Well, I woke up in the morning
There's frogs inside my socks
Your mama, she's a-hidin'
Inside the icebox
Your daddy walks in wearin'
A Napoleon Bonaparte mask
Then you ask why I don't live here
Honey, do you have to ask?

Well, I go to pet your monkey
I get a face full of claws
I ask who's in the fireplace
And you tell me Santa Claus
The milkman comes in
He's wearing a derby hat
Then you ask why I don't live here
Honey, how come you have to ask me that?

Well, I asked for something to eat
I'm hungry as a hog
So I get brown rice, seaweed
And a dirty hot dog
I've got a hole
Where my stomach disappeared
Then you ask why I don't live here
Honey, I gotta think you're really weird

Your grandpa's cane
It turns into a sword
Your grandma prays to pictures
That are pasted on a board
Everything inside my pockets
Your uncle steals
Then you ask why I don't live here
Honey, I can't believe that you're for real

Well, there's fist fights in the kitchen
They're enough to make me cry
The mailman comes in
Even he's gotta take a side
Even the butler
He's got something to prove
Then you ask why I don't live here
Honey, how come you don't move


Lyrics submitted by oofus, edited by Mellow_Harsher

On the Road Again Lyrics as written by Bob Dylan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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On the Road Again song meanings
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8 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    Classic song, it also shows his sense of humor. 'Well, I go to pet your monkey I get a face full of claws I ask who's in the fireplace And you tell me Santa Claus The milkman comes in He's wearing a derby hat Then you ask why I don't live here Honey, how come you have to ask me that?' The above means that he trys to 'get' with this girl. He asks who she has been with (who's in the fireplace) she shrugs the questions off (you tell me santa claus) and the milkman comes in wearing a derby hat, meaning he's going to ride her, if you know what I mean.

    Drake11on April 08, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I believe this song is about life and how Dylan can see that there is something higher in life than what you see around you. Many of Dylan's songs pre-born-again era were about a feeling that life is a game to be played, an illusion of sorts. My feeling of this song was that he was always looking ahead, to even after life and wished to be there.

    So in this song, he's pointing out how absurd life is and saying that he's enlightened, to a degree. He doesn't live there, his mind is not there. I think the entire family, etc is a metaphor for the absurdities of life.

    Just my interpretation. Would go with other songs on the album dealing with the same kind of issues.

    Doldrumson October 30, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is my favorite song on the album. You're right, it does show his sense of humor.
    The funniest part of the song is the very last line, and the way he says it makes me laugh every time.

    knate15on August 04, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Dylan's exagerrated, absurdist answer to the suggestion that he should take up residence with a lover.

    SuitBoyon September 04, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is a catchy little song.

    F33bson September 12, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    haha myfrienbrenn spot on!

    karmaxon June 17, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    agree with knate! the last line of each stanza makes me smile but especially the last one! hahah i don't get the third verse though... anyone?

    jasssson December 19, 2009   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    These crazier Dylan songs are like Benny Hill goes to the Circus or something, just this crazy life where everyone is a kooky idiosyncratic character -- i dig dig dig

    myfriendbrennon June 01, 2007   Link

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