I had a "Tom Frost" once. I sure wish he would call now. I've been missing him for over twenty years. When I look through my telescope of memory, I see that he was the one that would have lasted. Why are we so blind when we are young? Sigh....
When I'm at my lowest, my loneliest worst - and I'm not even sure it's worth breathing any more, songs from Tom like this take me right to the edge, and past it, till i'm just broken down all over and ready to say goodbye to it all. Then the song ends and I hit repeat.
I had a Martha, in Santa Barbara in 1970. Her name was Sharon. We had nothing but love. And I had to return to London without her. But I never forgot her.
Totally agree. My first dog was called Margaret but we toyed with Martha. Unfortunately she disappeared for four years then showed up out of the blue! No idea where she'd been but we re-named her" Tom" after this song. Waiting paid off for us!
Thank you for creating such a piece of art Waits! I'm Martha, but not 40 years gone Martha. Waiting for my Tom to call. Miss that man more than anything/ anyone I have ever lost.
My name IS Martha. Been married to my high school sweetheart now 38 plus years, 1983. We were so young 18 & 22. What a beautiful song. I hope everyone finds their “Martha and or Tom”.
The original and ultimate song about the one that got away - so many comments below about how almost everyone has a "Martha". Unless you marry your high school sweetheart and stay with them forever, you will know other people. Maybe Martha is that HSW that got away and nobody ever really took their place, and you look back forty years later and contemplate what might have been. And that wonderful closing line ...
I am lucky I married my Martha. Yes that is her real name. Over the last few weeks I have been thinking alot about a time when we were courting and we split up for a few months. I nearly lost her forever. This song makes me realise how lucky I am to still have my girl, my Martha.
I'm stunned that no one else has found an artistically brilliant way to capture subjects like this like Tom has. And so damn well. Completely unique, so will love Tom forever.
I actually used to play Waits for this beautiful girl twenty years ago, we were young, and she would cry saying it was beautiful that I loved this music so much. It's been 20 years, maybe in another 20 I'll call her long distance and we'll get together over coffee and talk about it all...
Don't wait my friend... if this yr has taught us anything, it's that Life flies by in an instant and none of us are guarenteed another 20 days let alone 20 years...
Oh my darling, Strapper, this song nearly mirrors our love ... 40 years after we were first together I made that long distance call and ... except both of our exes cheating on us, we both had partners, had kids ... and now we're back together for the rest of our lives, where we always should have always stayed, in each others arms. I love you so much my darling. Always yours, my soulmate, totally devotedly yours. Xxx your little princess saffy lolita xxx
Saffy...Our Uncanny Ability to Synchronise Strikes Again.... I had chosen this song for You to wake up to.....along with the others that You received today !! Tom Waites is very special in our lives and always will be....I thank You for being You...a kind compassionate Human Being.....I thank You for being My Soulmate and ....My Passionate Saffy Lolita.....remembering....Easter....Your Chocolate Egg... candy floss...toffee apples....The Walk in The Park after Dark...and Then ....Fireworks !! and Everlasting Love.....xox 118 xox
My dad's Martha was my mom, and their love story lasted for 26 years until the day she died. He's getting remarried in a couple of weeks, and although I'm very happy for him, and I know my mom would be too, I sometimes still cry at night.
What lyrics!! You always get me right in the ticker......I can not NOT hear them! The most underrated man in the business! Thank you for keeping on keeping on!
On the one day I just wanted to have go well, not perfect mind you, but well. This song reminded me to keep my feet on the ground and remove hope from the equation. Thank you Tom Waits, for the music, the tears, and the reminder.
