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A beautiful new song by Tom Waits, from David Letterman’s final week. I love how the rhythm never settles into a real “beat” in this; it’s a loose, drifting performance with a moving lyric.

Let’s watch the sun come up in another town
Try our luck a little further down
Leave the cards on the table
Leave the bread on the plate
Put your hand on the gear shift
Put your foot off the brake

And take one last look at the place that you are leaving
Take one last look
Oh, take one last look at the place that you are leaving
Take one last look

Our bed was something that the wind couldn’t carry
The arrow points the way across the waiting prairie
This car looks like it could give us a good run
Our choice to leave was a good one

And take one last look at the place that you are leaving
Take one last look
Oh, take one last look at the place that you are leaving
Take one last look

Let’s look forward to the lights that are new
The world’s a ribbon of road for you
All towns have churches and tire shops
They put up speed limit signs and they hire cops
I love to see the wind in your hair
All we ever need we can get anywhere

And take one last look at the place that you are leaving
Take one last look
Oh, take one last look at the place that you are leaving
Take one last look
Oh, take one last look
Oh, take one last look