Jokerman

by Bob Dylan

From the album: The Essential Bob Dylan

Track 26 of 30 on The Essential Bob Dylan (2000).

Duration: 6:15

The Essential Bob Dylan cover art

Lyrics for Jokerman

Standing on the water casting your bread While the eyes of the idol with the iron head are glowing Distant ships sailing into the mist, You were born with a snake in both of your fists while a hurricane was blowing Freedom just around the corner for you But with truth so far off, what good will it do? Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune, Bird fly high by the light of the moon, Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman So swiftly the sun sets in the sky, You rise up and say goodbye to no one Fools rush in where angels fear to tread, Both of their futures, so full of dread, you don't show one Shedding off one more layer of skin, Keeping one step ahead of the persecutor within Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune, Bird fly high by the light of the moon, Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman. You're a man of the mountains, you can walk on the clouds, Manipulator of crowds, you're a dream twister You're going to Sodom and Gomorrah But what do you care? Ain't nobody there would want to marry your sister Friend to the martyr, a friend to the woman of shame, You look into the fiery furnace, see the rich man without any name Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune, Bird fly high by the light of the moon, Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman Well, the Book of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, The law of the jungle and the sea are your only teachers In the smoke of the twilight on a milk-white steed, Michelangelo indeed could've carved out your features. Resting in the fields, far from the turbulent space, Half asleep near the stars with a small dog licking your face Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune, Bird fly high by the light of the moon, Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman Well, the rifleman's stalking the sick and the lame, Preacherman seeks the same, who'll get there first is uncertain Nightsticks and water cannons, tear gas, padlocks, Molotov cocktails and rocks behind every curtain, False-hearted judges dying in the webs that they spin, Only a matter of time 'til night comes steppin' in Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune, Bird fly high by the light of the moon, Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman It's a shadowy world, skies are slippery gray, A woman just gave birth to a prince today and dressed him in scarlet He'll put the priest in his pocket, put the blade to the heat, Take the motherless children off the street And place them at the feet of a harlot Oh, Jokerman, you know what he wants, Oh, Jokerman, you don't show any response Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune, Bird fly high by the light of the moon, Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman

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More from The Essential Bob Dylan

  1. Blowin' In The Wind
  2. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
  3. The Times They Are A-Changin'
  4. It Ain't Me, Babe
  5. Maggie's Farm
  6. It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
  7. Mr. Tambourine Man
  8. Subterranean Homesick Blues
  9. Like A Rolling Stone
  10. Positively 4th Street
  11. Just Like A Woman
  12. Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35
  13. All Along The Watchtower
  14. Quinn The Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)
  15. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
  16. Lay, Lady, Lay
  17. If Not For You
  18. I Shall Be Released
  19. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
  20. Knockin' On Heaven's Door
  21. Forever Young
  22. Tangled Up In Blue
  23. Shelter From The Storm
  24. Hurricane
  25. Gotta Serve Somebody
  26. Jokerman
  27. Silvio
  28. Everything Is Broken
  29. Not Dark Yet
  30. Things Have Changed