Tom Waits
Burma Shave / Summertime - Sydney Live
It's the Herbet Hardesty

*clapping*

You know... I remember..it rained all day, the day that Elvis Presley died
And only a legend can make it do that
And you know..I remember when my baby said we were through and she was gonna walk out one me
It was Evils Presley that talked her out of it

And.. he gave me my first leather jacket and taught me how to comb my hair just right in a sss station bathroom
It was Elvis that gave you a rubber on prom night.. and told you that you looked really sharp
And you know..I think he maybe just got a little tired of repairing all the broken hearts in the world
And now I think maybe I understand
The way mechanics' cars never start
And one night watchmen are always sleeping on the john
The way shoeshine boys are always wearing out scuffed up shoes

A legend never dies.. just teaches he everything he knows
Gives you courage to ask around

And I know.. this small little town where dreams are still alive
And there's a hero on every corner
And they're all on their way to a place called Burma Shave..
Scrawled across the shoulders of this dying town see..
And every night he takes the one eyes jacks, a one eyed jacks is like...
You got one headlight burned out in your car.. called one-eyed jack
You could see him from across the railroad tracks
With a scar on his belly, there came this stranger passing through
He was a juvenile delinquent.. and he never learned how to behave
But the cops would never think to look you in on the way to
Burma Shave

And the road was like a ribbon man
And the moon was like a bone
And he didn't seem to be like any guy she'd ever known
He kinda looked like Farley Granger with his hair slicked back..
And she said "Honey I've alway been a sucker for a fella that wears a cowboy hat"
And just how far do you think you might be going Mister
He said baby that all depends on.. what you mean

Cause I'm only stoping here tonight
Cause I got to get myself some gasoline

And I guess going thataway least while as long as it's paved
And I guess you'd say i'm on my way to
Burma shave

And he said, uh, that's cool
Why don't you put your knees up on the glove compartment
Well she took out her barrettes and man.. her hair spilled out like rootbeer
She popped her gum and she arched her back
She said man.. this old town don't amount to nothing
It's just a a wide spot in the road
Some night my heart pounds just like thunder
I don't know why it don't explode
That everybody in this stinking town has got one foot in the grave
And I'm gonna take my chances with you tonight..
On the way to
Burma Shave
He said..OK.. how old are you...uh that's a problem..
Oh where did you go to school babe? On yeah? I went to Sweetwater
I dropped out.. you know how it is..
You know a guy called Eddy Alvarez, well Presley's what they call me
Why don't you change the stations baby
And count the grain elevators, watch em go by in the rearview mirror
And anywhere you point this thing
It's gonna beat the hell out of the sting
Cause every night I go to bed with all my dreams, I lie down
And they die right here, every morning


So come one Presley and drill me a hole.. with a barber pole
Cause I'm jumping my parole just like a fugitive tonight
Let's have another swig of that sweet black velvet..that sweet black velvet
Let's pass that car are you brave enough?
And we can get there just before the sun comes up
You and me, all the way to Burma shave
Cause I'm going crazy in this town
My old man give me nothing but shit
I don't know.. I don't care what they say
Let's get out of town tonight

*Trumpet Solo/Dying Elephant*

I was talking to.. my brother in law
He said there was a wreck out on the highway..
They saw the smoke from the tires, and the twisted machine
Oh and all you got is just a knickel's worth of dreams
And they've been swindled from you on the way to a place called Burma Shave
You let the sun hit the derrick cast a bat wing shadow
It's up against a car door, on the shotgun side
Do you know something baby? I swear to God.. when they pulled you from the wreck
You still had on your shades
And dreams are growing wild every night
JUst this side of Burma Shave
There's another young girl by the side of the road tonight
With the thumb up!
Just a few trucks go by

Fish jumpin'
Fish jumpin'
The..the cotton is high

Your daddy rich
Your daddy rich
And your mama... your mama good-lookin'

So hush..little baby
Don't
Don't
Don't you cry