Barber Shop Blues . . .

Minus 10 degrees today, with minus 20 windchill. So it's easy to forgive the owner of the Family Barber Stylist if he leaves a note on his door, Sorry Closed Today, and goes back to bed. Unless you're a customer braving the cold for a quick trim before going for that important meeting . . .

This old shop is one of many in Acton, a few miles from Georgetown, that hasn't been demolished in the name of progress. Just look at the picture, squint a little and you can hear Tom Waits, growling his homage to mr snip-snip-snip . . .LISTEN HERE

Good mornin mr. snip snip snip witchur haircut jus as short as mine
Bay rum lucky tiger butch wax cracker jacks shoe shine jaw breaker
Magazine racks hangin round the barber shop a side burnin close crop
Mornin mr. furgeson what's the good word witcha been
Stayin outa trouble like a good boy should I see you're still cuttin hair

Not sure about cracker jacks shoeshine jaw breaker, though; Acton's not that kind of town, not these days anyway . . .