WORDS FILL MY HEAD

 

Lost On The River

 

Down On The Bottom.. 1

Married To My Hack. 2

Kansas City. 3

Spanish Mary. 3

Liberty Street 4

Nothing To It 5

Golden Tom – Silver Judas. 6

When I Get My Hands On You. 6

Duncan And Jimmy. 7

Florida Key. 8

Hidee Hidee Ho. 9

Lost On The River. 10

#12 - Written By Bob Dylan And Elvis Costello.. 10

#20 - Written By Bob Dylan, Rhiannon Giddens And Marcus Mumford. 10

Stranger. 11

Card Shark. 12

Quick Like A Flash. 12

Diamond Ring. 13

The Whistle Is Blowing. 14

Six Months In Kansas City (Liberty Street) 15

 

Source:

The New Basement Tapes.

 

 

Down On The Bottom

Written by Bob Dylan and Jim James

 

Down on the bottom

Down to the last drop in the cup

Down on the bottom

No place to go but up

 

Always been in trouble

Nearly all my life

Always been in trouble

Struggle, scorn and strife

 

Go find me my bluebird

Flying so high up above

Go find me my bluebird

Go find me somebody to love

 

[TOP]

 

 

Married To My Hack

Written by Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello

 

Five in the morning, she would fix my lunch

Put it in a paper sack

Where I’m headed, I always appreciate it

But I’d rather stay married to my hack

 

I move like the breeze, and the birds and the bees

That I’ve never been known to look back

I got fifteen women and all of them swimming

But I’d rather stay married to my hack

 

I move fifteen miles every minute, I’m all smiles

I shoot by my sister’s shack

She’s got some friend who waves at men, a fine little hen

But I’d rather stay married to my hack

 

I got twelve-wheel drive and an oversized hive

And air-cooled brakes in the back

Candy McGraft’s always good for a laugh

But I’d rather stay married to my hack

 

I got a pedal to hit and an engine that won’t quit

And a carburetor that won’t crack

Maureen and Milly, they’re a little silly

But there’s nothing that they do lack

 

I got loose-eyed ladies who never seen a man

Just waiting around the back

Gimme a bottle or someone to throttle

Cause I’d rather stay married to my hack

 

[TOP]

 

 

Kansas City

Written by Bob Dylan, Marcus Mumford and Taylor Goldsmith

 

I listen to you time and time again

While you tell me just what’s right

And you tell me a thousand things a day

Then sleep somewhere’s else at night

I’m going back to Kansas City

 

And I love you dear, but just how long

Can I keep singing the same old song

And I love you dear, but just how long

Can I keep singing the same old song

I’m going back to Kansas City

 

And you call me to come, then I do

And you say you made some mistake

You invite me into your house

Then you say you gotta pay for what you break

I’m going back to Kansas City

 

Gypsy woman, you know every place I go

Even a thousand miles away from home

You don’t care if I’m asleep or I’m awake

This fickle heart just turn to stone

I’m going back to Kansas City

 

 

[TOP]

 

 

Spanish Mary

Written by Bob Dylan and Rhiannon Giddens

 

There were three sailors, bold and true

With cargo they did carry

They sailed away on the ocean blue

For the love of Spanish Mary

 

So deeply now were they disturbed

No longer could they tarry

Swoon and swerve

For the love of Spanish Mary

 

In Kingston town of high degree

The buffoon, the fool, the fairy

All paid the dues and inquired to me

For the love of Spanish Mary

 

Beggar man, beggar man tell me no lie

Is it a mystery to live or is it a mystery to die

 

I seek ye not to ask of you

It was in Kingston town indeed

It is said they stopped but not for greed

But for the love of Spanish Mary

 

I remember well, they came one day

The buffoon, the fool, the fairy

They asked of me what could I say

For the love of Spanish Mary

 

‘Tis not of me to talk absurd

No rumor do I carry

No, I’ll not give you one word

But for the love of Spanish Mary

 

[TOP]

 

 

Liberty Street

Written by Bob Dylan and Taylor Goldsmith

 

He came from the old religion

But possessed no magic skill

Descending from machinery

He left nothing in his will

The crops are failing

The women wailing

It’s in the paper at your feet

Six months in Kansas City

Down on Liberty Street

 

It was sad to see it

That little lady going in

Arrested for arson

Once they’d asked her where she’d been

Down on her knees

Not even a breeze

Another victim of the heat

Six months in Kansas City

Down on Liberty Street

 

Things sure don’t look too pretty

Cause a man to rob and steal

I got a full six more months out here

Can’t be begging for my meals

Now look here Baby Snooks

Doesn’t matter what books

You keep underneath your seat

Six months in Kansas City

Down on Liberty Street

 

