Only a Pawn in Their Game
Bob Dylan Lyrics
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Took Medgar Evers' blood
A finger fired the trigger to his name
A handle hid out in the dark
A hand set the spark
Two eyes took the aim
Behind a man's brain
But he can't be blamed
A South politician preaches to the poor white man
"You got more than the blacks, don't complain
You're better than them, you been born with white skin," they explain
And the Negro's name
Is used, it is plain
For the politician's gain
As he rises to fame
And the poor white remains
On the caboose of the train
But it ain't him to blame
He's only a pawn in their game
The deputy sheriffs, the soldiers, the governors get paid
And the marshals and cops get the same
But the poor white man's used in the hands of them all like a tool
He's taught in his school
From the start by the rule
That the laws are with him
To protect his white skin
To keep up his hate
So he never thinks straight
'Bout the shape that he's in
But it ain't him to blame
He's only a pawn in their game
From the poverty shacks, he looks from the cracks to the tracks
And the hoofbeats pound in his brain
And he's taught how to walk in a pack
Shoot in the back
With his fist in a clinch
To hang and to lynch
To hide 'neath the hood
To kill with no pain
Like a dog on a chain
He ain't got no name
But it ain't him to blame
He's only a pawn in their game
Today, Medgar Evers was buried from the bullet he caught
They lowered him down as a king
But when the shadowy sun sets on the one
That fired the gun
He'll see by his grave
On the stone that remains
Carved next to his name
His epitaph plain
Only a pawn in their game
The song "Only a Pawn In Their Game" by Bob Dylan was written in response to the assassination of the civil rights leader Medgar Evers in Mississippi in 1963. The song itself is a scathing commentary on the systemic injustices and institutionalized racism that led to Evers' death and continues to plague society. The first verse describes the murder itself: a bullet fired from behind a bush hit Evers and ended his life, but it was not the shooter who was ultimately to blame. Rather, it was the system -- the "man behind the man" -- that orchestrated such an act of violence in the first place.
The second and third verses focus on the broader social and political contexts that make such an act of violence possible. Dylan highlights the racial tensions and socioeconomic inequalities that are manipulated by politicians and those in power to maintain their positions of authority. White politicians tell poor white men that they are "better than" black people, using racism as a means to maintain their power and wealth. However, Dylan suggests that such poor white men are merely "pawns" in a wider game.
The song ultimately suggests that it is the system itself that is to blame for Evers' death and the ongoing injustices that face society. Dylan's choice of words and imagery are especially powerful, using phrases like "only a pawn," "the caboose of the train," and "the laws are with him to protect his white skin" to convey the sense of systemic oppression and exploitation that underpins American society.
Line by Line Meaning
A bullet from the back of a bush
Medgar Evers was shot from a hiding shooter.
Took Medgar Evers' blood
Medgar Evers was fatally injured by the bullet.
A finger fired the trigger to his name
The shooter intentionally aimed at Medgar Evers and caused harm.
A handle hid out in the dark
The gun was concealed from sight in the bushes.
A hand set the spark
The shooter initiated the shot by pulling the trigger.
Two eyes took the aim
The shooter aimed at Medgar Evers with intention.
Behind a man's brain
The decision to shoot Medgar Evers was a calculated one.
But he can't be blamed
The shooter was a part of a larger system that caused this to happen.
He's only a pawn in their game
The shooter is a pawn in a larger system of racism, hatred and violence.
A South politician preaches to the poor white man
A politician in the South talks to white people.
"You got more than the blacks, don't complain
White people shouldn't complain because they have more than Black people.
You're better than them, you been born with white skin," they explain
White people are better than Black people because they were born with fairer skin.
And the Negro's name
The politician uses Black people's names to gain power or status.
Is used, it is plain
The politician uses Black people in a transparent and predictable way.
For the politician's gain
The politician benefits from using the Black population in this way.
As he rises to fame
The politician uses his influence to gain popularity amongst white people.
And the poor white remains
Poor white people remain disadvantaged while politicians gain power.
On the caboose of the train
White people are at the end of the line in this system of oppression.
But it ain't him to blame
Poor white people are also pawns in this larger system of oppression.
