Desolation Row Lyrics
| Song | Desolation Row |
| Artist | Bob Dylan |
| Album | The Bootleg Series, Vol. 4: Bob Dylan Live, 1966: The |
| Download | Image LRC TXT |
| [00:08.70] | They're selling postcards of the hanging |
| [00:13.00] | They're painting the passports brown |
| [00:18.10] | The beauty parlor is filled with sailors |
| [00:21.60] | The circus is in town |
| [00:27.40] | Here comes the blind commissioner |
| [00:31.10] | They've got him in a trance |
| [00:35.60] | One hand is tied to the tight-rope walker |
| [00:40.40] | The other is in his pants |
| [00:45.10] | And the riot squad they're restless |
| [00:49.50] | They need somewhere to go |
| [00:53.90] | As Lady and I look out tonight |
| [00:58.50] | From Desolation Row |
| [01:07.40] | Cinderella, she seems so easy |
| [01:12.00] | "It takes one to know one," she smiles |
| [01:16.70] | And puts her hands in her back pockets |
| [01:21.20] | Bette Davis style |
| [01:25.50] | And in comes Romeo, he's moaning |
| [01:30.04] | "You Belong to Me I Believe" |
| [01:33.91] | And someone says," You're in the wrong place, my friend |
| [01:38.13] | You better leave" |
| [01:43.48] | And the only sound that's left |
| [01:46.63] | After the ambulances go |
| [01:52.66] | Is Cinderella sweeping up |
| [01:56.94] | On Desolation Row |
| [02:03.72] | Now the moon is almost hidden |
| [02:10.60] | The stars are beginning to hide |
| [02:14.60] | The fortunetelling lady |
| [02:19.12] | Has even taken all her things inside |
| [02:23.60] | All except for Cain and Abel |
| [02:26.75] | And the hunchback of Notre Dame |
| [02:32.70] | Everybody is making love |
| [02:36.63] | Or else expecting rain |
| [02:41.40] | And the Good Samaritan, he's dressing |
| [02:45.63] | He's getting ready for the show |
| [02:50.06] | He's going to the carnival tonight |
| [02:54.79] | On Desolation Row |
| [03:03.32] | Now Ophelia, she's 'neath the window |
| [03:07.31] | For her I feel so afraid |
| [03:11.68] | On her twenty-second birthday |
| [03:15.39] | She already is an old maid |
| [03:20.27] | To her, death is quite romantic |
| [03:24.84] | She wears an iron vest |
| [03:29.56] | Her profession's her religion |
| [03:33.82] | Her sin is her lifelessness |
| [03:38.60] | And though her eyes are fixed upon |
| [03:43.31] | Noah's great rainbow |
| [03:47.42] | She spends her time peeking |
| [03:51.37] | Into Desolation Row |
| [04:00.75] | Einstein, disguised as Robin Hood |
| [04:05.02] | With his memories in a trunk |
| [04:09.54] | Passed this way an hour ago |
| [04:13.31] | With his friend, a jealous monk |
| [04:17.81] | He looked so immaculately frightful |
| [04:22.93] | As he bummed a cigarette |
| [04:26.06] | Then he went off sniffing drainpipes |
| [04:30.54] | And reciting the alphabet |
| [04:35.33] | Now you would not think to look at him |
| [04:39.52] | But he was famous long ago |
| [04:44.43] | For playing the electric violin |
| [04:47.97] | On Desolation Row |
| [04:57.27] | Dr. Filth, he keeps his world |
| [05:01.34] | Inside of a leather cup |
| [05:06.03] | But all his sexless patients |
| [05:09.98] | They're trying to blow it up |
| [05:15.08] | Now his nurse, some local loser |
| [05:19.12] | She's in charge of the cyanide hose |
| [05:23.44] | And she also keeps the cards that read |
| [05:27.91] | "Have Mercy on His Soul" |
| [05:31.95] | They all play on penny whistles |
| [05:36.48] | You can hear them blow |
| [05:40.98] | If you lean your head out far enough |
