Saturday Song: "Danny Says," Tom Waits

Danny Says, Tom Waits, from Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards (disc two), 2006



A cover of the Ramones' love song, transformed into a tipsy weeper by the master of the genre. Waits eschews the sorta-Shirelles sound of the original and keeps the pace slow and soft. It's amazing how Waits turns the song into a cousin of "Ol' 55" and makes it seem easy; it's also a kick to hear him talking about listening to the Ramones' "Sheena" on the radio. (This isn't the only Ramones cover Waits has done; he also covered "The Return of Jackie and Judy" on the tribute album We're a Happy Family.) Short, sweet, sad, genius.