Minstrel Boy
Bob Dylan Lyrics
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Who's gonna let it roll?
Who's gonna throw that minstrel boy a coin?
Who's gonna let it down easy to save his soul?
Oh, Lucky's been drivin' a long, long time
And now he's stuck on top of the hill.
With twelve forward gears, it's been a long hard climb,
And with all of them ladies, though, he's lonely still.
Who's gonna throw that minstrel boy a coin?
Who's gonna let it roll?
Who's gonna throw that minstrel boy a coin?
Who's gonna let it down easy to save his soul?
Well, he deep in number and heavy in toil,
Mighty Mockingbird, he still has such a heavy load.
Beneath his bound'ries, what more can I tell,
With all of his trav'lin', but I'm still on that road.
Who's gonna throw that minstrel boy a coin?
Who's gonna let it roll?
Who's gonna throw that minstrel boy a coin?
Who's gonna let it down easy to save his soul?
The song "Minstrel Boy," written by Bob Dylan, has a haunting quality to it that reflects the sense of loneliness and isolation that many traveling musicians often feel. The lyrics speak to the struggle of the minstrel or traveling musician who must rely on the kindness of others to survive. Bob Dylan asks, "Who's gonna throw that minstrel boy a coin? Who's gonna let it down easy to save his soul?" This is a poignant reminder that the minstrel boy is at the mercy of others, and his survival is dependent upon their generosity.
The second verse speaks to the struggles of the singer, Lucky, who represents the many musicians who have struggled to make it to the top through hard work and perseverance. Lucky has been "driving a long, long time" and is now "stuck on top of the hill." Despite his success, Lucky is still "lonely still" because his fame and fortune have not fulfilled him. This verse serves as a reminder that fame and fortune can be fleeting, and that true happiness cannot be measured in material possessions.
The third verse is about the "Mighty Mockingbird," who is "deep in number and heavy in toil." The Mockingbird is an allegory for the traveling musician who must carry a heavy load to get from place to place. Despite his many travels, the Mockingbird's story is one that is familiar to many traveling musicians, who often find themselves wandering aimlessly from place to place, never truly finding a home. The verse ends with the line, "but I'm still on that road," which highlights the endless cycle of the traveling musician.
Overall, "Minstrel Boy" is a powerful reminder of the struggles that traveling musicians often face, and the importance of supporting them along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Who's gonna throw that minstrel boy a coin?
Who will show kindness by giving money to the struggling musician?
Who's gonna let it roll?
Who will allow the coin to roll into the musician’s hat?
Who's gonna throw that minstrel boy a coin?
Who will show kindness by giving money to the struggling musician?
Who's gonna let it down easy to save his soul?
Who will show kindness by giving money in a gentle manner to help the musician's spirit?
Oh, Lucky's been drivin' a long, long time
Lucky has been driving for a long time
And now he's stuck on top of the hill.
But now he is struggling to progress
With twelve forward gears, it's been a long hard climb,
Despite having a lot of resources, it's still been tough
And with all of them ladies, though, he's lonely still.
Even with many company, he is still feeling lonely
Who's gonna throw that minstrel boy a coin?
Who will show kindness by giving money to the struggling musician?
Who's gonna let it roll?
Who will allow the coin to roll into the musician’s hat?
Who's gonna throw that minstrel boy a coin?
Who will show kindness by giving money to the struggling musician?
Who's gonna let it down easy to save his soul?
Who will show kindness by giving money in a gentle manner to help the musician’s spirit?
Well, he deep in number and heavy in toil,
The mockingbird has many troubles
Mighty Mockingbird, he still has such a heavy load.
Even though he is strong, he is still weighed down
Beneath his bound'ries, what more can I tell,
He is limited by his situation
With all of his trav'lin', but I'm still on that road.
Even though he travels a lot, he still faces struggles. I also have my own struggles, but I am still journeying forward
Who's gonna throw that minstrel boy a coin?
Who will show kindness by giving money to the struggling musician?
Who's gonna let it roll?
Who will allow the coin to roll into the musician’s hat?
Who's gonna throw that minstrel boy a coin?
Who will show kindness by giving money to the struggling musician?
Who's gonna let it down easy to save his soul?
Who will show kindness by giving money in a gentle manner to help the musician’s spirit?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind