I see this song much different than you guys. First off, I love it. But I view it as a song about a guy that views himself as a freak...when in reality he is more of a geeky guy with little self-confidence. The song is Bob Dylan's message to Mr. Jones (could be a side of his personality) telling him that he is not so weird and to straighten up.
Let's take it verse by verse:
First verse: Mr. Jones comes by and finds his girl in bed with another guy. He just walks out.
Second version: He ask God why this is happening, and God tells him (or he thinks God tells him) I am taking everything away from you.
Third verse: He visits a carnival and visits the Geek (a person who bites the heads off of chickens.) A geek is a freak by way of his actions. For some reason, the two of them feel a connection.
Fourth verse: Mr. Jones has a lot of friends from different walks of life, but they aren't real friends...they always take advantage of him. He is also a very smart guy and feels more comfortable with the other typical "nerds" (academics.)
Fifth verse: A sword swallower at a carnival. Another guy who is a freak by way of what he does. He and Mr. Jones find common ground again. (Great line: "Here is your throat back, thanks for the loan." A sword swallower would scratch the back of his throat while performing. Well instead of using his own, why not use Mr. Jones'? You know the feeling when you are upset, especially after a relationship ends. It feel like a lump or hurt in the back of your throat.)
Sixth verse: A one-eyed midget is a freak...not cause of what he does (like the geek, sword swallower, and Mr. Jones) but because of the way he looks. He gets in Mr. Jones face and bascially says, "Look at me. I am a freak. Tell me what is so freakin' weird about you. Nothing huh? Get the hell out of here!"
At this point, you would figure that Mr. Jones has learned his lesson...unfortuantely no.
Seventh verse: He goes back home and once again his girlfriend cheats on him and he is the one that apologizes. "He puts his eyes in his pockets"...He acts like he sees nothing. "There ought to be a law
Against you comin' around You should be made To wear earphones" Bob is saying this should be illegal to keep you from being hurt. You should have to wear earphones so you don't have to listen to your girl lie to you again.
Will Mr. Jones ever learn?
Maybe the Counting Crowes know..."Mr. Jones" is kinda a sequel to "Ballad of a Thin Man". Both the lead singer and Mr. Jones want to be more normal and life of the party.
Nice try. But no cigar. Like the other poster who thought this was about homosexuality, you guys are stretching here a bit...
Nice try. But no cigar. Like the other poster who thought this was about homosexuality, you guys are stretching here a bit...
I am positive this is about a reporter, just like the one Dylan abused in "Don't look back." All of the circus freak references are Dylan's colorful, acid-influenced, deliberately confusing references to himself, Dylan, abusing that poor sap of a reporter. Look past the literal references to the circus freaks, and just picture Dylan, as seen in the eyes of this very "square" news journalist. He sees Dylan as a freak, like many see the circus performers as freaks. It is a most sinister tune, w/ ominous piano parts played by Dylan himself to lend itself to the stern message aimed at this poor reporter.
BTW, why do you think he refers to him as "Mr. Jones?" He is part of that establishment Dylan and others spent most of their time mocking in the 60's. Dylan isn't being polite calling this guy "Mr. Jones," rather, he is being condescending, "you don't know what is happening here, do you, Mr. Jones." It is said w/ a sneer.
I view this song even differently from the rest of you. I think that it is maybe about the average American (think, Jones is a common name for an american man) and how change is surrounding his life and his country (though i understand very little of the lyrics in this song as they all sound like something a psychopath would sing, this is just a thought to get around in the forum)
I view this song even differently from the rest of you. I think that it is maybe about the average American (think, Jones is a common name for an american man) and how change is surrounding his life and his country (though i understand very little of the lyrics in this song as they all sound like something a psychopath would sing, this is just a thought to get around in the forum)
I see this song much different than you guys. First off, I love it. But I view it as a song about a guy that views himself as a freak...when in reality he is more of a geeky guy with little self-confidence. The song is Bob Dylan's message to Mr. Jones (could be a side of his personality) telling him that he is not so weird and to straighten up.
Let's take it verse by verse: First verse: Mr. Jones comes by and finds his girl in bed with another guy. He just walks out. Second version: He ask God why this is happening, and God tells him (or he thinks God tells him) I am taking everything away from you. Third verse: He visits a carnival and visits the Geek (a person who bites the heads off of chickens.) A geek is a freak by way of his actions. For some reason, the two of them feel a connection. Fourth verse: Mr. Jones has a lot of friends from different walks of life, but they aren't real friends...they always take advantage of him. He is also a very smart guy and feels more comfortable with the other typical "nerds" (academics.) Fifth verse: A sword swallower at a carnival. Another guy who is a freak by way of what he does. He and Mr. Jones find common ground again. (Great line: "Here is your throat back, thanks for the loan." A sword swallower would scratch the back of his throat while performing. Well instead of using his own, why not use Mr. Jones'? You know the feeling when you are upset, especially after a relationship ends. It feel like a lump or hurt in the back of your throat.) Sixth verse: A one-eyed midget is a freak...not cause of what he does (like the geek, sword swallower, and Mr. Jones) but because of the way he looks. He gets in Mr. Jones face and bascially says, "Look at me. I am a freak. Tell me what is so freakin' weird about you. Nothing huh? Get the hell out of here!" At this point, you would figure that Mr. Jones has learned his lesson...unfortuantely no. Seventh verse: He goes back home and once again his girlfriend cheats on him and he is the one that apologizes. "He puts his eyes in his pockets"...He acts like he sees nothing. "There ought to be a law Against you comin' around You should be made To wear earphones" Bob is saying this should be illegal to keep you from being hurt. You should have to wear earphones so you don't have to listen to your girl lie to you again.
Will Mr. Jones ever learn?
Maybe the Counting Crowes know..."Mr. Jones" is kinda a sequel to "Ballad of a Thin Man". Both the lead singer and Mr. Jones want to be more normal and life of the party.
Nice try. But no cigar. Like the other poster who thought this was about homosexuality, you guys are stretching here a bit...
Nice try. But no cigar. Like the other poster who thought this was about homosexuality, you guys are stretching here a bit...
I am positive this is about a reporter, just like the one Dylan abused in "Don't look back." All of the circus freak references are Dylan's colorful, acid-influenced, deliberately confusing references to himself, Dylan, abusing that poor sap of a reporter. Look past the literal references to the circus freaks, and just picture Dylan, as seen in the eyes of this very "square" news journalist. He sees Dylan as a freak, like many see the circus performers as freaks. It is a most sinister tune, w/ ominous piano parts played by Dylan himself to lend itself to the stern message aimed at this poor reporter.
BTW, why do you think he refers to him as "Mr. Jones?" He is part of that establishment Dylan and others spent most of their time mocking in the 60's. Dylan isn't being polite calling this guy "Mr. Jones," rather, he is being condescending, "you don't know what is happening here, do you, Mr. Jones." It is said w/ a sneer.
I view this song even differently from the rest of you. I think that it is maybe about the average American (think, Jones is a common name for an american man) and how change is surrounding his life and his country (though i understand very little of the lyrics in this song as they all sound like something a psychopath would sing, this is just a thought to get around in the forum)
I view this song even differently from the rest of you. I think that it is maybe about the average American (think, Jones is a common name for an american man) and how change is surrounding his life and his country (though i understand very little of the lyrics in this song as they all sound like something a psychopath would sing, this is just a thought to get around in the forum)