Missing My Son

by Tom Waits

From the album: Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards

Track 56 of 56 on Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards (2006).

Duration: 03:38

Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards cover art

Lyrics for Missing My Son

I was in a line at the supermarket the other day, and uhm... Y'know, I had all my things on the little conveyor belt there And uh... there's a gal in front of me that is uh... well, She's staring at me and I'm getting a little Nervous and uh, she continues to stare at me And I uh, I keep looking the other way And then, finally she comes over closer to me and she Says: "I apologise for staring, that must have been annoying I I. You look so much like my son, Who died. I just can't take my eyes off you." And she precedes to go into her purse and She pulls out a photograph of her son who'd died And uh, he looks absolutely nothing like me In fact he's. Chinese Uh... anyway, we chatted a little bit And uh, she says: "I'm sorry, I have to ask you Would you mind, As I leave the supermarket here, Would you mind saying "Goodbye mom" to me? I, I know it's a strange request but I haven't heard my son saying "Goodbye mom" to me, And "So long" and it would mean so much to me to hear it And uh, if you don't mind I... " And I said: "Well, you know, okay, yeah, sure Eh... uh... I can say that." And, and so, she uh gets her groceries all checked out And uh, as she's going out the door she waves at Me and she hollers across the store: "Goodbye son!" And I look up and I wave and I say: "Goodbye mom!" And then she goes, and uh. So I get my few things there, On the conveyor belt and the checker checks out my things And uh, and he gives me the total and he says: "That'll be four hundred and seventy nine dollars." Uh... and I said: "Well, how is that possible! I've only got a little tuna fish, And uh some skimmed milk, and uh mustard and a loaf of bread..." He goes: "Well, Well you're also paying for the groceries for your mother She uh, told me you'd take care of the bill for her." And I said: "Well, wait a minute! That's not my mother!" And he says: "Well I distinctly heard her say as she left the store "Bye son!" and you said "Bye mom! " And so what are you trying to say here, uh..." I said: "Well Jesus!" And I looked out into the parking lot And she was just getting into her car And I ran out there And she was just closing the door, And she had a little bit of her leg sticking out of the door And she was pulling away and I grabbed her leg and I started PULLING it! Just the way... I'm pulling yours.

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  4. Fish In The Jailhouse
  5. Bottom Of The World
  6. Lucinda
  7. Ain't Goin' Down To The Well
  8. Lord I've Been Changed
  9. Puttin' On The Dog
  10. Road To Peace
  11. All The Time
  12. The Return Of Jackie And Judy
  13. Walk Away
  14. Sea Of Love
  15. Buzz Fledderjohn
  16. Rains On Me
  17. Bend Down The Branches
  18. You Can Never Hold Back Spring
  19. Long Way Home
  20. Widow's Grove
  21. Little Drop Of Poison
  22. Shiny Things
  23. World Keeps Turning
  24. Tell It To Me
  25. Never Let Go
  26. Fannin Street
  27. Little Man
  28. It's Over
  29. If I Have To Go
  30. Goodnight Irene
  31. The Fall Of Troy
  32. Take Care Of All My Children
  33. Down There By The Train
  34. Danny Says
  35. Jayne's Blue Wish
  36. Young At Heart
  37. What Keeps Mankind Alive
  38. Children's Story
  39. Heigh Ho
  40. Army Ants
  41. Books Of Moses
  42. Bone Chain
  43. Two Sisters
  44. First Kiss
  45. Dog Door
  46. Redrum
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  48. Home I'll Never Be
  49. Poor Little Lamb
  50. Altar Boy
  51. The Pontiac
  52. Spidey's Wild Ride
  53. King Kong
  54. On The Road
  55. Dog Treat
  56. Missing My Son