Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Tom Waits
The last song on the A side of Waits' first album Closing Time. It was covered the same year by Tim Buckley, who was a more established artist at the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEeZK9j0AQU
Despite the fact that Waits was in his early 20s when he wrote the song, it takes the point of view...
[Verse 1]
Operator, number please, it's been so many years
Will she remember my old voice while I fight the tears?
Hello, hello there, is this Martha? This is old Tom Frost
And I am calling long distance, don't worry about the cost
'Cause it's been forty years or more, now Martha please recall
Meet me out for coffee where we'll talk about it all
[Chorus]
And those were the days of roses, of poetry and prose
And Martha all I had was you and all you had was me
There was no tomorrows, we packed away our sorrows
And we saved them for a rainy day
[Verse 2]
And I feel so much older now, you're much older, too
How's your husband? And how's your kids? You know that I got married too
Lucky that you found someone to make you feel secure
'Cause we were all so young and foolish, now we are mature
[Chorus]
And those were the days of roses, of poetry and prose
And Martha, all I had was you and all you had was me
There was no tomorrow, we packed away our sorrows
And we saved 'em for a rainy day
[Verse 3]
And I was always so impulsive, I guess that I still am
And all that really mattered then was that I was a man
I guess that our being together was never meant to be
But Martha, Martha, I love you, can't you see?
[Chorus]
And those were the days of roses, of poetry and prose
And Martha all I had was you and all you had was me
There was no tomorrows, we packed away our sorrows
And we saved 'em for a rainy day
[Outro]
And I remember quiet evenings trembling close to you
Martha was written by Tom Waits.
Martha was produced by Jerry Yester.