Comments on: Basement Songs: Tom Waits, “Kentucky Avenue”

By: Howard

Howard — Thu, 21 May 2009 01:34:46 +0000

I can not listen to this song all the way through without crying.

By: Howard

Howard — Thu, 21 May 2009 00:34:46 +0000

I can not listen to this song all the way through without crying.

By: Carolina - Chile South america

Carolina - Chile South america — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:37:22 +0000

amo esta canciÃ³n, y cuando finaliza y habla de “new orleans in the fall..” me emociona mucho, yo jamÃ¡s he estado en new orleans, pero es una humedad y la sensaciÃ³n de indefensiÃ³n tan grande que siento que es imposible no llorar…
Gracias por compartir algo tan Ãntimo, fue gratificante leerte…

By: Scott Dawson

Scott Dawson — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 01:59:03 +0000

I hear you, Scott, I truly do. As a relatively new convert to the coolest man in the world, Tom Waits, I actually only heard “Kentucky Avenue” for the first time last year (2008). I immediately identified with it in the same way as you. My elder son, Lachlan, is intellectually and physically impaired. The physical side isn't so bad, but the intellectual side is quite noticeable. My younger son, Matthew, is about as far from impaired as it's possible to be. They're 9 and 5 at the moment, and I often wonder what things will be like when Mattie is able to understand why his brother is so difficult to deal with sometimes. I superimpose my sons on the two characters in the lyrics. Sometimes I hate the song because I love it so much.

By: xolondon

xolondon — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 00:43:01 +0000

This was a wonderful post. Thank you SO much for sharing something so personal.

By: Anthony Hansen

Anthony Hansen — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:05:50 +0000

Actually, this song really is about a friend with polio Tom had growing up, though he admits to sentimentalizing it a bit. I think it might be one of the most moving songs I've ever heard, personally.

By: EricGrubbs

EricGrubbs — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:19:29 +0000

Thanks for sharing. One of Tom's best ballads. On a personal note, as somebody that was born in New Orleans, I usually get choked up during the “New Orleans in the fall” line. I think it definitely took on a different meaning following Hurricane Katrina.

By: BenW

BenW — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:28:03 +0000

Wow. What a beautiful song. Definitely one of the highpoints of that album (the other being the 'Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis' that also saves its emotional hook for the last verse). Thanks for sharing your experience with it. I believe that Joey Navinsky shows up in another Waits song, but I can't think of it right now. You know he says Beaulah put her tongue in his mouth. But I think he's full of shit. Wanna go get some boysenberries?