"be careful of them in the dark"

Today's traditio is one of Tom Waits' most mainstream songs (it was covered by Rod Stewart in a predictably anodyne manner and became a hit), "Downtown Train."

You wave your hand and they scatter like crows/they have nothing that will ever capture your heart/theyr'e just thorns without/ the rose/be careful of them in the dark/oh if I was the one/you chose to be your only one/oh baby can't you hear me now

As a bonus for this first Friday in February, Howlin' Wolf, who is a big influence on Waits, singing "Smokestack Light'ning"

If you want see and hear classic Waits, check out his 1988 appearance on Letterman to support his still magnificent film, Big Time, which was more-or-less based on his stage play, Frank's Wild Years.