Davey Moore was an American boxer whose career spanned from 1953-1963. (A second boxer named Davey Moore also competed in the 1980s.) Known as 'The Little Giant', Moore stood at only 5 feet and 2 inches. On March 18, 1959 Moore won the World Featherweight Title from Hogan Bassey. Moore held the title for 4 years and 3 days, defending it 5 times before losing it to Cuban Sugar Ramos on March 21, 1963. During the fight with Ramos in Dodgers Stadium Moore was knocked down into the ropes during the 10th round. Moore lost by technical knockout at the end of the 10th round and Ramos took the title. Moore walked back to his dressing room and conducted post-fight interviews, stating his desire to fight Ramos again and regain the title. After reporters left he complained of headaches and fell unconscious. He was taken to White Memorial Hospital where he was diagnosed with inoperable brain damage. Moore never regained consciousness and died as a result of the affliction on March 25, 1963.
Following Moore's death, the morality of Boxing was debated by politicians and religious leaders alike. Folksinger Phil Ochs' song Davey Moore offered a harsh criticism of the sport and those affiliated with it. However Dylan's song delivered a more indirect message and a message that transcended the arena of boxing to include the enveloping society. In his typically ironic fashion, when Dylan introduced Who Killed Davey Moore during his October 31, 1964 show, he addressed the crowd-
"This a song about a boxer...
It's got nothing to do with boxing, it's just a song about a boxer really.
And, uh, it's not even having to do with a boxer, really.
It's got nothing to do with nothing.
But I fit all these words together...
that's all...
It's taken directly from the newspapers,
Nothing's been changed...
Except for the words."
Who Killed Davey Moore?
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why an' what's the reason for?
"Not I", said the referee
"Don't point your finger at me
An' maybe kept him from his fate
But the crowd would've booed, I'm sure
At not gettin' their money's worth
It's too bad that he had to go
But there was a pressure on me too, you know
It wasn't me that made him fall
No, you can't blame me at all"
Who killed Davey Moore?
Why an' what's the reason for?
"Not us", said the angry crowd
Whose screams filled the arena loud
"It's too bad he died that night
But we just like to see a fight
We didn't mean for him to meet his death
We just meant to see some sweat
There ain't nothing wrong in that
It wasn't us that made him fall
No, you can't blame us at all"
Who killed Davey Moore?
Why an' what's the reason for?
"Not me", said his manager
Puffing on a big cigar
"It's hard to say, it's hard to tell
I always thought that he was well
It's too bad for his wife an' kids he's dead
But if he was sick he should've said
It wasn't me that made him fall
No, you can't blame me at all"
Who killed Davey Moore
Why an' what's the reason for?
"Not me", says the gambling man
With his ticket stub still in his hand
"My wasn't me that knocked him down
My hands never touched him none
I didn't commit no ugly sin
Anyway, I put money on him to win
It wasn't me that made him fall
No, you can't blame me at all"
Who killed Davey Moore
Why an' what's the reason for?
"Not me", says the boxing writer
Pounding print on his old typewriter
Sayin', "Boxing ain't to blame
There's just as much danger in a football game"
Sayin', "Fist fighting is here to stay
It's just the old American way
It wasn't me that made him fall
No, you can't blame me at all"
Who killed Davey Moore?
Why an' what's the reason for?
"Not me", says the man whose fists
Laid him low in a cloud of mist
Who came here from Cuba's door
Where boxing ain't allowed no more
"I hit him, I hit him, yes, it's true
But that's what I am paid to do
Don't say 'murder,' don't say 'kill'
It was destiny, it was God's will"
Who killed Davey Moore
Why an' what's the reason for?
The lyrics to Bob Dylan's "Who Killed Davey Moore?" explore the question of responsibility and culpability in the death of a boxer named Davey Moore. In the song, various individuals who were involved in Moore's final fight are asked who killed him and why. The referee claims that he could have stopped the fight earlier but was afraid of a negative audience reaction if he did so. The crowd, meanwhile, insists that they did not mean for Moore to die, but simply wanted to see a good fight. His manager denies any responsibility and suggests that Moore should have spoken up if he was not feeling well. A gambling man also insists that he is blameless because he simply bet on Moore to win. The boxing writer defends the sport and argues that there is inherent danger in any physical activity, while the boxer from Cuba who fought against Moore claims that it was simply his job to hit him and that his death was "destiny."
