“All we ever need we can get anywhere” what a line

This was Tom’s last live performance to this date. I truly hope to see him again on the stage but if not… this was a legendary send off for himself and not just letterman.

That's a fucking masterpiece.

My father passed away, and we're looking to sell the house that I grew up in. This is the first song I thought of. I'm not ready for that, but I know it's necessary. Thank you, Mr. Waits, for making such a beautiful statement in song.

Better to discover Tom later than never...he's lifeblood

Toms voice is just incredible. No one will ever be able to pull off such a beautiful brutality. Tom, sir you are the king.

Tom can just tear you down with one line. Brilliant performer, writer, and about as wonderfully unique as you can get.

THIS MUST BE one of the best live music performances ever captured on Letterman?

If I could only listen to one artist for the rest of my life it would be Tom Waits, genius.

You can put well known well groomed handsome world topping film stars on the same show as Tom but he upstages them all without even meaning too. He allows everyone to get in touch with real feelings.

Tom Waits is as important a musical Icon as Bob Dylan or Paul McCartney. I say this without hyperbole!

Perfectly timed, perfectly judged, perfectly conceived. Sublime.

This man is a god damn treasure

I just found the song I want sung at my funeral.

David was moved almost to tears. That didn't happen often. What a magical performance. I love you Tom.

One of the most poignant and emotional performances ever on Letterman IMHO I sadly had never discovered Mr. Waits until this point but through his songs and videos and all the late night/early monings together over the past almost 6 years I consider him a dear friend. Thank you Tom! You speak things I feel but cannot express.

I just read a shortened version of these lyrics at an awards banquet for the first generation, low income about-to-graduate students I work with. I was looking for a poem and the God of Tom Waits whispered in my ear, “You idiot; do One Last Look!”

After living away from my homeland of Canada since I was 18, soon to be twenty years later, I am nearing the end of my time in China. When I first heard this song on the last Letterman years ago I new I was going to revisit it. And as I am packing my things preparing my wife and child for a new life in Canada this song helps cool the fires of uncertainty. New chapter, hoping for even better tales. Thanks Tom Waits.

Dave is really moved and he shakes Tom's hand with teary gratitude and the brillant poet that Waits is smiles with a little incredulity because this rare breed is still humble. Rare stuff.

I do not know how Letterman did not break out in tears.

Dave was my introduction to Tom Waits. Will be grateful to him for the rest of my life. Thank you, Dave.

I was working in NYC at the time. Crying like a baby in my hotel room. No one touches me quite like this man.

I remember seeing this aired live the last week before I had to sell my childhood home…Music is the healing force

Dave introduced me to Tom, back in the 80s. Thanks for this! ❤

Let's watch the sun come up in another town Try our luck a little further down Leave the cards on the table Leave the bread on the plate Put your hand on the gearshift Put your foot off the brake And take one last look At the place that you are leaving Take one last look Oh take one last look At the place that you are leaving Take one last look Our bed was something that the wind couldn't carry The arrow points a way across the waiting prairie This car looks like it could give us a good run The choice to leave was a good one And take one last look At the place that you are leaving Take one last look Oh take one last look At the place that you are leaving Take one last look Let's look forward to the lights that are new, The world is a ribbon of road for you All towns have churches and tire shops They put up speed limit signs and they hire cops I love to see the wind in your hair All we ever need we can get anywhere And take one last look At the place that you are leaving Take one last look Oh take one last look At the place that you are leaving Take one last look Oh take one last look Oh take one last look Take one last look

4:09 Dave says to Paul.... "pretty good huh Paul" obviously overcome with emotion you can hear Paul say "can't talk"... that's the power of music

This is a masterpiece, a humbling and heart-breaking love song. It's hugely inspirational and makes a person appreciate what they currently have in life, before they lose it. Tom wrote this beautiful song without even releasing or being financially rewarded for it, which demonstrates he's an altruist and puts people and music before profit. It's a tribute to Dave, but also appears to be a swan-song and a final farewell to his audience.

I consider myself lucky that I saw this the night it aired on CBS. Amazing song.

When Tom writes and performs one of his ballads (“bawlers”), he touches the source of our universal melancholy.

Pleasssse Tom, make it happen. It's been too long since we last received a record from you

Love Tom, but it's the first time I heard this song. Not ashamed to admit that I started tearing up on the first note, and was bawling soon after. ❤️

And the place we are leaving is each moment. Lets leave each moment with love. Thanks Tom!

Seeing Dave and Tom both choked up at the end always gets me. Such a great song for a great friendship.

Have listened to Tom since his early albums. Genius. The only singer who can make me cry with his words.

