Tabletop Joe

From Tom Waits' "Alice". I suck at drawing piano keys, yes.

Anyway, this character was inspired by Johnny Eck, a guy born without legs. I guess I did exaggerate a little in the picture, but it seemed more fun to draw this Tabletop Joe like this. If I am not wrong, Eck was featured in Tod Browning's film "Freaks".

Tabletop Joe

(Alice studio version, 2002)

I knew one day...
One. One, two. One, two, three...

Well, my mama didn't want me
on the day I was born
I was born without a body
I got nothing but scorn
But I always loved music
all I had was my hands
I dreamed I'd be famous
and I'd work at The Sands

Singing: Tabletop Joe, Tabletop Joe
Now everyone will know
That I'm Tabletop Joe

I had trouble with the pedals
but I had a strong left hand
I could play Stravinsky
on a baby grand
I said, 'I'm gonna join the circus
cause that's where I belong'
So I went to Coney Island
I was singing this song

Tabletop Joe, Tabletop Joe
Now everyone knows
Yeah I'm Tabletop Joe

They gave me top billing
in the Dreamland show
I had my own orchestra
starring Tabletop Joe
And the man without a body
proved everyone wrong
I was rich and I was famous
I was where I belonged

Tabletop Joe, Tabletop Joe
Now everyone knows
Tabletop Joe

Sing it old boy!