Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts by Bob Dylan

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Bob Dylan
Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts
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Lyrics for Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts as interpreted by Jack

Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts Lyrics

Send "Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts" Ringtone to your Cell

The festival was over and the boys were all planning for a fall
The cabaret was quiet except for the drilling in the wall
The curfew had been lifted and the gambling wheel shut down
Anyone with any sense had already left town
He was standing in the doorway looking like the Jack of Hearts

He moved across the mirrored room, "Set it up for everyone," he said
Then everyone commenced to do what they were doing before he turned their heads
Then he walked up to a stranger and he asked him with a grin
"Could you kindly tell me, friend, what time the show begins?"
Then he moved into the corner, face down like the Jack of Hearts

Backstage the girls were playing five-card stud by the stairs
Lily had two queens, she was hoping for a third to match her pair
Outside the streets were filling up, the window was open wide
A gentle breeze was blowing, you could feel it from inside
Lily called another bet and drew up the Jack of Hearts

Big Jim was no one's fool, he owned the town's only diamond mine
He made his usual entrance looking so dandy and so fine
With his bodyguards and silver cane and every hair in place
He took whatever he wanted to and he laid it all to waste
But his bodyguards and silver cane were no match for the Jack of Hearts

Rosemary combed her hair and took a carriage into town
She slipped in through the side door looking like a queen without a crown
She fluttered her false eyelashes and whispered in his ear
"Sorry, darling, that I'm late," but he didn't seem to hear
He was staring into space over at the Jack of Hearts

"I know I've seen that face before," Big Jim was thinking to himself
"Maybe down in Mexico or a picture up on somebody's shelf"
But then the crowd began to stamp their feet and the house lights did dim
And in the darkness of the room there was only Jim and him
Staring at the butterfly who just drew the Jack of Hearts

Lily was a princess, she was fair-skinned and precious as a child
She did whatever she had to do, she had that certain flash every time she smiled
She'd come from a broken house, had lots of strange affairs
With men in every walk of life which took her everywhere
But she's never met anyone quite like the Jack of Hearts

The hanging judge came in unnoticed and was being wined and dined
The drilling in the wall kept up but no one seemed to pay it any mind
It was known all around that Lily had Jim's ring
And nothing would ever come between Lily and the King
No, nothing ever would except maybe the Jack of Hearts

Rosemary started drinking hard and seeing her reflection in the knife
She was tired of the attention, tired of playing the role of Big Jim's wife
She had done a lot of bad things, even once tried suicide
Was looking to do just one good deed before she died
She was gazing to the future, riding on the Jack of Hearts

Lily took her dress off, buried it away
"Has your luck run out?" she laughed at him, "Well, I guess you must have known it would someday
Be careful not to touch the wall, there's a brand-new coat of paint
I'm glad to see you're still alive, you're looking like a saint"
Down the hallway footsteps were coming for the Jack of Hearts

The backstage manager was pacing all around by his chair
"There's something funny going on," he said, "I can just feel it in the air"
He went to get the hanging judge, but the hanging judge was drunk
As the leading actor hurried by in the costume of a monk
There was no actor anywhere better than the Jack of Hearts

No one knew the circumstance but they say that it happened pretty quick
The door to the dressing room burst open and a cold revolver clicked
And Big Jim was standing there, you couldn't say surprised
Rosemary right beside him, steady in her eyes
She was with Big Jim but she was leaning to the Jack of Hearts

Two doors down the boys finally made it through the wall
And cleaned out the bank safe, it's said that they got off with quite a haul
In the darkness by the riverbed they waited on the ground
For one more member who had business back in town
But they couldn't go no further without the Jack of Hearts

The next day was hanging day, the sky was overcast and black
Big Jim lay covered up, killed by a penknife in the back
And Rosemary on the gallows, she didn't even blink
The hanging judge was sober, he hadn't had a drink
The only person on the scene missing was the Jack of Hearts

The cabaret was empty now, a sign said, "Closed for repair"
Lily had already taken all of the dye out of her hair
She was thinking about her father, whom she very rarely saw
Thinking about Rosemary and thinking about the law
But most of all she was thinking about the Jack of Hearts

Send "Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts" Ringtone to your Cell

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cvoag
04-23-2002

Rated 0

I would like to know what these lyrics symbolize, I think there is a lot of hidden meaning. Anybody know???

