Meaning of "Misery Is The River Of The World" by Tom Waits

The lyrics of "Misery Is The River Of The World" paint a grim picture of the human condition, highlighting the inevitability of suffering and hardship in life. The repeated lines about the monkey climbing higher and showing its tail suggest that as humans strive for success and climb higher in society, they often reveal their flaws and vulnerabilities. The references to God and the devil building churches and chapels, along with the imagery of thistles growing around a tree, convey a sense of duality and the constant battle between good and evil. The idea that all the good in the world can fit inside a thimble emphasizes the scarcity of positivity in the world contrasted with the abundance of misery. The final verses about loss due to insignificant things like a nail or a toy highlight the fragility of life and how easily things can spiral into chaos. Ultimately, the song seems to suggest that misery is an inherent part of the human experience and that it is something that everyone must navigate in their own way.