[TOP]

 

 

Nothing To It

Written by Bob Dylan and Jim James

 

Well I knew I was young enough

And I knew there was nothing to it

cause I’d already seen it done enough

And I knew there was nothing to it

 

There was no organization I wanted to join

So I stayed by myself and took out a coin

There I sat with my eyes in my hand

Just contemplating killing a man

 

(For greed was one thing I just couldn’t stand)

If I was you I’d put back what I took

A guilty man’s got a guilty look

Heads I will and tails I won’t

As long as the call be won’t be my own

 

Well you don’t have to turn your pockets inside out

But I’m sure you can give me something

Well you don’t have to go into your bank account

But I’m sure you can give me something

 

Well I knew I was young enough

And I knew there was nothing to it

cause I’d already seen it done enough

And I knew there was nothing to it

 

[TOP]

 

 

Golden Tom – Silver Judas

Written by Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello

 

They say that today makes up for what yesterday lacked

And it must be some old day and that is a fact

Can’t talk to nobody, don’t know just how they’ll react

Weigh the silver and gold

Be precise and exact

 

How can today make up for yesterday

For it we break up, I guess you would stay

 

Buffalo Bill wouldn’t have known what to do

If he got a just one look, just one good look at you

And I don’t know what to do either

Just want to tell you it’s neither

Tom said “Don’t take her”, Judas said “Leave her”

 

How can today make up for yesterday

For if we break up, I guess you would stay

 

So Golden Tom said to poor Silver Judas

“It’s so hard to say who’s the worst of the two of us

So don’t brood

There’s no fraud in this feud

I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know what to do”

 

How can today make up for yesterday

For it we break up, I wish you would stay

 

[TOP]

 

When I Get My Hands On You

Written by Bob Dylan, Marcus Mumford and Taylor Goldsmith

 

When I set my eyes on you

Gonna keep you outta town at night

When I set my eyes on you

Not gonna be outta my sight

 

And now you know

Everywhere on Earth you go

You’re gonna have me as your man

 

When I get my hands on you

Gonna make you carry me

When I get my hands on you

Gonna make you marry me

 

And now you know

Everywhere on Earth you go

You’re gonna have me as your man

 

When I come home to you

Gonna take you down to the riverside

When I come home to you

Hold you in my arms all night

 

And now you know

Everywhere on Earth you go

You’re gonna have me as your man

 

[TOP]

 

Duncan and Jimmy

Written by Bob Dylan and Rhiannon Giddens

 

Fill up the glasses and take your stand

Tip your hat to the world

Button up the bowtie and dance around

Once again with the fat Hawaiian girl

 

Duncan and Jimmy walk side by side

Nobody walks between them

Duncan and Jimmy walk side by side

Has anybody seen them?

 

Freighter man, freighter man

Which way’s that freighter gonna run tonight

Will it take me down to Jacksonville

Or just leave me be wherever it seems right

 

Duncan and Jimmy walk side by side

Nobody walks between them

Duncan and Jimmy walk side by side

Has anybody seen them?

 

So fill up the glasses and take your stand

Tip your hat to the world

Button up the bowtie and dance all around

Once again with the fat Hawaiian girl

 

Duncan and Jimmy walk side by side

Nobody walks between them

Duncan and Jimmy walk side by side

Has anybody seen them?

 

[TOP]

 

 

Florida Key

Written by Bob Dylan and Taylor Goldsmith

 

Miami woman so fine and fair

I try and try but I can’t get anywhere

I sail out under the sun

Looking for my darling, my only one

I sail all day, and when the day is done

She’s still the one I want to see

I must find that Florida Key

 

Collins Avenue, Fifth Street and Main

I walk up and down but it’s all in vain

My only darling is gone

Took everything and put it out on the lawn

And Jim came and got it and he gave it to John

It’s getting harder and harder to be me

I must find that Florida Key

 

Just standing on the curb watching for boats

While them boys and girls pass by on their big silver goats

I’m getting out while the getting is good

In my ship of steel or in my ship of wood

One more time I’m gonna do just like I should

See, this could only happen to me

I must find that Florida Key

 

Need a little sunshine in my beer

Thinking ‘bout eloping

Nothing’s locked, never will be

Everything is open

 

There’s only one thing that lurks in my mind

It’s nothing here, nothing I’ve left behind

There’s something up front, something I hope to find

I’m gonna set sail again tonight

Round the horn and in the clear moonlight

Or at least I’m sure it’s going to be

Soon as I find my Florida Key

 

[TOP]

 

 

