A CHRISTMAS CARD FROM A HOOKER IN MINNEAPOLIS

Es la canción más triste del mundo, no tengo ninguna duda de ello. He estado queriendo subirla pero me fallan las manos al leerla o escuchar alguna nota de esos prodigios que son las manos de Tom Waits. No hay mucho que decir para todos aquellos que pasamos la Navidad en soledad. Tengo el corazón roto por esta historia y por la propia, así que hoy sábado antes de irme a buscar algo al mundo, o encerrarme en mi casa a esperar amigos, logré compartirla para ustedes. No me agradezcan porque me van a odiar luego de escucharla. Bilis o lágrimas. Intenté conseguir la versión original pero sólo conseguí esta en concierto donde tiene una introducción y cierre del villancico Silent Night (Noche de paz), la letra está debajo del video. Parece que Waits estuviera borracho, pero así es su voz, su estilo. Para todos aquellos que tienen los hígados de escharlo seguido, saben que es una mezcla de lectura cantada y/o acompañada de piano. Dicen que se inspiró en un poema del gran Bukowski para hacer esta canción. Me recuerda esas calles nevadas y frías de las gemelas Minneapolis y Saint Paul, mucho tiempo ha pasado desde que las caminé.



A Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis

Hey Charley I'm pregnant
and living on 9th street
right above a dirty bookstore
off Cuclid Avenue
and I stopped taking dope
and I quit drinking whiskey
and my old man plays the trombone
and works out at the track.

And he says that he loves me
even though its not his baby
and he says that he'll raise him up
like he would his own son
and he gave me a ring
that was worn by his mother
and he takes me out dancing
every saturday nite.

And hey Charley I think about you
everytime I pass a fillin' station
on account of all the grease
you used to wear in your hair
and I still have that record
of Little Anthony & The Imperials
but someone stole my record player
how do you like that?

Hey Charley I almost went crazy
after Mario got busted
so I went back to Omaha to
live with my folks
but everyone I used to know
was either dead or in prison
so I came back in Minneapolis
this time I think I'm gonna stay.

Hey Charley I think I'm happy
for the first time since my accident
and I wish I had all the money
that we used to spend on dope
I'd buy me a used car lot
and I wouldn't sell any of em
I'd just drive a different car
every day dependin on how
I feel.

Hey Charley
for chrissakes
do you want to know
the truth of it?
I don't have a husband
he don't play the trombone
and I need to borrow money
to pay this lawyer
and Charley, hey
I'll be eligible for parole
come Valentines Day.