Okay, the title was hard to come up with...so dig:
I'm working on arranging some Tom Waits stuff for my 12-piece. My question arises from one particular tune, and whether or not it's appropriate for me (or anyone else) to perform it.
Johnsburg, Illionois - from Swordfishtrombones is one of the most genuine and touching songs of all time. It's stunning - BUT it's also profoundly personal to Tom Waits. Written a few years after his marriage to his beloved wife, Kathleen. It being such a personal song, is it odd for someone else to cover it? I know a few pop/country artists have done it...but something about it seems slightly sacred, and I'm not sure if arranging it would tarnish the song in any way...
But it's soooo nice!!
Have a listen, and share your thoughts...
[edit] Lyrics:
She's my only true love
she's all that I think of
look here in my wallet
that's her
She grew up on a farm there
there's a place on my arm
where I've written her name
next to mine
you see I just can't
live without her
and I'm her only boy
and she grew up outside McHenry
in Johnsburg, Illinois