Ballad of a Thin Man
Bob Dylan
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You walk into the room with your pencil in your hand You see somebody naked and you say, who is that man You try so hard but you don't understand Just what you gonna say when you get home Yes, because you know something is happening But you don't know what it is Do you, Mr. Jones You walk in so politely and say, is this where it is And somebody points to you and says, it's his And you say, what's mine and somebody else says, well, what is And he says, oh my God, am I here all alone Yes, but you know something is happening You don't know what it is Do you, Mr. Jones You hand in your money and you go watch the geek Who suddenly walks up to you when he hears you speak And says, how does it feel to be such a freak And you say, impossible as he hands you a bone Yes, but you know something is happening Is just that you don't know what it is Do you, Mr. Jones You have many contacts among the lumberjacks To get you facts when someone attacks your imagination Yes, nobody has any respect, anyway they already expect You to all give a check To tax-deductible charity organizations Ah, you've been with the professors and they've all liked your looks With lawyers and scholars you've discussed lepers and crooks You've been through all of F. Scott Fitzgerald's books You're very well-read, it's well-known Yes, 'cause something is happening And you don't know what it is Do you, Mr. Jones The sword swallower, he walks up to you and then he kneels He crosses himself and then he clicks his high heels And without further notice, he tells you how it feels And he says, here is your throat back, thanks for the loan Yes something is happening but you don't know what it is Do you, Mr. Jones Now, you see this one-eyed midget shouting the word now And you say, for what reason and he says, how And you say, oh my God, what that means And he screams back, you're a cow Give me some milk or else go home Yes, and now you're positive something's happening And you wish you knew what it was Don't you, Mr. Jones You walk into the room like a camel, and then you frown You put your eyes in your pocket and your nose on the ground There ought to be a law against you comin' around You should be made to be wearing at all times a telephone Yes, 'cause something is happening and you don't know what it is Do you, Mr. Jones
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Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song Background"Ballad of a Thin Man" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, found on his sixth studio album, "Highway 61 Revisited," released in 1965.
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Album CollaborationDylan's "Highway 61 Revisited" is considered one of his most influential albums, with "Like a Rolling Stone" and "Ballad of a Thin Man" among his most significant songs.
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Cultural InfluenceFrequently interpreted as Dylan's critique of the media, and the disconnect between the older generation and the fast-emerging counterculture of the 1960s. It is said to describe someone failing to understand what's happening around them.
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Lyrics CompositionThe song is known for its surrealistic lyrics, allegedly portraying a "thin man" who is confused and unable to comprehend the changes happening in society and culture during the 1960s.
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Song StructureIt has a minor-key tonality and is composed of a repetitive, ominous piano-driven melody that complements the dark tone of the lyrics.
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Live Performances"Ballad of a Thin Man" is one of Dylan's most performed songs, having been played in concerts across multiple decades. According to the site bobdylan.com, the song has been sung in concert over 2,000 times as of 2022.
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Song Title OriginThe title "Ballad of a Thin Man" is thought to have been inspired by the phrase "thin man" that describes a character in Dashiell Hammett's novels. However, Dylan has never confirmed this.
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Inspirational ImpactAlthough the exact inspiration for the song is unknown, various theories suggest that it was aimed at a specific journalist or critic who crossed Dylan, or at the older, conventional society unable to understand the changing times.
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Musical InfluenceThe song has been covered by many artists, demonstrating its vast impact on popular culture and music. Artists like David Bowie and The Grateful Dead are believed to have been inspired by the song.
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Song's LegacyDespite being over 50 years old, "Ballad of a Thin Man" remains one of Dylan's most powerful and enduring works, studied by academics and enjoyed by audiences around the world.
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Citation
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"Ballad of a Thin Man Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/2311565/Bob+Dylan/Ballad+of+a+Thin+Man>.
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