Hidee Hidee Ho

#11 - written by Bob Dylan and Jim James

#16 - written by Bob Dylan, Rhiannon Giddens and Elvis Costello

 

How could she reject me

Send me on my way

How could she suspect me

Of leading her astray

 

I met her accidentally

And I asked to see her home

She told me she wouldn’t mind

And we commenced to roam

 

Hidee Hidee Ho (making love wherever we go)

Hidee Hidee Hee (making love just you and me)

Hidee Hidee Hoo (making love just me and you)

 

I took out my pen knife

And showed it at this rake

He looked at me as if to say

You’re making a mistake

 

I do not frighten easily

Yet no weapon I possess

No matter what you thinkin’, son

You better second guess

 

Hidee Hidee Ho (making love wherever we go)

Hidee Hidee Hee (making love just you and me)

Hidee Hidee Hoo (making love just me and you)

 

Hidee Hidee Ho (making love on the highway bump)

Hidee Hidee Hee (making love in a pile of rope)

Hidee Hidee Hoo (making love on the driveway ramp)

 

 

[TOP]

 

Lost On The River

#12 - written by Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello

 

The tears of a lonely man are hidden within

As he moves from one woman to the next, his spirit grows thin

When he falls in love with one, it’s hard but it’s true

But it’s oh so much harder when that woman is you

 

The leaves on the trees shake when the storm clouds appear

Just as I shake up inside when I follow you here

At your invitation to come to you, dear

 

I got lost on the river, but I got found

I got lost on the river, but I didn’t drown

I got lost on the river, but I didn’t go down

I got lost on the river, but I got found

 

I looked at the graze of blue where the light begins

Through the glass where the rays shot through caressing your skin

Like your invitation to follow you in

 

I got lost on the river, but I got found

I got lost on the river, but I didn’t drown

I got lost on the river, but I didn’t go down

I got lost on the river, but I got found

 

[TOP]

 

#20 - written by Bob Dylan, Rhiannon Giddens and Marcus Mumford

 

The tears of a woman are hidden within

As she moves from one to the next, her spirit grows thin

And when she falls in love with one, it’s hard but it’s true

But it’s oh so much harder when that man is you

 

I got lost on the river, but I got found

I got lost on the river, but I didn’t drown

 

One stormy day I was out at sea

The waves they rolled and tumbled over me

I spied dry land and a tall pale tree

I knew that soon that’s where I’d like to be

 

My sweetheart left me for another one

And now I wait for the next rising sun

 

I got lost on the river, but I got found

I got lost on the river, but I didn’t drown

I got lost on the river, but I didn’t go down

I got lost on the river, but I got found

 

[TOP]

 

Stranger

Written by Bob Dylan and Marcus Mumford

 

Never fall in love with a stranger

And that, son, they all said to me

And never fall in love with a stranger

But I can’t help it if she falls in love with me

 

And never fall in love with a stranger

Now, they’ve gone against my command

And never fall in love with a stranger

The pain is written in my hands

 

But if I can’t resist

Find my way outta this

 

She knows that our love more than any river flows

And I’m done now, all of my intentions are exposed

Not hidden in my clothes

Or in between my toes

 

I wanna tombstone pearl handle revolver

Don’t wanna meet a pale man with a halo in his hair

Never fall in love with a stranger

But sometimes I simply do not care

 

And if I can’t resist

Get my way outta this

 

She knows that our love more than any river flows

And I’m done now, all of my intentions are exposed

Not hidden in my clothes

Or in between my toes

 

I done things right, pretty much all of my life

I’m not looking for any sympathy

I can run all I like away from that stranger

But somehow she’ll always follow me

 

[TOP]

 

Card Shark

Written by Bob Dylan and Taylor Goldsmith

 

There are many kinds of fish that swim in the sea

There’s others that swim in the dark

And of those troupers and trouts and dolphins and whales

The one you must watch is the shark

 

Card shark (yes, m’am)

Get ‘m in the nose

That ol’ card shark

 

Now I sat me down to have some fun

I jumped in the tank for a spell

I boogalooed in the bunkhouse and saw some bandits on the run

I went down to get water from the well

 

Card shark (yes, m’am)

Get ‘m in the nose

That ol’ card shark

 

Now set ‘m up, Samba

Sit on it awhile

Toss in the towel and have a kick

Stick it in the rear and roar for a bit

And waddle down the road like a brick

 

Card shark (yes, m’am)

Get ‘m in the nose

That ol’ card shark

 

[TOP]

 

Quick Like A Flash

Written by Bob Dylan and Jim James

 

Quick like a flash, we got to border that bus

Go down on the hump and screw it

We don’t need your opinions take a look at us

When we find something good, we’re true to it

 

