Marie
Bob & Sheri Lyrics


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Well, your railroad gate
You know I just can't jump it
Sometimes it gets so hard, you see
I'm just sitting here beating on my trumpet
With all these promises you left for me
But where are you tonight, sweet Marie?

Well, I waited for you when I was half sick
Yes, I waited for you when you hated me
Well, I waited for you inside of the frozen traffic
When you knew I had some other place to be
Now, where are you tonight, sweet Marie?

Well, anybody can be just like me, obviously
But then, now again, not too many can be like you, fortunately

Well, six white horses that you did promise
Were fin'lly delivered down to the penitentiary
But to live outside the law, you must be honest
I know you always say that you agree
Alright so where are you tonight, sweet Marie?

Well, I don't know how it happened, but the
Riverboat captain, he knows my fate
But ev'rybody else, even yourself
They're just gonna have to wait

Well, I got the fever down in my pockets
The Persian drunkard, he follows me
Yes, I can take him to your house but I can't unlock it
You see, you forgot to leave me with the key
Oh, where are you tonight, sweet Marie?

Well now, I been in jail when all my mail showed
That a man can't give his address out to bad company
And now I stand here lookin' at your yellow railroad




In the ruins of your balcony
Wond'ring where you are tonight, sweet Marie

Overall Meaning

The song "Sweet Marie" by Bob Dylan is a mysterious ballad about a woman named Marie who has left the singer alone and wanting. The song begins with the singer lamenting how he cannot jump over the railroad gate and is just sitting there playing his trumpet. He mentions that Marie left him promises, but now she is nowhere to be found. The chorus repeats the question of where Marie is, emphasizing the extent of his longing for her.


The second verse unfolds with the singer talking about how he waited for Marie when he was half-sick and even when she hated him. He waited for her even when he had somewhere else to be. He wonders where she is now after all that waiting. The third verse brings up the promises Marie made about six white horses and how they were finally delivered to the penitentiary. He emphasizes that to live outside the law, one must be honest. He asks where Marie is again in the chorus, wondering why she hasn't kept her promises and why she has left him.


The fourth verse delves deeper into the mystery of where Marie is. The singer mentions that the riverboat captain knows his fate, but everyone else will have to wait. He talks about having the fever down in his pockets and a Persian drunkard following him. The drunken man could take him to Marie's house, but he cannot unlock it as she forgot to leave him the key. He finishes the song by talking about being in jail and not being able to give his address out to bad company. He looks at Marie's yellow railroad in the ruins of her balcony, still wondering where she is tonight.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, your railroad gate
The barrier created by you between us


You know I just can't jump it
I cannot overcome the obstacles you've erected


Sometimes it gets so hard, you see
At times, life seems insurmountable


I'm just sitting here beating on my trumpet
I'm stuck, unsure of what to do next


With all these promises you left for me
I'm burdened by the weight of the unfulfilled pledges you made to me


But where are you tonight, sweet Marie?
I'm left wondering where you are, sweet Marie


Well, I waited for you when I was half sick
I spent time waiting for you when I wasn't well


Yes, I waited for you when you hated me
Despite your animosity, I still waited for you


Well, I waited for you inside of the frozen traffic
Amidst the jam-packed traffic, I held out for you


When you knew I had some other place to be
You were aware that I had prior commitments


Now, where are you tonight, sweet Marie?
But tonight, you're nowhere to be found, sweet Marie


Well, anybody can be just like me, obviously
I'm not unique, anyone can be like me


But then, now again, not too many can be like you, fortunately
However, not many can be like you, and that's a good thing


Well, six white horses that you did promise
You gave me a promise of six white horses


Were fin'lly delivered down to the penitentiary
But they ended up being delivered to the jail


But to live outside the law, you must be honest
One must be honest to live outside the confines of the law


I know you always say that you agree
I understand that you say you agree with this sentiment


Alright so where are you tonight, sweet Marie?
But where are you tonight, sweet Marie?


Well, I don't know how it happened, but the
I'm not sure how it came to be, but the


Riverboat captain, he knows my fate
The captain of the riverboat knows my destiny


But ev'rybody else, even yourself
However, everyone else, including you,


They're just gonna have to wait
Will have to be patient and wait


Well, I got the fever down in my pockets
I'm consumed by some sort of passion or drive


The Persian drunkard, he follows me
A drunk Persian man keeps following me


Yes, I can take him to your house but I can't unlock it
I could take him to your residence, but I can't get inside


You see, you forgot to leave me with the key
You neglected to give me the key to enter


Oh, where are you tonight, sweet Marie?
So I ask again, where are you tonight, sweet Marie?


Well now, I been in jail when all my mail showed
There was a time when I was imprisoned, and all my letters reflected


That a man can't give his address out to bad company
That one cannot give their address to unsavory individuals


And now I stand here lookin' at your yellow railroad
Now I find myself gazing at your railroad tracks


In the ruins of your balcony
Standing amidst the decay of your balcony


Wond'ring where you are tonight, sweet Marie
Wondering once again, where are you tonight, sweet Marie




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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