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Tom Waits — I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You
Album: Closing TIme
Avg rating:
8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1496









Released: 1973
Length: 3:49
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Well, I hope that I don't fall in love with you
'Cause falling in love just makes me blue
Well, the music plays and you display your heart for me to see
I had a beer and now I hear you calling out for me
And I hope that I don't fall in love with you

Well, the room is crowded, people everywhere
And I wonder, should I offer you a chair
Well, if you sit down with this old clown, take that frown and break it
Before the evening's gone away, I think that we could make it
And I hope that I don't fall in love with you

Well, the night does funny things inside a man
These old tomcat feelings you don't understand
Well, I turn around to look at you, you light a cigarette
I wish I had the guts to bum one, but we've never met
And I hope that I don't fall in love with you

I can see that you are lonesome just like me
And it being late, you'd like some company
Well, I turn around to look at you, and you look back at me
The guy you're with, he's up and split, the chair next to you's free
And I hope that you don't fall in love with me

Now, it's closing time, the music's fading out
Last call for drinks, I'll have another stout
Well, I turn around to look at you, you're nowhere to be found
I search the place for your lost face, guess I'll have another round
And I think that I just fell in love with you
Comments (105)add comment
Awesome tune!
Posted 3 days ago by Supertramp    [ Reply ]
 lily34 wrote:

i'll admit to not being any kind of expert on his catalog, i just recognize several i've heard on RP and on the radio here and there throughout the years, however, i don't remember hearing this before. and, i just love it. his singing voice like this is a welcome surprise. perhaps it's the key? i don't know. i never remember hearing him sound like this in his other work. this one is really nice.



It was a 1973, he was  a it younger.
Posted 7 months ago by SmackDaddy    [ Reply ]
 It just hope's that eternal springs new love.
Posted 10 months ago by laserace    [ Reply ]
Ah..  Big Tom, what a legend.
Posted 1 year ago by GingerandMe    [ Reply ]
i'll admit to not being any kind of expert on his catalog, i just recognize several i've heard on RP and on the radio here and there throughout the years, however, i don't remember hearing this before. and, i just love it. his singing voice like this is a welcome surprise. perhaps it's the key? i don't know. i never remember hearing him sound like this in his other work. this one is really nice.
Posted 1 year ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
Heard this for the first time as a college freshman music major. Sometime during that night, I saw this album cover as a museum exhibit in the year 2150 of a extinct species: "Musician and Songwriter".
Posted 1 year ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
First time hearing this, and I never knew this guy could even sing! Man what a surprise and I even like the song a bit.
Posted 1 year ago by Broken_Ear    [ Reply ]
Interesting, the second track from his 1973 debut album.  It looks like this preceded The Heart of Saturday Night.
 
First track was "Ol' 55".
Posted 2 years ago by timmus    [ Reply ]
The ultimate "do not mess with me" dude!!
Posted 2 years ago by GingerandMe    [ Reply ]
Closing time made me fall in love with Tom Waits.
Everything after gave me his crust. 
And the crust is what Tom is all about.   RIGHT!!
Posted 2 years ago by laserace    [ Reply ]
I always wondered what happened to his voice. Was it all whiskey and cigarettes? 
Posted 2 years ago by Tippster    [ Reply ]
 mburjaw wrote:
looks like John Hiatt

  



i'd lean more to Iggy Pop without the razors, and in a new shirt
Posted 3 years ago by xcranky_yankee    [ Reply ]
Just a beautiful song which I try to play but never do it justice. 
Posted 3 years ago by MysteryMan    [ Reply ]
Simple perfection. A 9 all day long for me.
Posted 3 years ago by Stratocaster    [ Reply ]
Song made me stop & listen, and sum'bitch! I thought I was hearing John Prine, late, last album Prine.

