Known covers:
None

Waits performing "Nighthawk Postcards" (a-capella)
taken from Soundstage Show #208 (1975).
PBS television show on Tom Waits and Mose Allison. Chicago/ USA.
Aired December 22, 1975, recorded November 3, 1975 or earlier.

Notes:

⁽¹⁾ This song is most likely inspired by (or paying hommage to) "Poetry for the Beat Generation - Jack Kerouac and Steve Allen" (Hanover Records HML 5000, 1959). Fourteen poems read by the author to original piano accompaniment by Steve Allen. Waits has often expressed his appreciation for this album.

- Intro from "Nighthawks At The Diner": "[upright bass solo] Goodness gracious, my bass player should be chained up somewhere. Mongrel... canine... growl. I wanna take you on kind of an inebriational travelogue here Yeah, ain't got no spare, you ain't got no jack You don't give a shit, you ain't never comin' back. Maybe you're standin' on the corner of 17th and Wazee Streets. Out in front of the Terminal Bar There's a Thunderbird movin' in a muscatel sky... He-he. You've been drinkin' cleanin' products all night... Open for suggestions... Eh-he-he-he. It's kinda 'bout... well it's kinda 'bout goin' down to the corner. Say, 'Well, I'm just goin' down to the corner to get a pack of cigarettes, I'll be back in a minute' " (Transcription by Ulf Berggren, 2000)
- Terminal Bar: A sleezly little bar 2 blocks straight up from the train station in Denver, Colorado where Waits hung out long ago. It is at 17th and Wazee streets - or it was. Back when Waits hung out their it was a very sleezy part of Denver. Now however, with the baseball stadium (Coors Field) being built 3 blocks away, the area has been revitialized into the hippest part of Denver (called 'LODO'). Alas the terminal bar just succombed to property value pressures and sold out in the Fall of 1996 (it is being severely remodeled into a yuppie resturant). (Source: Tom Waits Digest, Seth Nielssen) 
- Tom Waits (WAMU Radio, 1975): "I'll tell you a story, I did this last night at the Cellar Door, a friend of mine, John Heard (Hurt?), accompanied me on piano, a great piano player, he sounds like George Shearing or early Dave Brubeck, Steve Allen, he's a great piano player - it's called Nighthawk Postcards From Easy Street which is going to be the title of my next forthcoming album and it'll be out in October some time, a little narrative piece, I started writing it on the corner of 12th & Wazee St in downtown Denver, Colorado, out in front of a place called the Terminal Bar, now that's about a half a block from the Santa Fe Freight Depot there and originally the name they gave to the bar had to do with the fact that it was so close to the Santa Fe Freight but now 20 years later every terminal case in town beats the pavement to get there. I started writing it in Denver, I finished it up on 23rd St in New York City - so this is kind of an improvisational adventure into the bowels of the metropolitan region, kind of a travelogue piece - when the highway is a wet slick anaconda of a 2 lane and you're motivating and negotiating a hairpin turn behind the wheel of a serious powder blue Ford Fairlane, with the whispering brushes of wet radials on wet pavement .." (Source: WAMU Radio Interview Source: audio tape. Date: Washington, DC. April 18, 1975)
- Tom Waits (Coffee Break radio show, 1975): "Let's see eh... Well I could do you a kind of a [snaps fingers] Vroooooooom... vroooooomm... vrooooooom... You know eh, it's kind of a little inebriational travelogue here eh.. about eh... It was kinda like say: Well, hey look baby, I'll be right back, I'm just going down the corner and get myself a pack of cigarettes see... And you know, you get down and you hit the bricks and you notice there's kind of a Thunderbird move rolling across a muscatel sky... You see... You're standing there down there on the corner of 5th and Vermouth, it's a block away from the corner of Baby Why Did You Leave Me and Why Don't You Please Come Back Home..." (Source: Coffee Break Concert Interview: The Coffee Break Concert radio show on WMMS-FM (Cleveland/ USA). Conducted by Kid Leo (Lawrence James Travagliante). December 3, 1975)

