Subterranean Homesick Blues
A ~ ~ A
1.
Johnny's in the basement mixing up the medicine,
I'm
on the pavement thinking about the government,
the
man in the trench coat, badge out, laid off,
says
he's got a bad cough, wants to get it paid off.
D
Look
out kid, it's somethin' you did,
A
God
knows when, but you're doing it again,
you
better duck down the alleyway, lookin' for a new friend,
E
the
man in the coonskin cap in the pig pen,
A - A ~
wants eleven dollar bills, but you only got ten.
A
2. Maggie comes fleet foot, face full of black
soot,
talkin' that the heat put plants in the bed but
the
phone's tapped anyway, Maggie says that many say,
they
must bust in early May, orders from the D.A.
D
Look
out kid, don't matter what you did,
A
walk
on your tip toes, don't tie no bows,
better stay away from those that carry around a fire hose,
E
keep
a clean nose, watch the plain clothes,
A
- A ~
you
don't need a weather man to know which way the wind blows.
A
3. Ah, get sick, get well, hang around the Ink
Well.
Hang
a bell? Hard to tell, if anything he's goin' to sell.
A
Try
hard, get barred, get back, write braille,
get
jailed, jump bail, join the army, if you fail.
D
Look
out kid, you're gonna get hit,
A
but
losers, cheaters, six-time users,
hangin' 'round the theaters,
E
girl
by the whirlpool's lookin' for a new fool,
A - A ~
don't follow leaders, and watch your parkin' meters.
A
4. Ah, get born, keep warm, short pants,
romance, learn to dance,
get
dressed, get blessed, try to be a success,
please her, please him, buy gifts, don't steal, don't lift,
twenty years of schoolin' and they put you on the day shift,
D
Look
out kid, they keep it all hid,
A
better jump down a manhole, light yourself a candle,
don't wear sandals, try to avoid the scandals,
E
don't wanna be a bum, you better chew gum,
A
- A ~
the
pump don't work 'cause the vandals took the handle. …..
(Bob
Dylan)