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Waits Tom Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Waits Tom Quizzes, Trivia

Tom Waits Trivia

Tom Waits Trivia Quizzes

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8 Tom Waits quizzes and 80 Tom Waits trivia questions.
1.
  Grim Reapers and Grand Weepers    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Morbid Curiosities by Tom Waits
Ten songs by Tom Waits filled with melancholy, drunken regrets, criminal mischief, paranoia, and of course, the occasional corpse lying on the floor with a five-dollar bill still in his fist.
Average, 10 Qns, JJHorner, Mar 12 25
Average
JJHorner
Mar 12 25
37 plays
2.
  Ten Tom Waits Songs    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
My father first got me interested in Tom Waits now he is one of my favorites. Here are some lyrics from my favorite Tom Waits songs, can you guess which song they're from?
Average, 10 Qns, MollyGrue, Jan 19 12
Average
MollyGrue
1567 plays
3.
  Tom Waits in Other Places   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Tom Waits has done a little of everything in the entertainment industry, but he still resides in the margins, a genius only to those weird enough to recognize a true original.
Difficult, 10 Qns, JoeSmow, Jun 20 07
Difficult
JoeSmow
362 plays
4.
  Tom Waits Lyrics    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here's a quiz on the lyrics of that globe-trotting, whiskey-soaked, jaded gutter poet, Tom Waits. Have fun!
Tough, 10 Qns, ensiform, Aug 07 18
Tough
ensiform
Aug 07 18
513 plays
5.
  Tom Waits' Lyrics    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
No one writes songs the way Tom Waits does. Let's see how close you've been listening... Try to identify which song the following lyrics are from.
Average, 10 Qns, kmria, Nov 03 03
Average
kmria
600 plays
6.
  Early Tom Waits    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Ten questions concerning the early years of Tom Waits' musical career.
Tough, 10 Qns, durham1984, Jul 18 12
Tough
durham1984
120 plays
7.
  The Great Tom Waits    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Ten questions about one of the greatest singer/songwriters ever.
Average, 10 Qns, jjalan, Feb 23 04
Average
jjalan
619 plays
8.
  Tom Waits Trivia    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a trivia quiz on my very favourite musician - Tom Waits.
Tough, 10 Qns, pia_fraus, Jul 27 02
Tough
pia_fraus
819 plays

Tom Waits Trivia Questions
1. What was the name of the band Tom performed in while attending Hilltop High School?

From Quiz Early Tom Waits

Answer: The Systems

Tom played rhythm guitar and was lead vocalist.

2. "I'm leavin' my fam'ly
And leavin' my friends
My body's at home
But my heart's in the wind
Where the clouds are like headlines
On a new front page sky
My tears are salt water
And the moon's full and high"

From Quiz Ten Tom Waits Songs

Answer: Shiver Me Timbers

On December 7, 1949 Thomas Alan Waits was born in Pomona, Californa.

3. 'I don't know how long it has been but I was born in Brennan's Glenn.'

From Quiz Tom Waits Lyrics

Answer: 'The Briar And the Rose'

A slow lament from the album 'Black Rider.'

4. 'Well, go ahead and call the cops; You don't meet nice girls in coffee shops.'

From Quiz Tom Waits' Lyrics

Answer: 'Hold On'

This album, 'Mule Variations', won a grammy for best Folk (?) recording.

5. Who took the photo shown on the cover of Tom Waits' album "Closing Time?

From Quiz Early Tom Waits

Answer: Ed Caraeff

Ed Caraeff took the photograph, the picture is rumoured to have been taken in Cal Schenkel's living room.

6. Tom Waits was credited for the soundtrack of which 1991 Jim Jarmusch film?

From Quiz Tom Waits in Other Places

Answer: Night on Earth

'Night on Earth' is the only time Waits was credited for a soundtrack on a Jarmusch movie although Jarmusch has used many of Waits' songs in his movies. Waits was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Score for the movie, "One From The Heart."

7. "The evening fell just like a star
Left a trail behind
You spit as you slammed out the door
If this is love we're crazy
As we fight like cats and dogs
But I just know there's got to be more"

From Quiz Ten Tom Waits Songs

Answer: Please Call Me Baby

He has had his songs featured in many movies such as, Sea of Love, 12 Monkeys, Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead, Fight Club, Keeping the Faith, and Pollock. (go.to/tomwaits)

8. Which album was his first one?

From Quiz Tom Waits Trivia

Answer: Closing Time

It was released in 1973.

9. 'It's cold back in Chicago but in Los Angeles it's worse'

From Quiz Tom Waits Lyrics

Answer: '$29.00'

'Little black girl you shoulda never left home / There's probly someone that's still waitin' up for you / It's cold back in Chicago but in Los Angeles it's worse / When all you got is $29.00 and an alligator purse.' A grim tale of crime from the album 'Blue Valentine.'c

10. 'Wasted and wounded it ain't what the moon did; I got what I paid for now.'

From Quiz Tom Waits' Lyrics

Answer: 'Tom Traubert's Blues'

Trick Question! The words 'Waltzing Matilda' are repeated in the song, but the actual title is 'Tom Traubert's Blues'. If you got this one, good job! From the 'Small Change' album.

11. On December 25, 1975 Tom Waits appeared on PBS Chicago's program "Soundstage". What song did he open the program with?

From Quiz Early Tom Waits

Answer: Eggs & Sausage

He performed the number a capella accompanied only by the snapping of his fingers and the slapping of his leg.

