I Never Talk To Strangers

by Tom Waits

From the album: Asylum Years

Track 8 of 14 on Asylum Years (1984).

Duration: 3:38

Asylum Years cover art

Lyrics for I Never Talk To Strangers

Bartender, I'd like a Manhattan, please. Stop me if you've heard this one I feel as though we've met before Perhaps I'm mistaken But it's just that I remind you Of someone you used to care about Oh, but that was long ago Now tell me Do you really think I'd fall for that old line (I don't know) I wasn't born yesterday Besides I never talk to strangers anyway Hell, I ain't a bad guy when you get to know me I just thought there ain't no harm Hey just try minding your own business bud Who asked you to annoy me With your sad, sad repartee Besides I never talk to strangers anyway Your life's a dimestore novel This town is full of guys like you And you're looking for someone to take the place of her And you're bitter cause he left you That's why you're drinkin in this bar Well only suckers fall in love With perfect strangers It always takes one to know one stranger Maybe we're just wiser now And been around the block so many times That we don't notice That we're all just perfect strangers As long as we ignore That we all begin as strangers Just before we find We really aren't strangers anymore

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More from Asylum Years

  1. Diamonds On My Windshield
  2. (Looking For) The Heart Of Saturday Night
  3. Martha
  4. The Ghosts Of Saturday Night (After Hours At Napoleone's Pizza House)
  5. Grapefruit Moon
  6. Small Change (Got Rained On With His Own .38)
  7. Burma-Shave
  8. I Never Talk To Strangers
  9. Tom Traubert's Blues (Four Sheets To The Wind In Copenhagen)
  10. Blue Valentines
  11. Potter's Field
  12. Kentucky Avenue
  13. Somewhere
  14. Ruby's Arms