I could break free from the
Wood of a coffin
If I need
But nothin's hard as
Gettin' free from places
I've already been

I've been waste-deep
In the burnin' meadows
Of my mind
In the engine
In cold December
Shootin' fire from the hose

Now turn off your lights
'cause I'm not comin' home
'til I'm delivered for the first time

I was first-born to a parade
That follows in rows
Down a narrow cold black river
Faceless shadows
Movin' slow

I would move swift when
The sounds of a trumpet would blow
I've been the puppet
I've been the strings
I know the vacant face it brings

Now the bells of curfew
They may ring before I'm through
But soon
I'll be delivered for the first time

You might keep clean
In the back of an angel motorcade
It doesn't matter who walks in
You know, the joke is still the same
You'll just wake up
Like a disposable lover
Decomposed
I've been gone
I've been remembered
I've been alive
I've been a ghost

So now, if downtown explodes
I'll still be on this road
'til I'm delivered for the first time

I have drawn blood
From the neckline
When vampires were in fashion
You know I'd even learn
To cut my throat
If I thought I could fit in

'cause I, I once heard
That you gotta learn
How to blend in to this mess
Where nothin's hard
Nothin's precious
And nothin's smooth or flawless

Now, no more amused
Just screaming to be delivered
For the first time

Now I'm 10 miles in the deep
And mighty blue sea
Looking back, towards a long white beach
Burnin' up into yellow flames

And I just wave back
Like a little boy up on a pony
In a show
'cause I can't fix
Something this complex
Any more than I can build a rose

So just keep on letting go
'cause I must be close
To being delivered for the first time

Now I'd rather bleed out
A long stream from being lonely
And feel blessed
Well than drown, laying face down
In a puddle of respect
I was once lost
In the corridors of the arena
In blindfolds
I've been the bull
I've been the whip
I just pulled down the matador

So now, turn on your lights
'cause I'm comin' home
I've been delivered for the first time


Lyrics submitted by CrzyGmOfPkr19

I've Been Delivered Lyrics as written by Jakob Dylan

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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I've Been Delivered song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • 0
    General CommentDoes anyone know what this song is really about? Please? Anyone?
    daz_spazon May 07, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti'm with you man, what the hell is this song about???
    SunGoddess123on May 26, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General CommentIt's about someone who's left home to go on a journey and can't return home until he's found what he's looking for. Trouble is, he has no idea what he's really looking for.

    That's the general interpretation anyway, I can't really decipher the lyrics.

    Great song though.
    Zatchon March 12, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti think this song has something to do with reincarnation...maybe not literally, but it's definitely referred to in the song.

    for instance,

    "I was first-born to a parade
    that follows in rows
    down a narrow cold black river
    faceless shadows
    movin' slow"

    i *think* he's talking about ants here...could be something else though.

    "I would move swift when
    the sounds of a trumpet would blow"

    horse...

    "Now I'm 10 miles in the deep
    and mighty blue sea
    Looking back, towards a long white beach
    burnin' up into yellow flames"

    soldier in a war...*possibly* vietnam or one of the World Wars, as he speaks of a beach...

    i don't think he means for the references to reincarnation to be taken literally, so i think the song is basically about life, the experiences you have, and living life to the fullest...
    tayterbugon November 08, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI think this song is about being the son of Bob Dylan and the pressures to live up to such high acclaim.
    UTLonghornon April 10, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti for sure think this is about bob dylan, he seems to be a favorite theme...
    haley52441on May 12, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentIt's actually about losing your virginity, in case anyone still cared.
    ON_FIERon February 12, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentIn my opinion (and I think Jakob Dylan writes his songs so that they can mean multiple things to many people...its brilliant), this song is about carpe diem (seizing the day). Someone is setting out to find what they were meant to do with their life and they are leaving behind everything from their past, only to return when they have found what they are looking for.

    I don't see how the song has to do specifically to virginity, but I suppose it could be applied.

    ON FIER, if you would be so kind to expand on your interpretation of the song, I'd love to read your thoughts.
    mrflawlesson March 12, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI firmly believe this song is about a journey through life to attain freedom and peace of mind.

    "I could break free from the wood of a coffin if I need/But nothin's hard as Gettin' free from places I've already been"

    "Now turn off your lights 'cause I'm not comin' home/'til I'm delivered for the first time"

    This speaks of the troubles of beginning his exodus. He knows he can "break free" from the status quo, but knows it will be difficult. Thus he basically says you shouldnt wait up for him because it may take a while for him to be "delivered" from his current state of mind.

    "I would move swift when the sounds of a trumpet would blow/I've been the puppet/I've been the strings/I know the vacant face it brings"

    "Now the bells of curfew they may ring before I'm through/But soon I'll be delivered for the first time"

    Here he states that in the past he would just do what he was told, and knows that it doesnt bring him happiness. Also, even if his former authorities come calling for him, it doesnt matter, because hes on his way towards deliverance from their law.

    "And I just wave back like a little boy up on a pony in a show/'cause I can't fix something this complex any more than I can build a rose"

    "So just keep on letting go/'cause I must be close to being delivered for the first time"

    At this point hes just waving good bye to his old life, and knowing that the damage he has done to it is irreparable. So hes just going to "keep on letting go" of the past because hes so very close to the new state of mind hes striving for.

    "Now I'd rather bleed out a long stream from being lonely and feel blessed/Well than drown, laying face down in a puddle of respect/I was once lost in the corridors of the arena/in blindfolds I've been the bull/I've been the whip/I just pulled down the matador"

    "So now, turn on your lights/'cause I'm comin' home I've been delivered for the first time"

    Here he claims he'd rather be by himself and be at ease than be well liked by others but suffering on the inside. He was once blind to the fact that he was being toyed with (as a bull is toyed with by the matador) in his prior life, but then he took down the people holding him down (the matador). Now that hes victorious you can prepare for his return (light on) because he has in fact reached the peace of mind/freedom he was seeking. Hes been delivered for the first time.

    uhcougaron May 01, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General CommentZatch got it. At least, as far as I'm concerned. That's what this song means to me: Leaving everything to both find what you are and be appreciated for it. While acknowledging that your past is also your home...
    tokemoroseon October 08, 2009   Link

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