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: 73 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.

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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
But it's so hard to dance that way when it's cold and there's no music.

But it's so hard to dance that way when it's cold and there's no music.

Tom Waits
We are all just monkeys with money and guns.

We are all just monkeys with money and guns.

Tom Waits
Never have your wallet with you onstage. It's bad luck. You shouldn't play the piano with money in your pocket. Play like you need the money.
Tom Waits (to me, about 1986 or so)

Never have your wallet with you onstage. It's bad luck. You shouldn't play the piano with money in your pocket. Play like you need the money. Tom Waits (to me, about 1986 or so)

Tom Waits
The Universe is making music all the time.

The Universe is making music all the time.

Tom Waits
Let me fall out of the window/
With confetti in my hair

Let me fall out of the window/ With confetti in my hair

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

The large print giveth and the small print taketh away.

Tom Waits
I've seen it all through the yellow windows of the evening train...

I've seen it all through the yellow windows of the evening train...

Tom Waits
When the weather's rough and it's whiskey in the rain it's best to wrap your savior up in cellophane.

When the weather's rough and it's whiskey in the rain it's best to wrap your savior up in cellophane.

Tom Waits
Sing me a rainbow. Steal me a dream.

Sing me a rainbow. Steal me a dream.

Tom Waits
Your old home town's so far away, but inside your head there's a record that's playing, a song called 'Hold On

Your old home town's so far away, but inside your head there's a record that's playing, a song called 'Hold On

Tom Waits
Well you say that it's gospel,
But I know that it's only church.

Well you say that it's gospel, But I know that it's only church.

Tom Waits
The beginning of it starts at the end

The beginning of it starts at the end

Tom Waits
I walked 500 miles just to see a halo, when I opened my eyes I was blind as can be.

I walked 500 miles just to see a halo, when I opened my eyes I was blind as can be.

Tom Waits
Slept all night in the cedar grove,
i was born to ramble, born to rove,
some men are searchin' for the holy grail,
but there ain't nothin' sweeter
than ridin' the rails

Slept all night in the cedar grove, i was born to ramble, born to rove, some men are searchin' for the holy grail, but there ain't nothin' sweeter than ridin' the rails

Tom Waits
My reality needs imagination like a bulb needs a socket. My imagination needs reality like a blind man needs a cane.

My reality needs imagination like a bulb needs a socket. My imagination needs reality like a blind man needs a cane.

Tom Waits
The Music was like Electric Sugar

The Music was like Electric Sugar

Tom Waits
It's the same with men as with horses and dogs, nothing wants to die.

It's the same with men as with horses and dogs, nothing wants to die.

Tom Waits
There's no prayer like desire.

There's no prayer like desire.

Tom Waits
I admit that I ain't no angel, I admit that I ain't no saint-- I'm selfish and I'm cruel and I'm blind. If I exorcise my devils, well my angels may leave too. When they leave they're so hard to find...

I admit that I ain't no angel, I admit that I ain't no saint-- I'm selfish and I'm cruel and I'm blind. If I exorcise my devils, well my angels may leave too. When they leave they're so hard to find...

Tom Waits
Got a head full of lightning, a hat full of rain.

Got a head full of lightning, a hat full of rain.

Tom Waits
When your down on your luck and you've lost all your dreams theres nothing like a campfire and a can of beans

When your down on your luck and you've lost all your dreams theres nothing like a campfire and a can of beans

Tom Waits
I worry about a lot of things, but I don’t worry about achievements. I worry primarily about whether there are nightclubs in Heaven.

I worry about a lot of things, but I don’t worry about achievements. I worry primarily about whether there are nightclubs in Heaven.

Tom Waits
And when they pulled her from the wreck, you know, she still had on her shades

And when they pulled her from the wreck, you know, she still had on her shades

Tom Waits
Bringing up children was]like living with a bunch of drunks...you really have to be on your toes all the time.

Bringing up children was]like living with a bunch of drunks...you really have to be on your toes all the time.