He's only a pawn in their game
Poor white people are also victims of the larger system of oppression.
The deputy sheriffs, the soldiers, the governors get paid
People in positions of power receive money for their work.
And the marshals and cops get the same
Law enforcement personnel also receive payment for their labor.
But the poor white man's used in the hands of them all like a tool
Poor white people are used as a means for people in power to retain their power.
He's taught in his school
White people are indoctrinated from a young age to be complicit in the system of oppression.
From the start by the rule
White people are taught to obey the established rules that maintain the system of oppression.
That the laws are with him
White people are taught to believe that laws are designed to protect white people.
To protect his white skin
Laws are created to maintain the superiority of white people.
To keep up his hate
White people are taught to be hateful to maintain the current system of oppression.
So he never thinks straight
White people are prevented from thinking clearly about the true nature of the system of oppression.
'Bout the shape that he's in
White people are prevented from seeing their own role in sustaining the system of oppression.
But it ain't him to blame
White people are also pawns of the larger system of oppression.
He's only a pawn in their game
White people are also victims of the larger system of oppression.
From the poverty shacks, he looks from the cracks to the tracks
Poor white people are forced to live in poverty and struggle to make ends meet.
And the hoofbeats pound in his brain
Poor white people are constantly reminded of their situation and their role in the system of oppression.
And he's taught how to walk in a pack
White people are often taught to be a part of a group that supports the status quo.
Shoot in the back
White people are taught to use violence to maintain their position in the system of oppression.
With his fist in a clinch
White people are taught to be aggressive and violent in order to keep Black people down.
To hang and to lynch
White people are taught to perpetrate acts of terror against Black people.
To hide 'neath the hood
White people hide their identity while perpetrating acts of terror against Black people.
To kill with no pain
White people are taught to be callous and unfeeling when harming Black people.
Like a dog on a chain
White people are taught to be subservient to the larger system of oppression.
He ain't got no name
White people are often anonymous and hidden when perpetrating acts of violence.
But it ain't him to blame
White people are pawns in the larger system of oppression.
He's only a pawn in their game
White people are also victims of the larger system of oppression.
Today, Medgar Evers was buried from the bullet he caught
Medgar Evers died due to the gunshot wounds he sustained.
They lowered him down as a king
Medgar Evers was buried with honor.
But when the shadowy sun sets on the one
When the true facts of his murder come to light.
That fired the gun
The shooter who killed Medgar Evers.
He'll see by his grave
The shooter will see the consequences of their actions.
On the stone that remains
On his gravestone.
Carved next to his name
An inscription that will be forever associated with Medgar Evers.
His epitaph plain
A simple message about the shooter's role in the larger system of oppression.
Only a pawn in their game
The shooter is not solely responsible for the murder of Medgar Evers, but rather a pawn in the larger system of oppression that perpetuates such violence.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jonathanbirch2022
He's taught in his school
From the start by the rule
That the laws are with him
To protect his white skin
To keep up his hate
So he never thinks straight
'Bout the shape that he's in
But it ain't him to blame
He's only a pawn in their game
@notabotiswear6980
60 years later, those pawns are still just as much tools as they were 60 years ago. Different dogwhistles, same game.
@stereodreamer23
The "dogwhistles" are very much still the same, and still being blown by the same people, for the same reason--to keep the People divided, distracted, and disinformed. And they are doing it so the People cannot defend themselves from, or rise up against, those who are truly running the game...
@tateoctober814
Such a shame this song came out in the 60s, and yet is still so relevant to today. Maybe the times aren't changing
@diane4488
Indeed. More relevant today, than ever. ❤️
@MrDJdo
Lol exactly what i was thinking ;)
@wbaranful
Yep. Same damn game
@truettadevil
It takes real work to change... not just slogans like Hope & Change. America has to do the work or we'll remain a country of pawns and their victims of color.
@MerkinMuffly
Sadly, as Dylan once said, 'Songs don't change the world, I've been through all that.'
@aisforapple2494
I love the ever extending rhyming lines.
When you think Bob can go no further, he does.
That just proves his genius!
@jamiehalifax4954
Although you cant really compare must be Santa to this and dylan never wrote it, it also has expanding rhyming lyrics ...