| [05:45.72] | From Desolation Row |
| [05:53.41] | Across the street they've nailed the curtains |
| [05:59.68] | They're getting ready for the feast |
| [06:02.56] | The Phantom of the Opera |
| [06:06.42] | A perfect image of a priest |
| [06:10.87] | They're spoonfeeding Casanova |
| [06:14.84] | To get him to feel more assured |
| [06:19.36] | Then they'll kill him with self-confidence |
| [06:23.60] | After poisoning him with words |
| [06:27.97] | And the Phantom's shouting to skinny girls |
| [06:33.83] | "Get Outa Here If You Don't Know |
| [06:38.46] | Casanova is just being punished for going |
| [06:41.83] | To Desolation Row" |
| [06:51.40] | Now at midnight all the agents |
| [06:57.02] | And the superhuman crew |
| [07:00.23] | Come out and round up everyone |
| [07:03.97] | That knows more than they do |
| [07:08.48] | Then they bring them to the factory |
| [07:13.14] | Where the heart-attack machine |
| [07:17.38] | Is strapped across their shoulders |
| [07:22.68] | And then the kerosene |
| [07:26.19] | Is brought down from the castles |
| [07:31.67] | By insurance men who go |
| [07:35.85] | Check to see that nobody is escaping |
| [07:40.52] | To Desolation Row |
| [07:47.05] | Praise be to Nero's Neptune |
| [07:51.08] | The Titanic sails at dawn |
| [07:55.75] | And everybody's shouting |
| [07:59.90] | "Which Side Are You On?" |
| [08:04.50] | And Ezra Pound and T. S. Eliot |
| [08:08.52] | Fighting in the captain's tower |
| [08:13.20] | While calypso singers laugh at them |
| [08:17.35] | And fishermen hold flowers |
| [08:22.05] | Between the windows of the sea |
| [08:26.00] | Where lovely mermaids flow |
| [08:30.83] | And nobody has to think too much |
| [08:34.68] | About Desolation Row |
| [08:41.37] | |
| [09:34.73] | Yes, I received your letter yesterday |
| [09:38.46] | （About the time the door knob broke） |
| [09:43.28] | When you asked how I was doing |
| [09:47.16] | Was that some kind of joke? |
| [09:52.05] | All these people that you mention |
| [09:56.32] | Yes, I know them, they're quite lame |
| [10:00.19] | I had to rearrange their faces |
| [10:04.63] | And give them all another name |
| [10:08.55] | Right now I can't read too good |
| [10:13.33] | Don't send me no more letters no |
| [10:17.60] | Not unless you mail them |
| [10:21.36] | From Desolation Row |
| [10:26.33] | |
| [10:36.60] | |
| [11:20.10] |
| [00:08.70] | They' re selling postcards of the hanging |
| [00:13.00] | They' re painting the passports brown |
| [00:18.10] | The beauty parlor is filled with sailors |
| [00:21.60] | The circus is in town |
| [00:27.40] | Here comes the blind commissioner |
| [00:31.10] | They' ve got him in a trance |
| [00:35.60] | One hand is tied to the tightrope walker |
| [00:40.40] | The other is in his pants |
| [00:45.10] | And the riot squad they' re restless |
| [00:49.50] | They need somewhere to go |
| [00:53.90] | As Lady and I look out tonight |
| [00:58.50] | From Desolation Row |
| [01:07.40] | Cinderella, she seems so easy |
| [01:12.00] | " It takes one to know one," she smiles |
| [01:16.70] | And puts her hands in her back pockets |
| [01:21.20] | Bette Davis style |
| [01:25.50] | And in comes Romeo, he' s moaning |
| [01:30.04] | " You Belong to Me I Believe" |
| [01:33.91] | And someone says," You' re in the wrong place, my friend |
| [01:38.13] | You better leave" |
| [01:43.48] | And the only sound that' s left |
| [01:46.63] | After the ambulances go |
