arranging other composers' highly personal music

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

We're all humans.

Our experiences can relate in a lot of ways.

I don't know the story behind the piece you bring up in your post, but I think it isn't exactly the smartest thing to say to consider something so personal almost no one should be able to perform it.

Originally Posted by Corbin The Violist

We're all humans.

Our experiences can relate in a lot of ways.

I don't know the story behind the piece you bring up in your post, but I think it isn't exactly the smartest thing to say to consider something so personal almost no one should be able to perform it.

Did you listen to it?



It's just a man singing a love song about his wife... You don't think it would be strange for someone else to sing it?

No, actually, I wouldn't.

I wouldn't take the lyrics as they are. I don't think that is necessarily right to do either. Yes, it was written for his wife. Yes, it is very personal. But does that mean if someone else is singing it, they are singing it to or about his wife? No.

That same level of intimacy with those details, can symbolize whoever is covering the song their love for someone. It doesn't have to be to the same person. I could sing it to my b/f for example and everyone would get what I mean with it. I'm not singing it to Waits wife or about her. That's silly.

Originally Posted by Corbin The Violist

I could sing it to my b/f for example and everyone would get what I mean with it. I'm not singing it to Waits wife or about her. That's silly.

Good point...

Originally Posted by robinjessome

Good point...

What do you think though?

I mean, there could be examples where some things would work, other than Wait's song.

My opinion : there have been lots of covers on lots of personal songs. However, I get your ethical dilemma here.

I would suggest maybe taking the changes and turning that into a head of your own. I'm not a huge fan of that, but you are right, it's a very pretty song. So, what you could do is use the changes and maybe give him credits. I'm thinking you could maybe cover it by speeding it up a tad, giving it a drum line, and playing the melody on the 'bone... You could just use it as a head for improv.

Originally Posted by Corbin The Violist

What do you think though?

I mean, there could be examples where some things would work, other than Wait's song.

I think with this particular tune, that the emotional content is so powerful it might be hard to divorce it from the original. Megan Mullally (of Will & Grace fame) covered it...

I dunno...

Originally Posted by Jordan

I would suggest maybe taking the changes and turning that into a head of your own. I'm not a huge fan of that, but you are right, it's a very pretty song. So, what you could do is use the changes and maybe give him credits. I'm thinking you could maybe cover it by speeding it up a tad, giving it a drum line, and playing the melody on the 'bone... You could just use it as a head for improv.

The changes are unremarkable...it's the simplicity and the beautiful melody sung in such an honest and genuine way that gets me. There's nothing overly innovative about it, it's just a very pure and beautiful piece of music.

I think an instrumental arrangement is the way to go.

It's strange because a lot of Waits' music deals with intimate and personal experiences, but this is the only one I harbor such strong feelings towards preserving its honesty and purity... odd.

He obviously has no qualms with letting others perform it...maybe I should ask him for his opinion. He lives somewhere in northern California.
*plans road trip*