“Road To Peace”-Tom Waits
Okay, so it’s probably general knowledge that on some level, I wish I could sing all gravelly and stuff like Tom Waits. I don’t know why, but I do. Something about his voice just gets me. This song, from his recently released box set “Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers, and Bastards” is a tale of ideology as a means to destroy. In it, he details a suicide bomber 18 years old who has never spent a night away from home, yet he’s boarding a bus with bombs strapped to him. Waits then details the Israeli reaction which includes the destruction of a city and its people. The song is repetitive musically and quite long, but this is because Waits wants the listener to pay attention to the lyrics. In the end Waits muses “Maybe God is lost, and needs all our help, on the Road To Peace.” The message is powerful and when backed by Waits’ inimitable voice (which sounds better on this track than it has in a long time!) the effects are devestating.

Welp, it’s about time to head to work. I shall see thee on the flip side. HAve a great day! Adam