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Oh God said to Abraham, "Kill me a son"
Abe says, "Man, you must be puttin' me on"
God say, "No." Abe say, "What?"
God say, "You can do what you want Abe, but
The next time you see me comin' you better run"
Well Abe says, "Where do you want this killin' done?"
God says, "Out on Highway 61."
Well Georgia Sam he had a bloody nose
Welfare Department they wouldn't give him no clothes
He asked poor Howard where can I go
Howard said there's only one place I know
Sam said tell me quick man I got to run
Ol' Howard just pointed with his gun
And said that way down on Highway 61.
Well Mack the Finger said to Louie the King
I got forty red white and blue shoe strings
And a thousand telephones that don't ring
Do you know where I can get rid of these things
And Louie the King said let me think for a minute son
And he said yes I think it can be easily done
Just take everything down to Highway 61.
Now the fifth daughter on the twelfth night
Told the first father that things weren't right
My complexion she said is much too white
He said come here and step into the light he says hmm you're right
Let me tell the second mother this has been done
But the second mother was with the seventh son
And they were both out on Highway 61.
Now the rovin' gambler he was very bored
He was tryin' to create a next world war
He found a promoter who nearly fell off the floor
He said I never engaged in this kind of thing before
But yes I think it can be very easily done
We'll just put some bleachers out in the sun
And have it on Highway 61.
Abe says, "Man, you must be puttin' me on"
God say, "No." Abe say, "What?"
God say, "You can do what you want Abe, but
The next time you see me comin' you better run"
Well Abe says, "Where do you want this killin' done?"
God says, "Out on Highway 61."
Well Georgia Sam he had a bloody nose
Welfare Department they wouldn't give him no clothes
He asked poor Howard where can I go
Howard said there's only one place I know
Sam said tell me quick man I got to run
Ol' Howard just pointed with his gun
And said that way down on Highway 61.
Well Mack the Finger said to Louie the King
I got forty red white and blue shoe strings
And a thousand telephones that don't ring
Do you know where I can get rid of these things
And Louie the King said let me think for a minute son
And he said yes I think it can be easily done
Just take everything down to Highway 61.
Now the fifth daughter on the twelfth night
Told the first father that things weren't right
My complexion she said is much too white
He said come here and step into the light he says hmm you're right
Let me tell the second mother this has been done
But the second mother was with the seventh son
And they were both out on Highway 61.
Now the rovin' gambler he was very bored
He was tryin' to create a next world war
He found a promoter who nearly fell off the floor
He said I never engaged in this kind of thing before
But yes I think it can be very easily done
We'll just put some bleachers out in the sun
And have it on Highway 61.
Lyrics submitted by mjanosko
Track duration: 06:10
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1) On a figurative basis, Highway 61 is just a road that connects the story arc of the lyrics, which range from Abraham and Isaac all the way to politicians gambling on nuclear way.
2) On a literal basis, Highway 61 takes you from Dylan's birthplace in the Iron Range of northern Minnesota all the way down to New Orleans. It follows the Mississippi River and heads through Memphis... earning its name of the Blues Highway.
So we have a blues song here with some great symbolism... Dylan at or near his best.
I'm a poor French lost in your great America songs ! Sorry first for my bad English. As everybody there, I really love Dylan and particularly this song. If I don't understand all, I can feel and it's OK but I really don't understand the fourth stanza about "fifth daughter" and "twelfth night" : some people say it comes from Shakespeare (Night of the kings ?), others say that comes from the Bible... Can someone give to me some advices ? In French, it would be greatest !
I'm greatly looking forward to it (my Harrap's dictionnary says !).
but i love it.
:)
AND IF YOU REALLY WANNA HEAR A VERSION THAT'LL MAKE YOU SIT UP, TRY JOHNNY WINTER'S.
He Compares a politician to a gambler who starts wars purely out of boredom. The politician finds someone who agrees with him and will support this war. The politician really isnt sure what to do, but thinks it will be very easy to start this war. The bleachers in the sun line makes this whole verse. The politician thinks war can be marketed by having people probably pay to watch it like a "sport". Bob is talking how politicians think war is just a game or a show that they could market to people to watch.