Fix what’s wrong, but don’t rewrite what the artist wrote. Stick to the official released version — album booklet, label site, verified lyric video, etc. If you’re guessing, pause and double-check.

Respect the structure

Songs have rhythm. Pages do too. Leave line breaks where they belong. Don’t smash things together or add extra empty space just for looks.

Punctuation counts (but vibe-editing doesn’t)

Correct typos? Yes. Re-punctuating a whole verse because it ‘looks better’? Probably not. Keep capitalization and punctuation close to the official source.

Don’t mix versions

If you’re editing the explicit version, keep it explicit. If it’s the clean version, keep it clean. No mashups.

Let the lyrics be lyrics

This isn’t the place for interpretations, memories, stories, or trivia — that’s what comments are for. Keep metadata, translations, and bracketed stage directions out unless they’re officially part of the song.

Edit lightly

If two lines are wrong… fix the two lines. No need to bulldoze the whole page. Think ‘surgical,’ not ‘remix.’

When in doubt, ask the crowd

Not sure what they’re singing in that fuzzy bridge? Drop a question in the comments and let the music nerds swarm. Someone always knows.

Firenzei

Submitter

2007-05-22 15:16:37

1 Meaning

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by stain

17y ago

This is a song full of very strong emotions and very deep meanings. America is a promise land, the land of freedom. However, behind all its glory there are millions of untold, heart-breaking tales. The "oh oh" is a cry from the bottom of everybody's heart, a cry that's filled with despair and sadness. "The states" is a protest statement which states Dylan's protest against the oppression from the authority.

The first two lines have six "America"s in it, which is the Devil's number. Dylan is such a genius.

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