1. A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall
Bob Dylan, 1962
Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, where have you been, my darling young one?
I’ve stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I’ve walked and I’ve crawled on six crooked highways
I’ve stepped in the middle of seven sad forests
I’ve been out in front of a dozen dead oceans
I’ve been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard
And it’s a hard, and it’s a hard, it’s a hard, and it’s a hard
And it’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall
Oh, where have you been, my darling young one?
I’ve stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I’ve walked and I’ve crawled on six crooked highways
I’ve stepped in the middle of seven sad forests
I’ve been out in front of a dozen dead oceans
I’ve been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard
And it’s a hard, and it’s a hard, it’s a hard, and it’s a hard
And it’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall
Oh, what did you see, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, what did you see, my darling young one?
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin’
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin’
I saw a white ladder all covered with water
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children
And it’s a hard, and it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
And it’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall
Oh, what did you see, my darling young one?
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin’
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin’
I saw a white ladder all covered with water
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children
And it’s a hard, and it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
And it’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall
And what did you hear, my blue-eyed son?
And what did you hear, my darling young one?
I heard the sound of a thunder, it roared out a warnin’
Heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world
Heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a-blazin’
Heard ten thousand whisperin’ and nobody listenin’
Heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin’
Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter
Heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley
And it’s a hard, and it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
And it’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall
And what did you hear, my darling young one?
I heard the sound of a thunder, it roared out a warnin’
Heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world
Heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a-blazin’
Heard ten thousand whisperin’ and nobody listenin’
Heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin’
Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter
Heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley
And it’s a hard, and it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
And it’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall
Oh, who did you meet, my blue-eyed son?
Who did you meet, my darling young one?
I met a young child beside a dead pony
I met a white man who walked a black dog
I met a young woman whose body was burning
I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow
I met one man who was wounded in love
I met another man who was wounded with hatred
And it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall
Who did you meet, my darling young one?
I met a young child beside a dead pony
I met a white man who walked a black dog
I met a young woman whose body was burning
I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow
I met one man who was wounded in love
I met another man who was wounded with hatred
And it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall
Oh, what’ll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, what’ll you do now, my darling young one?
I’m a-goin’ back out ’fore the rain starts a-fallin’
I’ll walk to the depths of the deepest black forest
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison
Where the executioner’s face is always well hidden
Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten
Where black is the color, where none is the number
And I’ll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it
And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it
Then I’ll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin’
But I’ll know my song well before I start singin’
And it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall
Oh, what’ll you do now, my darling young one?
I’m a-goin’ back out ’fore the rain starts a-fallin’
I’ll walk to the depths of the deepest black forest
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison
Where the executioner’s face is always well hidden
Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten
Where black is the color, where none is the number
And I’ll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it
And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it
Then I’ll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin’
But I’ll know my song well before I start singin’
And it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall
Copyright © 1963 by Warner Bros. Inc.; renewed 1991 by Special Rider Music#
2. One More Cup of Coffee (Valley Below)
Bob Dylan, 1975
Your breath is sweet,
Your eyes are like two jewels in the sky,
Your back is straight, your hair is smooth
On the pillow where you lie.
But I don't sense affection
No gratitude or love -
Your loyalty is not to me
But to the stars above.
One more cup of coffee for the road,
One more cup of coffee 'fore I go
To the valley below.
Your daddy he's an outlaw
And a wanderer by trade,
He'll teach you how to pick and choose
And how to throw the blade.
He oversees his kingdom
So no stranger does intrude -
His voice it trembles as he calls out
For another plate of food.
One more cup of coffee for the road,
One more cup of coffee 'fore I go
To the valley below.
Your sister sees the future,
Like your mama and yourself.
You've never learned to read or write,
There's no books upon your shelf.
And your pleasure knows no limits,
Your voice is like a meadowlark -
But your heart is like an ocean,
Mysterious and dark.
One more cup of coffee for the road,
One more cup of coffee 'fore I go
To the valley below.
Your eyes are like two jewels in the sky,
Your back is straight, your hair is smooth
On the pillow where you lie.
But I don't sense affection
No gratitude or love -
Your loyalty is not to me
But to the stars above.
One more cup of coffee for the road,
One more cup of coffee 'fore I go
To the valley below.
