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In The Wind" Album Liner Notes (By Bob Dylan)"
Snow was piled up the stairs an onto the street that first
winter when I laid around New York City
It was a different street then-
It was a different village-
Nobody had nothin-
There was nothin t get-
Instead a bein drawn for money you were drawn
for other people-
Everybody used t hang around a heat pipe poundin subterranean
coffee house called the Gaslight-
It was at that time buried beneath the middle a MacDougal Street-
It was a strange place an not out a any schoolbook-
More'n seven nites a week the cops and firemen'd storm down the
steps handin' out summons for trumped up reasons-
More'n five nites a week out a town bullies'd start trouble an
everybody from John the owner t Dave the cook t Rod the cash
register ringer t Adele the waitress t anybody who was on the
stage t just plain friends who were hangin around would have
t come up swingin dishes an handles an brooms an chairs an
sometimes even swords 'at hung on the wall in order t match
the bullies' weight an the bullies was always big bullies-
Everybody that hung out at the Gaslight was close-
Yuh had t be-
In order t keep from going insane and in order t survive-
An it can't be denied-
It was a hangout-
But not like the street corner-
Down there we weren't standin lookin out at the world watchin
girls-and findin out how they walk-
We was lookin at each other ... and findin out about ourselves-
It is 'f these times that I remember most sadly-
For they're gone-
An they'll not never come again-
It is 'f these times I think about now-
I think back t one a them nites when the doors was locked
an maybe thirty or forty people sat as close t the stage as
they could-
It was another nite past one o'clock an that meant that the
tourists on the street coundn't get in-
At these hours there was no tellin what was bound t happen-
Never never could the greatest prophesizor ever guess it-
There was not such a thing as an audience-
There was not such a thing as performers-
Everybody did somethin-
An had something t say about somethin-
I remember Hugh who wore different kinda clothes then but
still shouted an tongue twisted flowin lines a poetry
that anybody who could be struck by the sounds 'f a rock
hittin a brick wall could understand-
I remember Luke playin his banjo and singin "East Virginia"
with a tone as soft as the snow outside an "Mr. Garfield"
with a bitin touch as hard as the stovepipe on the inside-
An Dave singin "House a the Risin Sun" with his back leaned
against the bricks an words runnin out in a lonesome
hungry growlin whisper that any girl with her face hid in the
dark could understand-
Paul then was a guitar player singer comedian-
But not the funny ha ha kind-
His funnyness could only be defined an described by the word
"hip" or "hyp"-
A combination a Charlie Chaplin Jonathan Winters and Peter Lorre-
Maybe it was that nite that somebody flicked a piece a card-
board in fron a the tiny spotlight an he made quick jerky
movements on the stage and everybody's eyes was seein first
hand a silent movie for real-
The bearded villan 'f an out a print picture-
There aint room enuff on thepaper t tell about everybody
that was there an exactly what they did-
Every nite was a true high degree novel-
Anyway it was one a these nites when Paul said
"Yuh gotta now hear me an Peter an Mary sing"
Mary's hair was down almost t her waist then-
An Peter's beard was only about half grown-
An the Gaslight stage was smaller
An the song they sung was younger-
But the walls shook
An everybody smiled-
An everybody felt good-
An down there approval didn't come with the clappin a hands
at the end 'f the song-
It came burstin out anytime any way it felt like
burstin out-
An they were approved-
By the people watchin 'm and by 'mselves-
Which really was one-
An that's where the beginnin was at-
Inside them walls 'f a subterranean world-
But it's a concrete kind a beginnin-
It's concrete cause it's close-
An that feelin aint t be forgotten-
Yuh carry it with yuh-
It's a feelin that's born an not bought
An it can't be taught-
An by livin with it yuh learn t see and know it in other
people-
T sing an speak as one yuh gotta think as one-
An yuh gotta believe as one-
An yuh gotta feel as one-
An Peter an Paul and Mary're now carryin the feelin
that was inside them walls up the steps t the whole
outside world-
The rooster never crowed on MacDougal Street-
There was no dew on the grass an the sun never came shinin
over the mountain-
There was nothin t tell yuh it was morning cept the
pins and needles feelin in yer arms an legs from stayin
up all nite-
But all 'f us find our way a knowing when it's mornin-
An once yuh know the feelin it don't change-
It can only grow-
For Peter's grown
An Paul's grown
An Mary's grown
An the times've grown |
Very Last Day
[Chorus:]
Everybody gonna pray on the very last day
Oh when they hear that bell a-ring the world away
Everybody gonna pray to the heavens on the judgement day.
Well you can sing about the great king David
And you can preach about the wisdom of Saul
But the judgement falls on all mankind
When the trumpet sounds the call.
