Tom Waits IS that OG.

Tom Waits agreed that The Wire could use “Way Down in the Hole” provided they first let him see the show. Videotapes were promptly dispatched to the Waits household, followed by weeks of agonizing silence. When the execs finally got the courage to give the legendary singer-songwriter a call, Mr Waits explained that he'd received the cassettes but he couldn't play them because he didn't know how to operate his VCR. "My wife knows how to use it and she'll be back in a couple of days," Waits continued. Two days later, a release was signed. (IMDb)

When they're so confidently incorrect.

Waits original version is the best but all but S4 hold up well. S1 Blind Boys of Alabama s2 Tom Waits (song writer and original version) S3 The Neville Brothers S4 DoMaJe S5 Steve Earle (played Waylon in The Wire and Harley in Treme)

Have we, as a society, moved on from disliking season two as a season of television, but maintain the same feelings about it, only they manifest as lashing out about ancillary things like hating on the song? Tom Waits is top-drawer.

Every time I start a new season I hate on the theme song change. A few episodes in and I'm loving it. Every watch, every new season, every time.

There is only one Tom Waits.

Tom Waits, Bob Dylan and Popeye talking backstage on family guy is one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen

Family Guy?

Apologies Zig, occasionally I cheat on The Wire

It's a great rendition

RIP James Ransone

Totally. Always liked this one the most.

Season 5 was an Ode to liberal BS. What a shame.

Probably a Taylor Swift/Nickleback fan.

I hated this at first but at the end of the season it became one of my favourite versions. Sad not to have Tom’s version season 3, but loved that they changed it to show the different focus of each successive season.

Legendary voice

Oh God. I haven't watched The Wire for the last 10 years because I watched it 15+ times before that and felt like I knew every line, but listening to that song again is like giving an addict a free taste.

It’s my favorite version for sure