Tom Waits Quotes, born December 7, 1949, in Pomona, California, is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor whose gravelly voice and eclectic blend of blues, jazz, and vaudeville have made him a cult legend. With albums like Closing Time (1973), Bone Machine (1992), and Mule Variations (1999), both Grammy winners, Waits crafts vivid tales of outsiders and dreamers. A 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, he’s also acted in films like Down by Law. These 15 quotes—sourced from his songs, interviews, posts on X, and public statements—capture his insights on life, creativity, and the beauty of the broken, reflecting his whiskey-soaked wisdom and poetic heart.
15 Tom Waits Quotes
- “We are buried beneath the weight of information, which is being confused with knowledge; quantity is being confused with abundance and wealth with happiness.” (Interview, True Confessions, 2008)
- “I like beautiful melodies telling me terrible things.” (Interview, Goodreads, n.d.)
- “Your old home town’s so far away, but inside your head there’s a record that’s playing, a song called ‘Hold On’.” (Song, “Hold On,” Mule Variations, 1999)
- “The folks who know the truth aren’t talking… The ones who don’t have a clue, you can’t shut them up!” (Interview, AZQuotes, n.d.)
- “I had a beer and now I hear you callin’ out for me, and I hope that I don’t fall in love with you.” (Song, “I Hope That I Don’t Fall in Love With You,” Closing Time, 1973)
- “Don’t plant your bad days. They grow into weeks. The weeks grow into months. Before you know it, you got yourself a bad year. Choke ‘em down to nothing.” (Interview, Goodreads, n.d.)
- “I’m not a photojournalist. I do not do reportage… Stories come from dreams and memories and lies and things you found and heard and saw and read and dreamed and made up.” (Post on X, @tomwaits, 2023-12-12)
- “The world is a hellish place, and bad writing is destroying the quality of our suffering.” (Interview, QuoteFancy, n.d.)
- “When you’re writing, you’re conjuring. It’s a ritual, and you need to be brave and respectful and sometimes get out of the way of whatever it is that you’re inviting into the room.” (Post on X, @tomwaits, 2024-03-12)
- “There ain’t no devil, it’s just God when he’s drunk.” (Song, “Heartattack and Vine,” Heartattack and Vine, 1980)
- “I’d rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.” (Interview, Bookey, n.d.)
- “Most people don’t care if you’re telling them the truth or if you’re telling them a lie, as long as they’re entertained by it.” (Interview, American Songwriter, 2022)
- “I think that everybody likes music but what you really want is music to like you.” (Post on X, @tomwaits, 2024-05-02)
- “My reality needs imagination like a bulb needs a socket. My imagination needs reality like a blind man needs a cane.” (Interview, Goodreads, n.d.)
- “There’s nothin’ like a campfire and a can of beans.” (Song, “The Blackrider,” The Blackrider, 1993)
Tom Waits’ quotes weave a tapestry of gritty poetry, raw humor, and soulful wisdom, urging fans to embrace life’s imperfections, chase creativity, and find beauty in the margins. Which quote resonates with your inner outsider? Drop it in the comments and keep Waits’ legend alive!
Emma Thompson
Hi, I'm Emma Thompson, founder of MyLittleDesire. I share relationship advice, love quotes, and thoughtful gift ideas to help you express your feelings and strengthen your bonds. Let's celebrate love together!
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