Bette Midler

Released: November 17, 1977

Featuring: Tom Waits

Songwriter: Tom Waits

Producer: Brooks Arthur

Bette: "Bartender, I'd like a Manhattan, please."

Tom: Um, stop me if you've heard this one
But I feel as though we've met before
Perhaps I am mistaken
Bette: But it's just that I remind you of
Someone you used to care about
Oh, but that was long ago
Now tell me, do you really think
I'd fall for that old line?
I was not born just yesterday
Besides, I never talk to strangers anyway

Tom: Well, hell, I ain't such a bad guy
Once you get to know me
Just thought there ain't no harm
Bette: Hey-e-yeh, just try minding your own business, bud
Who asked you to annoy me
With your sad, sad repartee?
Besides, I never talk to strangers anyway

Your life's a dime store novel
This town is full of guys like you
And you're looking for someone
To take the place of her

Tom: You must be reading my mail
'N' you're bitter 'cause he left you
That's why you're drinkin' in this bar
Bette&Tom: Well, only suckers fall in love
With perfect strangers

Bette: It always takes one to know one, stranger
Tom: Maybe we're just wiser now
Bette: Yeah, 'n' been around the block
So many times
Tom:that we don't notice
Bette&Tom: that we're all just perfect strangers
As long as we ignore
That we all begin as strangers
Just before we find
We really aren't strangers
Anymore

Bette: "Aw, you don't look like such a chump."

Tom: "Aw, hey babe."

Bette Midler is a Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, comedienne and actress. Named in honor of Bette Davis, Midler’s career began performing off-broadway until she developed the stage persona The Divine Miss M while singing at the world-famous Continental Baths gay bathhouse. A pre-fame Barry Manilow, the venue’s in-house piano player, produced her Grammy-nominated debut album which scored three US top 40 singles including the Grammy-nominated “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”. Midler took home the Best New Artist Grammy that year, her first of three career wins.

Throughout the 1970s, Midler found further success with music, Broadway, television and film. The Rose, Midler’s 1979 acting debut, earned her both Oscar and Academy Award nominations, and its namesake song won her a Golden Globe and another Grammy – also giving Midler her first success overseas.

The early 1980s proved less successful for Midler with four under-performing singles and a box office flop with the film Jinxed. However, the second half of the decade would prove far more fruitful with a handful of very successful films including Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Ruthless People, Outrageous Fortune and Beaches, the latter featuring a chart-topping cover of “Wind Beneath My Wings” that won Midler her third Grammy and is considered one of the greatest songs in American film history.

more tracks from the album

Broken Blossom

From the album

Broken Blossom (1977)

Bette Midler popular songs

I Never Talk to StrangersBette Midler

Bette Midler

Broken Blossom