12. Which two Waits albums have won Grammy awards?

From Quiz Tom Waits in Other Places

Answer: 'Bone Machine' and 'Mule Variations'

The awards crowd has finally caught up with one of the great songwriters of our time. Two of his four albums in the 90's won awards, but strangely, or in typical Tom Waits style, in two completely different categories.

13. "Well the night does funny things inside a man
These old tom-cat feelings you don't understand
Well I turn around to look at you, you light a cigarette
I wish I had the guts to bum one, but we've never met,"

From Quiz Ten Tom Waits Songs

Answer: I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You

He was named "The Most Influential Artist of All Time" by VH1. (go.to/tomwaits)

14. Tom Waits earned an Academy Award nomination for writing the music for which movie?

From Quiz Tom Waits Trivia

Answer: One from the Heart

A Francis Ford Coppola film. Waits has also played in many of Coppola's movies, including "Bram Stoker's Dracula".

15. 'I can hear him rolling on down the lane / I said Hollywood be thy name'

From Quiz Tom Waits Lyrics

Answer: 'Jesus Gonna Be Here'

From the Grammy-winning album 'Bone Machine.' I love the affected, lisping falsetto Tom puts on here.

16. 'You wave your hand and they scatter like crows; They have nothing that will ever capture your heart; They're just thorns without the rose; Be careful of them in the dark.'

From Quiz Tom Waits' Lyrics

Answer: 'Downtown Train'

If you know this only through Rod Stewart, you're really depriving yourself. From the 'Rain Dogs' album.

17. During the first tour promoting Tom Waits' album "Nighthawks At The Diner", who was his tour band?

From Quiz Early Tom Waits

Answer: The Nocturnal Emissions

The Nocturnal Emissions were made up of Fitz Jenkins on upright bass, Chip White on drums, and Frank Vicari on tenor saxophone.

18. What is the only movie Tom Waits has written?

From Quiz Tom Waits in Other Places

Answer: Big Time

It was a concert movie, but man, what a weird concert movie it was.

19. In the song "Eyeball Kid", where does the "Eyeball Kid" want to play at some day?

From Quiz The Great Tom Waits

Answer: Carnegie Hall

No arms, no legs, just a great big eye.

20. "And now the sun's coming up
I'm riding with Lady Luck
freeway cars and trucks
Stars beginning to fade, and I lead the parade
Just a-wishing I'd stayed a little longer
Oh, Lord, that the feeling's getting stronger."

From Quiz Ten Tom Waits Songs

Answer: Ol' 55

Many artists have done covers of his songs, such as; Bruce Springsteen - "Jersey Girl", Rod Stewart and Everything But The Girl - "Downtown Train", Marianne Faithfull - "Strange Weather", The Ramones - "I Don't Wanna Grow Up", 10,000 Maniacs - "I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You", Bob Seger - "Blind Love", Shawn Colvin - "The Heart Of Saturday Night", and Sarah McLachlan - "Ol' 55". (go.to/tomwaits)

21. Which song contains these lines: 'Strangle all the Christmas carols, scratch out all your prayers, tie em up with barbed wire, and push them down the stairs.'?

From Quiz Tom Waits Trivia

Answer: Wrong Side of the Road

It appeared on the 1978 album 'Blue Valentines' and is one of my favourite songs.

22. 'In a Hong Kong drizzle on Cuban heels I rowed down the gutter to the Blood Bank.'

From Quiz Tom Waits Lyrics

Answer: 'Shore Leave'

'...and I'd left all my papers on the Ticonderoga and I was in a bad need of a shave.' And let's not forget the 'shore leave wristwatch.' From 'Swordfishtrombones.'

23. 'Never could stand that dog.'

From Quiz Tom Waits' Lyrics

Answer: 'Frank's Wild Years'

Don't look for 'Frank's Wild Years' on the album with that name. It's on 'Swordfishtrombones'.

24. Where was the Tom Waits album "Small Change" recorded?

From Quiz Early Tom Waits

Answer: Wally Heider Recording

The album was produced by Bones Howe and took place between July 15th and July 20th, 1976.

25. In "Fishing with John" where do John Lurie and Tom go fishing?

From Quiz Tom Waits in Other Places

Answer: Jamaica

Tom got sick midway through the episode and was obviously pissed at John Lurie. According to rumor, he didn't speak to Lurie for two years, and has never seen the episode.

26. "Gun Street Girl", "Big Black Mariah" and "Walking Spanish" are songs from which Tom Waits album?

From Quiz The Great Tom Waits

Answer: Rain Dogs

My personal favorite Tom Waits album.

27. "Ain't got no money, cupboards are bare,
No cigarettes and the kids got nothing to wear
She walked out without a word,
Now the only sound left is the morning bird singing"

From Quiz Ten Tom Waits Songs

Answer: Blue Skies

"A diverse list of artists have cited Tom Waits as an inspiration, including Bob Dylan who has named him as one of his "secret heroes."" (go.to/tomwaits)

28. In 1992 his album 'Bone Machine' won Grammy Award for best album in which musical genre?

From Quiz Tom Waits Trivia

Answer: Alternative

It was an easy one, I hope.

29. 'I'll start talking from the brim of a thimble full of whiskey on a train through the Bronx that will take you just as far as the empty of a bottle to the highway of a scar.'

From Quiz Tom Waits Lyrics

Answer: 'Potter's Field'

A rather melodramatic piece, with a crashing, blaring horn section, from the otherwise superb 'Foreign Affairs.'

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Last Updated Mar 22 2025 5:46 AM
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