1 Reply ·

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Qsqaw
07-05-2002

Rated 0

It's and old western Play, or a Movie. love triangle, drama, humor, crime. I don't konw just a guess. I would like to see it.

1 Reply ·

jonmanning
09-15-2010

Rated 0

I rarely broadcast my personal lyrical analysis but, upon reading some of these interpretations, I simply don't want open-minded people subjected to them. I don't believe in belittling people for their specific views and beliefs (whatever they may be) and, in fact, some of you have made extremely thought-provoking points, but I'm sure the answer lies somewhere deep within the large spectrum of them.

Some say it's a split-personality, others say it's symbolic, and a few even go so far as to claim there's nothing to it, other than the cryptic story it tells... I'd say the last of the three is probably the most valid, though I wouldn't doubt for a second that the characters symbolize one thing or another. That's not what I'm interested in... first of all, I think the double (or triple) personality theory is senseless. First of all, all characters are introduced at separate times in separate physical locations in the story and, most importantly, have significantly different outcomes. Rosemary is killed, the Jack of Hearts starts a new life, and Lilly is left to think about Jack, instead of her "lover" Jim.

The Jack of Hearts does not die, Dylan even states he's "missing from the scene" but has no problem locating dead-Jim with a knife in his back. It is Jack who "passed by in the costume of a monk" after talking to Lilly in the dressing room-- this is why Dylan tells us "there was no actor better" than him. Lilly talks about Jack's luck running out, likely due to Jim's suspicion... she helps dress him up in a costume and he sneaks out the back door. The climax scene does not in fact contain the Jack of Hearts, he is only mentioned when Rosemary is "leaning towards" him... which brings me to my last real point: the whole entire story is a love triangle or, more appropriately, a web of infidelity and misguided passion. Lilly has a fling with Jim but loves Jack; Rosemary loves Jim but knows he's untrue and would rather do away with him than see him with another woman (she is also eying Jack as a possible substitute, as hinted at in the "leaning toward the Jack of Hearts" line); Jack doesn't love Lily, which is why he leaves town without bringing her with him. We know he's gone because it's implied that he doesn't meet up to collect the money from his co-conspirators who are waiting for him.

Like I said before, each character may symbolize something in an allegorical sense, like greed or truth or corruption, but there is no doubt in my mind that this is how the story ultimately played out-- the only reason for this long-winded analysis was that no one seemed to see it this way. Obviously, if you don't agree, that's completely fine... that's the beauty of art. It affects people in different ways and there's truly no real "answer" as to what anything means... I just wanted to share my opinion in the event that someone is semi-enlightened or rethinks their interpretation.

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chringram
08-06-2002

Rated -1

My wife and I have discussed this song over & over,... here's what we've come up with: The "Jack of Hearts" is symbolic of GREED! Interestingly enough, Dylan ties several things to GREED in this song:
1.) the game of poker being played by women - Lilly having two Queens or 'suckers' that she was taking money from ALL players being driven by their greed ;
2.) Human Freewill - not even Big Jim's bodyguards or symolic canes of wealth could keep greed from overcoming him;
3.) Torn relationships/failed marriage & LUST - Rosemary is completely forgotten,... matter of fact Big Jim doesn't even recognize her as his wife, not realizing that it's actually HERpicture on HIS shelf,... or that they spent time together in Mexico (this part cracks me up), because he's too interested in winning & Lilly
4.) and even though Lilly has Jim as her sugar daddy, she'd give it all up for greed,... nothing ever would,... except maybe the Jack of Hearts.

... I could go on & on,... but I think you get the point!! Write me if you feel we're waay off here.

thanks,
Chris I.

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CeeJai
10-14-2002

Rated 0

i think you more or less hit it on the head. i love this song because you can listen to it and hear the story or the warning but neither one gets in the way of the other

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bbbbb
03-29-2003

Rated -1

just a minute, just a minute, just a minute, don't you get it? It's a triple personality. Lily, rosemary, and the jack of hearts; all 1 person, albeit one troubled person. "He move across the mirrored room..." Read it through with a triple personality in mind and it is easy to see, right? Anybody agree? It was my late friend and cousin in law Dr. Bill McCord who turned me on to this view. This in mind also contributes to the interest i would also have in seeing it made in a movie.

