SONG OF THE DAY
“Way Down in the Hole” by Tom Waits (Franks Wild Years, Island Records, 1987). Written by Tom Waits.
WHERE I HEARD IT
Various versions of “Way Down in the Hole” were used as the theme music for the HBO series The Wire, including Waits’ original version for the second season. Each season uses a different recording of the song against a different opening sequence, with the theme being performed, in order, by The Blind Boys of Alabama, Waits himself, The Neville Brothers, DoMaJe (all members of the cast) and Steve Earle. Season four’s version of the song was arranged and recorded specifically for the show, and is performed by five Baltimore teenagers: Ivan Ashford, Markel Steele, Cameron Brown, Tariq Al-Sabir, and Avery Bargasse. An extended version of the Blind Boys of Alabama version is also played over a montage in the series finale.
INTERESTING FACTS (a la wikipedia)
– “Way Down in the Hole” is a song written by singer songwriter Tom Waits and was included on his 1987 album Franks Wild Years, which was later made into a stage production.
– The lyrics appear to be religious, with temptation and baring one’s soul to Jesus being the song’s central theme.