--- title: "20 Want Quotes By Tom Waits" description: "20 Want quotes by Tom Waits. Plus more from Tom Waits and more Want sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/tom-waits-916_death_on-my-gravestone-i-want-it-to-say-i-told_403937.jpg" --- > [On my gravestone, I want it to say, "I told you I was sick."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/on-my-gravestone-i-want-it-to-say-i-told-you-i-was-sick/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/tom-waits-916_death_on-my-gravestone-i-want-it-to-say-i-told_403937.jpg) > [I'm reliable sources, I'll tell ya anything you want me to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-m-reliable-sources-i-ll-tell-ya-anything-you-want-me-to-know/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/tom-waits-916_knows_i-m-reliable-sources-i-ll-tell-ya-anythi_1811034.jpg) > [I guess I've always lived upside down when I want things I can't have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-guess-i-ve-always-lived-upside-down-when-i-want-things-i-can-t-have/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/tom-waits-916_upside_i-guess-i-ve-always-lived-upside-down-wh_479218.jpg) > [It's the same with men as with horses and dogs, nothing wants to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/it-s-the-same-with-men-as-with-horses-and-dogs-nothing-wants-to-die/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/647/tom-waits-916_animal_it-s-the-same-with-men-as-with-horses-an_3138789.jpg) > [You know what I really love? The CD players in a car. How when you put the CD right up by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/you-know-what-i-really-love-the-cd-players-in-a-car-how-when-you-put/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/tom-waits-916_car_you-know-what-i-really-love-the-cd-playe_1612029.jpg) > [You want soldiers who, when they get to a river after a long march, don't start rooting for their canteen in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/you-want-soldiers-who-when-they-get-to-a-river-after-a-long-march-don/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/tom-waits-916_canteen_you-want-soldiers-who-when-they-get-to-a_1655112.jpg) > [As a kid, I did want to be an old-timer, since they were the ones with the big stories and the cool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/as-a-kid-i-did-want-to-be-an-old-timer-since-they-were-the-ones-with/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/tom-waits-916_back-in-time_as-a-kid-i-did-want-to-be-an-old-timer-s_595533.jpg) > [I didn't really want to be part of a clique or a niche. But I also was looking for my own voice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-didn-t-really-want-to-be-part-of-a-clique-or-a-niche-but-i-also-was/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/tom-waits-916_clique_i-didn-t-really-want-to-be-part-of-a-cli_284040.jpg) > [The ocean doesn't want me today, But I'll come back tomorrow to play. The riptide is waging And the life guard's away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/the-ocean-doesn-t-want-me-today-but-i-ll-come-back-tomorrow-to-play/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/tom-waits-916_life_the-ocean-doesn-t-want-me-today-but-i-ll_2259126.jpg) > [People make songs so that somebody else will hear them and want to do them. I guess it's an indication that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/people-make-songs-so-that-somebody-else-will-hear-them-and-want-to-do/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/tom-waits-916_indication_people-make-songs-so-that-somebody-else_3106960.jpg) > [You almost have to create situations in order to write about them, so I live in a constant state of self-imposed poverty.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/you-almost-have-to-create-situations-in-order-to-write-about-them-so/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/tom-waits-916_constant_you-almost-have-to-create-situations-in_2270251.jpg) > [I'm trying to get music ideas that come and keep them alive. It's like carrying water in your hands. I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-m-trying-to-get-music-ideas-that-come-and-keep-them-alive-it-s-like/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1c/tom-waits-916_alive_i-m-trying-to-get-music-ideas-that-come_656554.jpg) > [Every single song has its own individual character and you can't treat each song the same way, because it wants to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/every-single-song-has-its-own-individual-character-and-you-can-t/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/tom-waits-916_bird_every-single-song-has-its-own-individual_905843.jpg) > [When I started looking for pointed shoes, I used to go to Fairfax on Orchard Street in New York City, one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/when-i-started-looking-for-pointed-shoes-i-used-to-go-to-fairfax-on/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/tom-waits-916_blow_when-i-started-looking-for-pointed-shoes_512212.jpg) > [Most vagabonds i knowed don't ever want to find the culprit that remains the object of their long relentless quest. The obsession's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/most-vagabonds-i-knowed-don-t-ever-want-to-find-the-culprit-that/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/tom-waits-916_adventure_most-vagabonds-i-knowed-don-t-ever-want_942410.jpg) > [All records are riddles, and whatever you may want people to think it's about, it may just be throwing them off. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/all-records-are-riddles-and-whatever-you-may-want-people-to-think-it/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/tom-waits-916_learning_all-records-are-riddles-and-whatever-you_1729456.jpg) > [If I want to walk out in the desert and heat up a can of beans on a fire, I still can.