Sunday, January 23, 2011

Like A Rolling Stone

Once upon a time you dressed so fine- threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you? People'd call, say, "Beware doll, you're bound to fall-" you thought they were all a’kiddin' you. You used to laugh about everybody that was hangin' out. Now you don't talk so loud, now you don't seem so proud, about having to be scrounging your next meal.

How does it feel? How does it feel to be without a home, like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone…?

Aw, you've gone to the finest school all right, Miss Lonely, but you know you only used to get juiced in it. Nobody’s ever taught you how to live out on the street and now you're gonna have to get used to it. You say you’d never compromise with a mystery tramp, but now you realize he's not selling any alibis as you stare into the vacuum of his eyes and say, “Do you want to make a deal?”

How does it feel? How does it feel to be on your own with no direction home, a complete unknown, like a rolling stone…?

Aw, you never turned around to see the frowns on the jugglers and the clowns when they all did tricks for you. You never understood that it ain't no good- you shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you. You used to ride on a chrome horse with your diplomat who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat. Ain't it hard when you discover that he really wasn't where it's at, after he took from you everything he could steal?

How does it feel? How does it feel to have (sic) on your own, with no direction home, like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone…?

Aw, princess on the steeple and all the pretty people they're all drinkin', thinkin' that they’ve got it made. Exchanging all precious gifts, but you'd better take your diamond ring- you'd better pawn it, babe. You used to be so amused at Napoleon in rags and the language that he used. Go to him now, he calls you- you can't refuse. When you ain’t got nothing, you’ve got nothing to lose. You're invisible now; you’ve got no secrets to conceal.

How does it feel? Aw, how does it feel to be on your own, with no direction home, like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone…?


-Bob Dylan

1 comment:

Dad said...

I remember when that was played on the local radio station for the very first time!