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“Cold Water” is a shuffling blues number by Tom Waits originally appearing on his 1999 release Mule Variations. A solitary story of a person without a home but who seems not only content with his circumstances but concerned about the fate of others less well adjusted, “Cold Water” made its Phish debut on 6/15/10 at the waterside nTelos Pavilion in Portsmouth, VA. While lacking the grit of the Waits' version, Trey’s vocal performance and the band arrangement stayed close to the original.

Watch Cold Water on YouTube Phish "Cold Water" - 6/15/10, Portsmouth, VA. Video by bpar73

While the first Tom Waits tune covered by Phish, Trey, along with David Byrne (on accordion!), performed Waits’ “The House Where Nobody Lives” at the Tibet House Benefit at Carnegie Hall on 2/5/00. Although they did not share the stage, Trey also shared the bill with Waits at Radio City Music Hall on 9/20/05, a benefit for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Well I woke up this morning
with the cold water
with the cold water
with the cold
Woke up this morning
with the cold water
with the cold water
with the cold

Police at the station
and they don't look friendly
Well they don't look friendly
Well they don't look friendly
Police at the station
and the don't look friendly
They don't look friendly well
they don't

Blind or crippled
Sharp or dull
I'm reading the bible
by a 40-watt bulb
What price freedom
Dirt is my rug
Well I sleep like a baby
with the snakes and the bugs

Well the stores are open
but I ain't got no money
I ain't got no money
Stores are open but I
ain't got no money
ain't got no money
Well I ain't

Found an old dog a
and he seems to like me
seems to like me
Well he seems to like me
Found an old dog and he
seems to like me
seems to like me
well he seems

See them fellows
with the cardboard signs
scrapin' up a little money
to buy a bottle of wine
Pregnant women and
the Vietnam vets I say
beggin’ on the freeway
Bout' as hard as it gets

Well I slept in the graveyard
it was cool and still
cool and still
it was cool and still
Slept in the graveyard
it was cool and still
cool and still and it
was cool

Slept all night in the cedar grove
I was born to ramble
born to rove
Some men are searchin' for
the holy grail
but there ain't nothin sweeter
than ridin the rails

I look 47 but I’m 24
Well they shooed me away
from here the time before
Turned their backs
and they locked their doors
I'm watchin T.V. in
the window of a furniture store

Well I woke up this morning
with the cold water
with the cold water
with the cold water
Woke up this morning
with the cold water
with the cold water
with the cold