Jokerman
- Bob Dylan
Standin' on the waters
castin' your bread
While the eyes of the idol with the iron head are glowin'
Distant ships sailin' into the mist
You were born with a snake in both of your fists while the hurricane was
blowin'
Freedom's 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
Sheddin' off one more layer of skin
Keepin' 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 goin' to Sodom an' 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 then 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 an' Deutoronomy
The law of the jungle an' the sea are your only teachers
In the smoke of the twilight on a milk white steed
Michelangelo indeed could have carved out your features
Restin' in the fileds far from the turbulent space
Half asleep neath the stars with a small dog lickin' 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 stalkin' the sick an' the lame
Preacherman seeks the same who'll get there first is uncertain
Nightsticks an' water cannons, teargas, padlocks
Molotov cocktails an' rocks behind every curtain
False hearted judges dyin' in the webs that they spin
Only a matter of time till 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 grey
A woman just gave birth to a prince today an' 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 an' 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.