⁽²⁾ Easy street:1. Financial independence 2. A way of life characterized by wealth and luxury; a pleasant and successful life; successful business dealings (Source: Dictionary Of American Slang, Wentworth/ Flexner)

⁽³⁾ Swizzle stick
- n.: A stick used to stir mixed drinks (Source: Merriam - Webster collegiate dictionary).
- Also mentioned in "Putnam County" (And swizzle stick legs jackknifed over naugahyde stools)

⁽⁴⁾ Out-of-towner n.: A visitor or transient from out of town (Source: Dictionary Of American Slang, Wentworth/ Flexner)

⁽⁵⁾ Stroll
- n.: A road, highway, or street. c1935 jive use; some Negro use (Source: Dictionary Of American Slang, Wentworth/ Flexner).
- Also mentioned in "Drunk On The Moon" (Tight-slack clad girls on the graveyard shift, 'Neath the cement stroll, catch the midnight drift), "Shore Leave" (Well, with buck shot eyes and a purple heart I rolled down the national stroll)

⁽⁶⁾ Purina Checkerboard Slacks: The small, red and white checkered square used as the logo for the Purina corporation (specializes in dog and cat food). So in this case: red checkered slacks (Submitted by Cheryl Dillis. August, 2000).
- Slacks: Trousers for casual wear. The word was used in the early 19th century as a coloquialism to describe trousers in general and, later, trousers worn by soldiers (Source: Dictionary Of American Slang, Wentworth/ Flexner).  Ralston Purina's famous "checkerboard" logo was a marketing decision by Danforth (company's founder), based on his childhood memories of a family in which the mother dressed all of her children in clothing made from the same bolt of cloth. One year, her choice of material was the checkerboard design, and Danforth never forgot the distinctive red-and-white pattern. Today, more than a century after its founding, Ralston Purina is the world's largest producer of dry dog and dry and soft-moist cat foods, which are marketed under the Purina® brand name (Source: Ralston Purina Company official website) 

⁽⁷⁾ Foster Grant: At the time a very famous brand of sunglasses in the US. Promoting their brand with the slogan: "Who's that behind those Foster Grants?". You can buy your own pair at: The Foster Grant Homepage.

L) Louis Jordan M) Peter Sellers R) Terence Stamp

⁽⁸⁾ Earl Scheib: Earl Scheib, founded in 1937, is USA leader in low-cost auto-painting. They call themselves: "The world's largest company-owned and operated production auto-painting and body repair shop ". In the 60's their slogan was: "I'll paint any car any color for $ 29.95 ". The "any "color was not literal (mostly very simple primary colors). Their logo was decorated with a colourful rainbow.

1999 Internet advertising

⁽⁹⁾ Guinan, Texas: In the 20's Guinan owned several gin mills in New York City. Her trademark welcome was "Hello, Suckers!" She began her career as an actress, and was one of the original silent movie cowgirls. Legend has it that the joint was raided one night when the Prince of Wales was there. She popped an apron on him and hid him in the kitchen, washing dishes.
- Marv Hohman (1976): "How much of your audience do you think is hip to all the slang terminology you use? It seems you've made an exhaustive study of American pop culture, especially the underside of it. There are terms I know that I'm sure most people don't, things like Thunderbird, Stacy Adams, names like Texas Guinan.... Tom Waits: Yeah. Kerouac made a record back in '59 on Hanover Records with Steve Allen and he talked about her. Her famous line was, "Hello sucker." (Source: "Bitin' The Green Shiboda With Tom Waits" Down Beat magazine (USA), by Marv Hohman. Date: Victoria restaurant/ Chicago. June 17, 1976)

