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?


Lyrics submitted by hari66

Tell Me, Momma Lyrics as written by Bob Dylan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Tell Me, Momma song meanings
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    General Comment

    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?”

    teezboyon February 01, 2010   Link

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