The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me) (An Evening With Pete King)
Tom Waits
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The piano has been drinking, My necktie is asleep And the combo went back to New York, The jukebox has to take a leak And the carpet needs a haircut, And the spotlight looks like a prison break And the telephone's out of cigarettes, And the balcony is on the make And the piano has been drinking, The piano has been drinking And the menus are all freezing, And the light man's blind in one eye And he can't see out of the other And the piano-tuner's got a hearing aid, And he showed up with his mother And the piano has been drinking, The piano has been drinking As the bouncer is a Sumo wrestler Cream puff casper milk toast And the owner is a mental midget With the I.Q. of a fence post 'Cause the piano has been drinking, The piano has been drinking And you can't find your waitress With a Geiger counter And she hates you and your friends and you Just can't get served without her And the box office is drooling, And the bar stools are on fire And the newspapers were fooling, And the ash-trays have retired 'Cause the piano has been drinking, The piano has been drinking The piano has been drinking, Not me, not me, not me, not me, not me
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Written by: Tom Waits
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, JALMA MUSIC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
12 facts about this song
Song TitleThe full title "The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me) (An Evening With Pete King)" hints at the humor and wit typical of Tom Waits' lyrics.
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ArtistThe song was written and performed by Tom Waits, an American singer, songwriter, and actor known for his eclectic musical style and distinctive, gravelly voice.
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Release YearIt was released in 1976, as part of the album "Small Change."
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Song ThemeThe song deals with alcoholism and the impact it can have on a person's perception and behavior. Its title suggests that it's the piano, not the singer, that is drunk.
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Musical StyleThe song is a slow, boozy ballad featuring just a piano and Waits' raspy voice, demonstrating his unique form of jazz-tinged blues.
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Unique VoiceTom Waits' voice, gritty and alcohol-soaked in this track, is one of his trademarks, and it is particularly fitting for this song.
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Live PerformanceWaits has performed this song live on multiple occasions, including on the UK television show The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1977.
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Pop CultureThis song, along with other works by Tom Waits, has been featured on film and television soundtracks like in the 2011 film, "The Guard."
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Unique PresentationThe song is presented as if it's a late-night show at a bar, complete with introductory chatter and the ambient noise of glasses clinking.
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Character-based SongwritingAs with many of Tom Waits' songs, "The Piano Has Been Drinking" is seen as a character sketch, painting a vivid picture of a boozy, late-night world.
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Song InterpretationSome have interpreted the song as an exploration of loneliness and the human need for connection, as seen through the haze of alcohol.
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Critical ReceptionDespite its relative obscurity compared to Waits' other hits, the song is often applauded for its wit, irony, and emotional depth.
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"The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me) (An Evening With Pete King) Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/34867442/Tom+Waits/The+Piano+Has+Been+Drinking+%28Not+Me%29+%28An+Evening+With+Pete+King%29>.
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