Listen To This: God’s Away On Business

Bloody moon rising with a plague and a flood / Join the mob

The inimitable Mr. Waits

Some art gets dated quickly, like sci-fi movies or disco hits. Other art exists closer to the unmoving hub of culture’s spinning wheel. It can seem prophetic to us, but only because what’s being communicated is never irrelevant; never subject to fad. A good example of the latter is Tom Wait’s “God’s Away On Business,” released 18 years ago but suddenly, bitingly descriptive of our unhappy present situation.

The song starts like an aggro Kurt Weil stomp, with oompah brass and trash can drums. Waits then delivers some uncanny lyrics in a raspy mutter that occasionally turns into a strangled Howlin’ Wolf overtone. They’re worth quoting in full, just so you can feel their accreting, creepy resonance.

I’d sell your heart to the junkman, baby
For a buck, for a buck
If you’re looking for someone to pull you out of that ditch
You’re out of luck, you’re out of luck

Ship is sinking
The ship is sinking
The ship is sinking

There’s leak, there’s a leak, in the boiler…