Gorgeous classic.
Posted 3 years ago by MassivRuss    [ Reply ]
I'm of the unpopular persuasion of having this as my favourite Waits album. I gave this song a 9 only because there's at least a half dozen songs on this record which are even better than this.
Posted 3 years ago by Paddy_Hannan    [ Reply ]
 jimtyrrell wrote:

Song writing it s best. Sing along with the lyrics and feel your heart break. The poetry falls perfectly on every beat. This is a masterpiece of songwriting and only his voice can make it so.Thank you Tom Waitts. 10



And he was only 23 (or less) when he wrote this.
Posted 3 years ago by lewisv66    [ Reply ]
Powerful tune.  Automatic tears of joy for such talent.
Posted 3 years ago by DW4554    [ Reply ]
Encore!
Posted 8 years ago by twoplain2sea    [ Reply ]
Superhero.
Posted 8 years ago by zedstation    [ Reply ]
I had the pleasure of getting to know Tom a bit, after I had already been into his early albums, when he hung around Francis Coppola's Zoetrope Studios movie lot in Hollywood in the early 1980s. Tom was writing and recording the soundtrack to Francis' film "One from the Heart". I would run into him on the studio lot and he would seem like the most down to earth regular guy, as "hayduke2" commented so aptly here, your "...simple looking older neighbor across the bar, a worldly traveler with fascinating tales, and in this beautiful tune just an honest guy at the close of another day..." . That is where he met his wife he has been with since then, Kathleen Brennan, a writer for Zoetrope. If you have not heard that "One from the Heart" soundtrack see if you can get a hold of it and check it out. It was the last of the nine albums Tom recorded for Asylum from 1973 ("Closing Time") through 1983, before his music writing and instrumentation, and his voice, changed dramatically. Francis wanted Bette Midler to sing the female part with Tom, but she was tied up in another contract, so Crystal Gayle, Lorretta Lynn's younger sister, sang with Tom instead.
Posted 8 years ago by rednred    [ Reply ]
My day is instantly improved by a song, any song, from Tom. 
Posted 8 years ago by chyk5    [ Reply ]
Song writing it s best. Sing along with the lyrics and feel your heart break. The poetry falls perfectly on every beat. This is a masterpiece of songwriting and only his voice can make it so.Thank you Tom Waitts. 10
Posted 8 years ago by jimtyrrell    [ Reply ]
"Well, the night does funny things inside a man" —- so true Tommy
Posted 9 years ago by slandering    [ Reply ]
 madebytim wrote:
This is simply outstanding

 
i couldn't have said it any better
Posted 9 years ago by dago    [ Reply ]
The piano has been drinking...not me. 
Posted 9 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
Awesome tune.
Posted 9 years ago by dragon1952    [ Reply ]
Wonderful story...sad, true.
Posted 10 years ago by anisbet    [ Reply ]
  W {#Daisy} O {#Daisy}  W{#Daisy}!!!
Posted 10 years ago by Jannne    [ Reply ]
During his long career TW trashed his voice.  It's in good form here.  But he reinvented himself for his later work--quite impressively.
Get Behind the Mule is a good example of his later work and is played on RP.
Posted 10 years ago by ScottN    [ Reply ]
Tom Waits is everything to me, educator and big brother, simple looking older neighbor across the bar, a worldly traveler with fascinating tales, and in this beautiful tune just an honest guy at the close of another day, crossing glances at that striking beauty (we all get better looking towards last call), then the moments passed…but the music helps you man
Posted 10 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
 ScottishWillie wrote:

I’m totally with you on this one Lerxst and I hate having to admit it but…….this is a good album. I don’t know if it was his first or just one of the first but it all went down hill from here. 



 

Agreed.  A pleasant surprise from an artist that never really moved me with his subsequent artistic choices.
Posted 10 years ago by wolfkiss    [ Reply ]
 lerxst wrote:
No frickin way...schocked to find this is Tom Waits. I've disliked everything I've heard from him due to his (IMHO) horrendous voice. But this song is beautiful and meaningful. Wow.
 

I’m totally with you on this one Lerxst and I hate having to admit it but…….this is a good album. I don’t know if it was his first or just one of the first but it all went down hill from here. 


Posted 11 years ago by ScottishWillie    [ Reply ]
{#Heartkiss} Love it a lot - Godlike song from a Godlike album and for me his best by a big margin  {#Notworthy}
Posted 11 years ago by Peter_Bradshaw    [ Reply ]
 lerxst wrote:
No frickin way...schocked to find this is Tom Waits. I've disliked everything I've heard from him due to his (IMHO) horrendous voice. But this song is beautiful and meaningful. Wow.

