Waits, Tom - Widow's Grove Lyrics

Now that I know this was meant to be a duet, the lyrics make a lot more sense. Now I just need to figure out what was for who...

Some songs you just hear, some songs you merely listen to, some songs you get lost in.

Great unusual sonf sung from different points of view, as if it was from part Kathleen and part Tom. But, this video has an ad in front of it, so, you're monetizing it. Which is extremely unethical. You're no better than Manafort, Cohen, or Trump.

I met you in the saddle, rode you in the dust
Held your hand to the heavens, pulled your heart to the earth
There was something that blinded me more than the mist
And the breath of the cottonwood buds lighter yet

And you rode the maypole of dance hall legs
And galloped to another's embrace
And I bit the flowers from your wrist corsage
And you waltzed too slowly, too slowly you waltzed
With that girl from Widow's Grove

Oh, I'd follow you to the river, that washes out to the sea
Through the wind, through the rain of a cold dark night
That's where I'll be

Near the breath of a swallow, petals dropped as you fell
And you grabbed then shyly held me, against the stone cold well
In your hand was a glass, you held the ice against the night
And it dripped and it sparkled and I laughed a wish

Before it all slipped down the dark tunneled well
I heard it melt quietly and I looked at you
Bent to the earth with just one pleading wish
Your skirts brushed to the furious pounding

Oh, I'd follow you to the river, that washes out to the sea
Through the wind, through the rain of a cold dark night
That's where I'll be

I hid in the elm and raised the bough, that hung even with your neck
And I chased you and drowned you, there deep in the well
And when your mouth was full and wet, I swallowed all your reckless fate
And with your last breath, you moaned too drunk to wake

Oh, I'd follow you to the river, that washes out to the sea
Through the wind, through the rain of a cold dark night
That's where I'll be
Through the wind, through the rain of a cold dark night
That's where I'll be

Mysterious narrator, this. Seems to switch identities.

Tom is amazing so underrated. Every opportunity I tell people about Mr Waits

One more beautiful, sad love song...I know only one other artist that can do this...So many thanks for being around for THE most talented geniuses of our days....The other recently awarded the Nobel....

Reminds me of Nick Cave's "Where The Wild Roses Grow."

a bit - but I think this song has more edge (Tom's voice and the production).

Perhaps.

Tom never postures the way Cave does.

kylie minogue

Knoxville Girl (also Cave)

"I like beautiful melodies telling me terrible things"

Very nicely put. The text equivalent of Blowin' in the wind...simple but touching.

man kann Tom Waits nicht nachahmen, ive laught a wish..............geht nicht,

Seriously the most beautiful song ever about throwing your love down a well and taking a stroll down to shore to watch your murdered love be swept away in the tide.

Tom is fun, it always surprise's me how people can think 'Oh that song is beautiful.' Because of the way it sounds, when it is actually about a tragic murder.  These same folks hear a song, that sounds 'tragic' which is mostly about some of the most beautiful things ever, but they don't like it.  It's seriously like no one pays attention.  Mr. Waits demands attention.  Listen friends.

@Rob DeHart I have to agree, this is the song full of nostalgic longing and the fond memories of a murderer.
But that explanation always felt incomplete to me, it seemed to be about more. And if you listen carefully, this song is three different narrations blurred together, always first person, but from different subjects.

But I'm probably wrong. I don't think I've ever really understood a Waits song.

@Gargling Marbles   Been in Tom's camp for 35 years and can say what I enjoy about his writing style in many cases is the lyrics are open for interpretation. But again I could be wrong. Actually I get a certain amount of pleasure not knowing things.

I think Nicole Dollanganger took a note from his approach. She's all about sweet soprano melodies of horrible murder and death.

for some reason the chorus of this song brings tears to my eyes... beautiful

K Woods it reminds of a western movie it’s so good.

I never knew Tom would borrow this melody. Nursery rhymes? Sure. Christmas Carols? Okay. But THIS? Love it. Our father keeps surprising me with carte blanche beauty, and murder fit for grand museums.

Murder has never held such beauty. I fall in love with this song more and more every time I hear it. Only 4,000 views is tragic.

Apparently this was originally meant to be sung as a duet. Regardless this is lovely.

Makes it a kind of god's eye song.

i love how clean this post is