⁽¹⁰⁾ Barnum, P.T.: Flamboyant 19th century American entrepreneur Phineas Taylor Barnum. Born: 1810 - died: 1891. The first and perhaps greatest showman of the US. In 1842 he opened his "American Museum of Curiosities" in NY city, in which he displayed all kinds of real but also fake curiosities and freaks. In 1871 he opened his circus "The greatest show on earth" in Brooklyn. The original circus was called simply the P. T. Barnum Circus. He then merged with his competitor and formed the Barnum & Bailey Circus. When Barnum died, Bailey ran the circus. When Bailey died, the Ringling Brothers bought them out. That's how we get the incredibly long Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He obtained a considerable wealth through his malafide, commercial approach. Notorious swindler. The quote: "There's a sucker born every minute" typifies his cynical view of life. Check out this article by R.J. Brown claiming he never said it...
- Tom Waits (1999): "... Yeah, right. Barnum & Bailey had Sarah Bernhardt's leg on display for a couple of years. They had it in formaldehyde. There was a certain point where Sarah Bernhardt's leg was making more money than she was 'cause she was doing Shakespeare in bars. I don't know how that ties in, but help me." (Source: "Tom Waits '99, Coverstory ATN". Addicted to Noise: Gil Kaufman and Michael Goldberg. April, 1999).
- Tom Waits (1999): "... But I was trying to imagine what it would be like for a person [Eyeball kid ]with an enormous eyeball for a head to be in show business. If Barnum & Bailey were still around, I imagine he would have thrown in with them." (Source: "The Man Who Howled Wolf". Magnet: Jonathan Valania. June/July, 1999)

⁽¹¹⁾ Gypsy n.: A taxicab operating without a taxi license (Source: Dictionary Of American Slang, Wentworth/ Flexner)

⁽¹²⁾ Jimmy, Jimmie n.: A car or engine built by GMC (General Motors Corp.). From pronouncing the initials GMC rapidly. Hot-rod use since c1955 (Source: Dictionary Of American Slang, Wentworth/ Flexner)

 ⁽¹³⁾ Highball, Hiball v.: To move ahead at full speed (Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Houghton Mifflin - Third Edition)

⁽¹⁴⁾ Jasper n.: An exceptionally pious or meek person. A rube. A fellow; a guy (Source: Dictionary Of American Slang, Wentworth/ Flexner)

⁽¹⁵⁾ Gasper n.: A cigarette, esp. marijuana cigarette. Much more common in Eng. than in U.S.; now archaic in both countries (Source: Dictionary Of American Slang, Wentworth/ Flexner)

⁽¹⁶⁾ Cheshire grin:
- He grins like a Cheshire cat. Cheese was formerly sold in Cheshire moulded like a cat. The allusion is to the grinning cheese-cat, but is applied to persons who show their teeth and gums when they laugh. (Source: "The First Hypertext Edition of The Dictionary of Phrase and Fable", E. Cobham Brewer. © 1997-99 Bibliomania.com Ltd).
- Also quoted in Small Change: "And the naked mannequins with their Cheshire grins."

⁽¹⁷⁾ A nickel after two: meaning five minutes past two. Nickel: n. [1970s+] (US) the number five [nickel, a 5-cent coin] (Source: "Cassell's Dictionary Of Slang". Jonathon Green. Cassel & Co., 1998. ISBN: 0-304-35167-9)

⁽¹⁸⁾ Olympia: Brand name of a beer brewed in Washington. Popular in the NW part of USA. Olympia's attempts to go nationwide like Coors have not done well as far as I can tell (Submitted by Gary Duncan. Raindogs Listserv discussionlist. September, 2000)

⁽¹⁹⁾ Eyeball v.: To eye; look at; look around a place. Harlem Negro use. Teenage and synthetic hipster use since c1950 (Source: Dictionary Of American Slang, Wentworth/ Flexner)

⁽²⁰⁾ Weiss, Chuck E.: Further reading: Chuck E. Weiss

⁽²¹⁾ "High Blood Pressure" by George "Cryin in the Streets" Perkins: Referring to "Cryin' In The Streets (Part 1)" by George Perkins & The Silver Stars (Golden-110/ Silver Fox Records, 1969) and "High Blood Pressure" (Ace-7102, 1971). (Thanks to Floris Cooman for researching release details)

