Melodic Monday - "Ruby's Arms"

A new feature (which, like the others, will likely be semi-regular), "Melodic Monday" will spotlight bands, artists, albums, or individual songs that I'm really getting into at the moment and will also highlight my incredibly eclectic taste in music.

A number of months ago, one of the students at the school I teach at asked me if I'd ever heard Tom Waits. While I am familiar with Waits' acting achievements (from films like Short Cuts, Mystery Men, and Domino), I had to plead ignorance as to his musical career, which is why he's famous in the first place. I was subsequently gifted a data disk filled with Waits' music - about seven or eight albums worth - and began to listen.

The man definitely has a very distinct sound. He is known for turning everyday objects into bizarre musical instruments. He has a way of incorporating various styles of music into his sound - vaudeville, blues, folk, early rock & roll. His low, gravelly voice is often filled with emotion and his dark sense of humor really comes across in songs like "Frank's Wild Years".

I'm not entirely sure how I stumbled across the gem that is "Ruby's Arms," as it was not on any of the albums I was gifted... but ever since listening to it, the song has absolutely haunted me. The lyrics tell a heartbreaking story of a young soldier who leaves behind his girl - presumably to join the military. A combination of raw emotion, poetic imagery, and Waits' own surly voice really make this song one of the most poignant and moving songs that I've ever heard.

Give it a listen: