Subterranean Homesick Blues

Bob Dylan

Produced by Tom Wilson

Album: Bringing It All Back Home 

 

Johnny's in the basement, mixin' up the medicine 

I'm on the pavement, thinkin' 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 alleyway, looking for a new friend 

The man in the coon-skin cap in a pig pen 

Wants 11 dollar bills – you only got 10

 

Maggie comes fleet foot, face full of black soot 

Talkin' that the heat put plants in the bed, but 

Phone's tapped anyway 

Maggie says the many say 

They must bust in early May 

Orders from the D.A 

Look out kid, don't matter what you did 

Walk on your tip toes, don’t tie no bows 

Better stay away from those that carry around a fire hose 

Keep a clean nose, watch the plainclothes 

You don't need a weather man to know which way the wind blows 

 

Oh, get sick, get well, hang around a ink well 

Hang bail, hard to tell if anything is gonna sell

Try hard, get barred, get back, ride rail 

Get jailed, jump bail, join the Army if you fail 

Look out kid, you're gonna get hit 

By losers, cheaters, six-time users 

Hanging 'round the theaters 

Girl by the whirlpool's looking for a new fool 

Don't follow leaders, a-watch the parking meters

 

Oh, 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 

20 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 want to be a bum, you better chew gum 

The pump don't work 'cause the vandals took the handles