 
I think for Tom that's how it happens for most people. A sudden melting where you are bowled over by a song, which opens the door. Go on in...it is not particularly pretty, but you will never regret it.
Posted 11 years ago by djengs    [ Reply ]
Love the sentiment of the song, all us older guys know exactly what he's singing about.
Posted 11 years ago by The_Walrus    [ Reply ]
Beautiful Music. Love Tom! Can"t wait to see you in San Fran later this month.
Posted 11 years ago by Stranglersfan    [ Reply ]
What a song and album!!! All-time fave!
Posted 11 years ago by Emwolb    [ Reply ]
it is often surprising to hear such pretty songs from waits - listen to his "waltzing matilda," especially from people who only know his more recent work. he is a gifted composer, and writes some beautiful songs.
Posted 11 years ago by zenhead    [ Reply ]
Love his voice here.  Does anybody know about what year he lost this tone of voice?
Posted 11 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
No frickin way...schocked to find this is Tom Waits. I've disliked everything I've heard from him due to his (IMHO) horrendous voice. But this song is beautiful and meaningful. Wow.
Posted 11 years ago by lerxst    [ Reply ]
A diet of throat lozenges and cigarettes are in order here.
Posted 12 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
As a man from Birmingham once said to me. "Tom Waits for no man"
Posted 12 years ago by richlister    [ Reply ]
 K-Cap wrote:

I've seen several of these in New Orleans with different musicians / politicos.  They're very cool.   Class project?    If so, do more and print em up and sell em!  What are you waiting for??  :-)

 
Excellent!!!!
Posted 12 years ago by Yeoleman    [ Reply ]
Mr. Springsteen!!


you'll have to cut back on the Camels if you want to be successful at the recording game...
Posted 13 years ago by MiracleDrug    [ Reply ]
 mburjaw wrote:
looks like John Hiatt

 scrubbrush wrote:
Beautiful piece.
my guess:
Cohen, Young, Costello, Waits, Dylan, Cave(?), Rotten.

 
I'm with scrubbrush; looks like Nick Cave to me.

Posted 13 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
 calypsus_1 wrote:

Golden Throats by ~kenmeyerjr
©2007-2010 ~kenmeyerjr

This was done for a class project, and is a proposed cover for a fictional cd called "Golden Throats: A Matter of Opinion." Name 'em all!


 
I've seen several of these in New Orleans with different musicians / politicos.  They're very cool.   Class project?    If so, do more and print em up and sell em!  What are you waiting for??  :-)

Posted 13 years ago by K-Cap    [ Reply ]
looks like John Hiatt

 scrubbrush wrote:

Beautiful piece.
my guess:
Cohen, Young, Costello, Waits, Dylan, Cave(?), Rotten.
 


Posted 13 years ago by mburjaw    [ Reply ]
This is simply outstanding
Posted 13 years ago by madebytim    [ Reply ]
For those who prefer the "early Waits" as "so listenable" ... to each his own.  But to those of us who love both the early and later Waits, this is a bit hearing someone praise a good 4-year-old Kentucky rye whisky as "so drinkable", when you've already developed the taste for a fine 18-year-old Bourbon.
Posted 13 years ago by secretsauce    [ Reply ]
Who's this golden-voiced tenor?
Posted 13 years ago by Sasha2001    [ Reply ]
1973 !?!?!

A touch of Harry Chapin....

I appreciate any piece that casts doubt on love.
Posted 13 years ago by gjeeg    [ Reply ]
Didn't recognize him at first. I like it, but prefer his gravelly-voiced songs
Posted 14 years ago by Nerubo    [ Reply ]
I actually liked him back when he could sing.  So gawdawful now.
Posted 14 years ago by Tippster    [ Reply ]
 ghoffman wrote:

I agree with all except the last.  Who is Rotten?

Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Nick Cave, ?

Very nice drawing! 
 
Rotten, as in Johnny Rotten (b. John Joseph Lydon) ?

Posted 14 years ago by drife    [ Reply ]
 scrubbrush wrote:

Beautiful piece.
my guess:
Cohen, Young, Costello, Waits, Dylan, Cave(?), Rotten.
 
I agree with all except the last.  Who is Rotten?

Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Nick Cave, ?

Very nice drawing! 
Posted 14 years ago by ghoffman    [ Reply ]
Just a beautiful song.{#Notworthy}
Posted 14 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
I'm not a fan, but this is LOVELY.  The writing and the NICE singing (no gravel in his voice).  So heartfelt.  Nice job, Tom.
Posted 14 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
 calypsus_1 wrote:

Golden Throats by ~kenmeyerjr
©2007-2010 ~kenmeyerjr

This was done for a class project, and is a proposed cover for a fictional cd called "Golden Throats: A Matter of Opinion." Name 'em all!


