tom waits
From the movie "On the Nickel" (1980), a feature film written, produced by and starring Ralph Waite. Original recording on Waits' 7th studio album "Heartattack and Vine" same year; the last one released on Asylum. The song was also used as the theme song for the 1985 "The Atlanta Child Murders" miniseries.
Being "on the nickel" mainly means to be on someone's dime or at someone's expense. Literally, it means being portrayed on a coin, but here we're talking about people who ain't got a dime. The backstreets of LA ... or any town.
«Tom Waits finds more beauty in the gutter than most people would find in the Garden of Eden -Stephen Holden, Rolling Stone-». Yup. And you don't have to sound like a wounded, snarling and spitting lion to cover his songs. Normal passion is pretty enough.
sticks and stones will break my bones but I always will be true
and when your mama's dead and gone I'll sing this lullaby just for you
and what becomes of all the little boys who never comb their hair
well they're lined up all around the block on the nickel over there
so you better bring a bucket • there's a hole in the pail
and if you don't get my letter then you know that I'm in jail
and what becomes of all the little boys who never say their prayers
well they're sleeping like a baby on the nickel over there
and if you chew tobacco and wish upon a star
I'll show you where the scarecrow sits just like punchlines between the cars
and I know a place where a royal flush can never beat a pair
and even Thomas Jefferson is on the nickel over there
so ring around the rosie • you're sleeping in the rain
and you're always late for supper • and man you let me down, you let me down again
I thought I heard a mocking bird • Roosevelt knows where
you can skip the light with grady tuck on the nickel over there
so what becomes of all the little boys who run away from home
well the world just keeps getting bigger once you get out on your own
so here's to all the little boys • the sandman takes you where
you'll be sleeping with the pillowman on the nickel over there
so climb up through that button hole
and fall right up the stairs
and I'll show you where the short dogs grow on the nickel over there
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
G D G D sticks and stones will break my bones but I always will be true G D Bm E7+9 E7 A7 and when your mama's dead and gone I'll sing this lullaby just for you G D G D and what becomes of all the little boys who never comb their hair G D Bm E7+9 A7+6 E well they're lined up all around the block on the nickel over there