"The past can haunt a man. That’s what they say. That the past is just a series of moments. Each one perfect, and complete. A bead on the necklace of time. The past doesn’t haunt us. Wouldn’t even recognize us.... If there are ghosts to be found, it’s us who haunt the past. We haunt it, so we can look again. See the people we miss, and the things we missed about them. " Nick Bannister Reminiscence . R.I.P. Will
An unrequited love from 1984 was my "Martha" - an actual Martha, who broke my heart and shattered all my dreams. I cry every time I hear this song.....I'm doing so now! I LOVE YOU MARTHA.
my martha is sleeping in our bed while i'm listening to this and drink a beer and smoking at the balcony. i love her so much so i'm gonna go next to her and kiss. finally, i hope that everyone find his martha, one day.
Being a CODA meaning, I'm a Child of Deaf Adults! I do this song in American Sign language! Doing it in American Sign language is so emotional so expressional as well as so beautiful! I am going to sign the song again in American Sign language! I will put it on my channel just for you guys! Your comments inspired me not only that, I'm sobbing!!!😭😭😩😢🤟🤟🤟 I dedicated to you all! Perhaps in another week I'll have it up! Both my parents were born profoundly Deaf. 🤟
Martha....the one with so much will and more. I learned the word hoot from you. You saw me, in a way, yet I was just learning then, I had no voice then, thank you, my savior used you to shine the light of health right into my eyes. You have been a blessing in my life. Wherever you are I just want you to know, I love you. Thank you, your life blessed mine and so many others.....as we walk together....we are led....to our final destination. Hallelujah!
This song describes one of my biggest fears... and no we won't be lucky if we have a "martha", we will be lucky if we make it and keep "martha" in our life forever... this is the real happiness...
Anyone who had a Martha at any point, should consider yourself lucky. Most of people wont ever find a real Martha. Like me, If you lost yours, be glad for the memories you carry
I just read an excellent book that mentioned this song in it, probably because of a character named Martha in it, that I so loved reading! It's called 'The Lost Bookshop' and is about Irish and English life, before and now. Very interesting, informative and dimensionally shifiting.
Thanks for putting up Martha..Its the one song that totally encapsulates and keeps fresh, those memories of first love. Its one.of the most touching, beautiful songs ever written...wh00'd have thought Ron Pearlmann was so sensitive (hehehe couldn't resist it!..Laura. And Katrina did you get the link I think its in the names of the songs by the > play symbol is..give it a try anyway and let me know..Good god this is leading from one song to the next. Getting more and more depressing as it unfolds..guess where we're going next?? talking of which Kirk Littlejohn probably has photos of you gonna look him up right after this! xxx
I'm a singer/songwriter and i find my best songs are written when i am sad. I still remember my first love, her name is Marie , i have written a song about our time together.We were together for five years. We were from a small town in Southern Ireland . I was from a ''Travelling '' family and I was discriminated against regularly. I was about 19yrs old and very shy , Marie was the local popular girl in town so what she saw in me i never did find out but i thank her now for bringing me out of my insecurity and making me a better young man. I am 60yrs old now. I have married and divorced since and have two beautiful teenage boys that i adore. At this point in time i am without someone to love and it feels terrible lonely . Of all the ladies i have had relationships with over the years no one comes close to what i had with My Marie. A line from one of my songs '' tell me where is that place where time goes, where memories grow from tears we all let flow '' all the best to you all
Dear Tom, listen. We were beautiful. We could have been happy together. I loved you so much. I gave you everything and you wasted it. Yes, all that really mattered for you then was that you were a man. It was difficult to leave you, but it was the right thing to do. And yes, our being together was never meant to be. So, thanks for the call, but it's far too late. Take care of yourself old man.
@@BubbleNorton And that says more for that apparently selfish narcissist... he realised the mistake he made, and was absolutely urgent to make ammends. Letting go when you love someone is tough.
well I just love this song too, and my name happens to be Martha. I can't help but wonder though if this song ends the way it does because it's NOT over ... what comes next? maybe lost loves recover and reunite because they never die?
