Martha

by Tom Waits

From the album: Closing Time

Track 6 of 12 on Closing Time (1973).

Duration: 4:28

Closing Time cover art

Lyrics for Martha

[offset:0] Operator, number please It's been so many years Will she remember my old voice While I fight the tears? Hello, hello there, is this Martha? This is old Tom Frost And I am calling long distance Don't worry 'bout the cost 'Cause it's been 40 years or more Now, Martha, please recall Meet me out for coffee Where we'll talk about it all And those were the days of roses, poetry and prose And, Martha, all I had was you, and all you had was me There was no tomorrows, we'd packed away our sorrows And we saved them for a rainy day And I feel so much older now And you're much older too How's your husband and how's the kids? You know that I got married too? Lucky that you found someone To make you feel secure 'Cause we were all so young and foolish Now we are mature And those were the days of roses, poetry and prose And, Martha, all I had was you, and all you had was me There was no tomorrows, we'd packed away our sorrows And we saved them for a rainy day And I was always so impulsive I guess that I still am And all that really mattered then Was that I was a man I guess that our being together Was never meant to be And Martha, Martha I love you, can't you see? And those were the days of roses, poetry and prose And, Martha, all I had was you, and all you had was me There was no tomorrows, we'd packed away our sorrows And we saved them for a rainy day And I remember quiet evenings Trembling close to you

Listen On

More from Closing Time

  1. Ol' 55
  2. I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You
  3. Virginia Avenue
  4. Old Shoes (& Picture Postcards)
  5. Midnight Lullaby
  6. Martha
  7. Rosie
  8. Lonely
  9. Ice Cream Man
  10. Little Trip To Heaven (On The Wings Of Your Love)
  11. Grapefruit Moon
  12. Closing Time