| [01:52.66] | Is Cinderella sweeping up |
| [01:56.94] | On Desolation Row |
| [02:03.72] | Now the moon is almost hidden |
| [02:10.60] | The stars are beginning to hide |
| [02:14.60] | The fortunetelling lady |
| [02:19.12] | Has even taken all her things inside |
| [02:23.60] | All except for Cain and Abel |
| [02:26.75] | And the hunchback of Notre Dame |
| [02:32.70] | Everybody is making love |
| [02:36.63] | Or else expecting rain |
| [02:41.40] | And the Good Samaritan, he' s dressing |
| [02:45.63] | He' s getting ready for the show |
| [02:50.06] | He' s going to the carnival tonight |
| [02:54.79] | On Desolation Row |
| [03:03.32] | Now Ophelia, she' s ' neath the window |
| [03:07.31] | For her I feel so afraid |
| [03:11.68] | On her twentysecond birthday |
| [03:15.39] | She already is an old maid |
| [03:20.27] | To her, death is quite romantic |
| [03:24.84] | She wears an iron vest |
| [03:29.56] | Her profession' s her religion |
| [03:33.82] | Her sin is her lifelessness |
| [03:38.60] | And though her eyes are fixed upon |
| [03:43.31] | Noah' s great rainbow |
| [03:47.42] | She spends her time peeking |
| [03:51.37] | Into Desolation Row |
| [04:00.75] | Einstein, disguised as Robin Hood |
| [04:05.02] | With his memories in a trunk |
| [04:09.54] | Passed this way an hour ago |
| [04:13.31] | With his friend, a jealous monk |
| [04:17.81] | He looked so immaculately frightful |
| [04:22.93] | As he bummed a cigarette |
| [04:26.06] | Then he went off sniffing drainpipes |
| [04:30.54] | And reciting the alphabet |
| [04:35.33] | Now you would not think to look at him |
| [04:39.52] | But he was famous long ago |
| [04:44.43] | For playing the electric violin |
| [04:47.97] | On Desolation Row |
| [04:57.27] | Dr. Filth, he keeps his world |
| [05:01.34] | Inside of a leather cup |
| [05:06.03] | But all his sexless patients |
| [05:09.98] | They' re trying to blow it up |
| [05:15.08] | Now his nurse, some local loser |
| [05:19.12] | She' s in charge of the cyanide hose |
| [05:23.44] | And she also keeps the cards that read |
| [05:27.91] | " Have Mercy on His Soul" |
| [05:31.95] | They all play on penny whistles |
| [05:36.48] | You can hear them blow |
| [05:40.98] | If you lean your head out far enough |
| [05:45.72] | From Desolation Row |
| [05:53.41] | Across the street they' ve nailed the curtains |
| [05:59.68] | They' re getting ready for the feast |
| [06:02.56] | The Phantom of the Opera |
| [06:06.42] | A perfect image of a priest |
| [06:10.87] | They' re spoonfeeding Casanova |
| [06:14.84] | To get him to feel more assured |
| [06:19.36] | Then they' ll kill him with selfconfidence |
| [06:23.60] | After poisoning him with words |
| [06:27.97] | And the Phantom' s shouting to skinny girls |
| [06:33.83] | " Get Outa Here If You Don' t Know |
| [06:38.46] | Casanova is just being punished for going |
| [06:41.83] | To Desolation Row" |
| [06:51.40] | Now at midnight all the agents |
| [06:57.02] | And the superhuman crew |
| [07:00.23] | Come out and round up everyone |
| [07:03.97] | That knows more than they do |
| [07:08.48] | Then they bring them to the factory |
| [07:13.14] | Where the heartattack machine |
| [07:17.38] | Is strapped across their shoulders |
| [07:22.68] | And then the kerosene |
| [07:26.19] | Is brought down from the castles |
| [07:31.67] | By insurance men who go |
| [07:35.85] | Check to see that nobody is escaping |
| [07:40.52] | To Desolation Row |