The song can be interpreted as a critique of the entire culture surrounding boxing, as well as a commentary on the ways in which individuals often avoid accepting blame or responsibility for their actions. Dylan's pointed lyrics are a condemnation of the way in which society tends to prioritize profit and entertainment over the well-being and safety of individual human beings.
Line by Line Meaning
Who killed Davey Moore?
Who is responsible for the death of Davey Moore?
Why an' what's the reason for?
What led to his death and why did it happen?
"Not I", said the referee
The referee doesn't claim responsibility for Davey Moore's death.
"Don't point your finger at me
The referee doesn't want to be held responsible for Davey Moore's death.
I could've stopped it in the eighth
The referee had the chance to stop the fight in the eighth round.
An' maybe kept him from his fate
If the referee had stopped the fight in time, Davey Moore's fate could've been different.
But the crowd would've booed, I'm sure
The referee didn't stop the fight because he was afraid the audience would've reacted negatively.
At not gettin' their money's worth
The audience is there to see an exciting fight and feel that stopping the fight would not have been a good value for their money.
It's too bad that he had to go
The death of Davey Moore is a tragic occurrence.
But there was a pressure on me too, you know
The referee was under a lot of pressure to keep going with the fight.
It wasn't me that made him fall
The referee is stating the obvious that it was not directly their doing that made Davey Moore fall.
No, you can't blame me at all"
The referee does not believe that they should be held responsible for Davey Moore's death.
"Not us", said the angry crowd
The audience doesn't want to claim responsibility for Davey Moore's death.
Whose screams filled the arena loud
The screams of the audience were audible throughout the arena.
"It's too bad he died that night
The death of Davey Moore is regretful.
But we just like to see a fight
The audience was primarily there to see a fight.
We didn't mean for him to meet his death
The audience did not intend for Davey Moore to die.
We just meant to see some sweat
The audience wanted to see the fighters put in effort.
There ain't nothing wrong in that
The audience does not think what they came to see is morally wrong.
It wasn't us that made him fall
The audience does not believe that they had a direct hand in Davey Moore's fall.
No, you can't blame us at all"
The audience does not believe that they should be held responsible for Davey Moore's death.
"Not me", said his manager
Davey Moore's manager does not believe they could be blamed for his death.
Puffing on a big cigar
His manager is depicted with a cigar to show disregard for the situation.
"It's hard to say, it's hard to tell
The manager is unsure why Davey Moore died.
I always thought that he was well
The manager believed that Davey Moore was healthy and well-prepared for the fight.
It's too bad for his wife an' kids he's dead
Davey Moore's passing is a sad situation for his family.
But if he was sick he should've said
The manager implies that if Davey Moore was sick, he should have said something.
It wasn't me that made him fall
The manager does not indicate being the cause of Davey Moore's fall.
No, you can't blame me at all"
The manager does not ultimately believe the responsibility is theirs.
"Not me", says the gambling man
The gambler denies any involvement in Davey Moore's death.
With his ticket stub still in his hand
The gambler is still holding his ticket stub, indicating that he was a spectator of the fight.
"My wasn't me that knocked him down
The gambler claims to have played no role in Davey Moore's fall.
My hands never touched him none
The gambler denies any physical interaction with Davey Moore.
I didn't commit no ugly sin
The gambler believes that he is not guilty of anything.
Anyway, I put money on him to win
The gambler bet money on Davey Moore to win the fight.
It wasn't me that made him fall
The gambler again denies involvement in causing Davey Moore's fall.
No, you can't blame me at all"
The gambler does not believe that he should be held responsible for Davey Moore's death.
"Not me", says the boxing writer
The boxing writer does not believe that they played a role in Davey Moore's death..
Pounding print on his old typewriter
The writer is depicted working on an old typewriter.
Sayin', "Boxing ain't to blame
The boxing writer does not see boxing as being inherently dangerous.
There's just as much danger in a football game"
The boxing writer believes that football can be just as dangerous as boxing.
Sayin', "Fist fighting is here to stay
The writer believes that boxing is an established part of American culture.
It's just the old American way
The usage of boxing is a tradition that has practical and cultural explanations.
It wasn't me that made him fall
The writer does not believe that they played a role in Davey Moore's fall.
