Ballad of a Thin Man

Bob Dylan

About Ballad of a Thin Man

"Ballad of a Thin Man" is a song written and recorded by Bob Dylan, and released as the final track on Side One of his sixth album, Highway 61 Revisited, in 1965.


Year:
1998
7:55
249 
#4

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You walk into the room with your pencil in your hand
You see somebody naked and you say, who is that man
You try so hard but you don't understand
Just what you gonna say when you get home
Yes, because you know something is happening
But you don't know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones

You walk in so politely and say, is this where it is
And somebody points to you and says, it's his
And you say, what's mine and somebody else says, well, what is
And he says, oh my God, am I here all alone
Yes, but you know something is happening
You don't know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones

You hand in your money and you go watch the geek
Who suddenly walks up to you when he hears you speak
And says, how does it feel to be such a freak
And you say, impossible as he hands you a bone
Yes, but you know something is happening
Is just that you don't know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones

You have many contacts among the lumberjacks
To get you facts when someone attacks your imagination
Yes, nobody has any respect, anyway they already expect
You to all give a check
To tax-deductible charity organizations

Ah, you've been with the professors and they've all liked your looks
With lawyers and scholars you've discussed lepers and crooks
You've been through all of F. Scott Fitzgerald's books
You're very well-read, it's well-known
Yes, 'cause something is happening
And you don't know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones

The sword swallower, he walks up to you and then he kneels
He crosses himself and then he clicks his high heels
And without further notice, he tells you how it feels
And he says, here is your throat back, thanks for the loan
Yes something is happening but you don't know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones

Now, you see this one-eyed midget shouting the word now
And you say, for what reason and he says, how
And you say, oh my God, what that means
And he screams back, you're a cow
Give me some milk or else go home
Yes, and now you're positive something's happening
And you wish you knew what it was
Don't you, Mr. Jones

You walk into the room like a camel, and then you frown
You put your eyes in your pocket and your nose on the ground
There ought to be a law against you comin' around
You should be made to be wearing at all times a telephone
Yes, 'cause something is happening and you don't know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones

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Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan ( /ˈdɪlən/; born Robert Allen Zimmerman; May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, poet and artist. He has been an influential figure in popular music and culture for more than five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly reluctant figurehead of social unrest. A number of Dylan's early songs, such as "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are a-Changin'", became anthems for the US civil rights and anti-war movements. Leaving his initial base in the culture of folk music behind, Dylan's six-minute single "Like a Rolling Stone" has been described as radically altering the parameters of popular music in … more »

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Written by: BOB DYLAN

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Background
"Ballad of a Thin Man" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, found on his sixth studio album, "Highway 61 Revisited," released in 1965.
Album Collaboration
Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited" is considered one of his most influential albums, with "Like a Rolling Stone" and "Ballad of a Thin Man" among his most significant songs.
Cultural Influence
Frequently interpreted as Dylan's critique of the media, and the disconnect between the older generation and the fast-emerging counterculture of the 1960s. It is said to describe someone failing to understand what's happening around them.
Lyrics Composition
The song is known for its surrealistic lyrics, allegedly portraying a "thin man" who is confused and unable to comprehend the changes happening in society and culture during the 1960s.
Song Structure
It has a minor-key tonality and is composed of a repetitive, ominous piano-driven melody that complements the dark tone of the lyrics.
Live Performances
"Ballad of a Thin Man" is one of Dylan's most performed songs, having been played in concerts across multiple decades. According to the site bobdylan.com, the song has been sung in concert over 2,000 times as of 2022.
Song Title Origin
The title "Ballad of a Thin Man" is thought to have been inspired by the phrase "thin man" that describes a character in Dashiell Hammett's novels. However, Dylan has never confirmed this.
Inspirational Impact
Although the exact inspiration for the song is unknown, various theories suggest that it was aimed at a specific journalist or critic who crossed Dylan, or at the older, conventional society unable to understand the changing times.
Musical Influence
The song has been covered by many artists, demonstrating its vast impact on popular culture and music. Artists like David Bowie and The Grateful Dead are believed to have been inspired by the song.
Song's Legacy
Despite being over 50 years old, "Ballad of a Thin Man" remains one of Dylan's most powerful and enduring works, studied by academics and enjoyed by audiences around the world.

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