Your daddy he's an outlaw
And a wanderer by trade,
He'll teach you how to pick and choose
And how to throw the blade.
He oversees his kingdom
So no stranger does intrude -
His voice it trembles as he calls out
For another plate of food.
One more cup of coffee for the road,
One more cup of coffee 'fore I go
To the valley below.
Your sister sees the future,
Like your mama and yourself.
You've never learned to read or write,
There's no books upon your shelf.
And your pleasure knows no limits,
Your voice is like a meadowlark -
But your heart is like an ocean,
Mysterious and dark.
One more cup of coffee for the road,
One more cup of coffee 'fore I go
To the valley below.
Copyright © 1975 Ram's Horn Music
3. All Along the Watchtower
Bob Dylan, 1968
"There must be some way out of here," said the joker to the thief,
"There's too much confusion, I can't get no relief.
Businessmen, they drink my wine, plowmen dig my earth,
None of them along the line know what any of it is worth."
"No reason to get excited," the thief he kindly spoke,
"There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke.
But you and I, we've been through that, and this is not our fate,
So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late."
All along the watchtower, princes kept the view
While all the women came and went, barefoot servants too.
Outside in the distance a wildcat did growl;
Two riders were approaching - the wind began to howl.
"There's too much confusion, I can't get no relief.
Businessmen, they drink my wine, plowmen dig my earth,
None of them along the line know what any of it is worth."
"No reason to get excited," the thief he kindly spoke,
"There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke.
But you and I, we've been through that, and this is not our fate,
So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late."
All along the watchtower, princes kept the view
While all the women came and went, barefoot servants too.
Outside in the distance a wildcat did growl;
Two riders were approaching - the wind began to howl.
Copyright © 1968; renewed 1996 Dwarf Music
4. Blowin' in the Wind
Bob Dylan, 1962
How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannonballs fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
Yes, 'n' how many years can a mountain exist
Before it is washed to the sea?
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head,
And pretend that he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
Yes, 'n' how many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
Before you call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannonballs fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
Yes, 'n' how many years can a mountain exist
Before it is washed to the sea?
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head,
And pretend that he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
Yes, 'n' how many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
Copyright © 1962; renewed 1990 Special Rider Music
5. Every Grain of Sand
Bob Dylan, 1981
In the time of my confession, in the hour of my deepest need,
When the pool of tears beneath my feet flood every newborn seed,
There's a dyin' voice within me reaching out somewhere,
Toiling in the danger and in the morals of despair.
Don't have the inclination to look back on any mistake -
Like Cain I now behold this chain of events that I must break.
In the fury of the moment I can see the Master's hand
In every leaf that trembles, in every grain of sand.
Oh, the flowers of indulgence and the weeds of yesteryear,
Like criminals they have choked the breath of conscience and good cheer.
Ah, the sun beat down upon the steps of time to light the way,
To ease the pain of idleness and the memory of decay.
I gaze into the doorway of temptation's angry flame
And every time I pass that way I always hear my name.
Then onward in my journey I've come to understand
That every hair is numbered like every grain of sand.
I have gone from rags to riches in the sorrow of the night,
In the violence of a summer's dream, in the chill of a wintery light,
In the bitter dance of loneliness fading into space,
In the broken mirror of innocence on each forgotten face.
I hear the agéd footsteps like the motion of the sea,
Sometimes I turn - there's someone there - other times it's only me.
I am hanging in the balance of the reality of man,
Like every sparrow falling, like every grain of sand.
When the pool of tears beneath my feet flood every newborn seed,
There's a dyin' voice within me reaching out somewhere,
Toiling in the danger and in the morals of despair.
Don't have the inclination to look back on any mistake -
Like Cain I now behold this chain of events that I must break.
In the fury of the moment I can see the Master's hand
In every leaf that trembles, in every grain of sand.
Oh, the flowers of indulgence and the weeds of yesteryear,
Like criminals they have choked the breath of conscience and good cheer.
Ah, the sun beat down upon the steps of time to light the way,
To ease the pain of idleness and the memory of decay.
I gaze into the doorway of temptation's angry flame
And every time I pass that way I always hear my name.
Then onward in my journey I've come to understand
That every hair is numbered like every grain of sand.
