After a while we took in the clothes
Nobody said very much
Just some old wild shirts and a couple pairs of pants
Which nobody wanted to touch
Mama come in and picked up a book
An' papa asked her what it was
Someone else asked,what do you care
Papa said well, just because
Then they started to take back their clothes
Hang 'em on the line
It was January the thirtieth
And everybody was feelin' fine

The next day, everybody got up
Seein' if the clothes were dry
The dogs were barking, a neighbor passed
Mama, of course, she said,hi
Have you heard the news he said with a grin
The vice president's gone mad
Where downtown when last night
Hmm, say, that's too bad
Well, there's nothing we can do about it,said the neighbor
It's just something we're gonna have to forget
Yes, I guess so said ma
Then she asked me if the clothes was still wet

I reached up, touched my shirt
And the neighbor said, are those clothes yours
I said, some of them, not all of them
He said,ya always help out around here with the chores
I said, sometimes, not all of the time
Then my neighbor blew his nose
Just as papa yelled outside
Mama wants you to come back in the house and bring them clothes
Well, I just do what I'm told so I did it, of course
I went back in the house and mama met me
And then I shut all the doors


Lyrics submitted by nitsirhc

Clothes Line Saga Lyrics as written by Bob Dylan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Clothes Line song meanings
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5 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    I love the lyrics to this song. I kind of imagine Dylan's returned home afters months, years of touring, drugs, parties, girls being his life. Then, he comes home to the daily swing of life - the small talk between neighbours, the household chores.

    The attitude to politics/politicians in the second verse being particuarly interesting. They are not in a position to change things, they have the most casual reactions to what would be no doubt headline news - Ma just wants to know whether the clothes are still wet.

    steve333333on September 26, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This has got to be the most laid back song ever written. You could sit through a riot with an easy smile on your face if this was playing.

    BraveSirRobinon February 02, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is so funny. i thought it was called "clothesline saga". and a saga it is!! haha the basement tapes are so sick. i like the first commenters interpretation too...

    jasssson January 18, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is a response to Ode to Billy Joe by Bobby Gentry.

    greatscott123on July 20, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song is dylan's comment on returning to his normal life back home after being on tour and the lifestyle that he led in the headlines and as a singer and celebrity. These are just his daily chores and the daily grind of his life back home, the chores,and the mundane of everyday life.

    ICUP32on November 29, 2013   Link

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