Song Lyric Sunday Theme: Let Go

Well ring the bell backwards
bury the axe
fall down on your knees in the dirt
I’m tied to the mast
between water and wind
believe me you’ll never get hurt
now the ring’s in the pawnshop
the rain’s in the hole
down at the Five Points I stand
I’ll lose everything
but I won’t let go of your hand

now Peter denied and Judas betrayed
I’ll pay with the roll of the drum
the wind will tell the turn from the wheel
the watchman’s making his rounds
well you leave me hanging
by the skin of my teeth
I’ve only got one leg to stand
you can send me to hell
but I’ll never let go of your hand

swing from a rope on a cross-legged tree
signed with the one-eyed jack’s blood
from Temple and Union
to Weyley and Grand
walking back home in the mud

I must make my best of the only way home
Marley deals only in stones
I’m lost on the midway
I’m reckless in your eyes
just give me a couple more throws
I’ll dare you to dine with
the cross-legged knights
dare me to jump and I will
I’ll fall from your grace
but I’ll never let go of your hand
I’ll never let go of your hand

Never Let Go was written by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, performed by Tom Waits. This does make Waits first time in SLS but I’ve blogged about him before, off course. This track was original released in-between his two epic albums 87’s Frank’s Wild Years and 92’s Bone Machine. Never Let Go was on the end credits for a totally forgotten 90’s film called American Heart starring Jeff Bridges and Edward Furlong. If you’ve ever seen it I’ll like to know where and when? Because it’s drop of the face of the earth as far as I can tell! The song was re-released on Tom’s boxset collection called Orphans in 2006 which this track was track nine on the disc two subtitled Bawlers. Seem like the perfect ‘Let Go’ theme song for me!

Kathleen Brennan and Tom Waits holding hands!

Cheers 🙂