I have gone from rags to riches in the sorrow of the night,
In the violence of a summer's dream, in the chill of a wintery light,
In the bitter dance of loneliness fading into space,
In the broken mirror of innocence on each forgotten face.
I hear the agéd footsteps like the motion of the sea,
Sometimes I turn - there's someone there - other times it's only me.
I am hanging in the balance of the reality of man,
Like every sparrow falling, like every grain of sand.
Copyright © 1981 Special Rider Music
6. With God on Our Side
Bob Dylan, 1963
Oh my name it ain't nothin' -
My age it means less -
The country I come from
Is called theMidwest .
I's taught and brought up there
The laws to abide
And that the land that I live in
Has God on its side.
Oh the history books tell it -
They tell it so well:
The cavalries charged,
The Indians fell -
The cavalries charged,
The Indians died -
Oh the country was young,
With God on its side.
Oh the Spanish-American
War had its day
And the Civil War too
Was soon laid away,
And the names of the heroes
I's made to memorize -
With guns in their hands
And God on their side.
Oh the First World War, boys,
It came and it went -
The reason for fighting
I never did get -
But I learned to accept it,
Accept it with pride,
For you don't count the dead
When God's on your side.
The Second World War
Came to an end -
We forgave the Germans
And then we were friends -
Though they murdered six million -
In the ovens they fried -
The Germans now too
Have God on their side.
I've learned to hate the Russians
All through my whole life -
If another war comes,
It's them we must fight -
To hate them and fear them,
To run and to hide,
And accept it all bravely
With God on my side.
But now we've got weapons
Of chemical dust -
If fire them we're forced to
Then fire them we must -
One push of the button
And a shot the world wide -
And you never ask questions
When God's on your side.
Through many a dark hour
I've been thinkin' about this:
That Jesus Christ was
Betrayed by a kiss -
But I can't think for you,
You'll have to decide
Whether Judas Iscariot
Had God on his side.
So now as I'm leavin'
I'm weary as Hell -
The confusion I'm feelin'
Ain't no tongue can tell -
The words fill my head
And they fall to the floor:
That if God's on our side,
He'll stop the next war.
My age it means less -
The country I come from
Is called the
I's taught and brought up there
The laws to abide
And that the land that I live in
Has God on its side.
Oh the history books tell it -
They tell it so well:
The cavalries charged,
The Indians fell -
The cavalries charged,
The Indians died -
Oh the country was young,
With God on its side.
Oh the Spanish-American
War had its day
And the Civil War too
Was soon laid away,
And the names of the heroes
I's made to memorize -
With guns in their hands
And God on their side.
Oh the First World War, boys,
It came and it went -
The reason for fighting
I never did get -
But I learned to accept it,
Accept it with pride,
For you don't count the dead
When God's on your side.
The Second World War
Came to an end -
We forgave the Germans
And then we were friends -
Though they murdered six million -
In the ovens they fried -
The Germans now too
Have God on their side.
I've learned to hate the Russians
All through my whole life -
If another war comes,
It's them we must fight -
To hate them and fear them,
To run and to hide,
And accept it all bravely
With God on my side.
But now we've got weapons
Of chemical dust -
If fire them we're forced to
Then fire them we must -
One push of the button
And a shot the world wide -
And you never ask questions
When God's on your side.
Through many a dark hour
I've been thinkin' about this:
That Jesus Christ was
Betrayed by a kiss -
But I can't think for you,
You'll have to decide
Whether Judas Iscariot
Had God on his side.
So now as I'm leavin'
I'm weary as Hell -
The confusion I'm feelin'
Ain't no tongue can tell -
The words fill my head
And they fall to the floor:
That if God's on our side,
He'll stop the next war.
Copyright © 1963; renewed 1991 Special Rider Music
7. All I Really Want To Do
Bob Dylan, 1964
I ain't lookin' to compete with you,
Beat or cheat or mistreat you,
Simplify you, classify you,
Deny, defy or crucify you.
All I really want to do
Is baby be friends with you.
No, and I ain't lookin' to fight with you,
Frighten you or uptighten you,
Drag you down or drain you down,
Chain you down or bring you down.
All I really want to do
Is baby be friends with you.
I ain't lookin' to block you up,
Shock or knock or lock you up,
Analyze you, categorize you,
Finalize you or advertise you.
