The fifth season of The Wire has received a tremendous amount of press, most of it slavering over the pure genius of the show (I include myself in that). There has also been a fair amount of debate regarding the direction of this season. Is David Simon giving too much airtime to the newsroom at the expense of characters we’ve come to love? Has McNulty’s recent insanity strained the believability of his character? On a scale of 1 to 10, exactly how much do you want to see that punk-ass Marlo get what’s coming to him? (The only correct answer to that last one is 11.) However, there has been remarkably little discussion of this season’s version of the show’s theme song.
Tom Waits may have recorded “Way Down in the Hole” back in 1987, but twenty years later most people only know it as the theme to The Wire, if they know it at all. And that’s a damn shame, because this is one hell of an awesome song. Each season of the show features a new version of the tune, and they all interpret it differently. The Blind Boys of Alabama brought out its lowdown, bluesy notes, perfect for the first season’s focus on Baltimore’s inner-city drug trade. In season 2, Waits himself, the poet laureate of America’s working class, set the tone for the stories of the dock workers. Each season has used the theme to set the stage for its story arc, and I’m curious to see how Steve Earle’s version will match the show’s final season.
Have a listen to the clips below, then tell me: does this season’s rendition live up to those that have come before? And which is your favorite take on the song?
Season 1, The Blind Boys of Alabama:
Season 2, Tom Waits:
Season 3, The Neville Brothers:
Season 4, DoMaJe (5 Baltimore teenagers):
Season 5, Steve Earle:
Despite my absolute and unshakable love of Tom Waits, I’m actually partial to season 4. This is partly because I still can’t believe that someone made a beat-laden R&B version of a Waits song, but also because I find the hopeful voices paired with the menacing beats downright mesmerizing. What about you?
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January 22nd, 2008 at 10:02 am
I’m only up to season 3, and preferred the first season’s song so far, but I do quite like 4 and 5. I tend to skip the credits anyway, they take too long, but I’d be more likely to watch with those versions. I think the one for 3 is the weakest.
January 22nd, 2008 at 5:24 pm
I agree with you on 3, partly because it doesn’t seem to match the season quite as well as 1, 2 & 4 do (the jury is still out on 5). However, season 3 is probably my favorite season overall, except for those days when it’s season 4.
January 31st, 2008 at 10:58 pm
The Show is great, have to thank my son for turning me on to it. For me this season`s version is the best.
February 25th, 2008 at 9:17 am
season four is the best. i concur. wonderful how they all seem to match the season’s theme. the last episode is going to be sick.