This song seems to be in the form of a friend talking to another friend, but you only hear what the one friend is saying (Tom).
It’s in some bar where Tom runs into an old friend and they catch up. It’s most likely during the holiday season, as clued in by the intro melody of “The First Noel” (But...
Hey sight for sore eyes, it's a long time no see
Working hard hardly working, hey man you know me
Water under the bridge, did you see my new car??
Well it's bought and it's paid for, parked outside of the bar
And hey barkeep what's keeping you?? Keep pouring drinks
For all these palookas, hey you know what I thinks??
That we toast to the old days and DiMaggio too
And old Drysdale and Mantle Whitey Ford and to you
Oh you know the old gang ain't around, everyone has left town
Except for Thumm and Giardina said they just might be down
Oh half drunk all the time and I'm all drunk the rest
Yeah Monk's still the champion, oh but I am the best
And hey barkeep what's keeping you?? Keep pouring drinks
For all these palookas, hey you know what I thinks??
That we toast to the old days and DiMaggio too
And old Drysdale and Mantle Whitey Ford and to you
Guess you heard about Nash, he was killed in a crash
Oh that must have been two or three years ago now
Yeah he spun out and he rolled he hit a telephone pole
And he died with the radio on
No she's married with a kid, finally split up with Sid
He's up north for a nickel's worth for armed robbery
And I'll play you some pinball. No you ain't got a chance
Then go on over and ask her to dance
And hey barkeep what's keeping you?? Keep pouring drinks
For all these palookas, hey you know what I thinks??
That we toast to the old days and DiMaggio too
And Drysdale and Mantle Whitey Ford and to you
A Sight for Sore Eyes was written by Tom Waits.
A Sight for Sore Eyes was produced by Bones Howe.
Tom Waits released A Sight for Sore Eyes on Tue Sep 13 1977.