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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    General Comment

    The way I see it, this song has two meanings. The first one is "It's Hard", and the second, "Dig Yourself". During the video, besides the last card that says "what???", he shows two cards that don't go with the lyrics. The first one says It's hard and the second one says Dig Yourself. This song isn't about methlabs or making unerground LSD, it may have references, but is not about that. Instead of looking at it line by line...look at it as a whole. He is saying it is hard but you have to keep trying and don't let things get to you. You were made how you are for a reason, and so, becasue of that, DIG YOURSELF.

    adobe830on November 28, 2006   Link

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