyone seen Cookie and Tom in the same room at the same time? No!
There is a great vid of Cookie/Tom on the tubes of you
Posted 4 years ago by jpfueler    [ Reply ]
FORA BOLSONARO!
Brasil Antifa
Posted 4 years ago by matheusac    [ Reply ]
:o this was fun
Posted 18 years ago by johnsolo    [ Reply ]
+ =
Posted 18 years ago by psycholynx    [ Reply ]
!!!!THE WHOLE ALBUM IS GREAT!!!!
Posted 18 years ago by raisedonCFNY    [ Reply ]
Tom Waits.... I've just never understood the appeal...
Posted 18 years ago by byrd    [ Reply ]
That was wierd! I thought the beginning of this song was being sung by Cookie Monster from Sesame Street! Listen carefully... it's him, I'm sure of it!
Posted 18 years ago by DJBlack    [ Reply ]
Danny_G wrote:
-10
Just for that I'm giving it a 10.
Posted 18 years ago by ctdfalconer    [ Reply ]
-10
Posted 19 years ago by Danny_G    [ Reply ]
Belongs to the soundtrack for The Haunted Mansion at Disney World ... ... and I normally like Tom Waits
Posted 19 years ago by mojoman    [ Reply ]
samiyam wrote:
You have to understand that there is an underworld in the L.A. area which is very cosmopolitan. Tom Waits spent many years surviving in that mileau before he got "famous". He hung out with the intelligent artistic types who actually have a soul...
That was the 70's - New York in the 80's ( I think ) and in Northern CA for the last 10. it's not so dark here . . .
Posted 19 years ago by michaelc    [ Reply ]
Typesbad wrote:
More like Captain Beefhart. Hey, There's someone I haven't heard on RP! Anyone up for it?
Yeah, where the Beef ................. hart? A little Zappa couldn't hurt either... something from Uncle Meat maybe.
Posted 19 years ago by trompetilla    [ Reply ]
Pyro wrote:
I thought this was Frank Zappa or something.
More like Captain Beefhart. Hey, There's someone I haven't heard on RP! Anyone up for it?
Posted 19 years ago by Typesbad    [ Reply ]
Yo-ho Yo-ho A pirate's life for me
Posted 19 years ago by dpeer01    [ Reply ]
samiyam wrote:
You have to understand that there is an underworld in the L.A. area which is very cosmopolitan. Tom Waits spent many years surviving in that mileau before he got "famous". He hung out with the intelligent artistic types who actually have a soul...
"...the intelligent artistic types who actually have a soul..." So, I'm guessing that it would be considered odd to think that even unintelligent, inartistic types might actually have a soul given to them by God. How silly of me to be so unprejudiced.
Posted 19 years ago by str8nochaser    [ Reply ]
Alwrite. If you're going here, I'll have to upload "Way Down in the Hole" 8O
Posted 19 years ago by Darrooon    [ Reply ]
strange little tune
Posted 19 years ago by yashpheh    [ Reply ]
sirrus wrote:
When did cookie monster get a record contract?
"C is for Cookie ... it's good enough for meeee!"
Posted 19 years ago by DisplacedNorthrnr    [ Reply ]
In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king!
Posted 19 years ago by Nuance    [ Reply ]
This is soooooo good.
Posted 19 years ago by Darlington    [ Reply ]
Posted 19 years ago by yogaboat    [ Reply ]
federico wrote:
Tom waits living in Los Angeles? Come on, that cannot be true ....
Wow. Ever been to L.A., federico? One of the darkest towns in the States. You don't really have to put forth too much effort to look into the shadows. Bukowski did the same.
Posted 19 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
tom lives in sabastapool, north of san francisco across the golden gate bridge.
Posted 19 years ago by zurcronium    [ Reply ]
samiyam wrote:
You have to understand that there is an underworld in the L.A. area which is very cosmopolitan. Tom Waits spent many years surviving in that mileau before he got "famous". He hung out with the intelligent artistic types who actually have a soul...
Did they share the soul simultaneously or did they pass it around as needed?
Posted 19 years ago by tomcool    [ Reply ]
federico wrote:
Tom waits living in Los Angeles? Come on, that cannot be true ....
