Desolation Row Lyrics
| Song | Desolation Row |
| Artist | Bob Dylan |
| Album | Beyond Here Lies Nothin': The Collection |
| Download | Image LRC TXT |
| [00:08.96] | They’re selling postcards of the hanging |
| [00:13.24] | They’re painting the passports brown |
| [00:18.28] | The beauty parlor is filled with sailors |
| [00:23.12] | The circus is in town |
| [00:28.05] | Here comes the blind commissioner |
| [00:31.74] | They’ve got him in a trance |
| [00:36.28] | One hand is tied to the tight-rope walker |
| [00:41.00] | The other is in his pants |
| [00:45.19] | And the riot squad they’re restless |
| [00:49.83] | They need somewhere to go |
| [00:54.21] | As Lady and I look out tonight |
| [00:58.55] | From Desolation Row |
| [01:02.99] | |
| [01:07.87] | Cinderella, she seems so easy |
| [01:12.27] | “It takes one to know one,” she smiles |
| [01:16.70] | And puts her hands in her back pockets |
| [01:21.53] | Bette Davis style |
| [01:25.82] | And in comes Romeo, he’s moaning |
| [01:29.86] | “You Belong to Me I Believe” |
| [01:34.29] | And someone says, “You’re in the wrong place my friend |
| [01:39.78] | You better leave” |
| [01:43.51] | And the only sound that’s left |
| [01:47.70] | After the ambulances go |
| [01:52.59] | Is Cinderella sweeping up |
| [01:56.48] | On Desolation Row |
| [02:03.00] | |
| [02:05.39] | Now the moon is almost hidden |
| [02:09.93] | The stars are beginning to hide |
| [02:14.50] | The fortune-telling lady |
| [02:18.69] | Has even taken all her things inside |
| [02:23.23] | All except for Cain and Abel |
| [02:27.06] | And the hunchback of Notre Dame |
| [02:32.00] | Everybody is making love |
| [02:36.18] | Or else expecting rain |
| [02:40.82] | And the Good Samaritan, he’s dressing |
| [02:43.62] | He’s getting ready for the show |
| [02:49.50] | He’s going to the carnival tonight |
| [02:53.83] | On Desolation Row |
| [02:59.37] | |
| [03:02.71] | Now Ophelia, she’s ’neath the window |
| [03:07.25] | For her I feel so afraid |
| [03:11.44] | On her twenty-second birthday |
| [03:15.67] | She already is an old maid |
| [03:20.15] | To her, death is quite romantic |
| [03:24.69] | She wears an iron vest |
| [03:28.88] | Her profession’s her religion |
| [03:33.27] | Her sin is her lifelessness |
| [03:38.15] | And though her eyes are fixed upon |
| [03:42.59] | Noah’s great rainbow |
| [03:46.87] | She spends her time peeking |
| [03:50.46] | Into Desolation Row |
| [03:55.10] | |
| [03:59.98] | Einstein, disguised as Robin Hood |
| [04:04.07] | With his memories in a trunk |
| [04:08.66] | Passed this way an hour ago |
| [04:12.65] | With his friend, a jealous monk |
| [04:16.89] | He looked so immaculately frightful |
| [04:21.22] | As he bummed a cigarette |
| [04:25.56] | Then he went off sniffing drainpipes |
| [04:29.70] | And reciting the alphabet |
| [04:34.72] | Now you would not think to look at him |
| [04:38.56] | But he was famous long ago |
| [04:43.24] | For playing the electric violin |
| [04:47.23] | On Desolation Row |
| [04:50.98] | |
| [04:56.06] | Dr. Filth, he keeps his world |
| [05:00.40] | Inside of a leather cup |
| [05:05.19] | But all his sexless patients |
| [05:09.08] | They’re trying to blow it up |
| [05:13.77] | Now his nurse, some local loser |
| [05:17.85] | She’s in charge of the cyanide hole |
| [05:22.49] | And she also keeps the cards that read |
| [05:26.67] | “Have Mercy on His Soul” |
| [05:31.84] | They all play on pennywhistles |
| [05:35.93] | You can hear them blow |