My name is Martha. I have a friend he went back to Wisconsin he just turned me on to this song. When he comes back who knows what will happen for now we have a sweet friendship sky's the limit
I'm not phoning my Martha… yet. But about the topic… this song is SUPERB anywhere. What a talented upstart Tom was in 73. Closing Time is an excellent debut and so are all the albums that followed. I'm not a fan, mind you, I just like some of his albums and songs very much. I'm not a jazzer but Waits gets my deep respect and admiration. I suspect he also doesn't rub elbows with the jazz-police.
I had a "Tom Frost" once. I sure wish he would call now. I've been missing him for over twenty years. When I look through my telescope of memory, I see that he was the one that would have lasted. Why are we so blind when we are young? Sigh....
Call him.
When I'm at my lowest, my loneliest worst - and I'm not even sure it's worth breathing any more, songs from Tom like this take me right to the edge, and past it, till i'm just broken down all over and ready to say goodbye to it all. Then the song ends and I hit repeat.
💜💜💜
I get you. It's like the knive to the heart to explode without dieing, though if feels like 500 times worse because you have to carry on. A stranger.
I had a Martha, in Santa Barbara in 1970. Her name was Sharon. We had nothing but love. And I had to return to London without her. But I never forgot her.
James Leavey aww
This is one of those songs that sometimes I just cannot listen to. It brings up emotions that are too painful.
Totally agree. My first dog was called Margaret but we toyed with Martha. Unfortunately she disappeared for four years then showed up out of the blue! No idea where she'd been but we re-named her" Tom" after this song. Waiting paid off for us!
I'm Martha. My Tom contacted me out of the blue after 25 years. I think we're going to finally get our happy ending.
And, was it a happy ending?
I wanna know
How did it go!!???
Bravoo marthaa! You picked up the call and stayed to listen to him!!
I hope so, for both of you.
Thank you for creating such a piece of art Waits! I'm Martha, but not 40 years gone Martha. Waiting for my Tom to call. Miss that man more than anything/ anyone I have ever lost.
My name IS Martha. Been married to my high school sweetheart now 38 plus years, 1983. We were so young 18 & 22. What a beautiful song. I hope everyone finds their “Martha and or Tom”.
a lost love, we think about when we get older, everybody have one. thanks, Waits.
The most beautiful love song ever...
Istina.
The original and ultimate song about the one that got away - so many comments below about how almost everyone has a "Martha". Unless you marry your high school sweetheart and stay with them forever, you will know other people. Maybe Martha is that HSW that got away and nobody ever really took their place, and you look back forty years later and contemplate what might have been. And that wonderful closing line ...
I am lucky I married my Martha. Yes that is her real name. Over the last few weeks I have been thinking alot about a time when we were courting and we split up for a few months. I nearly lost her forever. This song makes me realise how lucky I am to still have my girl, my Martha.
That's so sweet.love to U both.
Lucky bugger, lookafter that girl, pls♥️♥️♥️
We are the lucky ones - probably a sucky band....idk
"I remember quiet evenings trembling close to you..."
this song is so beautifull i can't listen this without tears in my eyes
+Dorian Grey me too dorian :) i shed tears while i read those words.Tom is a great poet.
the same here!
You can't listen with out crying such a good song.
The chorus always forces tears into my eyes, can't withhold it.
Who can't if they aren't human?
Exactly. Remembering first loves
@johnclugston614 Any love, old new, young or old, short /sweet it does not matter does it ?
20 years went by and then, three weeks ago, my Martha called me out of the blue... I'm the happiest man in the world :')
Oh, the tension! What happened?
Congratulations. I hope it worked out. Everyone deserves happiness.
Hope it worked out..❤
Bullshit
Just happened to me as well. Not sure what to feel actually.
Just love it how he just calls her name with such sorrow and regret MARTHA MARTHA
I'm stunned that no one else has found an artistically brilliant way to capture subjects like this like Tom has. And so damn well. Completely unique, so will love Tom forever.
Greatest song of lost love ever written !!!
Batman and Superman cry together listening to this masterpiece of American songwriting.
I actually used to play Waits for this beautiful girl twenty years ago, we were young, and she would cry saying it was beautiful that I loved this music so much. It's been 20 years, maybe in another 20 I'll call her long distance and we'll get together over coffee and talk about it all...
