Dignity

Bob Dylan

About Dignity

"Dignity" is a song by Bob Dylan, first released on Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Volume 3 on November 15, 1994 and also released as a CD single a month later. It was originally recorded in the spring of 1989 during the Oh Mercy studio sessions, but was not included on the album.


Year:
2003
5:58
123 
#1

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Fat man lookin' in a blade of steel
Thin man lookin' at his last meal
Hollow man lookin' in a cottonfield
For dignity

Wise man lookin' in a blade of grass
Young man lookin' in the shadows that pass
Poor man lookin' through painted glass
For dignity

Somebody got murdered on New Year's Eve
Somebody said dignity was the first to leave
I went into the city, went into the town
Went into the land of the midnight sun

Searchin' high, searchin' low
Searchin' everywhere I know
Askin' the cops wherever I go
Have you seen dignity

Blind man breakin' out of a trance
Puts both his hands in the pockets of chance
Hopin' to find one circumstance
Of dignity

I went to the wedding of Mary-Lou
She said I don't want nobody see me talkin' to you
Said she could get killed if she told me what she knew
About dignity

I went down where the vultures feed
I would've got deeper, but there wasn't any need
Heard the tongues of angels and the tongues of men
Wasn't any difference to me

Chilly wind sharp as a razor blade
House on fire, debts unpaid
Gonna stand at the window, gonna ask the maid
Have you seen dignity

Drinkin' man listens to the voice he hears
In a crowded room full of covered up mirrors
Lookin' into the lost forgotten years
For dignity

Met Prince Phillip at the home of the blues
Said he'd give me information if his name wasn't used
He wanted money up front, said he was abused
By dignity

Footprints runnin' cross the silver sand
Steps goin' down into tattoo land
I met the sons of darkness and the sons of light
In the border-towns of despair

Got no place to fade, got no coat
I'm on the rollin' river in a jerkin' boat
Tryin' to read a note somebody wrote
About dignity

Sick man lookin' for the doctor's cure
Lookin' at his hands for the lines that were
And into every masterpiece of literature
For dignity

Englishman stranded in the black-heart wind
Combin' his hair back, his future looks thin
Bites the bullet and he looks within
For dignity

Someone showed me a picture and I just laughed
Dignity never been photographed
I went into the red, went into the black
Into the valley of dry bone dreams

So many roads, so much at stake
Too many dead ends, I'm at the edge of the lake
Sometimes I wonder what it's gonna take
To find dignity

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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 »

33 fans

Written by: Bob Dylan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Artist Information
"Dignity" was written and performed by Bob Dylan, who is often regarded as one of the most influential figures in popular music since the mid-20th century.
Album Appearance
Although initially written for Dylan's 1989 album "Oh Mercy", it was later left out of the final release. It then appeared on Dylan's 1994 album "Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Volume 3".
Recording History
The song was initially recorded during the "Oh Mercy" sessions, but Dylan was reportedly unsatisfied with the outcome. Multiple attempts were made to accurately capture the mood and essence of the song, resulting in over 20 different versions being recorded.
Contextual Meaning
The song, "Dignity", explores the elusive nature of human dignity while seeking spiritual fulfillment. It's a reflection of Dylan's lifelong quest for meaning, wrapped up in poetic, evocative lyrics.
Notable Cover Versions
Dignity was covered by the popular Irish band, "The Pogues", in 1996 on the tribute album, "The songs of Bob Dylan".
Live Performance
"Dignity" has rarely been performed live by Dylan, making these performances significantly rare and thus highly sought-after by fans.
Signature Lyrics
The song includes the lyric, "Dignity never been photographed", which fans and critics have often cited as a reflection of Dylan's disdain for fame and the public's prying eyes.
Music Video
A music video was made for the song "Dignity" which predominantly featured footage of Dylan performing the song interspersed with images of various people and places that are seemingly unrelated, providing a visual representation of the elusive nature of dignity.
Bounce-back Single
Despite its initial recording difficulties and omitted inclusion on "Oh Mercy", "Dignity" became a hit upon its release in 1994, reestablishing Dylan's presence in the music charts.
Reissued and Remastered
The song was reissued with a new mix on the album "Dylan" in 2007 and remastered for the album "MTV Unplugged" in 1995.

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