Revenge is sweet when we take a trip or two

Put ol’ Peter in the pocket

Then pull in or out and paint ‘em blue

Put a bow tie on ‘em, and sock it

 

Quick like a flash

Quick like a flash

Quick like a flash

 

Crossharp’s coming just once that’s all

Oh baby, wontcha please come use him

Gang up on the punk and a big checker haul

Poor little punk, don’t bruise him

 

Quick like a flash, we got to border that bus

Go down on the hump and screw it

We don’t need your opinions take a look at us

When we find something good, we’re true to it

 

Quick like a flash

Quick like a flash

Quick like a flash

 

[TOP]

 

 

Diamond Ring

Written by Bob Dylan and Taylor Goldsmith

 

If I ever get back to St. Louis again,

There’s gonna be some changes made

I’m gonna find old Alice and right away where I left off

It’s gonna be just as if I stayed

 

That old organ grinder’s gonna wind his box

And the knife sharpener’s gonna sing

When I get back to St. Louis again

I’m gonna buy that diamond ring

 

Diamond Ring

Diamond Ring

Shine like gold

Behold that diamond ring

 

If I ever get back to St. Louis again

Everybody’s gonna smile

One of the Mack girls dragged me up to Washington

I got stuck there for a while

 

She gave me more misery than a man can hold

And I took her bad advice

Now I don’t aim to bother anyone

I have paid that awful price

 

Diamond Ring

Diamond Ring

Shine like gold

Behold that diamond ring

 

If ever I get back to St. Louis again

That diamond ring’ is gonna shine

That old burlesque dancer is gonna bum around

And everything’s gonna be fine

 

I’m gonna settle up my accounts with lead

And leave the rest up to the law

Then I’m gonna marry the one I love

And head out for Wichita

 

Diamond Ring

Diamond Ring

Shine like gold

Behold that diamond ring

 

[TOP]

 

 

The Whistle Is Blowing

Written by Bob Dylan and Marcus Mumford

 

The whistle is blowing, and the train is going

Just what’s gonna happen next, well, I’m not one to say

I’m sitting here yearning while those wheels keep turning

“I’ll be gone by tonight,” she told me today

 

And next door to the cornstalk, by the side of this sheet rock

I will wait for the morning like a dog in the moon

 

Blow, blow on

Blow, blow on

 

Oh the minutes go slow now, and I hope it don’t snow now

cause it’s quiet and still and that train’s out of sight

All we need is a fat storm to blow by the platform

Oh dear me, that woman, that woman’s always right

 

Blow, blow on

Blow, blow on

 

Blow, blow on

Blow, blow on

 

The whistle is blowing, and the train is going

Just what’s gonna happen next, well, I’m not the one to say

 

[TOP]

 

 

Six Months In Kansas City (Liberty Street)

Written by Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello

 

I see by the papers that

He came from the old religion but possessed no magic skill

Descending from machinery, he left nothing from his will

 

Thank you for not helping me out

For not treating me like a fool

If you didn’t lay me on a cold mattress at night

I might be kicking more than your mule

 

Crops are failing, women are wailing

 

Six months in Kansas City

(Can’t find no room and board)

Six months in Kansas City

(What can lead to that kind of reward?)

Six months in Kansas City

(All my good friends in jail lost out)

Six months in Kansas City

(Some who ain’t got no bail bust out)

Six months in Kansas City

But they find the track and make you come back

Six months in Kansas City

(Down on your knees, not even a breeze, ain’t it a pity?)

Six months in Kansas City

 

Well here now Baby Snooks

It don’t matter how many books you got underneath your thumb

Descended from machinery

You’ve got nothing left to come

 

Thank you for not helping me out

For not treating me like a fool

If you didn’t lay me on a cold mattress at night

I might be kicking more than your mule

 

Crops are failing, women are wailing

 

Six months in Kansas City

(Woe! Can’t be begging for no last meal)

Six months in Kansas City

(Cause a man to rob and steal)

Six months in Kansas City

(All my good friends confounded, indeed)

Six months in Kansas City

(Some lost and some drown and some turn to greed)

Six months in Kansas City

(Some wake one day and they’ve made them king)

Six months in Kansas City

(Make a man ready to do anything)

Six months in Kansas City

(Things sure don’t look too pretty )

Six months in Kansas City

(Are you ready?)

Six months in Kansas City

(Are you ready?)

Six months in Kansas City

(Are ready to admit defeat)

Six months in Kansas City

(Take your place down on Liberty Street)

Six months in Kansas City

 

[TOP]

 

 

 

This page last updated 12 December 2014.