Tuesday Tune – Tom Traubert’s Blues (Four Sheets to the Wind in Copenhagen)
Small Change, Tom Waits’ 1976 album, is as dark and painful as they come. His alcoholism and skewed view of the world was really beginning to effect him emotionally and the sadness, boredom and fear comes bleeding through the songs on this album. Though filled with poetic imagery and dark humour (particularly on the track The Piano Has Been Drinking), it is the bleak melancholy that takes over this album. This is seen to the greatest extent in the album’s opening track, Tom Traubert’s Blues (Four Sheets to the Wind in Copenhagen).
The song is known for the inclusion of the refrain from Waltzing Matilda and was famously covered by Rod Stewart. Whatever your opinions on Rod Stewart, there is no doubt that Waits’ hoarse, harsh vocal coupled with his background, makes his rendition the most emotive and heartfelt you’ll hear. Supposedly written after booze filled night on the streets of Copenhagen where he encountered whores, bums and low-lifes of the worst kind, rumour says it was Danish signer, Mathilde Bondo, who brought him out on the town that fateful night. Though Waits’ interviews can rarely be trusted, he suggested once that Tom Traubert was a friend of a friend who died in prison.
The song seems to tell the story of a man who finds himself stranded and penniless in a foreign land “where no one speaks English, and everything’s broken.” Traubert is painted as a sympathetic character, but it’s clear that he and his own alcoholism have created the rut he is now in. 
He’ll never make his way home again and will wander aimlessly, like the traveller in the original Australian Waltzing Matilda, though destined for a darker fate. It is likely an autobiography of sorts of his feelings and thoughts about his life at that point. Waits was disillusioned with the music business and just wanted to make art. Driven to drink, all anyone seemed to want was more music and an explanation for his songs. Maybe it’s understandable that Waits chose the lies and theatrics. Maybe this was his way of beating the press and the media who sought answers in his art.
Here’s Tom Traubert’s Blues (Four Sheets to the Wind in Copenhagen) as performed by Tom Waits on The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1977. I challenge you not to be moved by his genius.
About the Author
Darren Byrne Blogger, writer, movie buff, amateur dramatist and all round nice guy. When I’m not spouting about on Culch.ie, I can be found Tweeting inanities @DarrenByrne or @Culch_ie. I am the admin behind Culch.ie and if you want to contact me for anything, drop me a mail.
Related Posts
Oh Tom, you cookie old thing, of course we’ll buy your album #piracyiswrong →
Tom Waits’ Glitter and Doom Live Album – Review →
Singin’ in the Rain @screencinema →