Downtown Train - Certainly one of the absolute finest Tom Waits compositions; and there's many a great song in his back catalogue. The arrangement is perfect and his rumbling voice compliments the tenderness of the song; a truely brilliant piece of work. The line "A Thorn Without The Rose" is worthy of a Dylan song; brilliant. Rod Stewart did a good job in fairness but with a song this good he really couldn't go wrong.

    Downtown Train - How on Earth a mankind can write a divine song that touches the heart like Downtown Train? This is, truely, still the best song i know. In 1990s i loved somebody with this song...i still think of him cuz i cant stop listening to this song. An immortal song makes mortal memories of life, unforgetable.

    Downtown Train - Rod Stewart aside, (because he didn't get it) This is one of waits most tender songs. There is two specific times that tug at my heart. The first comes at the point that the snare drum hits the first beat, just at the lyric "well you shake your hands and they scatter like crows". It is the sound of the heart beating of every male who yearns for the love of his life and she is just a moment away from coming to the door. It's the snap of hope and longing that will be satisfied and sooner than later. The second is during the bridge when musically the chords ascend by roots and thirds. Unless you are musician you may not notice it because it is subtle. Waits moves two chords up with four notes and the climb is so edifying because it defines Waits as the consumate songwriter. But, as I said you have to be a musician to recognize the movement. There is nothing like it. Except many of his other works, Truly a beautiful master work of songwriting.