I Want You
Bob Dylan Lyrics


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The guilty undertaker sighs
The lonesome organ grinder cries
The silver saxophones say I should refuse you
The cracked bells and washed-out horns
Blow into my face with scorn, but it's
Not that way, I wasn't born to lose you

I want you
I want you
I want you, so bad
Honey, I want you

The drunken politician leaps
Upon the street where mothers weep
And the saviors who are fast asleep, they wait for you
And I wait for them to interrupt
Me drinkin' from my broken cup
And ask me to open up the gate for you

I want you
I want you
Yes I want you, so bad
Honey, I want you

How all my fathers, they've gone down
True love they've been without it
But all their daughters put me down
'Cause I don't think about it

Well, I return to the Queen of Spades
And talk with my chambermaid
She knows that I'm not afraid to look at her
She is good to me and there's
Nothing she doesn't see
She knows where I'd like to be but it doesn't
Matter

I want you
I want you
Yes I want you, so bad
Honey, I want you

Now your dancing child with his Chinese suit he
Spoke to me, I took his flute
No, I wasn't very cute to him, was I?
But I did it, because he lied and
Because he took you for a ride
And because time was on his side and
Because I

Want you
I want you




Yes I want you, so bad
Honey, I want you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bob Dylan's song I Want You speak of a desire for someone that is so intense, it is almost painful. The first verse sets the scene with images of sadness and rejection - the undertaker's sigh and the organ grinder's cries suggest a funereal air, while the instruments "Blow into my face with scorn". Despite this, the singer remains defiant, insisting "it's not that way" and "I wasn't born to lose you". The repetition of "I want you" shows the strength of feeling.


In the second verse, the mood changes to one of turmoil and unrest, with the drunken politician and weeping mothers. The singer waits for the "saviors" to interrupt him from his drinking to save the day. However, instead of a rescue mission, the final line is a plea for the object of affection to notice them. The third verse speaks of the singer's own experiences with rejected love, where all the fathers before him have failed in love, though he is not held to the same standards. Returning to the Queen of Spades, the singer finds solace with their chambermaid who knows them intimately.


Overall, the song's lyrics convey a sense of desperation, defiance, and unresolved longing. Despite the world around the singer's desire and troubles, their focus remains firmly on the need for the person they want, both physically and emotionally.


Line by Line Meaning

The guilty undertaker sighs
The undertaker, who feels guilty, sighs heavily.


The lonesome organ grinder cries
The organ grinder, who is lonely, cries out in despair.


The silver saxophones say I should refuse you
The silver saxophones warn me that I should not accept you.


The cracked bells and washed-out horns, Blow into my face with scorn, but it's
The damaged bells and faded horns blast at me with disdain, but it doesn't concern me.


Not that way, I wasn't born to lose you
I wasn't made to let go of you, it's not something I'll accept.


I want you
I desire you.


The drunken politician leaps, Upon the street where mothers weep
The inebriated politician jumps onto the road where grieving mothers cry.


And the saviors who are fast asleep, they wait for you
The people who can save you are sleeping and they're waiting for your call.


And I wait for them to interrupt, Me drinkin' from my broken cup
I wait for them to interrupt me as I drink from my damaged cup.


And ask me to open up the gate for you
They request me to open the door for you.


Yes I want you, so bad, Honey, I want you
I crave you deeply and strongly, my dear.


How all my fathers, they've gone down, True love they've been without it
All my ancestors have fallen, not finding true love.


But all their daughters put me down, 'Cause I don't think about it
Their daughters reject me because I don't care about the same things they do.


Well, I return to the Queen of Spades, And talk with my chambermaid
I go back to the Queen of Spades and converse with my maid.


She knows that I'm not afraid to look at her
My maid understands that I'm unafraid to gaze upon her.


She is good to me and there's, Nothing she doesn't see
She's kind to me and there's nothing she can't observe.


She knows where I'd like to be but it doesn't, Matter
She knows my preferred place, but it's not that important.


Now your dancing child with his Chinese suit he, Spoke to me, I took his flute
Your son, who was dressed in a Chinese outfit, spoke with me and I took his flute.


No, I wasn't very cute to him, was I?
I wasn't very charming, was I?


But I did it, because he lied and, Because he took you for a ride
But I took the flute because he lied and deceived you.


And because time was on his side and, Because I, Want you
And also because he had time on his side, but most importantly, I still want you.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bob Dylan

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@MrsAnnaK17

The guilty undertaker sighs
The lonesome organ grinder cries
The silver saxophones say I should refuse you
The cracked bells and washed-out horns
Blow into my face with scorn
But it's not that way
I wasn't born to lose you

I want you, I want you
I want you so bad
Honey, I want you

The drunken politician leaps
Upon the streets where mothers weep
And the saviors who are fast asleep
They wait for you
And I wait for them to interrupt
Me drinkin' from my broken cup
And ask me to open up the gate for you

I want you, I want you
Yes, I want you so bad
Honey, I want you

How my fathers, they've gone down
True love, they've been without it
But all their daughters put me down
'Cause I don't think about it

Well, I'll return to the Queen of Spades
And talk with my chambermaid
She knows that I'm not afraid to look at her
She is good to me
And there's nothing she doesn't see
She knows where I'd like to be
But it doesn't matter

I want you, I want you
Yes, I want you so bad
Honey, I want you

Now your dancing child with his Chinese suit
He spoke to me, I took his flute
No, I wasn't very cute to him, was I?
But I did it because he lied
And because he took you for a ride
And because time was on his side
And because I

Want you, I want you
Yes, I want you so bad
Honey, I want you



All comments from YouTube:

@ajcarr1965

First time ever hearing Bob Dylan was this song on the radio. My mind was blown. Poetry! On the radio! There had never been anything like it on the radio. I walked to the record store & bought Blonde on Blonde that day, and within 2 weeks, I had all his records.

@majones7004

I was in-process of gettin em all & my parents got me a full set one Christmas...

@kaynetrowbridge9267

Cnt lie my
First time hearing this great man

@majones7004

@@kaynetrowbridge9267 welcome to Bob-world...

@TheAtticradio

Good choice ! Great song ! Great album! Love the fast version and this version? We live with the legend of Bob !!

@rexchiquine6049

YES,,,,

8 More Replies...

@dwaynewladyka577

Just brilliant. Bob Dylan is a master poet and lyricist. A really outstanding version of I Want You. So much emotion going on here. Cheers! ✌️

@punagurl8

Best version of this song I ever heard.. Heartfelt, brilliant. So beautiful. Will listen again and again.💕

@elston3153

Simple twist of fate, is also amazing on this album

@punagurl8

@@elston3153 Yes it is. Interesting when he changes points-of-view. He becomes she and vice versa. And he brings in lines from another song in this version. In concerts (as well as in different takes of any given song) he constantly changes words and lines, depending on what’s happening to him at the moment or what’s going on in his mind. The mind of a genius?! But yes. This version of “Simple Twist of Fate” is quite compelling.

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