Tom Waits – I Hope That I Don’t Fall In Love With You

I was commenting on Aphoristical’s blog and he listed the 10 best Tom Waits songs. I’ve heard Waits through the years and I’ve liked what I’ve heard but never listened to his debut album. I knew more of his later music than his beginning. After reading Graham’s site it got me listening to Wait’s debut album and it shocked me with his voice…but forget that…it’s a damn good album called Closing Time. The comment I left on his site was “Unlike most artists…I know more of him in the later parts of his career. I never heard your number 1 song…that floored me! Great song and that voice…I like that voice.”

A few weeks ago I listened to the album and the songs really stuck with me. The three top songs to me are this one, Grapefruit Moon, and Ol’55. The album is one that music fans should listen to. I had forgotten which song that Graham had number one so after I picked the one I wanted to post about…I went to link Graham’s site and yes…he picked this one…I see why. You know…this is why we do these blogs… to learn.

I rarely do this but I like how Waits takes the opposite approach in this song. Instead of hoping he can go to the next step with this woman…he is aware of the potential risks and heartbreak that come with falling in love. He is trying to place a wall between any thought of it. The vulnerability of a closely guarded world-weary man. Waits is a great songwriter and many times takes a different approach which I can appreciate.

Closing time was released in 1973 and it charted at #44 on the German charts and #29 in Ireland. On secondhandsongs.com it lists 36 versions of the song.

I Hope That I Don’t Fall In Love With You

One, two, three, four

Well, I hope that I don’t fall in love with you

‘Cause falling in love just makes me blueWell, the music plays and you display your heart for me to seeI had a beer and now I hear you calling out for meAnd 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 itBefore the evening’s gone away, I think that we could make itAnd 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 cigaretteI wish I had the guts to bum one, but we’ve never metAnd 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 companyWell, I turn around to look at you, and you look back at meThe 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 foundI search the place for your lost face, guess I’ll have another roundAnd I think that I just fell in love with you

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

34 thoughts on “Tom Waits – I Hope That I Don’t Fall In Love With You”

  2. I don’t think I’ve heard this Waits song. I’m more familiar with him through the covers I’ve heard rather than his original material. I really got tweaked to him when Holy Cole did an album covering his songs back in 1995. I know Elvis Costello did some of his songs and on and on the list goes.

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    1. This first album I never heard before. What struck me first was his voice…completely different than his later voice…but the songs are great.

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  4. Wow, this album and Tom Waits’ vocals here are quite a revelation – I love how it sounds! “Ol’ ’55” is a fantastic opener. It’s like you’re listening to a completely different artist! I also like your pick. And, yeah, “Grapefruit Moon” sounds great as well. Obviously, the drinking and smoking or whatever it was that dramatically changed his voice hadn’t caught up with him yet!

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    1. It really floored me…I like this album. His writing also is great of course…but yea that voice also.
      Glad you liked it Christian. The album has a smoky feel to it…

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  6. Oh yeah. The vocals are a little smoother (before a couple packa day habit). I remember seeing him on TV back when and also loving a cover Tim Buckley did of ‘Martha’ off this album. Made me a fan. Really good stuff. A lot of miles between this one and now. Good stuff Max. Good pick off the album also.

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    1. Like I told Graham…I like his stuff but this one totally flew by me. Closing Time is fantastic…yea his voice gained character through the years.

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  7. I knew he was around in the early 70s because some of the “underground rock” stations in Dallas would play a cut once in a while. I remember seeing him on SNL during the first couple of seasons, and that was when the show had a kick-ass stage band. His voice has sadness, cigarette whiskey soaked, heartbreak and ” I pawned” my guitar for a bottle of hooch..written all over it. Good pick, Max.

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    1. You are the Mark Twain of the blogs Phil… another phrase to remember.
      I forgot about him being on SNL…I have the first 10 seasons…although the first 5 are the ones I watch.

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      3. I’ve read two books on his life, and he was quite a character. I like mint julep’s and may make one this afternoon to aid in my watching of the Cowboys. My son, his wife, my nephew and their various friends are going to the stadium for the game. It’s 14 degrees here, so Ima staying in my den, in my lounger. Twain had a small studio on his property, and that’s where he liked to write. Of course, everything was written in long hand and at the end of each day, he would sit with his family and orate what he had written. That must have been something.

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      4. I always wanted to try one…I think of one of those Kentucky Colonels. I knew he had to be some kind of character to write like he did. I had no idea he would do that with him family…
        You are a smart man. I’m more of a baseball fan but if I had a choice of going out in 14 degree weather or 99 degree weather…I would sit at my home watching more of the game than the crowd does.

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  9. It’s a hella good song. Have heard it before but it’s been awhile. Max this is a beautiful sentence:
    “The vulnerability of a closely guarded world-weary man.” Waits’ lyrics and John Hiatt’s lyrics elicit the same kind of feeling from me. They get to heart of life.

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