You have to understand that there is an underworld in the L.A. area which is very cosmopolitan. Tom Waits spent many years surviving in that mileau before he got "famous". He hung out with the intelligent artistic types who actually have a soul...
Posted 19 years ago by samiyam    [ Reply ]
What an awesome album.
Posted 19 years ago by DMay    [ Reply ]
Carnivalesque and dreamy some might say. Tom is certainly an acquired taste but he's written some very insightful lyrics if you can get past the initial polyrhythms and discordant compositions.
Posted 19 years ago by iamus    [ Reply ]
why do americans comment on tom waits' music? he belongs to us here in the old world, raucous voice, brilliant texts, strange twsits and all ... Tom waits living in Los Angeles? Come on, that cannot be true ....
Posted 19 years ago by federico    [ Reply ]
Ok, now come on. This is just plain awful! I really don't get this guy and his appeal.
Posted 19 years ago by pauleywalnuts    [ Reply ]
When did cookie monster get a record contract?
Posted 19 years ago by sirrus    [ Reply ]
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggghhh! Ahoy thar, me hearties!
Posted 19 years ago by gntlemanartist    [ Reply ]
trekhead wrote:
I keep seeing this in a Tim Burton Claymation flick...
It does have that Danny Elfman-style goofy spookiness, doesn't it?
Posted 19 years ago by winter    [ Reply ]
Pyro wrote:
I thought this was Frank Zappa or something.
Oh please! Zappa has a much better and sexier voice. This is more like a bad version of "aye Matey"
Posted 19 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
I keep seeing this in a Tim Burton Claymation flick...
Posted 19 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
psycholynx wrote:
Don't get me wrong I like Tom Waits, but this sounds like a song from the Haunted Mansion or something.
Now that made me laugh out loud!
Posted 19 years ago by mojoman    [ Reply ]
I thought this was Frank Zappa or something.
Posted 19 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
please, for the love of god, spare us from this dude.
Posted 19 years ago by sterson    [ Reply ]
didnt' realize it until right now....this older tune has the same "vibe" & beat as his later "God's Away on Business"....both kinda fun....
Posted 19 years ago by EleventhMan    [ Reply ]
kevbo77 wrote:
this is not music,...yeah that's a judgement call, and im makin it. I swear that tom waits is nothing more than a sociological experiment aimed at the so called open minded people of the world.
Tom Waits is such a welcome antidote to the overly slick, overly commercialzed musical culture of today (is almost all genres). It's only natural that he would be a fixture on RP.
Posted 19 years ago by mojoman    [ Reply ]
Don't get me wrong I like Tom Waits, but this sounds like a song from the Haunted Mansion or something.
Posted 19 years ago by psycholynx    [ Reply ]
Much of his music I find to be weird and abrasive or boring. But this is fun!
Posted 19 years ago by beelzebubba    [ Reply ]
Sounds like Leon Redbone and Leonard Cohen had a son!
Posted 19 years ago by Drummer4soul    [ Reply ]
What a hoot. But, have to say, I like the drunk piano one better. That one is great.
Posted 19 years ago by stacadette    [ Reply ]
kevbo77 wrote:
this is not music,...yeah that's a judgement call, and im makin it. I swear that tom waits is nothing more than a sociological experiment aimed at the so called open minded people of the world.
The "so called open minded people"? So, you're saying that the song appeals to people who are closed-minded, but think they are open-minded?
Posted 19 years ago by steeler    [ Reply ]
this is not music,...yeah that's a judgement call, and im makin it. I swear that tom waits is nothing more than a sociological experiment aimed at the so called open minded people of the world.
Posted 19 years ago by kevbo77    [ Reply ]
I thought Life was too short for this... My daughter says "Creepy"
Posted 19 years ago by coding_to_music    [ Reply ]
brilliant. great song, great album. and i've heard cookie monster's album. he ain't got nothin on tom. cept maybe those googly eyes. and the ability to eat infinity cookies. other than that, nothin.
Posted 19 years ago by Bill_Kunsler    [ Reply ]
I'm not sure wether this is a "song", but I can't help grinning throughout it :D
Posted 19 years ago by Kinniken    [ Reply ]
CruzanBits wrote:
When did Cookie Monster get a record deal?