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Kafziel
05-14-2004

Rated -4

I don't see why it has to be something deep. Bob Dylan isn't some knid of prophet or great philosopher; he sings great ballads. It's an intersting story about a clever robbery, set to music. (Another great example is "Tweeter and the Monkeyman" by the Travelling Wilburys.) Dylan loves talking about crime and counterculture, especially when he can weave it into a complete story. First and foremost he's a blues man, and blues men don't use complicated symbolism very often. They sing about heartbreak and crime, both of which this song covers nicely.

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Nogtopoo
05-18-2004

Rated -1

Yer id definitly say that they are all the same person, Rosemary and Lilly-But I think the jack of hearts is kinda like a mask i think 'she' wears in order to justify and hide from the guilt of what shes doing - Its probuably an excuse but also the drive as well..Greed- It very much reminds me of the film 'Fight Club'.

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Nogtopoo
05-18-2004

Rated -1

Come to think of it i wouldn't be suprises if The Jack of hearts represented 'Independance, Freedom and the ability to be your self'-The way it says nothing would com between them excpet the Jack of hearts-and she was fed up of being Jims wife- and she looked into the future and saw her self riding on the jack of hearts- Fed up of living in his shadow, probuably being controled--so she kills him, nicks his money- i duno he definitly represents one of the two - But i certainyl think Lilly and Rosemary are the same person and perhaps the jack of hearts is what she wants to be-the 'real her'- God knows im getting confused now heh heh

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Kafziel
06-03-2004

Rated -2

I swear to god, talking to you people is liking hitting my head against a brick wall.
Bunch of friggin' high school kids, looking for some kind of deep meaning in every damn song. This is Bob Dylan, people, not freshman English.

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chrispy
06-22-2004

Rated +2

I have found a lot more meaning out of Bob Dylan than I ever did from my Freshman English class. I'm not trying to start an argument, but I just don't see how anyone can claim that Bob Dylan doesn't use "complicated symbolism," much less imply that Bob Dylan isn't deep, "I don't see why it has to be something deep. Bob Dylan isn't some knid of prophet or great philosopher..." It could be that people read too much into songs, I agree with that (Mr. Tambourine Man), but why tell people their 'theories are wrong and there's no hidden meaning to the song, it's just a story?' Because that's what it seems like you're trying to do. If I, and other people, can get a deep and profound meaning from a song, more power to us, I say. I realize that everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I just don't agree with those who think there's not any complicated symbolism in Bob Dylan's songs. Listen to Shelter from the Storm, or Desolation Row, or the obviously symbolic Maggie's Farm.

Now, on to Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts...I could disect and divide this song into standard archetypes but, as we all know (and contrary to what my Freshman English teacher tried to teach me) not everything is answered by archetypes. All I can say is that I've noticed that every guy I've talked to has thought of himself as the Jack of Hearts (but who really wants to be Big Jim?). Most of the women I've talked to didn't see themselves as Lily or Rosemary. Just an observation, draw your own conclusions.

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queenjane
09-26-2004

Rated +1

I don't really know if this has some kind of political or religious meaning behind it, just that its another example of how talented bob dylan is at telling stories.

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dirtyonion5
10-09-2004

Rated 0

after going over the lyrics i think it is just a series of events in the same cabaret. the boys are breaking in, while lily is pretending to be someone else, rosemary. "It was known all around that Lily had Jim's ring " "Rosemary started drinkin' hard and seein' her reflection in the knife,
She was tired of the attention, tired of playin' the role of Big Jim's wife. "
she is proof that her husband cheats on her, and she kills him, and it ends up that he was part of the robbery, the get-away.
"Lily took her dress off, buried it away. " this is after she is dressed at rosemary, takes off the dress to hide her spying on her husband.

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Boothby
12-03-2004

Rated -1

i have never been able to decide completely whether lily, rosemary and the jack of hearts are the same person or just lily and rosemary. For a long time i tought that it was just lily and rosemary who were the same, but then i thought about the line

"Backstage the girls were playin' five-card stud by the stairs,
Lily had two queens, she was hopin' for a third to match her pair."

I think that dylan makes an obvious reference to the fact that lily is one of the queens and rosemary is the other and lily holds both the queens, that is they are both her personality. He makes another refernece;

"She slipped in through the side door lookin' like a queen without a crown." refering to rosemary.

Then finally this is the line that makes me think that the jack of hearts is a part of the multidimensional personality,

"Lily called another bet and drew up the Jack of Hearts."