No, you can't blame me at all"
The writer does not believe they can be held responsible for Davey Moore's death.
"Not me", says the man whose fists
The boxer is claiming that they were doing what they were paid to do.
Laid him low in a cloud of mist
The boxer punched Davey Moore until he lost consciousness.
Who came here from Cuba's door
The boxer was from Cuba, which has banned boxing as a sport.
Where boxing ain't allowed no more
Boxing was prohibited in Cuba when the boxer was from there.
"I hit him, I hit him, yes, it's true
The boxer does not deny hitting Davey Moore; in fact, he admits it happened.
But that's what I am paid to do
The boxer was paid to win the fight, and punching is what he was expected to do.
Don't say 'murder,' don't say 'kill'
The boxer is avoiding culpability for murder or killing Davey Moore.
It was destiny, it was God's will"
The boxer believes that the death of Davey Moore was inevitable and beyond human intervention.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@galdylan
Who killed Davey Moore?
Why an' what's the reason for?
"Not I", said the referee
"Don't point your finger at me
I could've stopped it in the eighth
An' maybe kept him from his fate
But the crowd would've booed, I'm sure
At not gettin' their money's worth
It's too bad that he had to go
But there was a pressure on me too, you know
It wasn't me that made him fall
No, you can't blame me at all"
Who killed Davey Moore?
Why an' what's the reason for?
"Not us", said the angry crowd
Whose screams filled the arena loud
"It's too bad he died that night
But we just like to see a fight
We didn't mean for him to meet his death
We just meant to see some sweat
There ain't nothing wrong in that
It wasn't us that made him fall
No, you can't blame us at all"
Who killed Davey Moore?
Why an' what's the reason for?
"Not me", said his manager
Puffing on a big cigar
"It's hard to say, it's hard to tell
I always thought that he was well
It's too bad for his wife an' kids he's dead
But if he was sick he should've said
It wasn't me that made him fall
No, you can't blame me at all"
Who killed Davey Moore
Why an' what's the reason for?
"Not me", says the gambling man
With his ticket stub still in his hand
"My wasn't me that knocked him down
My hands never touched him none
I didn't commit no ugly sin
Anyway, I put money on him to win
It wasn't me that made him fall
No, you can't blame me at all"
Who killed Davey Moore
Why an' what's the reason for?
"Not me", says the boxing writer
Pounding print on his old typewriter
Sayin', "Boxing ain't to blame
There's just as much danger in a football game"
Sayin', "Fist fighting is here to stay
It's just the old American way
It wasn't me that made him fall
No, you can't blame me at all"
Who killed Davey Moore?
Why an' what's the reason for?
"Not me", says the man whose fists
Laid him low in a cloud of mist
Who came here from Cuba's door
Where boxing ain't allowed no more
"I hit him, I hit him, yes, it's true
But that's what I am paid to do
Don't say 'murder, ' don't say 'kill'
It was destiny, it was God's will"
Who killed Davey Moore
Why an' what's the reason for?
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Bob Dylan
Who Killed Davey Moore lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
@mitchpollock7368
I use this in my 8th grade classroom while we read The Outsiders. The idea of everyone pointing fingers at others instead of taking responsibility. And the idea they when something is wrong in a system, many play a hand at letting it get out of hand.
@RobertKeeleyTV
One of my very favorite Dylan performances. The cutting vocal narrative…1963!!!!
@dukerbower2228
So much good about this song: a devastating critique of boxing; an unbelievably well-crafted song; precise words that rhyme and surprise; questions high-lighted then left in the air while their importance is cast into our hearts by the artistry of the song and stay. First-line "Who killed Davey Moore, why and what's the reason for?" also the last. I love Dylan the songwriter and singer.
@movingvisionmotiongraphics5110
I dont think it is a critique of boxing- its more subtle than that
@ritaseymour8116
Bob Dylan very good .Thank you
@bigbeefyboy9132
Wow I cant believe all of these songs are being posted!
@conorkennedy3304
no shit
@MrEdkern
I was working at a movie theatre in cleveland as a union projection years ago and i met a nephew of davy moore. Told him i saw dylan 35 times and met dylan in 1991. I sang the the whole song to him and he just looked at me and shook my hand.
@DABELINE
🖤🖤🖤
@JorgeLMarquezsM
Qué pasa con alguien que capta esto? Sigue igual, sigue cambiando.