The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me) (An Evening With Pete King)

Tom Waits

About The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me) (An Evening With Pete King)

"The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me) (An Evening with Pete King)", often referred to as "The Piano Has Been Drinking", is a song written and performed by Tom Waits. The song first appeared on his 1976 album Small Change, and an extended live version on the 1981 compilation album Bounced Checks.


Year:
1976
3:40
29 
#2

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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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Tom Waits

Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits (born December 7, 1949) is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car." With this trademark growl, his incorporation of pre-rock music styles such as blues, jazz, and vaudeville, and experimental tendencies verging on industrial music, Waits has built up a distinctive musical persona. He has worked as a composer for movies and musical plays and has acted in supporting roles in films including Paradise Alley and Bram Stoker's Dracula; he also starred in the 1986 film Down by Law. He was nominated for an Academy Awa… more »

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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 Title
The 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.
Artist
The song was written and performed by Tom Waits, an American singer, songwriter, and actor known for his eclectic musical style and distinctive, gravelly voice.
Release Year
It was released in 1976, as part of the album "Small Change."
Song Theme
The 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.
Musical Style
The song is a slow, boozy ballad featuring just a piano and Waits' raspy voice, demonstrating his unique form of jazz-tinged blues.
Unique Voice
Tom Waits' voice, gritty and alcohol-soaked in this track, is one of his trademarks, and it is particularly fitting for this song.
Live Performance
Waits has performed this song live on multiple occasions, including on the UK television show The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1977.
Pop Culture
This song, along with other works by Tom Waits, has been featured on film and television soundtracks like in the 2011 film, "The Guard."
Unique Presentation
The 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.
Character-based Songwriting
As 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.
Song Interpretation
Some have interpreted the song as an exploration of loneliness and the human need for connection, as seen through the haze of alcohol.
Critical Reception
Despite its relative obscurity compared to Waits' other hits, the song is often applauded for its wit, irony, and emotional depth.

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