Her third personality????

also the reference to riding on the jack of hearts i think refers to this thrid personality again.

I would be interested to see what everyone else thinks about this

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ZinbobDan
01-06-2005

Rated -1

i think it's pretty straightforward: rosemary is big jim's wife, jim is cheating on her with lily, lily is cheating on him with the jack of hearts, the jack of hearts is jim's crime partner, during the robbery lily dresses (and dyes her hair) as rosemary and kills jim and then runs off with the jack of hearts and the money...big jim is dead and lily is on the gallow's (framed for big jim's murder) and rosemary and the jack of hearts don't hav to worry about them

...but i must say it's confusing...i'll likely change my mind

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ZinbobDan
01-06-2005

Rated 0

whoops, i started getting the characters confused towards the end...it's rosemary on the gallows and lily runs off with jim...actually, i'm rethinking the whole thing...like, i think maybe rosemary isn't framed...after all, dylan does say it's her holding the knife, not lily...but that doesn't explain why lily was dressed as rosemary...

...on second thought, dylan was just trying to write fun words that sound good with the melody...it means nothing at all, just a good song

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cavern
02-03-2005

Rated 0

this is the ultimate-crime-suspense-song ever. The Jack of Hearts is the hero of the story. A cool guy, say, James Dean or Brando. And Dylan weaves a story so perfectly that at the climax there's such chaos that the Jack of Hearts gets away with his robbbery -he had no partner nor girl, only his wit - leaving everybody wondering what the hell just happened, even the fans, decades later, building up some very unlikely theories. Dylan loves to laugh at us. he has a great sense of humor and a unique talent for telling stories. This is clearly one of his best.

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gabeiv
02-15-2005

Rated -1

Lilly is Rosemary is the Jack of Hearts. I first considered this possibility when i read it on this very board. It's now the only way I can hear it. Whatever the case, this song is stellar. This album is stellar.

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Detective
03-26-2005

Rated 0

Its got a plot, a twist, charactors, metaphors tis a work of art

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Fypast
03-28-2005

Rated 0

I must agree with Kafziel. And to respond to Chrispy: Yes. Dylan has a lot of songs with intense symbolism. It does not mean every song should be taken in the same method of interpretation. He's versatile. Writing complex symbolism to simple ballads.

I think this is a story, not an existential, psychological analysis of one person. It's a story that has a lot of really strong themes and beautiful characters though. The Jack of Hearts is a rogue trickster/robber who is still ultimately good. Big Jim is an ass who is one of the most powerful/respected men around.

I disagree about what was said happens in the story. I think the Jack of Hearts is killed by Big Jim's revolver, and Rosemary does the one good thing before she dies by killing Big Jim with the penknife (which she was said to be holding earlier). The Jack of Hearts' associates get the money and wait for him, but he never shows up. I might be off, but it's how I always heard it. And I like it that way.

I don't see anything about Lily dressing up as Rosemary, someone let me know where that is...

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keithroy73
03-29-2005

Rated -1

thank u fypast

the jack of hearts dies. There is a cold revolver clicking but jim is killed by a penknife. Rosemary kills jim and only lily lives in the end, hence only she features in the final verse

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Fypast
03-30-2005

Rated 0

Thank you. I was beginning to think I was crazy thinking he died when no one else mentioned it.

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elephant_range
04-01-2005

Rated 0

I'm a lyrics freak. The lyrics ROCK. The music SUCKS! Cow-boinking stuff! (And I'm a Gun Club fan!)

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Detective
04-03-2005

Rated 0

Jack didnt die did he? Lilys still thinkin about him at the end, and hes the only one missing ie: so his body wasnt recovered. Also After the cold revolver bit shes leaning towards him. Maybe Big jim had the revolver but hes a crap shot? hmmm?

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flowersrh
04-07-2005

Rated 0

This might be way off but i always just thought that Rosemary took out the bullets of Jim's gun because it was a "cold revolver", meaning it wasn't hot and loaded. I've never seen the Jack of Hearts as dying in the end nor Lily dressing like Rosemary but since the "lily had already taken all the dye out of her hair" line always confused me, that could work. I could very well be wrong.

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Detective
04-09-2005

Rated 0

With Lily "she had 2 queens and was hoping for a third" i took it as different sides to her personality. I think its a fair asumption to say she was abused by her father, and that when she took the dye out of her hair she had changed to a third personality.

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