Tom Waits – Big in Japan

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I got the style but not the grace
I got the clothes but not the face
I got the bread but not the butter
I got the window but not the shutter

But I'm big In Japan
I'm big in Japan
Hey, but I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan

I got the house but not the deed
I got the horn but not the reed
I got the cards but not the luck
I got the wheel but not the truck

But hey, I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
But hey, I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan

I got the moon, I got the cheese
I got the whole damn nation on their knees
I got the rooster, I got the crow
I got the ebb, I got the flow

I got the powder but not the gun
I got the dog but not the bun
I got the clouds but not the sky
I got the stripes but not the tie

But hey, I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan

Hey-ho, they love the way I do it
Hey-ho, there's really nothing to it

I got the moon, I got the cheese
I got the whole damn nation on their knees
I got the rooster, I got the crow
I got the ebb, I got the flow

I got the sizzle but not the steak
I got the boat but not the lake
I got the sheets but not the bed
I got the jam but not the bread

But hey, I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
Hey! I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan
I'm big in Japan

Send "Big in Japan" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by archmastermind, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Track duration: 04:05

"Big in Japan" as written by Frank Mertens Marian Gold

Lyrics © DOWNTOWN MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Big in Japan song meanings
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7 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I never noticed that before! You're right, he does lose the bread. Tragic...
    Flag morbid moragon August 26, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:I like how he loses the bread halfway through the song.
    Flag Yadarfynon April 17, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's about Spinal Tap?
    Flag Anderson_Councilon June 08, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"Big In Japan" has been a phrase for a long time about Superficial Bands that make it big only in Japan. It generally means a band is really quite crap.

    Tom is obviously huge the world over for being one of the true mavericks and has loads of content to his work so...
    Flag xdvron April 24, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song might be one of his more gimmicky, but I like it a lot. One line that stands out for the purposes of this site is "I got the sizzle but not the steak." "Sell the sizzle, not the steak" is an old saying in advertising, urging ads to promote the experience, the aura of a product more than the product itself. (I.e., show the cool guy surrounded by women drinking a soft drink, don't show the drink alone.)
    Flag Yaggaion April 15, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:He is admired for the art he makes, although he knows that there is no real meaning behind it ("Heh ho, there's really nothing to it...").
    Flag eyecoofon January 09, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:he may not have everything, but HE'S BIG IN JAPAN!
    Flag roger wilcoon May 14, 2002   Link

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