| [05:40.03] | If you lean your head out far enough |
| [05:44.16] | From Desolation Row |
| [05:48.49] | |
| [05:52.73] | Across the street they’ve nailed the curtains |
| [05:57.11] | They’re getting ready for the feast |
| [06:01.39] | The Phantom of the Opera |
| [06:05.82] | A perfect image of a priest |
| [06:10.16] | They’re spoonfeeding Casanova |
| [06:14.75] | To get him to feel more assured |
| [06:18.84] | Then they’ll kill him with self-confidence |
| [06:23.13] | After poisoning him with words |
| [06:28.77] | And the Phantom’s shouting to skinny girls |
| [06:33.25] | “Get Outa Here If You Don’t Know |
| [06:37.49] | Casanova is just being punished for going |
| [06:41.92] | To Desolation Row” |
| [06:48.43] | |
| [06:50.57] | Now at midnight all the agents |
| [06:54.86] | And the superhuman crew |
| [06:59.30] | Come out and round up everyone |
| [07:03.39] | That knows more than they do |
| [07:07.67] | Then they bring them to the factory |
| [07:12.01] | Where the heart-attack machine |
| [07:16.35] | Is strapped across their shoulders |
| [07:20.79] | And then the kerosene |
| [07:25.08] | Is brought down from the castles |
| [07:29.02] | By insurance men who go |
| [07:33.50] | Check to see that nobody is escaping |
| [07:37.29] | To Desolation Row |
| [07:42.84] | |
| [07:44.73] | Praise be to Nero’s Neptune |
| [07:48.71] | The Titanic sails at dawn |
| [07:53.30] | And everybody’s shouting |
| [07:57.84] | “Which Side Are You On?” |
| [08:01.77] | And Ezra Pound and T. S. Eliot |
| [08:06.70] | Fighting in the captain’s tower |
| [08:10.89] | While calypso singers laugh at them |
| [08:14.54] | And fishermen hold flowers |
| [08:19.47] | Between the windows of the sea |
| [08:23.41] | Where lovely mermaids flow |
| [08:28.00] | And nobody has to think too much |
| [08:31.95] | About Desolation Row |
| [08:35.78] | |
| [09:31.37] | Yes, I received your letter yesterday |
| [09:35.51] | (About the time the doorknob broke) |
| [09:39.64] | When you asked how I was doing |
| [09:44.37] | Was that some kind of joke? |
| [09:48.37] | All these people that you mention |
| [09:52.51] | Yes, I know them, they’re quite lame |
| [09:56.79] | I had to rearrange their faces |
| [10:00.93] | And give them all another name |
| [10:05.96] | Right now I can’t read too good |
| [10:10.05] | Don’t send me no more letters, no |
| [10:14.54] | Not unless you mail them |
| [10:17.99] | From Desolation Row |
| [00:08.96] | They' re selling postcards of the hanging |
| [00:13.24] | They' re painting the passports brown |
| [00:18.28] | The beauty parlor is filled with sailors |
| [00:23.12] | The circus is in town |
| [00:28.05] | Here comes the blind commissioner |
| [00:31.74] | They' ve got him in a trance |
| [00:36.28] | One hand is tied to the tightrope walker |
| [00:41.00] | The other is in his pants |
| [00:45.19] | And the riot squad they' re restless |
| [00:49.83] | They need somewhere to go |
| [00:54.21] | As Lady and I look out tonight |
| [00:58.55] | From Desolation Row |
| [01:02.99] | |
| [01:07.87] | Cinderella, she seems so easy |
| [01:12.27] | " It takes one to know one," she smiles |
| [01:16.70] | And puts her hands in her back pockets |
| [01:21.53] | Bette Davis style |
| [01:25.82] | And in comes Romeo, he' s moaning |
| [01:29.86] | " You Belong to Me I Believe" |
| [01:34.29] | And someone says, " You' re in the wrong place my friend |
| [01:39.78] | You better leave" |
| [01:43.51] | And the only sound that' s left |
| [01:47.70] | After the ambulances go |