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/if-i-want-to-walk-out-in-the-desert-and-heat-up-a-can-of-beans-on-a/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e62/tom-waits-916_age_if-i-want-to-walk-out-in-the-desert-and_2781159.jpg) > [I guess I've always lived upside down when I want things I can't have. My wife actually thinks I have a syndrome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-guess-i-ve-always-lived-upside-down-when-i-want-things-i-can-t-have-2/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c4/tom-waits-916_back-in-time_i-guess-i-ve-always-lived-upside-down-wh_2700200.jpg) > [If you can make a little painting for the ears with a few words, well, I like words; I like cutting them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/if-you-can-make-a-little-painting-for-the-ears-with-a-few-words-well/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73e/tom-waits-916_antenna_if-you-can-make-a-little-painting-for-th_1512076.jpg) > [What you want is for music to love you back. That's why you pay your dues. You want to feel like you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/what-you-want-is-for-music-to-love-you-back-that-s-why-you-pay-your/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bd/tom-waits-916_dues_what-you-want-is-for-music-to-love-you-b_1511410.jpg) ## Other authors on Want ## More by Tom Waits > [Most of us have the residue of thousands of songs in our ears, that if you end up songwriting, I think you're mostly smoking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/most-of-us-have-the-residue-of-thousands-of-songs-in-our-ears-that-if/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [Bill Hicks - blowtorch, excavator, truthsayer, and brain specialist. He will correct your vision. Others will drive on the road he built.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/bill-hicks-blowtorch-excavator-truthsayer-and-brain-specialist-he/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [Don't plant your days they turn into weeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/don-t-plant-your-days-they-turn-into-weeds/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [“T’ain’t no sin to take off your skin, and dance around in your bones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/t-ain-t-no-sin-to-take-off-your-skin-and-dance-around-in-your-bones/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [“an all time favorite: "The large print giveth, the small print taketh away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/an-all-time-favorite-the-large-print-giveth-the-small-print-taketh/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [I'll tell you all my secrets but I lie about my past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-ll-tell-you-all-my-secrets-but-i-lie-about-my-past/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [For a songwriter, you don't really go to songwriting school; you learn by listening to tunes. And you try to understand them and take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/for-a-songwriter-you-don-t-really-go-to-songwriting-school-you-learn/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [I'm trying to learn how to write faster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-m-trying-to-learn-how-to-write-faster/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [The world is a hellish place, and bad writing is destroying the quality of our suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/the-world-is-a-hellish-place-and-bad-writing-is-destroying-the/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [I'm always looking for sounds that are pleasing at the time. The sound of a helicopter is really annoying until you're drowning, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-m-always-looking-for-sounds-that-are-pleasing-at-the-time-the-sound/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [I was born in the back seat of a Yellow Cab in a hospital loading zone and with the meter still running. I emerged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-was-born-in-the-back-seat-of-a-yellow-cab-in-a-hospital-loading/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [There's not much difference between what I appear to be on stage and what I am. I think people like that, that I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/there-s-not-much-difference-between-what-i-appear-to-be-on-stage-and/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [Most of the things you absorb you will ultimately secrete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/most-of-the-things-you-absorb-you-will-ultimately-secrete/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [The devil knows the Bible like the back of his hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/the-devil-knows-the-bible-like-the-back-of-his-hand/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [I bark my voice out through a closed throat, pretty much. It's more, perhaps, like a dog in some ways. It does have its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-bark-my-voice-out-through-a-closed-throat-pretty-much-it-s-more/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/tom-waits/#itemlist", "name": "20 Want Quotes By Tom Waits", "numberOfItems": 20, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "On my gravestone, I want it to say, \"I told you I was sick.\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Waits" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/on-my-gravestone-i-want-it-to-say-i-told-you-i-was-sick/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/tom-waits-916_death_on-my-gravestone-i-want-it-to-say-i-told_403937.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/tom-waits-916_death_on-my-gravestone-i-want-it-to-say-i-told_403937.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/tom-waits-916_death_on-my-gravestone-i-want-it-to-say-i-told_403937.