Don't leave it so long
Don't wait my friend... if this yr has taught us anything, it's that Life flies by in an instant and none of us are guarenteed another 20 days let alone 20 years...
Call her today, YOU FOOL.
Call her right now!
Yes, because those were days of roses poetry and prose!
Oh my darling, Strapper, this song nearly mirrors our love ... 40 years after we were first together I made that long distance call and ... except both of our exes cheating on us, we both had partners, had kids ... and now we're back together for the rest of our lives, where we always should have always stayed, in each others arms. I love you so much my darling. Always yours, my soulmate, totally devotedly yours. Xxx your little princess saffy lolita xxx
Saffy...Our Uncanny Ability to Synchronise Strikes Again.... I had chosen this song for You to wake up to.....along with the others that You received today !! Tom Waites is very special in our lives and always will be....I thank You for being You...a kind compassionate Human Being.....I thank You for being My Soulmate and ....My Passionate Saffy Lolita.....remembering....Easter....Your Chocolate Egg... candy floss...toffee apples....The Walk in The Park after Dark...and Then ....Fireworks !! and Everlasting Love.....xox 118 xox
every time i read this video comments i will burst into tears. i hope me and my martha get togather one day.
... fingers x'ed :-)
My dad's Martha was my mom, and their love story lasted for 26 years until the day she died. He's getting remarried in a couple of weeks, and although I'm very happy for him, and I know my mom would be too, I sometimes still cry at night.
💜💜💜
@@shefayatbhuiyan8799 ❤️
this may be one of the most wonderful sounds my heart has ever heard............and I wept........
Can't believe he was only 24 when he released this song
Really? thats crazy..... such a beautiful song
I've been fortunate to know a few Martha's. Most of them I loved and admired from a distance. I will carry this song in my heart from now on.
He just so damd good to write a song for every human experience and emotion.
I thank God for you everyday, Tom. Thanks. M.
Puts a tear in my eye every time I hear this.
This was a favorite song of someone that I loved very much. I often play it and think of you my beautiful brother.
What lyrics!! You always get me right in the ticker......I can not NOT hear them! The most underrated man in the business! Thank you for keeping on keeping on!
On the one day I just wanted to have go well, not perfect mind you, but well. This song reminded me to keep my feet on the ground and remove hope from the equation. Thank you Tom Waits, for the music, the tears, and the reminder.
"The past can haunt a man. That’s what they say. That the past is just a series of moments. Each one perfect, and complete.
A bead on the necklace of time. The past doesn’t haunt us. Wouldn’t even recognize us....
If there are ghosts to be found, it’s us who haunt the past.
We haunt it, so we can look again. See the people we miss, and the things we missed about them. " Nick Bannister Reminiscence
.
R.I.P. Will
This is ... indescribably beautiful
There's something in my eye.
Tears, non the less
"There's something in my eye,
YOU KNOW IT HAPPENS EVERYTIME... I THINK ABOUT THE LOVE THAT I THOUGHT WOULD SAVE ME" . jim croce 197.?.
MGB us all
This is music that touches your innermost feelings. Everuone goes through it but he expresses them better than us.
We all have a Martha . If we're lucky.
+Bunne Rabb Lucky isn't the word I'd use.
+kyle whitehead Well, I suppose it is better to have somebody you loved and miss that much when it went in tow different directions, than not.
Bunne Rabb Perhaps. It'd be nice to have that option.
But it can hurt all the same
An unrequited love from 1984 was my "Martha" - an actual Martha, who broke my heart and shattered all my dreams. I cry every time I hear this song.....I'm doing so now! I LOVE YOU MARTHA.
That last line just slays me...
Same here.
if you dont cry when you hear this song your probably dead and dont know it! this is what makes you glad you have emotions.
john radcliff
*you're
john radcliff was
i didn't know this song!! he is so much a marvellous singer.
