Tom Waits and Dan Hicks - I'll Tell Why That Is

[Brother Buzz]

Now, you may see two happy people
In love and together
I'll tell you why that is
Or some little girl
Looks real good in a real tight sweater
I will tell you why that is

Now, your pals from prison
Just wrote you a real fine letter
I'll tell you why that is

And a diamond ring looks real good
On my pinky finger, yeah
I will tell you
(You'll tell me)
Why that is
(Alright)

An apple ain't orange
But an orange is
I can tell you why that is

Some people are day...
(And some people are night)
...Night people
I will tell you why that's right

When the girls come lookin' for love, mmhmm
They look for the guys in the band
(The man knows a lot of things)
I'll tell you why that is

I'm having a ball being a know it all
Staying on top of my little scam
That's why I am who I am, baby
'Cause I know all these things

So stop right up and shake the hand of the man
Who admits to know it all
I know a lot of things
Besides that, I can sing...

Well, how come you think I've got the name know it all?
(Frankly, I don't know)
You think that's just a fluke?
I don't think so
(Could be)
Well I, I know why everything's happening
You stick around, well, I'll tell you why
(Yeah, alright)

Now you see some guys out on the street
And they're just wild about chicks
I'll tell you why that is

Son of a gun dirty boys
Just like to go out and play dirty tricks
But I can tell you why that is
I know why that is

And Jesus Christ and God and all them cats
They don't know anything
And besides that, they can't even sing

Rich man get all the women and fun
And would you believe you're looking at one?
That's why I am who I am, baby
'Cause I know all these things

I'm willing to listen to you
If you're willing to listen to me
(Well, alright, that's for sure)
But you know, you gotta sing it for me again
You gotta get up and sing


..................

I totally missed the release of Dan Hicks' Beatin' the Heat and was blown away to find it cued up in my car CD player (I suspect my son found it on a thrift store run during a visit and gifted it to us because he knew we were crazy about the late great Dan hicks).

I was also surprised Dan Hicks did one of Tom Waits songs on the album, The Piano Must Be Drinking (Not Me). I'm convinced Tom Waits wrote it with Dan Hicks in mind.