Monday, August 18, 2003
Tom Waits
Swordfishtrombones
Island Records
"Franks Wild Years"
(Waits, 1983)
Well Frank settled down in the Valley
and hung his wild years
on a nail that he drove through
his wife's forehead.
He sold used office furniture
out there on San Fernando Road
and assumed a $30,000 loan
at 15 1/4 % and put down payment
on a little two bedroom place.
His wife was a spent piece of used jet trash,
made good bloody marys,
kept her mouth shut most of the time.
Had a little Chihuahua named Carlos
that had some kind of skin disease
and was totally blind.
They had a thoroughly modern kitchen,
self-cleaning oven (the whole bit).
Frank drove a little sedan.
They were so happy
One night Frank was on his way home from work,
stopped at the liquor store,
picked up a couple Mickey's Big Mouths,
drank 'em in the car on his way
to the Shell station.
He got a gallon of gas in a can,
drove home, doused everything in the house,
torched it.
Parked across the street, laughing,
watching it burn, all Halloween orange
and chimney red
then Frank put on a top forty station
got on the Hollywood Freeway,
headed north.
Never could stand that dog.
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