All I really want to do
Is baby be friends with you.
I don't want to straight-face you,
Race or chase you, track or trace you,
Or disgrace you or displace you,
Or define you or confine you.
All I really want to do
Is baby be friends with you.
I don't want to meet your kin,
Make you spin or do you in,
Or select you or dissect you,
Or inspect you or reject you.
All I really want to do
Is baby be friends with you.
I don't want to fake you out,
Take or shake or forsake you out,
I ain't lookin' for you to feel like me,
See like me or be like me.
All I really want to do
Is baby be friends with you.
Beat or cheat or mistreat you,
Simplify you, classify you,
Deny, defy or crucify you.
All I really want to do
Is baby be friends with you.
No, and I ain't lookin' to fight with you,
Frighten you or uptighten you,
Drag you down or drain you down,
Chain you down or bring you down.
All I really want to do
Is baby be friends with you.
I ain't lookin' to block you up,
Shock or knock or lock you up,
Analyze you, categorize you,
Finalize you or advertise you.
All I really want to do
Is baby be friends with you.
I don't want to straight-face you,
Race or chase you, track or trace you,
Or disgrace you or displace you,
Or define you or confine you.
All I really want to do
Is baby be friends with you.
I don't want to meet your kin,
Make you spin or do you in,
Or select you or dissect you,
Or inspect you or reject you.
All I really want to do
Is baby be friends with you.
I don't want to fake you out,
Take or shake or forsake you out,
I ain't lookin' for you to feel like me,
See like me or be like me.
All I really want to do
Is baby be friends with you.
Copyright © 1964; renewed 1992 Special Rider Music
8. T.V. Talkin' Song
Bob Dylan, 1990
One time in London I'd gone out for a walk
Past the place called a-Hyde park where people talk
'Bout all kinds of different gods - they have their point of view -
To anyone passing by, 'n' that's who they're talking to.
There was someone on the platform talkin' to the folks
About the T.V. god and all the pain that it invokes.
"It's too bright a light," he said, "For anybody's eyes,
If you've never seen one it's a blessing in disguise."
I moved in closer, got up on my toes -
Two men in front of me were coming to blows -
The man was saying something 'bout children when they're young
Being sacrificed to it while lullabies are bein' sung.
"The news of the day is on all the time,
All the latest gossip, all the latest rhyme.
Your mind is your temple, keep it beautiful and free,
Don't let an egg get laid in it by something you can't see."
"Pray for peace!" he said - you could feel it in the crowd -
My thoughts began to wander, but his voice was ringing loud.
"It will destroy your family, your happy home is gone -
No one can protect you from it once you turn it on."
"It will lead you into some strange pursuits,
Lead you to the land of forbidden fruits.
It will scramble up your head and drag your brain about,
Sometimes you got to do like Elvis did and shoot the damn thing out."
"It's all been designed," he said, "To make you lose your mind,
And when you go back to find it, there's nothin' there to find.
Every time you look at it, your situation's worse -
If you feel it grabbing out for you, send for the nurse."
The crowd began to riot and they grabbed hold of the man -
There was pushing, there was shoving and everybody ran.
The T.V. crew was there to film it, they jumped right over me -
Later on that evening I watched it on T.V. . .
Past the place called a-Hyde park where people talk
'Bout all kinds of different gods - they have their point of view -
To anyone passing by, 'n' that's who they're talking to.
There was someone on the platform talkin' to the folks
About the T.V. god and all the pain that it invokes.
"It's too bright a light," he said, "For anybody's eyes,
If you've never seen one it's a blessing in disguise."
I moved in closer, got up on my toes -
Two men in front of me were coming to blows -
The man was saying something 'bout children when they're young
Being sacrificed to it while lullabies are bein' sung.
"The news of the day is on all the time,
All the latest gossip, all the latest rhyme.
Your mind is your temple, keep it beautiful and free,
Don't let an egg get laid in it by something you can't see."
"Pray for peace!" he said - you could feel it in the crowd -
My thoughts began to wander, but his voice was ringing loud.
"It will destroy your family, your happy home is gone -
No one can protect you from it once you turn it on."
"It will lead you into some strange pursuits,
Lead you to the land of forbidden fruits.