| [07:47.05] | Praise be to Nero' s Neptune |
| [07:51.08] | The Titanic sails at dawn |
| [07:55.75] | And everybody' s shouting |
| [07:59.90] | " Which Side Are You On?" |
| [08:04.50] | And Ezra Pound and T. S. Eliot |
| [08:08.52] | Fighting in the captain' s tower |
| [08:13.20] | While calypso singers laugh at them |
| [08:17.35] | And fishermen hold flowers |
| [08:22.05] | Between the windows of the sea |
| [08:26.00] | Where lovely mermaids flow |
| [08:30.83] | And nobody has to think too much |
| [08:34.68] | About Desolation Row |
| [08:41.37] | |
| [09:34.73] | Yes, I received your letter yesterday |
| [09:38.46] | About the time the door knob broke |
| [09:43.28] | When you asked how I was doing |
| [09:47.16] | Was that some kind of joke? |
| [09:52.05] | All these people that you mention |
| [09:56.32] | Yes, I know them, they' re quite lame |
| [10:00.19] | I had to rearrange their faces |
| [10:04.63] | And give them all another name |
| [10:08.55] | Right now I can' t read too good |
| [10:13.33] | Don' t send me no more letters no |
| [10:17.60] | Not unless you mail them |
| [10:21.36] | From Desolation Row |
| [10:26.33] | |
| [10:36.60] | |
| [11:20.10] |
| [00:08.70] | They' re selling postcards of the hanging |
| [00:13.00] | They' re painting the passports brown |
| [00:18.10] | The beauty parlor is filled with sailors |
| [00:21.60] | The circus is in town |
| [00:27.40] | Here comes the blind commissioner |
| [00:31.10] | They' ve got him in a trance |
| [00:35.60] | One hand is tied to the tightrope walker |
| [00:40.40] | The other is in his pants |
| [00:45.10] | And the riot squad they' re restless |
| [00:49.50] | They need somewhere to go |
| [00:53.90] | As Lady and I look out tonight |
| [00:58.50] | From Desolation Row |
| [01:07.40] | Cinderella, she seems so easy |
| [01:12.00] | " It takes one to know one," she smiles |
| [01:16.70] | And puts her hands in her back pockets |
| [01:21.20] | Bette Davis style |
| [01:25.50] | And in comes Romeo, he' s moaning |
| [01:30.04] | " You Belong to Me I Believe" |
| [01:33.91] | And someone says," You' re in the wrong place, my friend |
| [01:38.13] | You better leave" |
| [01:43.48] | And the only sound that' s left |
| [01:46.63] | After the ambulances go |
| [01:52.66] | Is Cinderella sweeping up |
| [01:56.94] | On Desolation Row |
| [02:03.72] | Now the moon is almost hidden |
| [02:10.60] | The stars are beginning to hide |
| [02:14.60] | The fortunetelling lady |
| [02:19.12] | Has even taken all her things inside |
| [02:23.60] | All except for Cain and Abel |
| [02:26.75] | And the hunchback of Notre Dame |
| [02:32.70] | Everybody is making love |
| [02:36.63] | Or else expecting rain |
| [02:41.40] | And the Good Samaritan, he' s dressing |
| [02:45.63] | He' s getting ready for the show |
| [02:50.06] | He' s going to the carnival tonight |
| [02:54.79] | On Desolation Row |
| [03:03.32] | Now Ophelia, she' s ' neath the window |
| [03:07.31] | For her I feel so afraid |
| [03:11.68] | On her twentysecond birthday |
| [03:15.39] | She already is an old maid |
| [03:20.27] | To her, death is quite romantic |
| [03:24.84] | She wears an iron vest |
| [03:29.56] | Her profession' s her religion |
| [03:33.82] | Her sin is her lifelessness |
| [03:38.60] | And though her eyes are fixed upon |
| [03:43.31] | Noah' s great rainbow |
| [03:47.42] | She spends her time peeking |
| [03:51.37] | Into Desolation Row |
| [04:00.75] | Einstein, disguised as Robin Hood |