| [01:52.59] | Is Cinderella sweeping up |
| [01:56.48] | On Desolation Row |
| [02:03.00] | |
| [02:05.39] | Now the moon is almost hidden |
| [02:09.93] | The stars are beginning to hide |
| [02:14.50] | The fortunetelling lady |
| [02:18.69] | Has even taken all her things inside |
| [02:23.23] | All except for Cain and Abel |
| [02:27.06] | And the hunchback of Notre Dame |
| [02:32.00] | Everybody is making love |
| [02:36.18] | Or else expecting rain |
| [02:40.82] | And the Good Samaritan, he' s dressing |
| [02:43.62] | He' s getting ready for the show |
| [02:49.50] | He' s going to the carnival tonight |
| [02:53.83] | On Desolation Row |
| [02:59.37] | |
| [03:02.71] | Now Ophelia, she' s ' neath the window |
| [03:07.25] | For her I feel so afraid |
| [03:11.44] | On her twentysecond birthday |
| [03:15.67] | She already is an old maid |
| [03:20.15] | To her, death is quite romantic |
| [03:24.69] | She wears an iron vest |
| [03:28.88] | Her profession' s her religion |
| [03:33.27] | Her sin is her lifelessness |
| [03:38.15] | And though her eyes are fixed upon |
| [03:42.59] | Noah' s great rainbow |
| [03:46.87] | She spends her time peeking |
| [03:50.46] | Into Desolation Row |
| [03:55.10] | |
| [03:59.98] | Einstein, disguised as Robin Hood |
| [04:04.07] | With his memories in a trunk |
| [04:08.66] | Passed this way an hour ago |
| [04:12.65] | With his friend, a jealous monk |
| [04:16.89] | He looked so immaculately frightful |
| [04:21.22] | As he bummed a cigarette |
| [04:25.56] | Then he went off sniffing drainpipes |
| [04:29.70] | And reciting the alphabet |
| [04:34.72] | Now you would not think to look at him |
| [04:38.56] | But he was famous long ago |
| [04:43.24] | For playing the electric violin |
| [04:47.23] | On Desolation Row |
| [04:50.98] | |
| [04:56.06] | Dr. Filth, he keeps his world |
| [05:00.40] | Inside of a leather cup |
| [05:05.19] | But all his sexless patients |
| [05:09.08] | They' re trying to blow it up |
| [05:13.77] | Now his nurse, some local loser |
| [05:17.85] | She' s in charge of the cyanide hole |
| [05:22.49] | And she also keeps the cards that read |
| [05:26.67] | " Have Mercy on His Soul" |
| [05:31.84] | They all play on pennywhistles |
| [05:35.93] | You can hear them blow |
| [05:40.03] | If you lean your head out far enough |
| [05:44.16] | From Desolation Row |
| [05:48.49] | |
| [05:52.73] | Across the street they' ve nailed the curtains |
| [05:57.11] | They' re getting ready for the feast |
| [06:01.39] | The Phantom of the Opera |
| [06:05.82] | A perfect image of a priest |
| [06:10.16] | They' re spoonfeeding Casanova |
| [06:14.75] | To get him to feel more assured |
| [06:18.84] | Then they' ll kill him with selfconfidence |
| [06:23.13] | After poisoning him with words |
| [06:28.77] | And the Phantom' s shouting to skinny girls |
| [06:33.25] | " Get Outa Here If You Don' t Know |
| [06:37.49] | Casanova is just being punished for going |
| [06:41.92] | To Desolation Row" |
| [06:48.43] | |
| [06:50.57] | Now at midnight all the agents |
| [06:54.86] | And the superhuman crew |
| [06:59.30] | Come out and round up everyone |
| [07:03.39] | That knows more than they do |
| [07:07.67] | Then they bring them to the factory |
| [07:12.01] | Where the heartattack machine |
| [07:16.35] | Is strapped across their shoulders |
| [07:20.79] | And then the kerosene |
| [07:25.08] | Is brought down from the castles |
| [07:29.02] | By insurance men who go |
| [07:33.50] | Check to see that nobody is escaping |
