Johnny's in the basement
Mixing up the medicine
I'm on the pavement
Thinking about the government
The man in the trench coat
Badge out, laid off
Says he's got a bad cough
Wants to get it paid off
Look out kid
It's somethin' you did
God knows when
But you're doing it again
You better duck down the alley way
Lookin' for a new friend
A man in the coonskin cap, in the pig pen
Wants eleven dollar bills, you only got ten

Maggie comes fleet foot
Face full of black soot
Talkin' that the heat put
Plants in the bed but
The phone's tapped anyway
Maggie says that many say
They must bust in early May
Orders from the D.A., look out kid
Don't matter what you did
Walk on your tip toes
Don't tie no bows
Better stay away from those
That carry around a fire hose
Keep a clean nose
Watch the plain clothes
You don't need a weather man
To know which way the wind blows

Oh, get sick, get well
Hang around a inkwell
Hang bail, hard to tell
If anything is goin' to sell
Try hard, get barred
Get back, write braille
Get jailed, jump bail
Join the army, if you fail
Look out kid
You're gonna get hit
But losers, cheaters
Six-time users
Hangin' 'round the theaters
Girl by the whirlpool
Lookin' for a new fool
Don't follow leaders, watch the parkin' meters

Oh, get born, keep warm
Short pants, romance
Learn to dance, get dressed, get blessed
Try to be a success
Please her, please him, buy gifts
Don't steal, don't lift
Twenty years of schoolin'
And they put you on the day shift
Look out kid
They keep it all hid
Better jump down a manhole
Light yourself a candle
Don't wear sandals
Try to avoid the scandals
Don't want to be a bum
You better chew gum
The pump don't work
'Cause the vandals took the handles


Lyrics submitted by Kitten_61, edited by luisjavier, perry10153

Subterranean Homesick Blues Lyrics as written by Bob Dylan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Subterranean Homesick Blues song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment

    My thoughts on this:

    The title could mean living in the Subterranean underground, missing not home because that Is his home, but missing a safe place perhaps from a childhood memory or something, and of course this life-style is difficult and bringing him down (giving him the blues).

    As for the medicine Johnny is mixing up, I believe he's referring to cocaine. One of many cocaine withdrawal is a nasty cough, which is why the coughing cop wants to interfere with the main character's hookup. The cop shows his authority with his badge and suggests that unless he is given the cocaine, he will rat him and Johnny out in order to get his job back because he's laid off. No matter what the main character does, he loses. He can hand over his dealer Johnny and the cocaine or he can get in trouble with the law again. They both sucks, it sounds like. He's always a dollar short.

    I agree with previous explanations about the second stanza, except for the final verse. I believe the wind blowing is referring to the direction of the crowd. Since he's trying to keep his nose clean and stay out of plain site, the main character needs to blend in with his surroundings. I think it's suggesting that it's not difficult to know on your own what's hip and to follow along with it. In other words, you don't need to ask others what's trendy, you can see it with your own eyes. The trends are everywhere like the wind is. The direction the wind blows is the direction the main character needs to go.

    Same goes for the third stanza. I think the last verse means don't trust anyone else. Parking meters show how much time has gone by and for a guy like the main character here, time is important because he can't stay in the same spot for too long or trouble will come his way, just as it has at Maggie's and Johnny's place. So basically, know the time and stay in the crowd but don't get too close to anyone.

    Let me know if the following makes sense, avoiding being a bum by chewing gum could refer to being employed. Gum is something you shouldn't swallow, just chew. In other words, jobs should be kept temporary and only to keep from living cold on the street. You want to keep warm by keeping a job but get born by not staying in one place for too long.

    getborngetwarmon January 24, 2010   Link

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