⁽²²⁾ No dice, no-dice:
- No; without success; being refused or refused permission (Source: Dictionary Of American Slang, Wentworth/ Flexner)
- phr. [1930s+] (orig. US) impossible, out of the question, on no account [the refusal of a gambling-house proprietor to allow a player to start or continue playing] (Source: "Cassell's Dictionary Of Slang". Jonathon Green. Cassel & Co., 1998. ISBN: 0-304-35167-9)

⁽²³⁾ Riding high
- v.:Feeling very good. Occasionally meaning snobbish or egotistical. ("He was riding high after he got into the college he wanted.") (Source: The Online Slang Dictionary, Walter Rader)
- Quoting: That's Life. Writers: Kay, Gordon. Recorded by Frank Sinatra: "That's life, that's what people say. You're riding' high in April, Shot down in May. But I know I'm gonna change that tune, When I'm back on top in June. That's life, funny as it seems. Some people get their kicks,  Steppin' on dreams; But I don't let it get me down, 'Cause this ol' word keeps getting around. I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, A poet, a pawn and a king. I've been up and down and over and out And I know one thing: Each time I find myself flat on my face, I pick myself up and get back in the race That's life, I can't deny it, I thought of quitting, But my heart just won't buy it. If I didn't think it was worth a try, I'd roll myself up in a big ball and die."

⁽²⁴⁾ Change that tune: To speak or act in a different manner; to assume a different attitude. Dates back 600 years. First seen in John Gower's Confessio Amantis (1390):"O thou, which hast desesed the Court of France be thi wrong Now schalt thou singe an other song." (Source: "2,107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings and Expressions" by Charles Earle).
- Change one's tune: phr. [late 16C+] to alter one's opinions or statements, esp. to go back on what one has previously said [musical imagery] (Source: "Cassell's Dictionary Of Slang". Jonathon Green. Cassel & Co., 1998. ISBN: 0-304-35167-9)

⁽²⁵⁾ Parkay: American brand of butter (ConAgra Brands, Inc.) (Further reading: Parkay official site. Thanks to Scott Fisher, May 9 2005, for pointing out this reference)

⁽²⁶⁾ Manhole: n. [1970s] (US Black) a bar, a saloon, a club etc. esp. for men only (Source: "Cassell's Dictionary Of Slang". Jonathon Green. Cassel & Co., 1998. ISBN: 0-304-35167-9)

⁽²⁷⁾ 23rd Street: New York City (Chelsea Hotel).
- Tom Waits (1979): "This is a story here, takes place on 23rd Street, New York City, it is a place eh called Chelsea Hotel" (Intro to "Small Change", Cold Beer version), 1979)

⁽²⁸⁾ St. Moritz Hotel: Also mentioned in The One That Got Away, 1976: "Costello was the champion at the St. Moritz Hotel." Also mentioned in original intro by George Duke for Tom Waits at the Orpheum Theatre, Boston, November 9, 1974:
- George Duke: "Ladies and gentlemen, direct from the St. Moritz Hotel on the Sunset Strip, a friend of ours from Los Angeles, Mister Tom Waits! Sodden and wistful as he might be. How are you doing, buddy? Your beard's getting very good. He holds the distinction of being the only person at the St. Moritz Hotel in Los Angeles able to room next to Ray Collins for longer than three weeks at a time." (Transcription by Ulf Berggren as sent to Tom Waits eGroups discussionlist, 2000) 

St. Moritz Hotel, Los Angeles. Photo credit: Dorene LaLonde

⁽²⁹⁾ El (train): n. [late 19C+] (US) the elevated railway, usu. that of New York, but also in other cities, e.g. Chicago, where such transport systems existed (Source: "Cassell's Dictionary Of Slang". Jonathon Green. Cassel & Co., 1998. ISBN: 0-304-35167-9)

⁽³⁰⁾ Krupa, Gene: Born Eugene Bertram Krupa, January 15, 1909, in Chicago, IL; Died of heart failure, October 16, 1973, in Yonkers, NY. Drummer and swing band leader. Studied drums and performed with local Chicago groups in the 20's. Free-lanced with the bands of Bix Beiderbecke, Benny Goodman, and saxophonist Adrian Rollini. He joined Goodman's band and played on NBC-Radio's Let's Dance in 1934. Left Goodman to form Gene Krupa Orchestra four years later. He appeared at the last reunion of original Goodman Orchestra in 1973. In 1944 Krupa was voted: best drummer, Down Beat Readers' Poll.

