Tom Waits has teamed up with a variety of homeless charities to publish a new chapbook.
One of the most respected songwriters working today, Tom Waits retains an allusive persona. Rarely granting interviews, the American artist fuses blues and jazz with dense artistic references.
Often compared to poets such as Whitman and Lorca, Tom Waits has shied away from publishing his lyrics. Now the singer has broken cover with a limited edition chapbook containing an unpublished poem.
Released in co-operation with Anti Records, the poem is available on his official website. A long lyrical ballad, the piece sees Tom Waits adopt several different voices of those belonging to the margins of society.
Titled 'Seeds On Hard Ground' the dense imagery of the piece recalls some of Waits' finest lyrics. In fact, the poem could easily transfer itself to a new album, with the songwriter evidently deciding to feature it as an art work in itself.
The chapbook is available from his official website, but the publication will be strictly limited to just 1000 copies. Tom Waits and Anti have decided to unite and donate all profits to Redwood Food Bank, Sonoma County’s Homeless Referral Services and Family Support Center operated by Catholic Charities.
The work was inspired by Michael O’Brien’s photographic portraits of the homeless. An abridged rearranged version of the poem will appear alongside O’Brien’s photographs in the upcoming book 'Hard Ground'.
Orders are being taken now, with 'Seeds On Hard Ground' due to be released on February 22nd.
Read the piece HERE.