The Early Years: The Lyrics of Tom Waits 1971-1983 Kindle Edition

I'd read a review of this book and it said not all lyrics were accurate. To me they were close enough to satisfy and I enjoy reading them. Besides, Waits often shifts, adds, removes when performing... who can tell how his songs were originally written? His is an ever-changing thought process.

A book of Tom Waits lyrics is a must have if you are a fan of his music. I do cherish this book and love Tom's words. The problem is this book gets a lot of lyrics wrong and in one case misses a whole verse in a song, Blue Skies. Too many mistakes for my taste. If you listen to the songs and read the book you'll see just how poorly to the details the publisher paid to Tom's words. So I guess the is an insight, buy falls short of the true story.

Perfect.

My best recommendation!!!

... You'll love Tom Waits. They are many one-line gems in much of his lyrics. The compilation of lyrics from his albums are wonderful.

Great book. Got to me very very fast. In great condition and is a great read. Great lyrics good albums.

I think song lyrics in generalsuffer from being readwithout hearing the presentationWaits is no exception to this ruleBuy it if you love his musicSkip it if you haven't heard it

I'm caught between the extant reviews. The key is to be old enough to have heard these songs, even if it's years since the experience. What great fun to find out what he really said in pieces like "Step Right Up" and "Pasties and a G String".Those of us who've crossed the bar of a half-century will take "Martha" so much more to heart, now that our own Martha's are gone. We know the 'Heart of Saturday Night' - Saturday night back then - is still the best that could ever be. Pity the youngsters who never had the brilliance of a slow dance, who never had three or four too many but made it to work the next day and kept going because your 'baby' was waitin up for you. Get it, recall it, make up your own melodies when the memory's going fuzzy - it's all to the good.

Tom Waits is an acquired taste the same as Dylan and Cohen but if you like those tastes this book will give you all the mans early lyrics. The words are as important or even more important than the melodies, so to be able to read through the songs and hum your own melody is great news.If you like Waits this book will make you like him even more.

This concise collection of some of the most poetic lyrics known to man. musically you either love him or hate him but don't let his gravelly voice put you of reading his prose.

All v.good and ordered on a friday and delivered on the monday. Thanks.

A lyricist and a poet. When you can properly study the remarkable writing of 'The Early Years' the music can fill your head.

Tom Waits is poetic in his lyrics and he has a great sense of humour - I would also recommend his influences of Jack Kerouac and Charles Bukowski.