Rain Dog

Tom Waits, 28 October 1978 

Memorial Auditorium, Louisville, Kentucky

Bette Midler and Tom Waits at the Troubadour 1977, LA

Californian singer, songwriter, and actor Tom Waits is a guest on The Late Late Show. Introducing Tom Waits, Gay Byrne asks him about the background to his writing.

All your songs Tom seem to be about a sort of a seedy way of life. How come?

Seated at a piano, a somewhat reluctant but humorous interviewee, Tom Waits talks briefly about his childhood, growing up in California and how he got into music.

Responding to a question about when he started writing he says; "I was born at a very young age, and I actually didn't start writing until I was in my teens." Refuting myths of a hobo lifestyle he says; Actually I'm a very happily married man.

I don't go out much at all. I used to stay out late. Gay Byrne also speaks to Tom's wife, Kathleen Brennan who is sitting in the audience. Kathleen talks about her Irish roots, and how she met Tom.

Joking she says, I was a nun and he fell asleep in the church and I woke him up. In fact, they met at Coppola Studios where Kathleen was working as a story analyst and Tom Waits was recording. Kathleen talks about her fondness for Tralee, County Kerry where the couple have spent time. Tom Waits had been recording at Ballyseede Castle.

Work on your car

Busk near the subway

Call up an old flame

Roll your own cigarettes

Eat at a greasy spoon

Tell creepy stories

Visit a carnival

Buy shoe polish from a woman near a creek

Confront the face on the backside of your head

Create an instrument from what you can find in a dumpster

Create an instrument out of your own voice by making hissing sounds

Call God out over the misery He has visited upon the world

learn to play accordion

sell bullfrogs to a circus geek

get a tattoo using a cassette motor and guitar string

open a tiny little bookie joint

visit New Orleans

order your eggs over-medium or scrambled

feel like a preacher waving a gun around

go Out West

make it rain

leave Waukegan at the slammin’ of the door

I like beautiful melodies telling me terrible things.

Nov. 20th is Trans Day of Remembrance! Where we remember those who were lost to transphobia, discrimination, and su*cide.

We make up 1% of the population and are constantly the topic of discussion. I've been told I'm broken, r*trded, and more. Others have been attacked verbally/physically to a point of no longer being here. The best thing we can do is remember we're not alone, and outlive the hate. Spread kindness and love, and remember, it gets better.