That one critic who described his voice that one time must be rolling in royalty money.

I love the Jesuits. Always bringin' the stirring stick.

Jesuits = teh awesome

Well I don't want no Abba-Zabba
Don't want no Almond Joy
There ain't nothing better
Suitable for this boy
Well its the only thing
That can pick me up
Better than a cup of gold
Only a Chocolate Jesus
Can satisfy my soul

It seems like Waits writes about a lot of characters, some of whom are religious, more than he writes about religion itself. The same album that has "Jesus Gonna Be Here" also has "Dirt In The Ground," as in, "We're all gonna be just dirt in the ground."

God's away on business .... business!

Thanks for this link. Thinking about Mr. Waits lately. I think BP has it, his songs are sung by characters - he's terribly wonderfully theatrical. So the songs that BP mentioned above - I just love them both to death, but I sense some irony. To me, he seems to be channeling (wonderfully, and not disrespectfully) the people who would sing those songs. Which brings us right back to the dear Jesuit's point, he's giving voice to the disenfranchised. . .but it's not his personal inner faith belief, per se. But I think the Jesuit is cool with that.

(I really can't belive I'm talking about Tom Waits so much 20 years after I discovered him.)

He's a damn fine actor, too. (Down By Law, Cold Feet - ? Anybody?)