It will scramble up your head and drag your brain about,
Sometimes you got to do like Elvis did and shoot the damn thing out."
"It's all been designed," he said, "To make you lose your mind,
And when you go back to find it, there's nothin' there to find.
Every time you look at it, your situation's worse -
If you feel it grabbing out for you, send for the nurse."
The crowd began to riot and they grabbed hold of the man -
There was pushing, there was shoving and everybody ran.
The T.V. crew was there to film it, they jumped right over me -
Later on that evening I watched it on T.V. . .
Copyright © 1990 Special Rider Music
9. Subterranean Homesick Blues
Bob Dylan, 1965
Johny's in the basement
Mixing up the medicine
I'm on the pavement
Thinking about the government
The man in the trench coat
Badge out, laid off
Says he's got a bad cough
Wants to get it paid off
Look out kid
It's somethin' you did
God knows when
But you're doin' it again
You better duck down the alley way
Lookin' for a new friend
The man in the coon-skip cap
In the big pen
Wants eleven dollar bills
You only got ten.
Maggie comes fleet foot
Face full of black soot
Talkin' that the heat put
Plants in the bed but
The phone's tapped anyway
Maggie says that many say
They must bust in early May
Orders from the DA
Look out kid
Don't matter what you did
Walk on your tip toes
Don't try, 'No Doz'
Better stay away from those
That carry around a fire hose
Keep a clean nose
Watch the plain clothes
You don't need a weather man
To know which way the wind blows.
Get sick, get well
Hang around an ink well
Ring bell, hard to tell
If anything is goin' to sell
Try hard, get barred
Get back, write Braille
Get jailed, jump bail Join the army, if you failed
Look out kid
You're gonna get hit
But users, cheaters
Six-time losers
Hang around the theaters
Girl by the whirlpool
Lookin' for a new fool
Don't follow leaders
Watch the parkin' meters.
Ah get born, keep warm
Short pants, romance, learn to dance
Get dressed, get blessed
Try to be a success
Please her, please him, buy gifts
Don't steal, don't lift
Twenty years of schoolin'
And they put you on the day shift
Look out kid
They keep it all hid
Better jump down a manhole
Light yourself a candle
Don't wear sandals
Try to avoid the scandals
Don't wanna be a bum
You better chew gum
The pump don't work
'Cause the vandals took the handles.
Mixing up the medicine
I'm on the pavement
Thinking about the government
The man in the trench coat
Badge out, laid off
Says he's got a bad cough
Wants to get it paid off
Look out kid
It's somethin' you did
God knows when
But you're doin' it again
You better duck down the alley way
Lookin' for a new friend
The man in the coon-skip cap
In the big pen
Wants eleven dollar bills
You only got ten.
Maggie comes fleet foot
Face full of black soot
Talkin' that the heat put
Plants in the bed but
The phone's tapped anyway
Maggie says that many say
They must bust in early May
Orders from the DA
Look out kid
Don't matter what you did
Walk on your tip toes
Don't try, 'No Doz'
Better stay away from those
That carry around a fire hose
Keep a clean nose
Watch the plain clothes
You don't need a weather man
To know which way the wind blows.
Get sick, get well
Hang around an ink well
Ring bell, hard to tell
If anything is goin' to sell
Try hard, get barred
Get back, write Braille
Get jailed, jump bail Join the army, if you failed
Look out kid
You're gonna get hit
But users, cheaters
Six-time losers
Hang around the theaters
Girl by the whirlpool
Lookin' for a new fool
Don't follow leaders
Watch the parkin' meters.
Ah get born, keep warm
Short pants, romance, learn to dance
Get dressed, get blessed
Try to be a success
Please her, please him, buy gifts
Don't steal, don't lift
Twenty years of schoolin'
And they put you on the day shift
Look out kid
They keep it all hid
Better jump down a manhole
Light yourself a candle
Don't wear sandals
Try to avoid the scandals
Don't wanna be a bum
You better chew gum
The pump don't work
'Cause the vandals took the handles.
Subterranean Homesick Blues. Copyright © 1965 by Warner Bros inc. Copyright renewed 1993 by Special Rider Music
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB!!!
Fantastic Discussion Group tonight!!! Thank you to everyone who came!!
ReplyDelete'Don't follow leaders. Watch the parkin' meters'