Ballad of a Thin Man lyrics

You walk into the room with your pencil in your hand.

You see somebody naked, you say, “Who is that man?”

You try so hard, but you don’t understand.

Just what you will say when you get home.

Because something is happening here, but you don’t know what it is.

Do you? Mister Jones.

You raise up your head and you ask, “Is this where it is?”

And somebody points to you and says, “It’s his.”

And you say, “What’s mine?” and somebody else says, “Well, what is?”

And you say, “Oh my God, am I here all alone?”

But something is happening and you don’t know what it is.

Do you? Mister Jones.

You hand in your ticket and you go watch the geek

Who immediately walks up to you when he hears you speak

And says, “How does it feel to be such a freak?”

And you say, “Impossible.” as he hands you a bone.

And something is happening here but you don’t know what it is.

Do you? Mister Jones.

You have many contacts among the lumberjacks

To get you facts when someone attacks your imagination,

But nobody has any respect, anyway they already expect you

To all give a check to tax-deductible charity organizations.

You’ve been with the professors and they’ve all liked your looks,

With great lawyers you have discussed lepers and crooks.

You’ve been through all F. Scott Fitzgerald’s books;

You’re very well read, it’s well known.

But something is happening here and you don’t know what it is.

Do you? Mister Jones.

Well, the sword swallower, he comes up to you and then he kneels.

He crosses himself and then he clicks his high heels,

And without further notice he asks you how it feels.

And he says, “Here is your throat back, thanks for the loan.”

And you know something is happening but you don’t know what it is.

Do you? Mister Jones.

You see this one-eyed midget shouting the word “Now!”

And you say, “For what reason?” and he says, “How?”

And you say, “What does this mean?” and he says back, “You’re a cow.”

“Give me some milk or else go home.”

And you know something is happening but you don’t know what it is.

Do you? Mister Jones.

You walk into the room like a camel and then you frown.

You put your eyes in your pocket and your nose on the ground.

There oughtta be a law against you comin’ around.

You should be made to wear earphones,

’Cause something is happening and you don’t know what it is.

Do you? Mister Jones.

• Artist:Bob Dylan
• Album:Highway 61 Revisited (1965)