| [04:05.02] | With his memories in a trunk |
| [04:09.54] | Passed this way an hour ago |
| [04:13.31] | With his friend, a jealous monk |
| [04:17.81] | He looked so immaculately frightful |
| [04:22.93] | As he bummed a cigarette |
| [04:26.06] | Then he went off sniffing drainpipes |
| [04:30.54] | And reciting the alphabet |
| [04:35.33] | Now you would not think to look at him |
| [04:39.52] | But he was famous long ago |
| [04:44.43] | For playing the electric violin |
| [04:47.97] | On Desolation Row |
| [04:57.27] | Dr. Filth, he keeps his world |
| [05:01.34] | Inside of a leather cup |
| [05:06.03] | But all his sexless patients |
| [05:09.98] | They' re trying to blow it up |
| [05:15.08] | Now his nurse, some local loser |
| [05:19.12] | She' s in charge of the cyanide hose |
| [05:23.44] | And she also keeps the cards that read |
| [05:27.91] | " Have Mercy on His Soul" |
| [05:31.95] | They all play on penny whistles |
| [05:36.48] | You can hear them blow |
| [05:40.98] | If you lean your head out far enough |
| [05:45.72] | From Desolation Row |
| [05:53.41] | Across the street they' ve nailed the curtains |
| [05:59.68] | They' re getting ready for the feast |
| [06:02.56] | The Phantom of the Opera |
| [06:06.42] | A perfect image of a priest |
| [06:10.87] | They' re spoonfeeding Casanova |
| [06:14.84] | To get him to feel more assured |
| [06:19.36] | Then they' ll kill him with selfconfidence |
| [06:23.60] | After poisoning him with words |
| [06:27.97] | And the Phantom' s shouting to skinny girls |
| [06:33.83] | " Get Outa Here If You Don' t Know |
| [06:38.46] | Casanova is just being punished for going |
| [06:41.83] | To Desolation Row" |
| [06:51.40] | Now at midnight all the agents |
| [06:57.02] | And the superhuman crew |
| [07:00.23] | Come out and round up everyone |
| [07:03.97] | That knows more than they do |
| [07:08.48] | Then they bring them to the factory |
| [07:13.14] | Where the heartattack machine |
| [07:17.38] | Is strapped across their shoulders |
| [07:22.68] | And then the kerosene |
| [07:26.19] | Is brought down from the castles |
| [07:31.67] | By insurance men who go |
| [07:35.85] | Check to see that nobody is escaping |
| [07:40.52] | To Desolation Row |
| [07:47.05] | Praise be to Nero' s Neptune |
| [07:51.08] | The Titanic sails at dawn |
| [07:55.75] | And everybody' s shouting |
| [07:59.90] | " Which Side Are You On?" |
| [08:04.50] | And Ezra Pound and T. S. Eliot |
| [08:08.52] | Fighting in the captain' s tower |
| [08:13.20] | While calypso singers laugh at them |
| [08:17.35] | And fishermen hold flowers |
| [08:22.05] | Between the windows of the sea |
| [08:26.00] | Where lovely mermaids flow |
| [08:30.83] | And nobody has to think too much |
| [08:34.68] | About Desolation Row |
| [08:41.37] | |
| [09:34.73] | Yes, I received your letter yesterday |
| [09:38.46] | About the time the door knob broke |
| [09:43.28] | When you asked how I was doing |
| [09:47.16] | Was that some kind of joke? |
| [09:52.05] | All these people that you mention |
| [09:56.32] | Yes, I know them, they' re quite lame |
| [10:00.19] | I had to rearrange their faces |
| [10:04.63] | And give them all another name |
| [10:08.55] | Right now I can' t read too good |
| [10:13.33] | Don' t send me no more letters no |
| [10:17.60] | Not unless you mail them |
| [10:21.36] | From Desolation Row |
| [10:26.33] | |
| [10:36.60] | |
| [11:20.10] |
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