This song slays me every time - brings back all those wonderful memories from childhood. In our busy everyday lives, those days of lost childhood seem like a distant fleeting dream. Those beautiful days of innocence when we still dared to dream. Waits is a musician because he can capture that spirit, that essence, that feeling that evokes such a powerful blast of nostalgia.
❤ My long passed brother Tommy, who was paralyzed from the waist down from a car accident when he was 14 years old.... he had braces on his legs for years. We went fishing together all the time. I never considered it a chore to carry him back and forth from the garage to the boat. Every time I hear this song my memories of my brother come racing back, bringing me to tears. 😢
the sheer depth and strengthening power in his voice when he sings " I'll take the spokes from your wheelchair, and a magpies wings and I'll tie them to your shoulders and your feet....' filled with such love and pathos for his friend who's handicapped, is so beautiful..
Yes... It is like Tom is helping the handicapped person to achieve freedom flight💨💫💨 If not physically, then this music truly gives wind through the wings of our spirit into the wonders of harmonious RhythMelodies infinite possibilities 🎶💫💨🙌🏻🌌💨
Devastatingly beautiful. Waits gives deeper meaning to nostalgia here, evoking all the love and longing we hold in our hearts for those halcyon days. Waits is royalty in the music world.
The genius of Tom Waits.....the lyrics, rusty and drunk sounding, laid against this piano part that lures you in, and one of the most beautiful string section arrangments ever. He is without a doubt one of the best songwriters ever.
Still the best song by far that I've ever heard about childhood friendship and love, some 40-odd years since I first heard it. Glorious. Beautiful. Heart-wrenchingly poignant.
I grew up in Whittier and I love music. Shame on me for never knowing that Tom was from my town. My mother passed away a few months ago of natural causes, She was 87. It has created such a rift between my siblings and I that its too much to talk about here but I will say that we grew up together and very close in our little home in Whittier. Hearing Tom proliferate so amazingly about life as a child brings back fond memories of long ago,so very long ago before life grew so complicated. Thank you Tom, you set the gold standard sir. Dropping the mic
First heard 'Kentucky Avenue' in 1989 from a woman I shared accommodation in NSW, Australia. She was a big Tom Waits fan and until that time, I'd never hear of him. But this song resonated and a few years later 'Hold On'. But as I've aged and reflected (as you do), I can't believe it's taken me this long to welcome Tom Waits into my discography...and I can't get enough. A masterful musical poet and this song one of the best.
I just had a nap and dreamed I was at party with Tom. He seemed flattered to learn I was a fan since I was 14 and introduced to this song. We sang a few lines from some of his classics and fell in love. Good dream. :D
I once dreamed I was mopping up a black n white chequered floor in hospital , and John Lennon was sitting there saying "you're doing a good f***ing job on that floor, kid" I woke up chuffed to bits!
I received this for Christmas in 1978. A fan since '72. This song always reminded me of Harper Lee's, "To Kill a Mockingbird," with Gregory Peck... Ah, yes, familiar avenues...
The Subs on this vid say: "Hilda played strip poker, while her momma's cross the street....." Personally I've always heard it as "Beula" - A popular US girls name around that time, particularly in the South" - Same as the (Black Lodge?) 'Human Trafficker' with Moonshine Otis in Twin Peaks: "......It's a World for Truck Drivers...."
After almost 40 years still bring tears in my eyes....
Me too
This song slays me every time - brings back all those wonderful memories from childhood. In our busy everyday lives, those days of lost childhood seem like a distant fleeting dream. Those beautiful days of innocence when we still dared to dream. Waits is a musician because he can capture that spirit, that essence, that feeling that evokes such a powerful blast of nostalgia.
Very well said...
love your analysis on this song. So true. i feel the same way!
❤ My long passed brother Tommy, who was paralyzed from the waist down from a car accident when he was 14 years old.... he had braces on his legs for years. We went fishing together all the time. I never considered it a chore to carry him back and forth from the garage to the boat. Every time I hear this song my memories of my brother come racing back, bringing me to tears. 😢
the sheer depth and strengthening power in his voice when he sings " I'll take the spokes from your wheelchair, and a magpies wings and I'll tie them to your shoulders and your feet....' filled with such love and pathos for his friend who's handicapped, is so beautiful..
Yes... It is like Tom is helping the handicapped person to achieve freedom flight💨💫💨 If not physically, then this music truly gives wind through the wings of our spirit into the wonders of harmonious RhythMelodies infinite possibilities 🎶💫💨🙌🏻🌌💨
Like the film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" he saved him, finally!
