This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Ol' black Bascom, don't break no mirrors
Cold black water dog, make no tears
You say you love me with what may be love
Don't you remember makin' baby love?
Got your steam drill built and you're lookin' for some kid
To get it to work for you like your nine-pound hammer did
But I know that you know that I know that you show
Something is tearing up your mind
Tell me, momma
Tell me, momma
Tell me, momma, what is it?
What's wrong with you this time?
Get it, John, fool's gold in your teeth and cemetery hips
Hang outside of your graveyard lips
Yes everybody's wondering when your friendship's gonna end, but
Come on, baby, I'm your friend
And I know that you know that I know that you show
Something is tearing up your mind
Tell me, momma
Tell me, momma
Tell me, momma, what is it?
What's wrong with you this time?
Oh, it's sure pleasing that your face is red
Anything he can give you, he's almost dead
Everybody can see you on your window ledge
How long's it going to take you to get off the edge?
You're just gonna make everybody jump and roar
Now whatcha want to go and do that for?
I know that you know that I know that you snow
Something is tearing up your mind
Tell me, momma
Tell me, momma
Tell me, momma, what is it?
What's wrong with you this time?
Cold black water dog, make no tears
You say you love me with what may be love
Don't you remember makin' baby love?
Got your steam drill built and you're lookin' for some kid
To get it to work for you like your nine-pound hammer did
But I know that you know that I know that you show
Something is tearing up your mind
Tell me, momma
Tell me, momma
Tell me, momma, what is it?
What's wrong with you this time?
Get it, John, fool's gold in your teeth and cemetery hips
Hang outside of your graveyard lips
Yes everybody's wondering when your friendship's gonna end, but
Come on, baby, I'm your friend
And I know that you know that I know that you show
Something is tearing up your mind
Tell me, momma
Tell me, momma
Tell me, momma, what is it?
What's wrong with you this time?
Oh, it's sure pleasing that your face is red
Anything he can give you, he's almost dead
Everybody can see you on your window ledge
How long's it going to take you to get off the edge?
You're just gonna make everybody jump and roar
Now whatcha want to go and do that for?
I know that you know that I know that you snow
Something is tearing up your mind
Tell me, momma
Tell me, momma
Tell me, momma, what is it?
What's wrong with you this time?
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I lovvvvvvvvve this song. I love the way he sings it, and they way he sort of shouts in a raspy voice "miiiiiinnnnnddd". I'm not a big fan of pet name exchanges like "baby" and "momma" etc, but if Dylan's singing it... I'm usually pretty into it. Sorry... my crush came out. :\
These might be the original words but they're sure not what he sings live. I can't figure out what he is saying though--that's why I came here, oh well lol
Yeah same here.. Someone have any information about this song?
the lyrics of the live version, according to dylanchords.info, are these: (i like them better, especially the first 2 lines)
Cold black glass don't make no mirror Cold black water don't make no tears You say you love me with what may be love Don't you remember makin' baby love? Yes, you got your steam drill, now you're lookin' for some kid To get it to work for you like your nine-pound hammer did But I know that you know that I know that you show Something is tearing up your mind.
Tell me, momma, Tell me, momma, Tell me, momma, what is it? What's wrong with you this time?
Black sun-glass [came here, pony run] *) Tombstone babes, y'all can get it done Fool's gold in your teeth and cementary hips Get outside of your graveyard lips Yes, everybody's wonderin' when your friendship's gonna end But come on, baby, I'm your friend! And I know that you know that I know that you show Something is tearing up your mind. **)
Tell me, momma, Tell me, momma, Tell me, momma, what is it? What's wrong with you this time? [Solo (without capo):]
Ohh, [you're pleasing?] but your face is red That ain't he can't get it, he's almost dead. Everybody sees you on your window ledge How long's it gonna take for your to get off the edge You just gonna make everybody jump and roar Now, whatcha wanna go and do that for? For I know that you know that I know that you know Something is tearing up your mind. Ah, tell me, momma, Tell me, momma, Tell me, momma, what is it? What's wrong with you this time?
*) The end of the line is dubious, but in Liverpool (5/14) he clearly sings “pony run” somewhere. Sydney, Apr 13, 1966 has: “With your dark sun-glasses on your Babylon chest” (different continuation).
**) Sydney: “Sometimes / my time's / the right time / to go, / now, / what's resting on your mind?”