Hang Down Your Head

"Hang Down Your Head"
Single by Tom Waits
from the album Rain Dogs
B-side	"Tango Till They're Sore"
Released	1985
Format	7"
Recorded	1985 at RCA Studios, NYC
Genre	Experimental rock
Length	2:32
Label	Island
Writer(s)	Kathleen Brennan, Tom Waits
Producer(s)	Tom Waits
Tom Waits singles chronology
"In the Neighborhood" (1983) "Hang Down Your Head" (1985) "Downtown Train" (1985)

Hang Down Your Head is a song by Tom Waits appearing on his 1985 album Rain Dogs. It released as a single in 1985 by Island Records. The song is in the same vein as Tom Waits' earlier work, featuring a more conventional melodic structure in comparison to other songs on his Rain Dogs album albeit featuring an idiosyncratic arrangement. Allmusic critic Stewart Mason called the song "among the most direct and effective things Waits has ever written."^[1]

Cover versions

Vocalist Lucinda Williams recorded a version of the song for the soundtrack of the crime/drama series Crossing Jordan, released in 2003.^[2] It was later appended as a bonus track to her 2003 album World Without Tears. Gothic rock ensemble Human Drama recorded the song for their covers album Pinups, which was indended as a tribute to the various artists that had influenced them.^[3] Country artist Jack Ingram has played the song at live concerts, and his version was recorded for his live debut Live at Adair's in 1995.^[4]

Formats and track listing

UK 7" single (107 761-100)

1. "Hang Down Your Head" – 2:32
2. "Tango Till They're Sore" – 2:49

Personnel

Adapted from the Hang Down Your Head liner notes.^[5]

Tom Waits – vocals, guitar, pump organ, production Musicians Michael Blair – drums, percussion Larry Taylor – double bass Marc Ribot – guitar

Production and additional personnel Dennis Ferrante – recording Tom Gonzales – recording Robert Musso – engineering, mixing Howie Weinberg – mastering

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog
Germany	1985	Island	LP	107 761-100

References

1. Mason, Stewart. "Tom Waits: Hang Down Your Head > Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
2. Phares, Heather. "Original Soundtrack: Crossing Jordan > Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
3. Raggett, Ned. "Pinups: Pin-Ups > Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
4. Owens, Thom. "Jack Ingram: Live at Adair's > Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
5. Hang Down Your Head (booklet). Tom Waits. London, United Kingdom: Island Records. 1985.