Burma Shave Lyrics - Used Songs (1973-1980) - Tom Waits

A licorice tattoo turned a gun metal blue 

Scrawled across the shoulders of a dying town 

Took the one-eyed Jackson across the railroad tracks 

And the scar on its belly pulled a stranger passing through 

He's a juvenile delinquent, never learned how to behave 

But the cops would never think to look in Burma shave 

And the road was like a ribbon and the moon was like a bone 

He didn't seem to be like any guy she'd ever known 

He kinda looked like Farley Granger with his hair slicked back 

She says, "I'm a sucker for a fella in a cowboy hat" 

How far are you going, he said, "Depends on what you mean" 

He says, "I'm only stopping here to get some gasoline 

And I guess I'm going that way just as long as it's paved 

I guess you'd say, I'm on my way to Burma Shave" 

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And with her knees upon the glove compartment 

She took out her barrettes and her hair spilled out like root beer 

And she popped her gum and arched her back 

Hell, Marysville ain't nothing but a wide spot in the road 

Some night my heart pounds just like thunder 

I don't know why it don't explode 

'Cause everyone in this stinking town has got one foot in the grave 

And I'd rather take my chances out in Burma Shave 

Presley's what I go by, why don't you change the stations 

Count the grain elevators in the rear view mirror 

She said, "Mister anywhere you point this thing 

It got to beat the hell out of the sting of going to bed 

With every dream that dies here every mornin'" 

And so drill me a hole with a barber pole 

And I'm jumping my parole just like a fugitive tonight 

Why don't you have another swig and pass that car if you're so brave 

I wanna get there before the sun comes up in Burma Shave 

Photos 

And the spider web crack and the mustang screamed 

The smoke from the tires and the twisted machine 

Just a nickel's worth of dreams and every wish bone that they saved 

Lie swindled from them on the way to Burma Shave 

And the sun hit the derrick and cast a bat wing shadow 

Up against the car door on the shot gun side 

And when they pulled her from the wreck 

You know she still had on her shades 

They say that dreams are growing wild just this side of Burma Shave