Oh yeah, and because his voice is rough it lends such emotion to the song.
Devastatingly beautiful. Waits gives deeper meaning to nostalgia here, evoking all the love and longing we hold in our hearts for those halcyon days. Waits is royalty in the music world.
after all these years this still hits hard
To be honest, the more years that go past the harder it hits.
The genius of Tom Waits.....the lyrics, rusty and drunk sounding, laid against this piano part that lures you in, and one of the most beautiful string section arrangments ever. He is without a doubt one of the best songwriters ever.
Still the best song by far that I've ever heard about childhood friendship and love, some 40-odd years since I first heard it. Glorious. Beautiful. Heart-wrenchingly poignant.
This is the most beautiful love song ever written...
This kid is blessed with many bright moments but this one is special...
I grew up in Whittier and I love music. Shame on me for never knowing that Tom was from my town. My mother passed away a few months ago of natural causes, She was 87. It has created such a rift between my siblings and I that its too much to talk about here but I will say that we grew up together and very close in our little home in Whittier. Hearing Tom proliferate so amazingly about life as a child brings back fond memories of long ago,so very long ago before life grew so complicated. Thank you Tom, you set the gold standard sir. Dropping the mic
First heard 'Kentucky Avenue' in 1989 from a woman I shared accommodation in NSW, Australia. She was a big Tom Waits fan and until that time, I'd never hear of him. But this song resonated and a few years later 'Hold On'. But as I've aged and reflected (as you do), I can't believe it's taken me this long to welcome Tom Waits into my discography...and I can't get enough. A masterful musical poet and this song one of the best.
I’d forgotten what a great song this is and how well he sings it ❤️
I just had a nap and dreamed I was at party with Tom. He seemed flattered to learn I was a fan since I was 14 and introduced to this song. We sang a few lines from some of his classics and fell in love.
Good dream. :D
I once dreamed I was mopping up a black n white chequered floor in hospital , and John Lennon was sitting there saying "you're doing a good f***ing job on that floor, kid"
I woke up chuffed to bits!
Love it! ❤ Happy dreaming!
First heard this on a cassette tape on a cross-country train through Montana in the winter.
whew. Kentucky Ave. magnificent
i really love tom waits ive listing to him since swordfish i have all his albums this song i can relate to im in a wheel chair with no legs thanks tom
I received this for Christmas in 1978. A fan since '72. This song always reminded me of Harper Lee's, "To Kill a Mockingbird," with Gregory Peck...
Ah, yes, familiar avenues...
This album has fabulous songs
Christmas, 1978, on vinyl, from a True Love... nostalgia defined...
Simply brilliant and moving
Truly beautiful...
This song is awesome Tom Waits is beyond inspiring.
Reminds me of childhood.
Magnificent
Magistral
such a fantastic song, with my pain and self torment to match, tanx tom
Great song.. !!!!
28 years old when he did this.
Masterpiece
perfect x
Una belleza !! Masterpiece !!
Thanks Paul for pointing me in Tom Waits direction. Indianapolis Post Office
Love!
Fantastico ❤️
i love it.
🌼🤍🌼
So Cool !
Poor old rattlesnakes though, eh?
Buzz brought me here. Goodness, gracious.
He never does disappoint.
Finally Nirvana & Melvins are united with Tom Waits.
#favourites
Always to make a video of this ❤
Devastating.
Wouldn't change a single beat
How can I ask Tom a question out here? Is there a chance he would answer?
Maybe, but maybe not.
😢😥😭
Jammie ....
The Subs on this vid say: "Hilda played strip poker, while her momma's cross the street....."
Personally I've always heard it as "Beula" - A popular US girls name around that time, particularly in the South"
- Same as the (Black Lodge?) 'Human Trafficker' with Moonshine Otis in Twin Peaks: "......It's a World for Truck Drivers...."
He has another song, Take it with me, with a line about sitting on Beula's porch.
Buela s name in telephone call to instanbull alsoget behind the mule ..
Handicapped? Yeah, by polio. Waits's childhood friend Kipper. Somebody pass this along to RFK Jr. please?
I may be wrong, but I think this song has to do with 2 kids,one who is handicapped.
This song is about Wait's friend from early childhood that suffered from the polio.
No shit, Sherlock??!
..."at least one of 'em."
(...and sing, sing, sing...,.)
Poor old Ronnie Arnold, eh?