Posted 19 years ago by n4ku    [ Reply ]
Amazing that the consensus is 'Pretty Good'. I give it 'Ho Hum' at best.
Posted 19 years ago by ChicoCyclist    [ Reply ]
This "song" is a great example of what the Mute button is for.
Posted 19 years ago by tg3k    [ Reply ]
CruzanBits wrote:
When did Cookie Monster get a record deal?
FUNNIEST COMMENT EVER!!!
Posted 19 years ago by Heathen    [ Reply ]
CruzanBits wrote:
When did Cookie Monster get a record deal?
I have been laughing at this for about five minutes.
Posted 19 years ago by stevebeaver    [ Reply ]
DownHomeGirl wrote:
Never noticed before, but this reminds me of the theme music to Comedy Central's "Insomniac"
True!
Posted 19 years ago by timandjuliet    [ Reply ]
CruzanBits wrote:
When did Cookie Monster get a record deal?
Yeah, I thought that too! :-s
Posted 19 years ago by curious_cat    [ Reply ]
ugh!
Posted 20 years ago by smilestoomuch    [ Reply ]
New Waits album was released last week!!
Posted 20 years ago by Shawneeo    [ Reply ]
Nice song! Really dig it!
Posted 20 years ago by bdmorgan72    [ Reply ]
Posted 20 years ago by R_P    [ Reply ]
Shawneeo wrote:
I'm kinda glad that not everyone gets him!
Yes, a nice cozy sort of validation goes along with that!
Posted 20 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
I dig Tom Waits, but i've got to admit that this definitely sounds like it should be on the Popeye or Pewee's Big Adventure soundtrack actually, anyone who's seen Insomniac with Dave Attell (great show on Comedy Central) should notice that they pretty much ripped this song off for their theme song.
Posted 20 years ago by Platypus    [ Reply ]
Love this guy. No one like him.
Posted 20 years ago by steeler    [ Reply ]
very creative, offbeat fellow, Tom....i dig him muchly :propeller.gif:
Posted 20 years ago by Red_Dragon    [ Reply ]
Never noticed before, but this reminds me of the theme music to Comedy Central's "Insomniac"
Posted 20 years ago by DownHomeGirl    [ Reply ]
Awesome to hear Tom Waits on RP! Thanks!
Posted 20 years ago by Rael_1975    [ Reply ]
Ya know... the first time i hear this i thought that Bill had a stroke and decided to introduce Insane Clown Posse to the playlist...
Posted 20 years ago by Eul0gy    [ Reply ]
CruzanBits wrote:
When did Cookie Monster get a record deal?
that's funny! great album, actually. not sure if i'd have chosen this particular song to introduce people to mr. waits voice with, but still, it's nice to hear it on rp!
Posted 20 years ago by bluedot    [ Reply ]
CruzanBits wrote:
When did Cookie Monster get a record deal?
Great comment! Fabulous!
Posted 20 years ago by Zuhoerer    [ Reply ]
CruzanBits wrote:
When did Cookie Monster get a record deal?
I'm kinda glad that not everyone gets him!
Posted 20 years ago by Shawneeo    [ Reply ]
Love him or hate him, Tom Waits is a true innovator. I'm always curious to hear what he has to offer. Rain dogs was a high for creativity. The early years Vols 1 and 2 are, for my money, some of the best of all time in the singer-songwriter genre.
Posted 20 years ago by Rockabobbie    [ Reply ]
Hmmm ... I wonder what they're discussing on NPR?
Posted 20 years ago by squarky    [ Reply ]
I don't know... I can't really give it a rating cause it's so different... I am not sure if I like it or not. It seems that it should be in a musical. Made me smile though.
Posted 20 years ago by red5_bc    [ Reply ]
Thank goodness for Tom Waits and RP for playing him regularly!
Posted 20 years ago by Shawneeo    [ Reply ]
Tom Waits is a truly fantastic artist, glad to hear him on RP.
Posted 20 years ago by cashoe    [ Reply ]
When did Cookie Monster get a record deal?
Posted 20 years ago by CruzanBits    [ Reply ]