☝️ Key Points
- The song is about a singer who is successful in Japan but does not receive the same recognition in his own country.
- He describes various things he has, but not in their complete form, to express that while he possesses certain qualities or possessions, he does not meet typical expectations.
- Nevertheless, he takes pride in being 'big in Japan' and expresses that success does not always depend on external characteristics or possessions, but on the impact one has on other people.
- The song lyrics encourage not to be influenced or discouraged by the expectations of others and to be proud of what one has achieved, even if it does not conform to traditional ideas.
Interpretation
In the lyrics of the song 'Big in Japan' by
Tom Waits, it's about the singer being very successful in Japan but not receiving the same recognition in his own country. He describes how he has the style but not the grace, the clothes but not the looks, the money but not the luck. Despite all that, he's proud to be 'big in Japan'.
He mentions various things he has but not in their complete form. For example, he has the house but not the title deed, the car horn but not the pipe, the cards but not the luck. He also has the moon and the cheese, the whole damn nation on its knees, the rooster and the crow, the ebb and the flow.
He also says he has the powder but not the gun, the dog but not the bun, the clouds but not the sky, the stripes but not the tie. Despite all these imperfections, he's proud to be 'big in Japan'.
The lyrics express the idea that success doesn't always depend on external features or possessions, but on the impact one has on other people. It's about not letting oneself be influenced or discouraged by others' expectations, but rather following one's own path and being proud of what one has achieved, even if it doesn't fit traditional notions.