In many ways
my martha is sleeping in our bed while i'm listening to this and drink a beer and smoking at the balcony. i love her so much so i'm gonna go next to her and kiss. finally, i hope that everyone find his martha, one day.
Thanks I hope that my Martha will show up someday.
@@szymonukaszewski4910 She will!
@@torvilasulvstle362 there are no doubts about that :) she will show up, she got to show up!
Had a sister Martha who died 4 yrs ago at Xmas only 52 she ws my best friend nd miss her rip
You and I are very lucky men.
Being a CODA meaning, I'm a Child of Deaf Adults! I do this song in American Sign language! Doing it in American Sign language is so emotional so expressional as well as so beautiful! I am going to sign the song again in American Sign language! I will put it on my channel just for you guys! Your comments inspired me not only that, I'm sobbing!!!😭😭😩😢🤟🤟🤟 I dedicated to you all! Perhaps in another week I'll have it up! Both my parents were born profoundly Deaf. 🤟
i was named after this song!! absolute slay moment from my parents tbh
What a fabulous voice and beautiful, meaningful song.
Indescribably beautiful life story.....magic !
Martha....the one with so much will and more. I learned the word hoot from you. You saw me, in a way, yet I was just learning then, I had no voice then, thank you, my savior used you to shine the light of health right into my eyes. You have been a blessing in my life. Wherever you are I just want you to know, I love you. Thank you, your life blessed mine and so many others.....as we walk together....we are led....to our final destination. Hallelujah!
This song describes one of my biggest fears... and no we won't be lucky if we have a "martha", we will be lucky if we make it and keep "martha" in our life forever... this is the real happiness...
Erietta Joahn Floros don’t ever all ends are happy, but the happiness is what our life is whatever it became in the life... I think
Anyone who had a Martha at any point, should consider yourself lucky.
Most of people wont ever find a real Martha.
Like me, If you lost yours, be glad for the memories you carry
My Martha was an abusive girl friend :(. 2 years later I still love her more than anything. I still don’t know why. I wish things were different
Same bro
One of the most moving song lyrics ever written.
Lovely song. I am so lucky to have married the one I would have missed for 40 years had I not been so lucky.
that song makes me cry, Pa.
Martha exists, I remember her well and follow her on a distance.
That's called stalking....
hahahahahaha :p
Ludd Gam ,I too
Ludd Gam ..STALKER
Beautiful.
I just read an excellent book that mentioned this song in it, probably because of a character named Martha in it, that I so loved reading! It's called 'The Lost Bookshop' and is about Irish and English life, before and now. Very interesting, informative and dimensionally shifiting.
I just read that book in Nov 2023. Like you, I loved that book.
🎶And I remember quiet evenings, trembling close to you...🎶
😟😢😭
Jesus, all I have to hear is the opening piano chords and I lose it.
Kelly Alves Me, too!
Y would someone dislike this , it's so endearing
I miss you, Martha.
Desmond Hume me too
Me too :'(
My favourite Tom Waits song by far, love it
Always loved the name Martha. Especially the way James Stewart said it in Shenandoah.
When I listen to Waits' music -- this song in particular -- it really chokes me up, like if I didn't have any regrets I'd have no memories at all...
Amazing that Waits wrote this when he was 23!.
fighting the tears
thank you, tom..
3:12 this part just makes me shiver
I got my Martha after listened this thanks old tom
i love this song the lyrics and tw versions so far is the best to my ears. brings out all the loneliness and sorrows it has.
Irma Rosyada
I'm 'Martha' except the name is different. Forty yeas or more. He found me. Our ending is happy
He never found me
@@marthanewsome6375 Don't give up...!!