| [07:37.29] | To Desolation Row |
| [07:42.84] | |
| [07:44.73] | Praise be to Nero' s Neptune |
| [07:48.71] | The Titanic sails at dawn |
| [07:53.30] | And everybody' s shouting |
| [07:57.84] | " Which Side Are You On?" |
| [08:01.77] | And Ezra Pound and T. S. Eliot |
| [08:06.70] | Fighting in the captain' s tower |
| [08:10.89] | While calypso singers laugh at them |
| [08:14.54] | And fishermen hold flowers |
| [08:19.47] | Between the windows of the sea |
| [08:23.41] | Where lovely mermaids flow |
| [08:28.00] | And nobody has to think too much |
| [08:31.95] | About Desolation Row |
| [08:35.78] | |
| [09:31.37] | Yes, I received your letter yesterday |
| [09:35.51] | About the time the doorknob broke |
| [09:39.64] | When you asked how I was doing |
| [09:44.37] | Was that some kind of joke? |
| [09:48.37] | All these people that you mention |
| [09:52.51] | Yes, I know them, they' re quite lame |
| [09:56.79] | I had to rearrange their faces |
| [10:00.93] | And give them all another name |
| [10:05.96] | Right now I can' t read too good |
| [10:10.05] | Don' t send me no more letters, no |
| [10:14.54] | Not unless you mail them |
| [10:17.99] | From Desolation Row |
| [00:08.96] | They' re selling postcards of the hanging |
| [00:13.24] | They' re painting the passports brown |
| [00:18.28] | The beauty parlor is filled with sailors |
| [00:23.12] | The circus is in town |
| [00:28.05] | Here comes the blind commissioner |
| [00:31.74] | They' ve got him in a trance |
| [00:36.28] | One hand is tied to the tightrope walker |
| [00:41.00] | The other is in his pants |
| [00:45.19] | And the riot squad they' re restless |
| [00:49.83] | They need somewhere to go |
| [00:54.21] | As Lady and I look out tonight |
| [00:58.55] | From Desolation Row |
| [01:02.99] | |
| [01:07.87] | Cinderella, she seems so easy |
| [01:12.27] | " It takes one to know one," she smiles |
| [01:16.70] | And puts her hands in her back pockets |
| [01:21.53] | Bette Davis style |
| [01:25.82] | And in comes Romeo, he' s moaning |
| [01:29.86] | " You Belong to Me I Believe" |
| [01:34.29] | And someone says, " You' re in the wrong place my friend |
| [01:39.78] | You better leave" |
| [01:43.51] | And the only sound that' s left |
| [01:47.70] | After the ambulances go |
| [01:52.59] | Is Cinderella sweeping up |
| [01:56.48] | On Desolation Row |
| [02:03.00] | |
| [02:05.39] | Now the moon is almost hidden |
| [02:09.93] | The stars are beginning to hide |
| [02:14.50] | The fortunetelling lady |
| [02:18.69] | Has even taken all her things inside |
| [02:23.23] | All except for Cain and Abel |
| [02:27.06] | And the hunchback of Notre Dame |
| [02:32.00] | Everybody is making love |
| [02:36.18] | Or else expecting rain |
| [02:40.82] | And the Good Samaritan, he' s dressing |
| [02:43.62] | He' s getting ready for the show |
| [02:49.50] | He' s going to the carnival tonight |
| [02:53.83] | On Desolation Row |
| [02:59.37] | |
| [03:02.71] | Now Ophelia, she' s ' neath the window |
| [03:07.25] | For her I feel so afraid |
| [03:11.44] | On her twentysecond birthday |
| [03:15.67] | She already is an old maid |
| [03:20.15] | To her, death is quite romantic |
| [03:24.69] | She wears an iron vest |
| [03:28.88] | Her profession' s her religion |
| [03:33.27] | Her sin is her lifelessness |
| [03:38.15] | And though her eyes are fixed upon |
| [03:42.59] | Noah' s great rainbow |
| [03:46.87] | She spends her time peeking |
| [03:50.46] | Into Desolation Row |
| [03:55.10] | |
