4 Meanings
Add Yours
Share
Q&A

In the Neighborhood Lyrics

Well the eggs chase the bacon
round the fryin' pan
and the whinin' dog pidgeons
by the steeple bell rope
and the dogs tipped the garbage pails
over last night
and there's always construction work
bothering you
In the neighborhood
In the neighborhood
In the neighborhood

Friday's a funeral
and Saturday's a bride
Sey's got a pistol on the register side
and the goddamn delivery trucks
they make too much noise
and we don't get our butter
delivered no more
In the neighborhood
In the neighborhood
In the neighborhood

Well Big Mambo's kicking
his old grey hound
and the kids can't get ice cream
'cause the market burned down
and the newspaper sleeping bags
blow down the lane
and that goddamn flatbed's
got me pinned in again
In the neighborhood
In the neighborhood
In the neighborhood

There's a couple Filipino girls
gigglin' by the church
and the windoe is busted
and the landlord ain't home
and Butch joined the army
yea that's where he's been
and the jackhammer's diggin'
up the sidewalks again
In the neighborhood
In the neighborhood
In the neighborhood
Questions and Answers

Ask specific questions and get answers to unlock more indepth meanings & facts.

4 Meanings

Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.

Cover art for In the Neighborhood lyrics by Tom Waits

Please, help me:

  1. "...whinin' dog pidgeons by the steeple bell rope" (what does "pidgeon" mean?)
  2. Who is "Big Mambo"? )

Thanks!

Song Meaning

>

  • I think it's "pigeons" - those rats on wings type birds that infest towns and cities.

  • I think it's "pigeons" - those rats on wings type birds that infest towns and cities.

    i>

  • I assume "Big Mambo" is just some character who lives in the neighborhood.

  • I assume "Big Mambo" is just some character who lives in the neighborhood.

    i>

  • Cover art for In the Neighborhood lyrics by Tom Waits

    Sounds like an interesting neighbourhood

    Cover art for In the Neighborhood lyrics by Tom Waits

    I always thought it was kind of a juxtaposition. Some of he lines he's singing about have some sweet imagery ("the eggs chase the bacon round the fryin' pan" and the nostalgically reflective "And we don't get our butter delivered no more" and if you wondered what ever happened to Butch, the local singing the song will tell you.) but there's a fair share of annoying or threatening references (trucks, construction & jackhammers making to much noise; Big Mambo kicking his dog, perhaps because he tipped the garbage pails over the night before and Sey has a gun to protect his store). Although not a pretty picture he's painting overall, yet he sings it with such fucking pride. Especially the way they shot the video (fish eye lens, sepia tone and worn down surroundings & people) speak to me of taking pride in the things that are dear to you in your circle of existence even though some of it annoys you.

    Cover art for In the Neighborhood lyrics by Tom Waits

    sounds like a pretty bleak neighborhood