You're lucky, because this is not a song about happy endings
Good ol Tom Waits. Beautiful song
Thanks for putting up Martha..Its the one song that totally encapsulates and keeps fresh, those memories of first love. Its one.of the most touching, beautiful songs ever written...wh00'd have thought Ron Pearlmann was so sensitive (hehehe couldn't resist it!..Laura. And Katrina did you get the link
I think its in the names of the songs by the > play symbol is..give it a try anyway and let me know..Good god this is leading from one song to the next. Getting more and more depressing as it unfolds..guess where we're going next?? talking of which Kirk Littlejohn probably has photos of you gonna look him up right after this! xxx
So good it makes you cry.
This is like a sad Christmas carol
I'm a singer/songwriter and i find my best songs are written when i am sad. I still remember my first love, her name is Marie , i have written a song about our time together.We were together for five years. We were from a small town in Southern Ireland . I was from a ''Travelling '' family and I was discriminated against regularly. I was about 19yrs old and very shy , Marie was the local popular girl in town so what she saw in me i never did find out but i thank her now for bringing me out of my insecurity and making me a better young man. I am 60yrs old now. I have married and divorced since and have two beautiful teenage boys that i adore. At this point in time i am without someone to love and it feels terrible lonely . Of all the ladies i have had relationships with over the years no one comes close to what i had with My Marie.
A line from one of my songs
'' tell me where is that place where time goes,
where memories grow from tears we all let flow ''
all the best to you all
@ paper people. My own music comes from moments of deep feeling. Keep writing music and find inner peace. Best to you.
beautiful sad song! listening in a room hotel...thanks Tom from Lima
Dear Tom, listen.
We were beautiful.
We could have been happy together.
I loved you so much.
I gave you everything and you wasted it. Yes, all that really mattered for you then was that you were a man.
It was difficult to leave you, but it was the right thing to do.
And yes, our being together was never meant to be.
So, thanks for the call, but it's far too late.
Take care of yourself old man.
So true, some men are selfish narcissists and don't deserve Martha at all.
Although they never get over that love.
@@BubbleNorton And that says more for that apparently selfish narcissist... he realised the mistake he made, and was absolutely urgent to make ammends.
Letting go when you love someone is tough.
It takes so long
Love tom waits
Hmmm My eyes are slightly wetter then 4 minutes ago, and I don't remember having goose bumps neither
Stephan Claes
*than
Not then
I think every guy has his Martha. And we never forget her.
thankf for posting this wonderful and intimistic song! Great!
DAMN IT LEO!! I DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO US!! YOU say you love me but we can't be together!! I don't get it!! I LOVE YOU!! i can't stop crying.
THANK YOU
well I just love this song too, and my name happens to be Martha. I can't help but wonder though if this song ends the way it does because it's NOT over ... what comes next? maybe lost loves recover and reunite because they never die?
What a beautiful life would it be if things were able to finish well for both.
I have a Martha out there.
Mary Jane or Gwen?
My name is Martha. I have a friend he went back to Wisconsin he just turned me on to this song. When he comes back who knows what will happen for now we have a sweet friendship sky's the limit
My buddy and I were listening to this song. I thought it was so touching. My buddy pointed out that Tom's drunk and calling his old girl friend at 2am
yes exactly !!!
how many of us have done this and bottled it and hung up.
fantastisch (germ,)
I lost my Martha (Colleen) so many years ago. This song brings tears to my eyes. I will always love my Colleen.
Damn it, Tom! 😫
Hi Martha. It's been so many years. I lost your number in the 40+ years.
Tom. lol
please do. Don't wait. Life is short.
Beautiful song !!!... no puedo evitar llorar :'(
This is so sad!
*About Time*
I love this song I do it in American Sign language!
Thankyou.
Never heard this song before, but I like it.❣️
Tom Waits is an American treasure.
shelby’s martha is toni 🥀 #thewilds
I'm not phoning my Martha… yet. But about the topic… this song is SUPERB anywhere. What a talented upstart Tom was in 73. Closing Time is an excellent debut and so are all the albums that followed. I'm not a fan, mind you, I just like some of his albums and songs very much. I'm not a jazzer but Waits gets my deep respect and admiration. I suspect he also doesn't rub elbows with the jazz-police.