I have never found the words to say how much I appreciate his music he pulls the best out of the deepest places thank you for sharing with all of us.

Great song. To protect what matters most I did go. I’d rather have died with the love of my life, but how could I live with myself, and bring her down. I’ll loose with my loved ones, but none will lose because of me. Every love story ends in sorrow, but they are the only stories worth telling.

If Tom is not a lyrical genius, no-one ever wrote and no-one ever loved.

God, i LOVE Tom Waits. I can listen to Bad As Me all the way through every single day and not get tired of it. It's pretty amazing to watch him do his thing, to be honest I like older Tom Waits a lot more than young Tom Waits. If He can read this I hope he never goes back to being young Tom Waits.

Incredible.

Mr. Waits, you're a great artist! I take off my hat and I appreciate you sir!

Fantastic song! If I could ever write words like Tom!

This beauty is already 6 years old..? But its up there with Bottom of The World, Widows Grove, All the World is Green, and so many others. Lets look forward to the lights that are new. Thanks, Grampa Tom

Calms the mind, a balm for the soul.

Americana done by Tom Waits..few performers capture the essence of song genre better than this man.

An American treasure....

A Giant of a man and an artist for the ages.This song smacks me right in the teeth

Amazing song 💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞

Thank you.

Mr Waits is a true artist. Some of the best songs written, an American cultural icon

Amazing song! Thank you Tom for your music, I wish I could see you Live

Breathtaking

Thank you ! Thank you ! Thank you very much for all that great music Tom !

Nostalgia, longing, fire crackling, lights are dim... I think of you a d I am sobbing

Wow just wow. I started looking around this room in a homeless shelter that I've made my home, and thought someone was on the way to pick me up, and take me away from this. Amazing his music can do that.

As I sit here and cry...

Man, I've been following Tom Waits since 1987 and his music continues to touch me so intimately and personally. I completely identify with his lyrics.

a great man. Love your work... glad I was lucky enough to find it early on in my life.

Just a beautiful song and tribute to his friend by a unique and great artist.

Tom has no equal, but last night in Edinburgh I saw the boss in concert he was as good as it gets, what a showman. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

so beautiful. We miss you on the Late Show, Dave. You were the best ever.

Tom Waits is the best!!!!

Great song, great actor too, Buster Scrugs, All Gold Canyon, beautifully filmed by the Coen Brothers and played by Tom Waits.

My hero👏👏👏

I used to listen to Mr. Waits's albums while in college, Mr. Waits has literaly created his own genere.

What an inspiring performance by a legend

Wonderful, great ! I can't find anything else to add ...

The always fabulous Tom Waits. Love it.

Brilliant maestro!

God I wish this song was on an album…

I was at the Letterman Show the week before this and although it was great seeing Dave during one of his last shows it still bums me out that I missed this. Amazing performance.

Priceless! ✨✨✨✨

A few months after seeing Tom sing this song on letterman I packed all my belongings up along with my dog and wife and moved to Japan ~ I know Tom was singing this song for Dave but Tom might as well been singing it to me ~ This song shot an arrow through my heart and let me feel like I was dong the right thing ~ It's now been 9 years ~

The most mellow death metal band I've ever heard.

Perfection.

Such a beautiful song ❤️

I can totally agree with this.

awesome singer & song 🎵 ❤❤❤tyxxfor sharing ❤❤❤❤😊😊😊

What a beautiful gift.

Precious precious young man singing with my savior,Ms. Joan!

Genius and unique!!

A stage full of absolute legends.

Beautiful.

What a perfect tribute.

"The world is a ribbon of roads for you". Waits should've got the Nobel Prize for Literature, and I hope he does before he goes.

He man is a genius, absolutely love this guy... Brilliant!

Whenever I leave a place I've lived a long time, I always take one last look.... ❤

Beautiful ❤️👏

A nata dos músicos revolucionários norte americanos Genuínos poetas,uma inteligência dominante, crítica,corajosa como Lou Reed,Iggy Pop,Tom Waits and só on.

Legend

Tom waits sings my life

I think Tom Waits is David Letterman's Favorite Person in the World, He's Mine To David.

Beautiful:)

beautiful

magic always 💌

The legendary 'Larry Taylor' on the bass...

I'm obsessed with music but if I have to pick one song, above Brian Wilson, the Beatles, Clifford T Ward or Dylan. It would be Kentucky Avenue by Tom Waits. Just my opinion.

well what do you say about this I love Dave and I love Tom, what a tribute. If this don't move you check your pulse you might be dead

will this ever be on record? it's so beautiful!

Shatters me.

My God