Tom Waits

I like to stay in the shadow. I like to be a ghost. I don't want to be a celebrity. I don't want to be famous. I want to be a myth.

I'm not a performer. I'm a musician. I'm a storyteller. I'm a composer. I'm a writer. I'm a dreamer. I'm a guy who likes to make things.

I like to think of myself as a human jukebox. I just take requests.

I'm like a dog that's been run over. I don't know whether to bark or to wag my tail.

I'm just a guy who likes to play with sounds. I like to make things out of nothing.

I like to imagine that I'm a detective, and I'm looking for clues. And the clues are all around me.

I'm not interested in being popular. I'm interested in being interesting.

I like to go to places where I'm not supposed to be. I like to go to places where I don't belong.

I'm like a broken-down car. I still run, but I make a lot of noise.

I'm a scavenger. I pick up things off the street. I pick up things out of the garbage.

I like to keep my hands dirty. I like to get my hands in the mud.

I'm like a stray dog. I just wander around and see what I can find.

I'm not trying to be anybody else. I'm just trying to be myself.

I'm just a guy who likes to make noise. I like to make a racket.

I'm like a magician. I like to make things disappear and reappear.

I like to hang out with people who are a little bit off. I like to hang out with people who are a little bit strange.

I'm like a junkyard dog. I'm always looking for something to chew on.

I like to make music that sounds like it's been buried in the ground for a hundred years.

I'm like an old shoe. I'm comfortable, but I'm a little bit worn out.

I'm not a very good businessman. I'm a very good bum.