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In reply to the discussion: Has Bob Dylan ever spoken out against tRUMP? [View all]Fiendish Thingy
(20,255 posts)36. Other than a brief flash of Reagan's face in the video, not really
Maybe one verse could be construed to be about Reagan, but the rest of the song is pure mysterious Dylan poetry:
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
Preacher man seeks the same, who'll get there first is uncertain
Nightsticks and water cannons, tear gas, padlocks
Molotov's 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
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
Preacher man seeks the same, who'll get there first is uncertain
Nightsticks and water cannons, tear gas, padlocks
Molotov's 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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Yeah, and what's his position of right and left Twixt bars? Has he opined on egg prices yet?
marble falls
Jun 2
#4
Why? Is he the one vote that'll break the tie to take Taco off the island or not? He hasn't mention the price ...
marble falls
Jun 2
#9
I did a look on what he's said about the worst pRESIDENT we've ever had in the WH and guess what?
wolfie001
Jun 2
#47
Listen to some of his songs- it's all in there. Start with Seven Curses, it describes an evil judge.
Blues Heron
Jun 2
#59
Dylan sang "political songs" or "protest songs" for about 2-3 years in a 65+ year career
Fiendish Thingy
Jun 2
#13
If the survival of our democracy depends on celebrities speaking out, we are already doomed.
Fiendish Thingy
Jun 2
#21
Funny how many of the billionaires made their allegiance public during the inauguration
wolfie001
Jun 2
#69
There almost was no Bob Dylan, when he empathized with Oswald at an awards dinner shortly after Nov 63
Blues Heron
Jun 2
#24
He could say something in the microphone. He's still touring so quit with the "he's an old guy" stuff
wolfie001
Jun 2
#104
Hagiographic is a perfect descriptive for the way the 1960s/1970s are looked at here on too many occasions. nt
Celerity
Jun 2
#25
As a openly queer black female I can safely say my quality of life in 1960s USA would have been problematic at best
Celerity
Jun 2
#34
Actually it started right after the 1964 Goldwater disaster (disaster for the RW). The groundwork for 2 major RW
Celerity
Jun 2
#65
Bob is 80 and besides he put the town of Ashtabula in one of his songs so he has earned the right not ..
Botany
Jun 2
#29
I can think of literally hundreds of people who deserve condemnation more than Bob Dylan
blogslug
Jun 2
#31
Appears he hasn't. But can't imagine "Blowin in the Wind" Dylan cozying up to likes of trump.
Silent Type
Jun 2
#33
Boomers would listen to his words. I remember him still possessing his vocal range in the 1970s
wolfie001
Jun 2
#52