| [03:59.98] | Einstein, disguised as Robin Hood |
| [04:04.07] | With his memories in a trunk |
| [04:08.66] | Passed this way an hour ago |
| [04:12.65] | With his friend, a jealous monk |
| [04:16.89] | He looked so immaculately frightful |
| [04:21.22] | As he bummed a cigarette |
| [04:25.56] | Then he went off sniffing drainpipes |
| [04:29.70] | And reciting the alphabet |
| [04:34.72] | Now you would not think to look at him |
| [04:38.56] | But he was famous long ago |
| [04:43.24] | For playing the electric violin |
| [04:47.23] | On Desolation Row |
| [04:50.98] | |
| [04:56.06] | Dr. Filth, he keeps his world |
| [05:00.40] | Inside of a leather cup |
| [05:05.19] | But all his sexless patients |
| [05:09.08] | They' re trying to blow it up |
| [05:13.77] | Now his nurse, some local loser |
| [05:17.85] | She' s in charge of the cyanide hole |
| [05:22.49] | And she also keeps the cards that read |
| [05:26.67] | " Have Mercy on His Soul" |
| [05:31.84] | They all play on pennywhistles |
| [05:35.93] | You can hear them blow |
| [05:40.03] | If you lean your head out far enough |
| [05:44.16] | From Desolation Row |
| [05:48.49] | |
| [05:52.73] | Across the street they' ve nailed the curtains |
| [05:57.11] | They' re getting ready for the feast |
| [06:01.39] | The Phantom of the Opera |
| [06:05.82] | A perfect image of a priest |
| [06:10.16] | They' re spoonfeeding Casanova |
| [06:14.75] | To get him to feel more assured |
| [06:18.84] | Then they' ll kill him with selfconfidence |
| [06:23.13] | After poisoning him with words |
| [06:28.77] | And the Phantom' s shouting to skinny girls |
| [06:33.25] | " Get Outa Here If You Don' t Know |
| [06:37.49] | Casanova is just being punished for going |
| [06:41.92] | To Desolation Row" |
| [06:48.43] | |
| [06:50.57] | Now at midnight all the agents |
| [06:54.86] | And the superhuman crew |
| [06:59.30] | Come out and round up everyone |
| [07:03.39] | That knows more than they do |
| [07:07.67] | Then they bring them to the factory |
| [07:12.01] | Where the heartattack machine |
| [07:16.35] | Is strapped across their shoulders |
| [07:20.79] | And then the kerosene |
| [07:25.08] | Is brought down from the castles |
| [07:29.02] | By insurance men who go |
| [07:33.50] | Check to see that nobody is escaping |
| [07:37.29] | To Desolation Row |
| [07:42.84] | |
| [07:44.73] | Praise be to Nero' s Neptune |
| [07:48.71] | The Titanic sails at dawn |
| [07:53.30] | And everybody' s shouting |
| [07:57.84] | " Which Side Are You On?" |
| [08:01.77] | And Ezra Pound and T. S. Eliot |
| [08:06.70] | Fighting in the captain' s tower |
| [08:10.89] | While calypso singers laugh at them |
| [08:14.54] | And fishermen hold flowers |
| [08:19.47] | Between the windows of the sea |
| [08:23.41] | Where lovely mermaids flow |
| [08:28.00] | And nobody has to think too much |
| [08:31.95] | About Desolation Row |
| [08:35.78] | |
| [09:31.37] | Yes, I received your letter yesterday |
| [09:35.51] | About the time the doorknob broke |
| [09:39.64] | When you asked how I was doing |
| [09:44.37] | Was that some kind of joke? |
| [09:48.37] | All these people that you mention |
| [09:52.51] | Yes, I know them, they' re quite lame |
| [09:56.79] | I had to rearrange their faces |
| [10:00.93] | And give them all another name |
| [10:05.96] | Right now I can' t read too good |
| [10:10.05] | Don' t send me no more letters, no |
| [10:14.54] | Not unless you mail them |
| [10:17.99] | From Desolation Row |
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