All equal and the same
When the Lord He calls your name
Get ready, brother, for that day.
[Chorus]
Well one day soon all men will stand
His word will be heeded in all the land
Men shall know and men shall see,
We all are brothers and we all are free
Mankind was made of clay
Each of us in the very same way
Get ready, brother, for that day
[Chorus]
Oh well the law is given and the law is known,
A tale is told and the seed is sown,
From dust we came into dust we'll go,
You the know the Lord once told us so.
Each brother takes His hand,
Heed the meaning of the Lord's command
Get ready, brother, for that day.
[Chorus]
Hush-A-Bye
Hush-a-bye, don't you cry, go to sleep you little baby.
When you wake you shall have all the pretty little horses.
Dapples and greys, pintos and bays, all the pretty little horses.
Way down yonder, in the meadow,
poor little baby cryin, "mama";
Birds and the butterflies flutter round his eyes,
poor little baby cryin' "mama".
Hush-a-bye, don't you cry, go to sleep you little baby.
When you wake you shall have all the pretty little horses.
Dapples and greys, pintos and bays, all the pretty little horses.
Long Chain On
One night as I lay on my pillow,
moonlight as bright as the dawn
I saw a man come a walking,
he had a long chain on.
I heard his chains a clankin',
they made a mournful sound,
Welded around his body,
draggin' along the ground.
[Chorus:]
He had a long chain on
He had a long chain on
He had a long chain on
He stood beside my window,
he looked at me and he said
"I am so tired and hungry.
Give me a bite of your bread"
He didn't look like a robber,
he didn't look like a thief
His voice was as soft as the moonlight,
a face full of sorrow and grief.
[Chorus]
I went into my kitchen,
fetched him a bowl full of meat
A drink and a pan of cold biscuits,
that's what I gave him to eat
Though he was tired and hungry
a bright light came over his face
He bowed his head in the moonlight,
he said a beautiful grace.
[Chorus]
I got my hammer and chisel,
offered to set him free
He looked at me and said softly,
"I guess we had best let it be."
When he had finished his supper,
he thanked me again and again.
Though it's been years since I've seen him,
still hear him draggin' his chain.
[Chorus]
Rocky Road
Red light green light 'round the town,
I found a penny on the ground
Met a friend I never know'd,
walkin' down ol' Rocky Road.
Red Green ol' Rocky Road, tell me what you see.
Tell me inside out, tell me upside down,
All around the block, all around the town.
Red Green ol' Rocky Road, tell me what you see.
Jimmy, come out and play.
Well Red Light, Green Light and I'll be "it" today.
Red Green ol' Rocky Road, tell me what you see.
Hey Jimmy Huggins your name's been called
Come and stand beside the wall.
Pick a girl that you know well
You can kiss and you can tell.
Red Green ol' Rocky Road, tell me what you see.
Jenny, come out and play.
Well Red Light, Green Light and I'll be "it" today.
Red Green ol' Rocky Road, tell me what you see.
Little Miss Jenny, don't you hide
Papa's gonna take you for a pony ride.
One potato, two potato, three potato, four
Cross the line and close the door.
[Repeat]
Red Green ol' Rocky Road, tell me what you see
Tell me inside out, tell me upside down,
All around the block, all around the town.
Red Green ol' Rocky Road, tell me what you see.
Red light green light 'round the town,
I found a penny on the ground
Met a friend I never know'd,
walkin' down ol' Rocky Road. |
Tell It On The Mountain
[Chorus:]
Go tell it on the mountain, over the hill and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain, to let My people go.
Who's that yonder dressed in red, let My people go
Must be the children that Moses led, let My people go
Who's that yonder dressed in red,
Must be the children that Moses led
Go tell it on the mountain, to let My people go.
[Chorus]
Who's that yonder dressed in white, let My people go
Must be the children of the Israelite, let My people go
Who's that yonder dressed in white,
Must be the children of the Israelite
Go tell it on the mountain, to let My people go
[Chorus]
Who's that yonder dressed in black, let My people go
Must be the hypocrites turnin' back, let My people go
Who's that yonder dressed in black,
Must be the hypocrites turnin' back
[Chorus]
Polly Von
I shall tell of a hunter whose life was undone
By the cruel hand of evil at the setting of the sun
His arrow was loosed and it flew through the dark,
And his true love was slain as the shaft found its mark.
[Chorus:]
She'd her apron wrapped about her and he took her for a swan
But it's oh and alas it was she, Polly Von
He ran up beside her and found it was she
He turned away his head for he could not bear to see
He lifted her up and found she was dead,
A fountain of tears for his true love, he shed.
