Early Roman Kings

by Bob Dylan

From the album: Tempest

Duration: 05:14

Tempest cover art

Lyrics for Early Roman Kings

All the early Roman kings in their sharkskin suits Bow ties and buttons, high top boots Drivin' the spikes in, blazin' the rails Nailed in their coffins in top hats and tails Fly away, little bird, fly away, flap your wings Fly by night like the early Roman kings All the early Roman kings in the early, early morn Comin' down the mountain, distributing the corn Speeding through the forest, racing down the track You try to get away, they drag you back Tomorrow is Friday, we'll see what it brings Everybody's talkin' 'bout the early Roman kings They're peddlers and they're meddlers, they buy and they sell They destroyed your city, they'll destroy you as well They're lecherous and treacherous, a hell-bent for leather Each of 'em bigger than all 'em put together Sluggers and muggers wearing fancy gold rings All the women goin' crazy for the early Roman kings I can dress up your wounds with a blood clotted rag I ain't afraid to make love to a bitch or a hag If you see me comin' and you're standing there Wave your handkerchief in the air I ain't dead yet, my bell still rings I keep my fingers crossed like the early Roman kings I can strip you of life, strip you of breath Ship you down to the house of death One day you will ask for me There'll be no one else that you'll wanna see Bring down my fiddle, tune up my strings I'm gonna break it wide open like the early Roman kings I was up on black mountain the day Detroit fell They killed 'em all off and they sent 'em to hell Ding Dong Daddy, you're comin' up short Gonna put you on trial in a Sicilian court I've had my fun, I've had my flings Gonna shake 'em all down like the early Roman kings

Listen On