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“On my gravestone, I want it to say, \"I told you I was sick.\"” — Tom Waits", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm reliable sources, I'll tell ya anything you want me to know.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Waits" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-m-reliable-sources-i-ll-tell-ya-anything-you-want-me-to-know/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/tom-waits-916_knows_i-m-reliable-sources-i-ll-tell-ya-anythi_1811034.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/tom-waits-916_knows_i-m-reliable-sources-i-ll-tell-ya-anythi_1811034.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/tom-waits-916_knows_i-m-reliable-sources-i-ll-tell-ya-anythi_1811034.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm reliable sources, I'll tell ya anything you want me to know.” — Tom Waits", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I guess I've always lived upside down when I want things I can't have.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Waits" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-guess-i-ve-always-lived-upside-down-when-i-want-things-i-can-t-have/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/tom-waits-916_upside_i-guess-i-ve-always-lived-upside-down-wh_479218.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/tom-waits-916_upside_i-guess-i-ve-always-lived-upside-down-wh_479218.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/tom-waits-916_upside_i-guess-i-ve-always-lived-upside-down-wh_479218.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I guess I've always lived upside down when I want things I can't have.” — Tom Waits", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's the same with men as with horses and dogs, nothing wants to die.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Waits" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/it-s-the-same-with-men-as-with-horses-and-dogs-nothing-wants-to-die/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/647/tom-waits-916_animal_it-s-the-same-with-men-as-with-horses-an_3138789.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/647/tom-waits-916_animal_it-s-the-same-with-men-as-with-horses-an_3138789.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/647/tom-waits-916_animal_it-s-the-same-with-men-as-with-horses-an_3138789.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's the same with men as with horses and dogs, nothing wants to die.” — Tom Waits", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You know what I really love? The CD players in a car. How when you put the CD right up by the slot, it actually takes it out of your hand, like it's hungry. It pulls it in, and you feel like it wants more silver discs.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Waits" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/you-know-what-i-really-love-the-cd-players-in-a-car-how-when-you-put/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/tom-waits-916_car_you-know-what-i-really-love-the-cd-playe_1612029.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/tom-waits-916_car_you-know-what-i-really-love-the-cd-playe_1612029.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/tom-waits-916_car_you-know-what-i-really-love-the-cd-playe_1612029.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You know what I really love? The CD players in a car. 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I wanted to go there. Now, I guess I want to bring that with me and go back in time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Waits" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/as-a-kid-i-did-want-to-be-an-old-timer-since-they-were-the-ones-with/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/tom-waits-916_back-in-time_as-a-kid-i-did-want-to-be-an-old-timer-s_595533.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/tom-waits-916_back-in-time_as-a-kid-i-did-want-to-be-an-old-timer-s_595533.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/tom-waits-916_back-in-time_as-a-kid-i-did-want-to-be-an-old-timer-s_595533.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As a kid, I did want to be an old-timer, since they were the ones with the big stories and the cool clothes…” — Tom Waits", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I didn't really want to be part of a clique or a niche. But I also was looking for my own voice, as a writer, y'know? And a world I could call my own.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Waits" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-didn-t-really-want-to-be-part-of-a-clique-or-a-niche-but-i-also-was/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/tom-waits-916_clique_i-didn-t-really-want-to-be-part-of-a-cli_284040.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/tom-waits-916_clique_i-didn-t-really-want-to-be-part-of-a-cli_284040.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/tom-waits-916_clique_i-didn-t-really-want-to-be-part-of-a-cli_284040.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I didn't really want to be part of a clique or a niche. But I also was looking for my own voice, as a…” — Tom Waits", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The ocean doesn't want me today, But I'll come back tomorrow to play. The riptide is waging And the life guard's away But the ocean doesn't want me today", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Waits" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/the-ocean-doesn-t-want-me-today-but-i-ll-come-back-tomorrow-to-play/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/tom-waits-916_life_the-ocean-doesn-t-want-me-today-but-i-ll_2259126.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/tom-waits-916_life_the-ocean-doesn-t-want-me-today-but-i-ll_2259126.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/tom-waits-916_life_the-ocean-doesn-t-want-me-today-but-i-ll_2259126.