Tom Waits is 24 years and 10 days older than me and my greatest songwriting influence. This song pays tribute to his work and the diehards among you may notice some references to his lyrics. The rhythmic sound at the start of the track is my old washing machine on its spin cycle just before it died. I thought TW would appreciate that. Guest performance by Ash Grunwald.

Lyrics

IT’S TWO AM
Well he coulda been born in the smokin’ back
Of a Romeo’s Blood red Cadillac
With a shoeshine nickel and a half empty bottle of booze

He’s got the one-eyed jack he ain’t never comin’ back
He’s been lost and found on the wrong side of the track
Yeah you can blow your whistle but you’ll never really have the blues

Chorus And it was 24 years and 10 days later that I found myself in a holy place
With a devil in my pocket and a whole lotta time to kill

He got a midnight bride she got God on her side
She’s a little piece of heaven gonna keep him alive
But he can’t pray to Jesus coz the devil’s got her down in the hole

She got her red shoes on she got a gun in her purse
She got $29.00 to lift this curse
And she’s waitin’ in vain for the Lord to come and save her soul

Chorus

Bridge He got a black belt in voodoo and a broken heart
He’s goin’ down to the river for a brand new start
He’s gonna wash her down ‘neath a poison sky
He’s gonna open up the heavens till his cup runs dry
He’s a downtown man playin’ the devil’s hand
You better lock up all your demons coz it’s gonna be a circus tonight

He’s been drivin’ all night it’s past two am
I got a dollar here says you’ll never see him again
He’s got a whole lotta trouble and a chrome plated look in his eye

He’s got his old St. Christopher chained to the wheel
But his inebriated God sold him out for a steal
You can read all about it in the columns of the evening sky

Chorus x2