Discover the story of the song > Clap Hands – Tom Waits

The song talks about different people who are all crazy in their own ways. The protagonist and his partner are watching the world go by, seeing a man who won't return, but they can always find another rich person to do the hard work. They also see someone with bad dreams going to Harlem with a gun and not knowing where another person is. The song ends with a reference to the Salvation Army being in trouble and everyone going to heaven in a rowboat.