Tom Waits
Tom Waits is an iconic singer-songwriter known for his gravelly voice, poetic lyrics, and genre-defying approach to music. Emerging in the 1970s with jazz-influenced albums like Closing Time (1973) and Small Change (1976), Waits later embraced experimental sounds, incorporating elements of blues, folk, and avant-garde styles. His music often tells the stories of outsiders, drifters, and lost souls, creating vivid narratives that feel like short films set to music. His distinct persona and theatrical performances have made him one of the most unique and revered artists in contemporary music.
His song Soldier’s Things in Jarhead is a fittingly melancholic choice. The track, a haunting ballad about a soldier’s belongings being sold off after his departure, encapsulates the themes of loss, disillusionment, and the disposable nature of military life. Waits’ raw, mournful delivery adds weight to the film’s existential tone, serving as a powerful reminder of the personal cost of war beyond the battlefield.
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