I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more
No, I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more
Well, I wake up in the morning
Fold my hands and pray for rain
I got a head full of ideas
That are drivin' me insane
It's a shame
The way she makes me
Scrub the floor
I ain't gonna work on, nah
I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more
I ain't gonna work for Maggie's brother no more
Nah, I ain't gonna work for Maggie's brother no more
Well, he hands you a nickel
And he hands you a dime
And he asks you with a grin
If you're havin' a good time
Then he fines you every time you slam the door
I ain't gonna work for, nah
I ain't gonna work for Maggie's brother no more

I ain't gonna work for Maggie's pa no more
No, I ain't gonna work for Maggie's pa no more
Well, he puts his cigar
Out in your face just for kicks
His bedroom window
It is made out of bricks
The National Guard stands around his door
I ain't gonna work, nah
I ain't gonna work for Maggie's pa no more
I ain't gonna work for Maggie's ma no more
No, I ain't gonna work for Maggie's ma no more
Well, she talks to all the servants
About man and God and law
And everybody says
She's the brains behind pa
She's sixty-eight, but she says she's twenty-four
I ain't gonna work for, nah
I ain't gonna work for Maggie's ma no more

I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more
No, I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more
Well I try my best
To be just like I am
But everybody wants you
To be just like them
They sing while they slave and just get bored
I ain't gonna work on, nah
I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more


Lyrics submitted by Idan

Maggie's Farm Lyrics as written by Bob Dylan

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group

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Maggie's Farm (Bob Dylan cover) song meanings
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19 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    I have a theory:

    This was originally Dylan written, and he was always anti-big brother in his leanings. And of course, RATM has never been backwards in coming forwards in their views about the US and capitalism. (btw, does anyone else feel that there has never been a cover of a Dylan song that wasn't better than the original? Dylan's a great song writer - no question - but he can't sing for shit)

    I always felt that 'Maggie's Farm' is actually an analogy for the US of A. Each member of Maggie's family is actually a metaphor for a different aspect of US society.

    1) Maggie=US. Doesn't listen to a word the workers say. 2) Brother=coprporations. Pays out a pittance and pretends to be friendly, but you do any little thing to piss them off, they sue (or dock pay, or fine, whatever) 3) Pa=cops/military 4) Ma=religion. Is excessively old (and arguably so old its out of touch) but it still claims its relevance while controlling the enforcer.

    The last bit's interesting but it has a minor change to Dylan's original. Dylan wrote (and whined): "They sing while you slave and I just get bored." RATM scream: "They sing, while they slave and just get bored"
    I'm not sure who the 'they' is of both, but I'm sure they're refering to different groups. In fact the 'They' in the RATM version is probably referring to two. the first is the People in charge and the ones who get bored; everybody else are the ones who slave.

    Anyway, as I said, it's just a theory

    (btw, this is my first time posting, so please be gentle)

    Pretentious arseon May 15, 2005   Link

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