Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

82 Inspirational Quotes By Tom Waits

Famous As: Musician, Composer, & Songwriter
Born On: December 7, 1949
Born In: Pomona, California, United States
Age: 74 Years

Tom Waits is a famous American singer-songwriter and actor who has earned numerous accolades for his work. Here are a few interesting piece of information from the life of this renowned artist.

Before making it big in the music industry Waits did many odd jobs -- bouncer in a club, selling ice cream, working in a pizzeria, and even for the US Coastguard -- to make ends meet.

His wage as a doorman was $8 an hour but when he began singing in the same club he apparently earned only $6 in an hour.

The two time Grammy Award winner is a huge fan of Missy Elliot.

The artist suffered from alcoholism but has been sober for almost two decades now.

Tom likes to maintain a chronicle of interesting facts and trivia. Allegedly his journal consists of information like the fact that a cockroach can survive for two hours after decapitation.

The sound of bacon frying in a pan is music to Waits ear.

Read on to find some of the inspirational quotes by the famous singer-songwriter Tom Waits.

Listed In:
I like beautiful melodies telling me terrible things.

I like beautiful melodies telling me terrible things.

Tom Waits
There ain't no devil, only God when he's drunk.

There ain't no devil, only God when he's drunk.

Tom Waits
We are buried beneath the weight of information, which is being confused with knowledge; quantity is being confused with abundance and wealth with happiness.
We are monkeys with money and guns.

We are buried beneath the weight of information, which is being confused with knowledge; quantity is being confused with abundance and wealth with happiness. We are monkeys with money and guns.

Tom Waits
Well I got a bad liver and broken heart, 
yeah,I drunk me a river since you
tore me apart

Well I got a bad liver and broken heart, yeah,I drunk me a river since you tore me apart

Tom Waits
Well, it's either kiss me or kill me, that's how I see it.

Well, it's either kiss me or kill me, that's how I see it.

Tom Waits
The world is a hellish place, and bad writing is destroying the quality of our suffering.

The world is a hellish place, and bad writing is destroying the quality of our suffering.

Tom Waits
I don't have a drinking problem 'Cept when I can't get a drink.

I don't have a drinking problem 'Cept when I can't get a drink.

Tom Waits
It ain't no sin, to take off your skin and dance around in your bones

It ain't no sin, to take off your skin and dance around in your bones

Tom Waits
Champagne for my real friends and real pain for my sham friends.

Champagne for my real friends and real pain for my sham friends.

Tom Waits
You can learn a lot about a woman by getting smashed with her.

You can learn a lot about a woman by getting smashed with her.

Tom Waits
A gentleman is someone who can play the accordion, but doesn't.

A gentleman is someone who can play the accordion, but doesn't.

Tom Waits
And the earth died screaming, while I lay dreaming...

And the earth died screaming, while I lay dreaming...

Tom Waits
Most of the people I admire, they usually smell funny and don't get out much. It's true. Most of them are either dead or not feeling well.

Most of the people I admire, they usually smell funny and don't get out much. It's true. Most of them are either dead or not feeling well.

Tom Waits
Oh, I'm not a percussionist, I just like to hit things.

Oh, I'm not a percussionist, I just like to hit things.

Tom Waits
The earth is not my home, I'm just passing by

The earth is not my home, I'm just passing by

Tom Waits
I don't go to church on Sunday, don't get on my knees to pray, or memorize the books of the Bible, I got my own special way

I don't go to church on Sunday, don't get on my knees to pray, or memorize the books of the Bible, I got my own special way

Tom Waits
I hate Disneyland. It primes our kids for Las Vegas.

I hate Disneyland. It primes our kids for Las Vegas.

Tom Waits
The piano has been drinking, not me.

The piano has been drinking, not me.

Tom Waits
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.

I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.

Tom Waits
All that you've loved is all you own

All that you've loved is all you own

Tom Waits
The big print giveth and the small print taketh away.

The big print giveth and the small print taketh away.

Tom Waits
I've lost my equilibrium, my car keys, and my pride.

I've lost my equilibrium, my car keys, and my pride.

Tom Waits
And the things you can’t remember tell the things you can’t forget that history puts a saint in every dream.

And the things you can’t remember tell the things you can’t forget that history puts a saint in every dream.

Tom Waits
I've been riding on the crest of a slump lately.

I've been riding on the crest of a slump lately.

Tom Waits
I ain't got no spare/I ain't got no jack/I don't give a shit/I'm not going back

I ain't got no spare/I ain't got no jack/I don't give a shit/I'm not going back

Tom Waits
Oh I don't mind going to weddings, just as long as it's not my own...

Oh I don't mind going to weddings, just as long as it's not my own...

Tom Waits
It's very hard to stop doing things you're used to doing. You almost have to dismantle yourself and scatter it all around and then put a blindfold on and put it back together so that you avoid old habits.

It's very hard to stop doing things you're used to doing. You almost have to dismantle yourself and scatter it all around and then put a blindfold on and put it back together so that you avoid old habits.

Tom Waits
You got to tell me the brave captain
 Why are the wicked so strong?
 How do the angels get to sleep
When the devil leaves the porch light on?

You got to tell me the brave captain Why are the wicked so strong? How do the angels get to sleep When the devil leaves the porch light on?

Tom Waits
Time is just memory
Mixed in with Desire.

Time is just memory Mixed in with Desire.

Tom Waits
They say that I have no hits and that I'm difficult to work with. And they say that like it's a bad thing.

They say that I have no hits and that I'm difficult to work with. And they say that like it's a bad thing.

Tom Waits