I have only recently become aware of this real gem from Mr. Wait's early beginnings as a screen composer. Streetwise was an Academy award nominated feature length documentary film revealing the harsh life of young homeless people on the streets of Seattle in the early 1980's. When I learned that Mr.Wait's songs were included in the film I had assumed that the gritty street imagery we associate with Tom Wait's earlier material would be interspread throughout the film as a sonic backdrop to the tough life of the streetkids themselves.

Instead, the filmmaker very cleverly utilizes an original Tom tune "Take Care Of All Of My Children" as the closing credits roll shortly after a segment depicting the funeral of a streetkid who had committed suicide. In this way, it almost seems the young man who has departed is coming back to advise us to take care of the streetkids we've been introduced to throughout the last ninety minutes. It's a very moving way to close the picture.

I find the song itself superb. Vaguely reminiscent of both the Salvation Army brass band of "Ruby's Arms" and the gospel feel of "Anywhere I Lay My Head", "Take Care Of All Of My Children" breaks out with a marching snare drum giving the song a real sense of motion and immediacy. Mr. Waits' vocal is unaffected and very accessible. "Bright and early Sunday morning with my walking cane for I'm going up to see my Lord". Melodious, immediate, and unforgettable, "Take Care Of All My Children" perfectly reflects the sentiment and heartache of the film without ever becoming maudlin or sentimental. An excellent piece of work. It seems easy to be critical that there is no soundtrack to the film but admittedly there is only one or two songs used in the documenatary anyway. Still, I'd be interested to know if the song has ever made it onto any compilation albums. Yet another reason why an artist with a thirty plus year career of songwriting deserves an indepth box set (i.e. similar to Dylan's Biograph or Bruce Springsteen's "Tracks") of all outtakes, live recordings, rarities etc. in order to get great pieces like "Take Care Of All Of My Children" available on CD.

Lawrence Shapiro

P.S. If anyone has the tune. . .let's trade!