a eternamente rouca e doce voz do jovem thomas torna mágica esta canção, que é talvez a minha preferida de todas quantas escreveu.
o estranho dueto de pianos (acústico e eléctrico) pauta a história, genialmente (d)escrita, da rapariga que está presa e envia num postal uma confissão que é um s.o.s. a um antigo namorado - e que, embora pouco convencional, é igualmente uma grande canção de natal... sempre que ouço isto dou graças aos deuses por ainda haver pessoas como tom waits.

hey charley i'm pregnant
and living on 9th street
right above a dirty bookstore
off euclid avenue
and i stopped taking dope
and i quit drinking whiskey
and my old man plays the trombone
and works out at the track.

and he says that he loves me
even though its not his baby
and he says that he'll raise him up
like he would his own son
and he gave me a ring
that was worn by his mother
and he takes me out dancin’
every saturday night.

and hey charley i think about you
everytime i pass a fillin' station
on account of all the grease
you used to wear in your hair
and i still have that record
of little anthony & the imperials
but someone stole my record player
how do you like that?

hey charley i almost went crazy
after mario got busted
so i went back to omaha to
live with my folks
but everyone i used to know
was either dead or in prison
so i came back to minneapolis
this time i think i'm gonna stay.

hey charley i think i'm happy
for the first time since my accident
and i wish i had all the money
that we used to spend on dope
i'd buy me a used car lot
and i wouldn't sell any of ‘em
i'd just drive a different car
every day dependin on how i feel.

hey charley for chrissakes
if you want to know the truth of it
i don't have a husband
he don't play the trombone
and i need to borrow money
to pay this lawyer and charley, hey
i'll be eligible for parole
come valentines day.