Tom Waits
It's cold out there, colder than a ticket taker's smile at the Ivar Theatre on a Saturday night.

It's cold out there, colder than a ticket taker's smile at the Ivar Theatre on a Saturday night.

Tom Waits
I just don't like the word 'fun'--it's like Volkswagen, or bell-bottoms, or patchouli-oil or bean-sprouts...it rubs me up the wrong way.

I just don't like the word 'fun'--it's like Volkswagen, or bell-bottoms, or patchouli-oil or bean-sprouts...it rubs me up the wrong way.

Tom Waits
I danced along a colored wind/
Dangled from a rope of sand

I danced along a colored wind/ Dangled from a rope of sand

Tom Waits
Not the kind of wheel you fall asleep at.

Not the kind of wheel you fall asleep at.

Tom Waits
I never told the truth so i can never tell a lie...

I never told the truth so i can never tell a lie...

Tom Waits
Most of the things you absorb you will ultimately secrete.

Most of the things you absorb you will ultimately secrete.

Tom Waits
I made a wish on a sliver of moonlight
A sly grin and a bowl full of stars

I made a wish on a sliver of moonlight A sly grin and a bowl full of stars

Tom Waits
Using parking meters as walking sticks.

Using parking meters as walking sticks.

Tom Waits
You must have brought the bad weather with you
The sky's the color of lead
All you've left me is a feather
On an unmade bed

You must have brought the bad weather with you The sky's the color of lead All you've left me is a feather On an unmade bed

Tom Waits
Arithmetic arithmetock
Turn the hands back on the clock
How does the ocean rock the boat?
How did the razor find my throat?
The only strings that hold me here
Are tangled up around the pier.

Arithmetic arithmetock Turn the hands back on the clock How does the ocean rock the boat? How did the razor find my throat? The only strings that hold me here Are tangled up around the pier.

Tom Waits
There ain't no devil there's just god when he's drunk

There ain't no devil there's just god when he's drunk

Tom Waits
I'm not fighting for justice. I am not fighting for freedom. I am fighting for my life and another day in the world here.

I'm not fighting for justice. I am not fighting for freedom. I am fighting for my life and another day in the world here.

Tom Waits
Hell is boiling over. And heaven is full. We're chained to the world. And we all gotta pull. And we're all gonna be ...just dirt in the ground

Hell is boiling over. And heaven is full. We're chained to the world. And we all gotta pull. And we're all gonna be ...just dirt in the ground".

Tom Waits
I'm so goddamn horny, the crack of dawn better be careful around me!

I'm so goddamn horny, the crack of dawn better be careful around me!

Tom Waits
God's away, God's away, God's away on business. Business!

God's away, God's away, God's away on business. Business!

Tom Waits
There is no such thing as nonfiction.

There is no such thing as nonfiction.

Tom Waits
Don't you know there ain't no devil; there's just God when he's drunk.

Don't you know there ain't no devil; there's just God when he's drunk.

Tom Waits
Writing songs is like capturing birds without killing them. Sometimes you end up with nothing but a mouthful of feathers.

Writing songs is like capturing birds without killing them. Sometimes you end up with nothing but a mouthful of feathers.

Tom Waits
And I remember quiet evenings trembling close to you...

And I remember quiet evenings trembling close to you...

Tom Waits
Picture in a frame

Picture in a frame

Tom Waits
She’s got the whole dark forest living inside of her.

She’s got the whole dark forest living inside of her.

Tom Waits
When you are 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.

When you are 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.

Tom Waits
An all time favorite:

An all time favorite: "The large print giveth, the small print taketh away.

Tom Waits
... there ain't no devil, it's just God when he's drunk.

... there ain't no devil, it's just God when he's drunk.

Tom Waits
You don't meet nice girls in coffee shops.

You don't meet nice girls in coffee shops.

Tom Waits
Misery's the river of the world. Everybody row!

Misery's the river of the world. Everybody row!

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

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

Tom Waits