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You've got a lotta nerve to say you are my friend
When I was down you just stood there grinnin'
You've got a lotta nerve to say you got a helping hand to lend
You just want to be on the side that's winnin'
You say I let you down, ya know its not like that
If you're so hurt, why then don't you show it?
You say you've lost your faith, but that's not where its at
You have no faith to lose, and ya know it
I know the reason, that you talked behind my back
I used to be among the crowd you're in with
Do you take me for such a fool, to think I'd make contact
With the one who tries to hide what he don't know to begin with?
You see me on the street, you always act surprised
You say "how are you?", "good luck", but ya don't mean it
When you know as well as me, you'd rather see me paralyzed
Why don't you just come out once and scream it
No, I do not feel that good when I see the heartbreaks you embrace
If I was a master thief perhaps I'd rob them
And tho I know you're dissatisfied with your position and your place
Don't you understand, its not my problem?
I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes
And just for that one moment I could be you
Yes, I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes
You'd know what a drag it is to see you
When I was down you just stood there grinnin'
You've got a lotta nerve to say you got a helping hand to lend
You just want to be on the side that's winnin'
You say I let you down, ya know its not like that
If you're so hurt, why then don't you show it?
You say you've lost your faith, but that's not where its at
You have no faith to lose, and ya know it
I know the reason, that you talked behind my back
I used to be among the crowd you're in with
Do you take me for such a fool, to think I'd make contact
With the one who tries to hide what he don't know to begin with?
You see me on the street, you always act surprised
You say "how are you?", "good luck", but ya don't mean it
When you know as well as me, you'd rather see me paralyzed
Why don't you just come out once and scream it
No, I do not feel that good when I see the heartbreaks you embrace
If I was a master thief perhaps I'd rob them
And tho I know you're dissatisfied with your position and your place
Don't you understand, its not my problem?
I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes
And just for that one moment I could be you
Yes, I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes
You'd know what a drag it is to see you
Lyrics submitted by democracys
Positively 4th Street Lyrics as written by Bob Dylan
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think the song is carefully written to conceal any hint of it's intended recipient. While it could be about Ochs the line:
"You see me on the street, you always act surprised You say "how are you?", "good luck", but ya don't mean it When you know as well as me, you'd rather see me paralyzed Why don't you just come out once and scream it"
That one can't be about Ochs.
Seems to me a bit cowardly to say something but be so careful to not actually say anything. My impression is it is just about a group of people that are generally a bit crap.
@CodeMusic I’ve never heard this is about Phil Ochs. It’s about Other people who wished Bob failure. They used all kind of insults - he was a phony, he was a “Hustler”, he was a dilettante, using the “purity” of folk music for his own ends, which they assumed was, so Bob wanted to be a star. This has all proven False. Bob always believed in himself, or so it would seem.
@CodeMusic I’ve never heard this is about Phil Ochs. It’s about Other people who wished Bob failure. They used all kind of insults - he was a phony, he was a “Hustler”, he was a dilettante, using the “purity” of folk music for his own ends, which they assumed was, so Bob wanted to be a star. This has all proven False. Bob always believed in himself, or so it would seem. That pisses people off, people who don’t know or like themselves.