Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

Day of the Locusts
Bob Dylan Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh, the benches were stained with tears and perspiration
The birdies were flying from tree to tree
There was little to say, there was no conversation
As I stepped to the stage to pick up my degree
And the locusts sang off in the distance
Yeah, the locusts sang such a sweet melody
Oh, the locusts sang off in the distance
Yeah, the locusts sang and they were singing for me

I glanced into the chamber where the judges were talking
Darkness was everywhere, it smelled like a tomb
I was ready to leave, I was already walkin'
But the next time I looked there was light in the room
And the locusts sang, yeah, it give me a chill
Oh, the locusts sang such a sweet melody
Oh, the locusts sang their high whining trill
Yeah, the locusts sang and they were singing for me

Outside of the gates the trucks were unloadin'
The weather was hot, a-nearly ninety degrees
The man standin' next to me, his head was exploding
Well, I was prayin' the pieces wouldn't fall on me
Yeah, the locusts sang off in the distance
Yeah, the locusts sang such a sweet melody
Oh, the locusts sang off in the distance
And the locusts sang and they were singing for me

I put down my robe, picked up my diploma
Took hold of my sweetheart and away we did drive
Straight for the hills, the black hills of Dakota
Sure was glad to get out of there alive
And the locusts sang, well, it give me a chill
Yeah, the locusts sang such a sweet melody
And the locusts sang with a high whinin' trill
Yeah, the locusts sang and they was singing for me
Singing for me, well, singing for me

Overall Meaning

The song "Day of the Locusts" by Bob Dylan narrates the experience of receiving an honorary degree from Princeton University. The singer, presumably Dylan himself, walks on stage to accept his degree amidst an audience that remained silent. He describes the eerie atmosphere of the ceremony, with the chamber of the judges being dark, and the temperature being quite hot outside. While walking away from the stage, the singer feels a chill as he hears the song of the locusts, which he describes as being sweet sounding. He then drives away from the place straight to Dakota Hills with his sweetheart, feeling relieved to have escaped what he describes as a scary experience.


The lyrics in "Day of the Locusts" undoubtedly convey a sense of eeriness and discomfort that the singer experienced while receiving his degree. The song is a testament to the often complicated and multifaceted experiences that can accompany achievements in life. It also highlights the notion that transformations are not always painless and could be accompanied by strange experiences.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh, the benches were stained with tears and perspiration
The audience had been waiting in anxious anticipation and their emotions were visible in their tears and sweat.


The birdies were flying from tree to tree
The natural world around the school was carrying on with its business, oblivious to the momentous occasion happening inside.


There was little to say, there was no conversation
The atmosphere was so tense and overwhelming that no one could find the words to express themselves.


As I stepped to the stage to pick up my degree
The artist was finally achieving the goal that they had been working towards for so long.


And the locusts sang off in the distance
Even nature seemed to recognize the importance of the artist's achievement and celebrated with a beautiful song.


Yeah, the locusts sang such a sweet melody
The song of the locusts was both beautiful and haunting, encapsulating the complexity of the moment.


I glanced into the chamber where the judges were talking
The singer was keenly aware of the scrutiny they were under and couldn't help but check in on what the judges were saying.


Darkness was everywhere, it smelled like a tomb
The tension in the room was so palpable that it felt like a foreboding, eerie place.


I was ready to leave, I was already walking'
The artist was so overwhelmed that they almost couldn't handle being in the room any longer.


But the next time I looked there was light in the room
Despite the oppressive atmosphere, the artist found a glimmer of hope and saw a way forward.


Yeah, the locusts sang, yeah, it give me a chill
The song of the locusts was so powerful that it sent shivers down the singer's spine.


Oh, the locusts sang such a sweet melody
The song of the locusts was not just beautiful, but also carried great significance for the artist.


Oh, the locusts sang their high whining trill
The song of the locusts had a complex, multi-layered sound that was both beautiful and unsettling.


Outside of the gates the trucks were unloadin'
The outside world was going about its business, unaffected by the importance of the event.


The weather was hot, a-nearly ninety degrees
The heat of the day only added to the oppressive atmosphere of the event.


The man standin' next to me, his head was exploding
The tension and anxiety of the event was becoming too much for some to handle.


Well, I was prayin' the pieces wouldn't fall on me
The artist was doing their best to avoid being affected by the negative energy swirling around them.


I put down my robe, picked up my diploma
The singer was officially graduating and beginning a new chapter in their life.


Took hold of my sweetheart and away we did drive
The singer was eager to escape the oppressive atmosphere and start their new life with their loved one by their side.


Sure was glad to get out of there alive
The tension and anxiety of the event had been so great that the artist felt like they had survived a traumatic experience.


Singing for me, well, singing for me
The song of the locusts had a personal significance for the artist and was a reminder of the complex emotions they had experienced during the event.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Comments from YouTube:

mjf2891

This whole album really grew on me. Especially this and Sign on the Window

Anonymous User

My two favorites on the album. They’re just so good

Vicki Souther

Really great album from rural ME!

Damien Luxford

My two favourites, since forever ago.

Drew Hughes

HONESTLY! They are some of my two favorites in my long list of favorites of his. So underrated

Knial Piper

This era of albums - John Wesley Hardin, Nashville Skyline, Self Portrait, New Morning, and Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid - is my favorite and seriously underrated

Gerry Laverty- Folksinger / Songwriter

Agreed. I love that period of Bob's

keelermatt77

Yeah, it's kind of a positive, optimistic time (or at least as close as Dylan gets to it).

Ricardo Borges

and basement tape sessions

michael chirrick

The song that got me interested in Bob Dylan after hearing it on some obscure fm station blasting out of NYC in 1970. I went out the next morning and bought the New Morning, Self Portrait and Nashville Skyline albums. Been a major fan ever since. It was that voice that did it.......

More Comments

More Versions