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Narrow Way Lyrics
I'm gonna walk across the desert 'til I'm in my right mind.
I won't even think about what I left behind
Nothing back there anyway that I can call my own
Go back home, leave me alone
It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way
If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday
Ever since the British burned the White House down
There's a bleeding wound in the heart of town
I saw you drinking from an empty cup
I saw you buried and I saw you dug up
It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way
If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday
Look down angel from the skies
Help my weary soul to rise
I kissed her cheek, I dragged your plow
You broke my heart, I was your friend 'til now.
It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way
If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday
In the courtyard of the golden sun
You stand and fight or you break and run
You went and lost your lovely head
For a drink of wine and a crust of bread
It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way
If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday
We looted and we plundered on distant shores
Why is my share not equal to yours?
Your father left you, your mother too
Even death has washed its hands of you
It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way
If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday
This is a hard country to stay alive in
Blades are everywhere, and they're breaking my skin
I'm armed to the hilt and I'm struggling hard
You won't get out of here unscarred.
It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way
If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday
You got too many lovers waiting at the wall
If I had a thousand tongues I couldn't count them all
Yesterday I could've thrown them all in the sea
Today even one may be too much for me
It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way
If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday
Can't walk them, baby, you could do no wrong
Put your arms around me where they belong
I wanna take you on a roller coaster ride
Lay my hands all over you, tie you to my side
It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way
If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday
I've got a heavy stacked woman with a smile on her face
And she has crowned my soul with grace
I'm still hurting from an arrow that pierced my chest
I'm gonna have to take my head and bury it between your breasts
It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way
If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday
Been dark all night but now it's dawn
The moving finger is moving on
You can guard me while I sleep
Kiss away the tears I weep
It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way
If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday
I love women, and she loves men
We've been to the west and we're going back again
I heard a voice at the dusk of day
Saying, "Be gentle brother, be gentle and pray."
It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way
If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday
I won't even think about what I left behind
Nothing back there anyway that I can call my own
Go back home, leave me alone
It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way
If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday
There's a bleeding wound in the heart of town
I saw you drinking from an empty cup
I saw you buried and I saw you dug up
It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way
If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday
Help my weary soul to rise
I kissed her cheek, I dragged your plow
You broke my heart, I was your friend 'til now.
It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way
If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday
You stand and fight or you break and run
You went and lost your lovely head
For a drink of wine and a crust of bread
It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way
If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday
Why is my share not equal to yours?
Your father left you, your mother too
Even death has washed its hands of you
It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way
If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday
Blades are everywhere, and they're breaking my skin
I'm armed to the hilt and I'm struggling hard
You won't get out of here unscarred.
It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way
If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday
If I had a thousand tongues I couldn't count them all
Yesterday I could've thrown them all in the sea
Today even one may be too much for me
It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way
If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday
Put your arms around me where they belong
I wanna take you on a roller coaster ride
Lay my hands all over you, tie you to my side
It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way
If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday
And she has crowned my soul with grace
I'm still hurting from an arrow that pierced my chest
I'm gonna have to take my head and bury it between your breasts
It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way
If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday
The moving finger is moving on
You can guard me while I sleep
Kiss away the tears I weep
It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way
If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday
We've been to the west and we're going back again
I heard a voice at the dusk of day
Saying, "Be gentle brother, be gentle and pray."
It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way
If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday
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This is one of my favorite Bob Dylan songs. And Bob Dylan is my all time favorite songwriter & musician.
I cannot for the life of me make any logical sense of these lyrics. However, one thing I can definitely say for sure: The reference to the White House being burned down by the British is an accurate account of an event which took place in 1814, during The War of 1812. James Madison (and his wife Dolley) were living there at the time. But they never resided there again after that, even though his presidency wouldn’t end until 1917 or thereabouts, when James Monroe would assume residency in the rebuilt White House.
Aside from this, despite this song being one of Dylan’s best musical efforts, the lyrics present a rather colossal mystery and enigma at best.
@driver8ball So, since this idiotic website is refusing to allow me to correct my own FACTUAL typo, I will correct it HERE: Above, it should read 1817 instead of 1917.
@driver8ball So, since this idiotic website is refusing to allow me to correct my own FACTUAL typo, I will correct it HERE: Above, it should read 1817 instead of 1917.
@driver8ball I truly truly enjoyed reading what you wrote!!! 🫶🏼
@driver8ball I truly truly enjoyed reading what you wrote!!! 🫶🏼
The contents of the lyrics are heterogeneous. The core is a prayer characterizing the singer's life as a process comparable to a very long way, hard to find (narrow) and hard to walk (desert, fight, scars). The goal is becoming "right in my mind" or working up to being with Jesus, who comes closer working from the upper side.
"Go back home, leave me alone" is a message to those trying to divert him. "For a drink of wine and a crust of bread" reminds of the last supper. You may also discover Pilate washing his hands and Jesus crying "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Though these elements are camouflaged with dissimilar ones. The challenges and the personal forces change daily.
The yearning for reaching the end is strong, and the best to do is "Be gentle brother, be gentle and pray."