450 Quotes by Tom Waits

It’s terrible for the culture of music. Like anything that is purely economic, it ignores the most important component.

Presley’s what I go by, why don’t you change the station.

Jimmy Stewart said he stopped making movies because he didn’t like the way he looked on screen anymore. I’m more the guy who says I look like hell but I’m going to see where it gets me.

It’s new, it’s improved, it’s old fashioned.

I really like your playing.

With families and music, you’re usually looking for something that can make you unique.

Well, they’ll bark you down like carneys, sell you Christmas cards in June.

You hope people are going to be listening to you after you’re gone. And they like you better after you’re gone.

When you say you’re doing an opera, it’s like when you’re a seven-year-old and say, ‘I’m off to Washington, Dad.’ You kind of go, ‘Sure. Sure you are, son.’