 
Beautiful piece.
my guess:
Cohen, Young, Costello, Waits, Dylan, Cave(?), Rotten.


Posted 14 years ago by scrubbrush    [ Reply ]

Golden Throats by ~kenmeyerjr
©2007-2010 ~kenmeyerjr

This was done for a class project, and is a proposed cover for a fictional cd called "Golden Throats: A Matter of Opinion." Name 'em all!


Posted 14 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
Avett Brothers, then Tom!  I am in musical heaven.  Keep it coming.
Posted 14 years ago by ch83575    [ Reply ]
I'm not typically much of a Tom Waits fan (though maybe I just haven't listened to enough of him to really know how good he really is yet), but I really enjoy this one every time it comes up here on RP.
Posted 15 years ago by newwavegurly    [ Reply ]
{#High-five}

Posted 15 years ago by Mari    [ Reply ]
Ok, now that's Tom Waits. What a beautiful song. So plaintive, perfectly crafted.
Posted 15 years ago by jmurphyjr    [ Reply ]
Simply beautiful and made even more so because of Tom's etching it in his subdued, yet still signature rough-hewn vocals.  

Posted 15 years ago by steeler    [ Reply ]
 nagsheadlocal wrote:

I was going to say this but the "later Tom" fans always take offense. I sure do have very fond memories of his first four albums and how I could listen to them for hours and imagine the world he lived in. His sharply-observed lyrics always held my attention.

 
I enjoy all of his music and I don't find his "periods" to be distinctly different from each other anyhow.  His lyrics and music have always been brilliant.  I don't "take offense" from the idea that someone may prefer his earlier tracks, however.  This is a beautiful, poignant song.

Posted 15 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 TanteJensen wrote:

Yup, me too. So glad I'm not there any more. But glad to hear this as well.

Edit: Huh! Voting this a 10 instead of a 9 improves the average rating by one tenth to 8.6. Well then.{#Yes}
 
Voted an 8, but then dropped the average to 8.5.  Revised to a 10, back to 8.6.

Sorry for any inconvenience. 
Posted 15 years ago by the_bink    [ Reply ]
 Pyro wrote:
"Early Tom" is so poignant (and listenable)!  I wish his voice had held up better....
 
I was going to say this but the "later Tom" fans always take offense. I sure do have very fond memories of his first four albums and how I could listen to them for hours and imagine the world he lived in. His sharply-observed lyrics always held my attention.

Posted 16 years ago by nagsheadlocal    [ Reply ]
Ah, Tom. One of my favorite albums of all time, and one of my favorite cuts.
Posted 16 years ago by nagsheadlocal    [ Reply ]
"Early Tom" is so poignant (and listenable)!  I wish his voice had held up better....
Posted 16 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
Xeric wrote:
What a great tune. Been there. Wished I wasn't doin' that. . . .

Yup, me too. So glad I'm not there any more. But glad to hear this as well.

Edit: Huh! Voting this a 10 instead of a 9 improves the average rating by one tenth to 8.6. Well then.{#Yes}

Posted 16 years ago by TanteJensen    [ Reply ]
But its not hard to believe this was his first album since he actually sounds pleasant.  

 bizon wrote:
Fantastic. Hard to believe it's from his first album. The lyrical content and sound of his voice lead one to imagine a man at least twice his young age.
 


Posted 16 years ago by alux    [ Reply ]

I really didn't like Tom Waits when I was first exposed to his music in the mid 70’s and if anything I like his current work even less. However this song is so bound in with a time of my life when I was sharing a unsanitary student flat with friends in the Scottish Borders that I get a warm happy glow of pleasure whenever I hear it. Funny how music can do that to you isn’t it.


Posted 16 years ago by ScottishWillie    [ Reply ]

I cannot waits until the next Tom Waits tune.