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The ocean doesn't want me today, But I'll come back tomorrow to play. The riptide is waging And the life…” — Tom Waits", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 10, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People make songs so that somebody else will hear them and want to do them. I guess it's an indication that the songs aren't so ultra-personal that they can't possibly be interpreted by anyone else.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Waits" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/people-make-songs-so-that-somebody-else-will-hear-them-and-want-to-do/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/tom-waits-916_indication_people-make-songs-so-that-somebody-else_3106960.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/tom-waits-916_indication_people-make-songs-so-that-somebody-else_3106960.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/tom-waits-916_indication_people-make-songs-so-that-somebody-else_3106960.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People make songs so that somebody else will hear them and want to do them. 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I don't want to live any other way.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Waits" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/you-almost-have-to-create-situations-in-order-to-write-about-them-so/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/tom-waits-916_constant_you-almost-have-to-create-situations-in_2270251.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/tom-waits-916_constant_you-almost-have-to-create-situations-in_2270251.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/tom-waits-916_constant_you-almost-have-to-create-situations-in_2270251.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You almost have to create situations in order to write about them, so I live in a constant state of…” — Tom Waits", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 12, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm trying to get music ideas that come and keep them alive. It's like carrying water in your hands. I want to keep it all, and sometimes by the time you get to the studio you have nothing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Waits" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-m-trying-to-get-music-ideas-that-come-and-keep-them-alive-it-s-like/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1c/tom-waits-916_alive_i-m-trying-to-get-music-ideas-that-come_656554.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1c/tom-waits-916_alive_i-m-trying-to-get-music-ideas-that-come_656554.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1c/tom-waits-916_alive_i-m-trying-to-get-music-ideas-that-come_656554.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm trying to get music ideas that come and keep them alive. It's like carrying water in your hands. I want…” — Tom Waits", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 13, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every single song has its own individual character and you can't treat each song the same way, because it wants to be treated differently and there are songs that are like scared birds that you have to sneak up on over the course of months in the woods.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Waits" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/every-single-song-has-its-own-individual-character-and-you-can-t/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/tom-waits-916_bird_every-single-song-has-its-own-individual_905843.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/tom-waits-916_bird_every-single-song-has-its-own-individual_905843.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/tom-waits-916_bird_every-single-song-has-its-own-individual_905843.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Every single song has its own individual character and you can't treat each song the same way, because it…” — Tom Waits", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 14, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I started looking for pointed shoes, I used to go to Fairfax on Orchard Street in New York City, one of those little pushcart guys. I'd say, 'You got any pointy shoes?' They would go way, way in the back and come back with a dusty box, blow the dust off the top, and say, 'What do you want with these things? Give me twenty bucks. Go on, get outta here!' And that was the beginning.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Waits" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/when-i-started-looking-for-pointed-shoes-i-used-to-go-to-fairfax-on/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/tom-waits-916_blow_when-i-started-looking-for-pointed-shoes_512212.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/tom-waits-916_blow_when-i-started-looking-for-pointed-shoes_512212.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/tom-waits-916_blow_when-i-started-looking-for-pointed-shoes_512212.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I started looking for pointed shoes, I used to go to Fairfax on Orchard Street in New York City, one of…” — Tom Waits", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 15, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most vagabonds i knowed don't ever want to find the culprit that remains the object of their long relentless quest. The obsession's in the chasing and not the apprehending, the pursuit you see and never the arrest\" - Tom Waits \"Foreign Affairs", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Waits" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/most-vagabonds-i-knowed-don-t-ever-want-to-find-the-culprit-that/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/tom-waits-916_adventure_most-vagabonds-i-knowed-don-t-ever-want_942410.