Rain Dogs

The album's title comes from an expression which also suggests this tragic kingdom of the streets; "Rain dogs" are dogs which became lost after the rain washed away the scent of home, thus barring their return. Waits cast further light on the metaphor by stating that the album was about "People who live outdoors. You know how after the rain you see all these dogs that seem lost, wandering around. The rain washes away all their scent, all their direction. So all the people on the album are knit together, by some corporeal way of sharing pain and discomfort."

Inside a broken clock Splashing the wine With all the rain dogs Taxi, we'd rather walk Huddle a doorway with the Rain Dogs For I am a Rain Dog, too Oh, how we danced and we swallowed the night For it was all ripe for dreaming Oh, how we danced away All of the lights We've always been out of our minds The rum pours strong and thin Beat out the dustman With the rain dogs Aboard a shipwreck train Give my umbrella to the Rain Dogs For I am a Rain Dog too Oh, how we danced with the Rose of Tralee Her long hair black as a raven Oh, how we danced and you Whispered to me You'll never be going back home Oh, how we danced with the Rose of Tralee Her long hair black as a raven Oh, how we danced and you Whispered to me You'll never be going back home