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:
1974
3:29
30 
#1

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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 will say when you get home
Because something is happening here but you don't know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?

You raise up your head and you ask, "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 you say, "Oh my God, am I here all alone?"
But something is happening and you don't know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?

You hand in your ticket and you go watch the geek
Who immediately 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
And something is happening here but 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
But 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 great lawyers you have discussed lepers and crooks
You've been through all of F. Scott Fitzgerald's books
You're very well-read, it's well-known
But something is happening here and you don't know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?

Well, the sword swallower, he comes up to you and then he kneels
He crosses himself and then he clicks his high heels
And without further notice, he asks you how it feels
And he says, "Here is your throat back, thanks for the loan"
And you know 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, "What does this mean?" and he screams back, "You're a cow"
"Give me some milk or else go home"
And you know something's happening but you don't know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?

Well, 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 wear earphones
'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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