10 songs that feel like Martha
Matched to Martha by Tom Waits on how the music actually moves — intensity, dynamic swing, texture, tempo — not by genre tag. Here's what makes each one a match.
A 96% feel-match — carries the same contemplative pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (60/100). Nearly the same tempo, too (60 BPM).
83% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it sits a little calmer at 21/100. Same smooth texture.
Keeps the same nostalgic pull — sits a little calmer at 15/100. Measured 83% alike.
Measures 83% the same. It sits a little calmer at 14/100. Same smooth texture.
A 80% feel-match — carries the same nostalgic pull and sits a little calmer at 8/100.
83% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it sits a little calmer at 17/100. Same smooth texture.
Keeps the same nostalgic pull — sits a little calmer at 25/100. Measured 82% alike.
Measures 83% the same. It sits a little calmer at 19/100. Same smooth texture.
A 81% feel-match — carries the same nostalgic pull and sits a little calmer at 26/100.
83% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it sits a little calmer at 15/100. Same smooth texture.
…and if you want it calmer
Same feeling, measured gentler — for when Martha is more than you want right now.
Keeps the same feel of the original, but it stays in our safe band start to finish. Intensity 8/100, down from 60.
It stays in our safe band start to finish, so it lands at 21/100 — the pull without the edge.
If it's the same feel you're after, this delivers it while it stays in our safe band start to finish. Reads 7/100. Nearly the same tempo, too.
Holds the same feel while it stays in our safe band start to finish. 14/100, versus the original's 60. Nearly the same tempo, too.
Keeps the same feel of the original, but it measures markedly calmer overall. Intensity 40/100, down from 60.
It stays in our safe band start to finish, so it lands at 16/100 — the pull without the edge.
If it's the same feel you're after, this delivers it while it measures markedly calmer overall. Reads 19/100.
Holds the same feel while it measures markedly calmer overall. 37/100, versus the original's 60.
Frequently asked
What songs sound like “Martha” by Tom Waits?
The closest feel-matches we measure are “Waiting Around to Die” by Townes Van Zandt, “The Tree of Forgiveness” by John Prine, “Back to the Old House” by The Smiths — the top match scores 96% alike. Matching is by how the songs actually move (intensity, dynamic range, texture, tempo, predictability, vocal force), not by genre tag or popularity.
What songs are like “Martha” but calmer?
“I Remember Everything” by John Prine, “The Tree of Forgiveness” by John Prine, “A Lack of Color” by Death Cab for Cutie keep a similar feel while measuring gentler — lower dynamic swing, fewer sudden shifts, or a calmer overall level.
How intense is “Martha”?
It measures 60/100 on our intensity scale, computed from a dynamic range of 3/10, smooth texture, no sudden shifts, and soft vocals. Tempo is 60 BPM.
How do you decide which songs are similar?
Every song in our catalog is measured on 8 dimensions — intensity, dynamic range, tempo, sudden changes, texture, predictability, vocal force and fine sound detail. Similarity is the distance between two songs across those measurements, so matches cross genres and eras. Shared mood tags break ties.
By the numbers: how this song compares
Computed from this song’s place among the 19,209 songs we’ve measured.
Where it sits in 19,000 songs
On our 19k-song scale this lands in the middle band — more energetic than 77% of songs, calmer than the other 23%. Its intensity reading of 60/100 comes from a dynamic range of 3/10, smooth texture, no sudden shifts, and soft vocals. Relatively few songs occupy this exact corner of the spectrum.
What makes it unusual
What stands out most about this song is an unusually steady, even volume: more extreme on that axis than 100% of everything we've measured. At the far opposite end of the library sit the songs built on full chaos — sudden changes, huge quiet-to-loud swings, and relentless energy — the kind of track this one is the counterpoint to.
Feels almost identical to
Closest matches by feel across all 19,209 measured songs — not by genre or artist, by how they actually move.
Dial the feeling up or down
What it’s good for
Scored from this song’s tempo, intensity, dynamics and texture — not crowd votes.
1973 in context
The 297 songs we’ve measured from 1973 average a dynamic range of 6.4/10. At 3/10, this track is gentler and steadier than its year.
Mixes smoothly with
Within a few BPM and close in feel — they flow without a jarring transition.
The fingerprint
The 8-dimension measurement behind every rating on this page.
Want the single closest match, with every dimension compared?
Find its sonic twin →