Tom Waits - "downtown Train" May 2026

Although Waits' original didn't reach the charts, "Downtown Train" became a massive hit for other artists: Downtown Train - Song of the Day for Today

Directed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino, the black-and-white video features a cameo from legendary boxer Jake LaMotta . It depicts Waits as a "modern-day Romeo" wandering the waterfront and serenading his affection while playing an accordion. Famous Covers and Commercial Success Tom Waits - "Downtown Train"

While most of Rain Dogs features avant-garde instrumentation and "whiskey-fumed" grit, "Downtown Train" is a straightforward, melodic ballad. There is even speculation that Waits intentionally wrote it as a "radio-ready" track to attract covers and secure royalties during a precarious financial period. Although Waits' original didn't reach the charts, "Downtown