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/tom-waits-916_adventure_most-vagabonds-i-knowed-don-t-ever-want_942410.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/tom-waits-916_adventure_most-vagabonds-i-knowed-don-t-ever-want_942410.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Most vagabonds i knowed don't ever want to find the culprit that remains the object of their long relentless…” — Tom Waits", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 16, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "All records are riddles, and whatever you may want people to think it's about, it may just be throwing them off. And you don't want it to get in the way of what someone else's understanding is. It's not really about anything. At the same time, it will find some meaning.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Waits" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/all-records-are-riddles-and-whatever-you-may-want-people-to-think-it/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/tom-waits-916_learning_all-records-are-riddles-and-whatever-you_1729456.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/tom-waits-916_learning_all-records-are-riddles-and-whatever-you_1729456.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/tom-waits-916_learning_all-records-are-riddles-and-whatever-you_1729456.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“All records are riddles, and whatever you may want people to think it's about, it may just be throwing them…” — Tom Waits", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 17, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I want to walk out in the desert and heat up a can of beans on a fire, I still can. In those movies like Gattaca or whatever, the space age stuff is always all there is. But in the world there is never just one way of living. It's more like a big junkyard. Put it this way: I'm not afraid I'm going to end up on a space station in aluminium-foil underwear.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Waits" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/if-i-want-to-walk-out-in-the-desert-and-heat-up-a-can-of-beans-on-a/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e62/tom-waits-916_age_if-i-want-to-walk-out-in-the-desert-and_2781159.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e62/tom-waits-916_age_if-i-want-to-walk-out-in-the-desert-and_2781159.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e62/tom-waits-916_age_if-i-want-to-walk-out-in-the-desert-and_2781159.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I want to walk out in the desert and heat up a can of beans on a fire, I still can. In those movies like…” — Tom Waits", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 18, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I guess I've always lived upside down when I want things I can't have. My wife actually thinks I have a syndrome called Reality Distortion Field. It's kind of like drugs, only you can't come back from it. Reality Distortion is almost a permanent condition. Things come in and they go out: Presto, chango! To a certain extent, I did that with myself. As a kid, I did want to be an old-timer, since they were the ones with the big stories and the cool clothes. I wanted to go there. Now, I guess I want to bring that with me and go back in time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Waits" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-guess-i-ve-always-lived-upside-down-when-i-want-things-i-can-t-have-2/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c4/tom-waits-916_back-in-time_i-guess-i-ve-always-lived-upside-down-wh_2700200.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c4/tom-waits-916_back-in-time_i-guess-i-ve-always-lived-upside-down-wh_2700200.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c4/tom-waits-916_back-in-time_i-guess-i-ve-always-lived-upside-down-wh_2700200.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I guess I've always lived upside down when I want things I can't have. 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And they are using the phone, they're rude, thankless little f---ers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Waits" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/if-you-can-make-a-little-painting-for-the-ears-with-a-few-words-well/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73e/tom-waits-916_antenna_if-you-can-make-a-little-painting-for-th_1512076.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73e/tom-waits-916_antenna_if-you-can-make-a-little-painting-for-th_1512076.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73e/tom-waits-916_antenna_if-you-can-make-a-little-painting-for-th_1512076.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you can make a little painting for the ears with a few words, well, I like words; I like cutting them up…” — Tom Waits", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 20, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What you want is for music to love you back. That's why you pay your dues. You want to feel like you belong and are part of this symbiosis, metamorphosis, whatever you want to call it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Waits" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/what-you-want-is-for-music-to-love-you-back-that-s-why-you-pay-your/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bd/tom-waits-916_dues_what-you-want-is-for-music-to-love-you-b_1511410.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bd/tom-waits-916_dues_what-you-want-is-for-music-to-love-you-b_1511410.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bd/tom-waits-916_dues_what-you-want-is-for-music-to-love-you-b_1511410.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What you want is for music to love you back. That's why you pay your dues. 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