⁽³¹⁾ Glasspacks n.: A type of muffler which gives a nice throaty and loud sound. (Source: Tom Waits Digest, Seth Nielssen)

⁽³²⁾ Jam session n. : Orig. an informal gathering of jazz musicians to play for their own pleasure, usu. in free and lengthy improvisations on well-known themes; later a term applied commercially to public jazz performances (Source: Dictionary Of American Slang, Wentworth/ Flexner)

⁽³³⁾ Pay through the nose
- To pay excessively (Source: Dictionary Of American Slang, Wentworth/ Flexner)
- To pay reluctantly or to pay an exorbitant price. (Source: "2,107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings and Expressions" by Charles Earle)
- Lyrics might also refer to using cocaine.
- Also mentioned in The Wages Of Love, 1982: "You see, love has a graveyard nurtured for those, that fell on their sabers and paid through the nose."

⁽³⁴⁾ Leg akimbo: Leg bowed outward (Source: Webster's II New Riverside Dictionary, submitted by Cheryl Dillis. August, 2000)

⁽³⁵⁾ Earlier version:  as published in the Los Angeles Free Press. January, 1974: "You know there's a blurred drizzle down a plate glass. There's a neon swizzle stick a-stirrin' up a sultry night air, and a traffic jam session on Belmont as a yellow biscuit of a butter cueball moon is rollin' maverick across an obsidian sky... And you know the buses are groanin' and they're wheezin' down the corner I'm freezin' on restless boulevard, midnight road cross town from Easy Street. With the tight knots of moviegoers and out-of-towners on the stroll and the buildings tower high above lit like dominoes... Now you know the used car salesmen with all their Purina checkerboard slacks and Foster Grant wraparounds are pacing in front of that rainbow $39.95 Earl Scheib merchandise. Like barkers in an arcade, all dressed up in jackel-striped jackets with the blue denim dye and color TV test pattern, double-knit polyester slacks throwing out some kind of a Texas Guinan routine: " They say: 'Hello, sucker, we like your money, just as well as anybody else's here,' and luring all the harlequin sailors on the stroll. in search of like new; new paint, factory air and AM-FM dreams... But you know the piss yellow gypsy cabs are stacked up in the taxi zones And they're waitin' like pinball machines to take off a joy ride to some magical place or they're waitin' in line like Truckers Welcome diners with dirt-lots full of Peterbilts and Kenworths and Jimmy's and the like. Doing some serious highballin' with bankrupt brakes, and they got the overdriven, underfed, underpaid, a day late - a dollar short. With their eyes propped open and their eyelids at half mast and I'm on the corner... I'm standin' on the corner like a just-got-in-town jasper on a streetcorner with a gasper. Lookin' for some kind of a Cheshire billboard grin. Stroking a goateed chin and using parking meters as walking sticks... I'm out here on the inebriated stroll. I am... and you know the sun come crawlin' yellow out of a manhole at the foot of Twenty-third Street, and a Dracula moon is making its way back dodgin' shadows to its prepaid room at the St. Moritz Hotel and and the El train is tumblin' across the trestles. Soundin' like the ghost of Gene Krupa with an overhead cam and glass packs and over at Chub's Pool and Snooker it was a nickel after two... "Yeah, with a nickel after two and the cobalt steel blue dream smoked, the radio groaned out the hit parade. And the chalk squeaked and the floorboards creaked. And an Olympia sign winked through a torn yellow shade, and Jack Chance himself leaning up against a Wurlitzer seriously eyeballin' out a three-ball combination shot... "I'm looking for some kind of an emotional investment with romantic dividends and leaning up against a banister I'm held over... held over for another smashed weekend"