Bob Dylan Live 1961-2000

(first release, live version, 2000, portsmouth, england)

One two three four

'twas in another lifetime, one of toil and blood
When blackness was a virtue and the road was full of mud
I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form.
"come in," she said,
"i'll give you shelter from the storm."

And if i pass this way again, you can rest assured
I'll always do my best for her, on that i give my word
In a world of steel-eyed death, and men who are fighting to be warm.
"come in," she said,
"i'll give you shelter from the storm."

Not a word was spoke between us, there was little risk involved
Everything up to that point had been left unresolved.
Try imagining a place where it's always safe and warm.
"come in," she said,
"i'll give you shelter from the storm."

I was burned out from exhaustion, buried in the hail,
Poisoned in the bushes an' blown out on the trail,
Hunted like a crocodile, ravaged in the corn.
"come in," she said,
"i'll give you shelter from the storm."

Suddenly i turned around and she was standin' there
With silver bracelets on her wrists and flowers in her hair.
She walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of thorns.
"come in," she said,
"i'll give you shelter from the storm."

Now there's a wall between us, somethin' there's been lost
I took too much for granted, got my signals crossed.
Just to think that it all began on a long-forgotten morn.
"come in," she said,
"i'll give you shelter from the storm."

Well, the deputy walks on hard nails and the preacher rides a mount
But nothing really matters much, it's doom alone that counts
And the one-eyed undertaker, he blows a futile horn.
"come in," she said,
"i'll give you shelter from the storm."

I've heard newborn babies wailin' like a mournin' dove
And old men with broken teeth stranded without love.
Do i understand your question, man, is it hopeless and forlorn?
"come in," she said,
"i'll give you shelter from the storm."

In a little hilltop village, they gambled for my clothes
I bargained for salvation an' they gave me a lethal dose.
I offered up my innocence and got repaid with scorn.
"come in," she said,
"i'll give you shelter from the storm."

Well, i'm livin' in a foreign country but i'm bound to cross the line
Beauty walks a razor's edge, someday i'll make it mine.
If i could only turn back the clock to when god and her were born.
"come in," she said,
"i'll give you shelter from the storm."

(first release, live version "second gaslight tape", late 1962

Sometimes i feel so low-down and disgusted
Can't help but wonder what's happenin' to my companions,
Are they lost or are they found, have they counted the cost it'll take to bring
Down
All their earthly principles they're gonna have to abandon?
There's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend.

I had a woman down in alabama,
She was a backwoods girl, but she sure was realistic,
She said, "boy, without a doubt, have to quit your mess and straighten out,
You could die down here, be just another accident statistic."
There's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend.

All that foreign oil controlling american soil,
Look around you, it's just bound to make you embarrassed.
Sheiks walkin' around like kings, wearing fancy jewels and nose rings,
Deciding america's future from amsterdam and to paris
And there's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend.

Man's ego is inflated, his laws are outdated, they don't apply no more,
You can't rely no more to be standin' around waitin'
In the home of the brave, jefferson turnin' over in his grave,
Fools glorifying themselves, trying to manipulate satan
And there's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend.

Big-time negotiators, false healers and woman haters,
Masters of the bluff and masters of the proposition
But the enemy i see wears a cloak of decency,
All non-believers and men stealers talkin' in the name of religion
And there's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend.

People starving and thirsting, grain elevators are bursting
Oh, you know it costs more to store the food than it do to give it.
They say lose your inhibitions, follow your own ambitions,
They talk about a life of brotherly love, show me someone who knows how to
Live it. there's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend.

Well, my baby went to illinois with some bad-talkin' boy she could destroy
A real suicide case, but there was nothin' i could do to stop it,
I don't care about economy, i don't care about astronomy
But it sure do bother me to see my loved ones turning into puppets,
There's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend.

Just like old saxophone joe
When he's got the hogshead up on his toe
Oh me, oh my
Love that country pie

Listen to the fiddler play
When he's playin' 'til the break of day
Oh me, oh my
Love that country pie

Raspberry, strawberry, lemon and lime
What do i care?
Blueberry, apple, cherry, pumpkin and plum
Call me for dinner, honey, i'll be there

Saddle me up my big white goose
Tie me on 'er and turn her loose
Oh me, oh my
Love that country pie

I don't need much and that ain't no lie
Ain't runnin' any race
Give to me my country pie
I won't throw it up in anybody's face

Shake me up that old peach tree
Little jack horner's got nothin' on me
Oh me, oh my
Love that country pie

(first release, live version, december 16, 1997, el ray theatre, los angeles)

I'm beginnin' to hear voices and there's no one around
Well i'm all used up and the fields have turned brown
I went to church on sunday, she passed by
Well my love for her has taken such a long time to die.
Well, i'm waist deep, waist deep in the mist
It's almost like, almost like i don't exist.
I'm twenty miles out of town, cold irons bound.

Well, the walls of pride, well they're high and they're wide
Can't see over to the other side
It's such a sad thing to see beauty decay
But it's sadder still to feel your heart turn away.
One look at you and i'm out of control
Like the universe has swallowed me whole.
I'm twenty miles out of town and cold irons bound.

There's too many people, too many to recall
I thought some of 'em were friends of mine, i was wrong about 'em all
Well, the road is rocky and the hillside mud
Up over my head, nothing but clouds of blood.
I found my world, found my world in you
But your love just hasn't proved true.
I'm twenty miles out of town and cold irons bound
Twenty miles out of town and cold irons bound.

Well the winds in chicago ah, they torn me to shreds
Reality has always had too many heads
I tried to love and protect you because i care
I'm gonna remember forever the joy we've shared
I'm looking at you and i'm on my bended knee
You've no idea what you did to me
I'm twenty miles out of town and cold irons bound
Twenty miles out of town and cold irons bound.

Go 'way from my window,
Leave at your own chosen speed.
I'm not the one you want, babe,
I'm not the one you need.
You say you're lookin' for someone
Never weak but always strong,
To protect you an' defend you
Whether you are right or wrong,
Someone to open each and every door,
But it ain't me, babe,
No, no, no, it ain't me, babe,
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe.

Go lightly from the ledge, babe,
Go lightly on the ground.
I'm not the one you want, babe,
I will only let you down.
You say you're lookin' for someone
Who will promise never to part,
Someone to close his eyes for you,
Someone to close his heart,
Someone who will die for you an' more,
But it ain't me, babe,
No, no, no, it ain't me, babe,
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe.

Go melt back into the night, babe,
Everything inside is made of stone.
There's nothing in here moving
An' anyway i'm not alone.
You say you're looking for someone
Who'll pick you up each time you fall,
To gather flowers constantly
An' to come each time you call,
A lover for your life an' nothing more,
But it ain't me, babe,
No, no, no, it ain't me, babe,
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe.

Mama, take this badge off of me
I can't use it anymore.
It's gettin' dark, too dark for me to see
I feel like i'm knockin' on heaven's door.

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door

Mama, put my guns in the ground
I can't shoot them anymore.
That long black cloud is comin' down
I feel like i'm knockin' on heaven's door.

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door