Posted 16 years ago by Ulises    [ Reply ]
melusine wrote:
its from the movie The Prince and Me, performed there by Marc Cohn.
Thanks! I knew I heard it somewhere!
Posted 16 years ago by Squirreley    [ Reply ]
thatch wrote:
Great song. He sounds a little like Bruce Springsteen.
Sounds more like a (young) John Prine to me. I definitely agree that this is a great song though.
Posted 16 years ago by rcurrier    [ Reply ]
Fantastic. Hard to believe it's from his first album. The lyrical content and sound of his voice lead one to imagine a man at least twice his young age.
Posted 16 years ago by bizon    [ Reply ]
Squirreley wrote:
I think I heard this song in a movie recently. Anyone know off-hand a movie that it's been in recently?
its from the movie The Prince and Me, performed there by Marc Cohn.
Posted 16 years ago by melusine    [ Reply ]
What a great tune. Been there. Wished I wasn't doin' that. . . .
Posted 16 years ago by Xeric    [ Reply ]
I think I heard this song in a movie recently. Anyone know off-hand a movie that it's been in recently?
Posted 16 years ago by Squirreley    [ Reply ]
Posted 16 years ago by Jacksonstat    [ Reply ]
thatch wrote:
Great song. He sounds a little like Bruce Springsteen. Is he still able to sing like this or is his voice permanently gruff now?
You try heavy drinking and smoking, and see what your voice is like. :p
Posted 17 years ago by Mindscrape    [ Reply ]
He is Godlike.
Posted 17 years ago by tiare    [ Reply ]
This came out the year I started playing guitar. It immediately made my "greatest hits" list.
Posted 17 years ago by bokey    [ Reply ]
Heartbreaking. TW at his best.
Posted 17 years ago by FlatCat    [ Reply ]
One of the highest average listener ratings I've ever seen for an RP song. With good reason.
Posted 17 years ago by RobK    [ Reply ]
LOVE the Tommy... This is a song I've never learned the words to, but make up hms and haws so I can pretend to sing along... Because... sigh.
Posted 17 years ago by kelly652    [ Reply ]
ThePoose wrote:
This LP is a must-have for any music collection. It's flawless and emotional.
Strongly agree. This was a recent purchase for me and I have not been able to remove it from my player yet!!
Posted 17 years ago by Jacksonstat    [ Reply ]
This LP is a must-have for any music collection. It's flawless and emotional.
Posted 17 years ago by ThePoose    [ Reply ]
Great song. He sounds a little like Bruce Springsteen. Is he still able to sing like this or is his voice permanently gruff now?
Posted 17 years ago by thatch    [ Reply ]
Amazing how different his voice sounds on this track compared to the present day. I guess that's what a lifetime of scotch and cigarettes will do...
Posted 17 years ago by mongoose01ca    [ Reply ]
Just what I needed today. Classic Tom Waits.
Posted 17 years ago by misterclaw    [ Reply ]
Thanks to Jennifer for the mixed tape with this on it! - been a Waits fan ever since.
Posted 17 years ago by jbtidwell    [ Reply ]
Man, I understand this. I feel it. I've lived it. Beautifully expressed; full of restrained emotion and quiet dignity.
Posted 17 years ago by steeler    [ Reply ]
This is the song that made my mom grudgingly admit that maybe Tom doesn't always sound like he just gargled with razorblades. Love it. Love him, razorblades or no.
Posted 17 years ago by meydele    [ Reply ]
streetsintherain wrote:
this will always hold special meaning to me.
Me too...
Posted 17 years ago by revsully    [ Reply ]
Bliss! Thanx Rp!
Posted 17 years ago by Mari    [ Reply ]
Posted 17 years ago by R_P    [ Reply ]
Sunman wrote:
One of my all time favorite albums!!!
Absolutely!!!! Mine too.
Posted 17 years ago by segueman    [ Reply ]
For some strange reason, I always feel a great sense of nostalgia when I hear a gruff old man playing a piano in a crowded bar. This album is by far one of the best examples of that kind of music.
Posted 17 years ago by techer2    [ Reply ]
beautiful
Posted 17 years ago by C57BL6    [ Reply ]
This always strikes me as so heartfelt, so genuine.
Posted 17 years ago by steeler    [ Reply ]
I love this song. It gives me a lump in my throat.
Posted 17 years ago by MissAmy    [ Reply ]
One of my all time favorite albums!!!
Posted 17 years ago by Sunman    [ Reply ]
this will always hold special meaning to me.
Posted 22 years ago by streetsintherain    [ Reply ]