[Chorus]
He bore her away to his home by the sea
Cryin' "Father, oh father, I murdered poor Polly!
I've killed my fair love in the flower of her life!
I always intended that she be my wife."
"But she'd her apron wrapped about her
and I took her for a swan,
And it's oh and alas it was she, Polly Von."
He roamed near the place where his true love was slain
He wept bitter tears, but his cries were all in vain.
As he looked on the lake, a swan glided by
And the sun slowly sank in the grey of the sky.
[Chorus]
Stewball
Oh Stewball was a racehorse, and I wish he were mine.
He never drank water, he always drank wine.
His bridle was silver, his mane it was gold.
And the worth of his saddle has never been told.
Oh the fairgrounds were crowded, and Stewball was there
But the betting was heavy on the bay and the mare.
And a-way up yonder, ahead of them all,
Came a-prancin' and a-dancin' my noble Stewball.
I bet on the grey mare, I bet on the bay
If I'd have bet on ol' Stewball, I'd be a free man today.
Oh the hoot owl, she hollers, and the turtle dove moans.
I'm a poor boy in trouble, I'm a long way from home.
Oh Stewball was a racehorse, and I wish he were mine.
He never drank water,he always drank wine.
All My Trials
All my trials Lord, soon be over.
I had a little book was given to me,
And every page spelled Liberty.
All my trials Lord, soon be over.
If religion were a thing that money could buy,
The rich would live and the poor would die.
All my trials Lord, soon be over.
Too late my brothers, too late, but never mind.
All my trials Lord, soon be over.
There is a tree in Paradise
The Pilgrims call it "The Tree Of Life"
All my trials Lord, soon be over.
Too late my brothers, too late, but never mind.
All my trials Lord, soon be over.
All my trials Lord, soon be over.
Freight Train
[Chorus:]
Freight train freight train goin' so fast
Freight train freight train goin' so fast
Please don't tell what train I'm on
So they won't know where I've gone.
Freight train, freight train, comin' round the bend
Freight train, freight train, gone again
One of these days turn that train around
Go back to my hometown.
[Chorus]
One more place I'd like to be
One more place I'd love to see
To watch those old Blue Ridge Mountains climb
As I ride ol' Number Nine.
[Chorus]
When I die please bury me deep
Down at the end of Bleecker Street
So I can hear ol' Number Nine
As she goes rollin' by.
[Chorus] |
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Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
It ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe,
It don't matter, anyhow.
And it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe,
If you don't know by now.
When the rooster crows at the break of dawn,
Look out your window and I'll be gone
You're the reason I'm travelin' on,
Don't think twice it's all right.
It ain't no use in turnin' on your light, babe,
Light I never know'd
It ain't no use in turnin' on your light, babe,
I'm on the dark side of the road.
Still I wish there was somethin' you would do or say
To try and make me change my mind and stay,
We never did too much talkin' anyway,
Don't think twice it's all right.
I'm walkin' down that long, lonesome road, babe,
Where I'm bound, I can't tell
But goodbye is too good a word gal,
So I'll just say "fair-thee-well"
I ain't saying you treated me unkind,
You could uh done better, but I don't mind
You just sorta wasted my precious time,
Don't think twice it's all right.
It ain't no use in callin' out my name gal,
Like you never did before
It ain't no use in callin' out my name gal,
I can't hear you anymore.
I'm a thinkin' and a wonderin' all the way down the road
I once loved a woman, a child I'm told,
I gave her my heart but she wanted my soul,
Don't think twice it's all right. |
Quit Your Low Down Ways
You can read out your Bible,
You can fall down on your knees pretty momma
And pray to the Lord but it ain't gonna do you no good.
[Chorus:]
Cause you gonna need -
You gonna need my help someday
Well if you can't stop your sinnin' please,
Quit your low down ways.
Well you can run down to the White House
You can gaze at the capitol dome pretty momma,
You can pound on the president's gates,
You ought to know by now it's gonna be too late
[Chorus]
Well you can run down to the desert
Throw yourself on the burnin' sand
You can raise up your right hand pretty momma
But you better understand you lost your one good man
[Chorus]
You can hitch hike on the highway
You can stand all alone by the side of the road
You can try to flag a ride back home pretty momma
But you can't ride in my car no more
[Chorus]
You can preach out your Bible,
You can fall down on your knees pretty momma
And pray to the Lord but it ain't gonna do you no good
[Chorus] |
Blowin' In The Wind
How many roads must a man walk down
Before they call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
How many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
How many years must a mountain exist
Before it is washed to the sea?
How many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
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.
How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
How many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
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.
The answer is blowin' in the wind. |