Gotta Serve Somebody
Bob Dylan / Grateful Dead Lyrics

You may be an ambassador to England or France
You could be someone who represents their country in the highest circles of diplomacy and power.

You may like to gamble, you might like to dance
You might be someone who enjoys taking risks or being the center of attention.

You may be the heavyweight champion of the world
You might be someone who has achieved the highest level of athletic success in the world of boxing.

You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls
You could be someone who is known for their wealth and social standing.

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
No matter who you are or what you do, you will have to answer to someone or something higher than yourself.

Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
The person or thing that you have to serve may either be the negative force in the world, or the positive one.

You might be a rock 'n' roll addict prancing on the stage
You could be someone who is consumed by the world of music and performance.

You might have drugs at your command, women in a cage
You could have the power to control others, even if it is through morally questionable means.

You may be a business man or some high-degree thief
You could be someone who is successful in the world of commerce or someone who is skilled in stealing from others.

They may call you doctor or they may call you chief
You could have earned an impressive professional or societal title.

You may be a state trooper, you might be a young Turk
You could be someone who serves your country in a law enforcement role or someone who is young and ambitious.

You may be the head of some big TV network
You might have a high-level executive role in the television or media industry.

You may be rich or poor, you may be blind or lame
No matter what your physical or financial condition, you will still have to answer to a higher power.

You may be living in another country under another name
You could be living abroad or have changed your identity to avoid being caught for your actions.

You may be a construction worker working on a home
You might be someone who works in manual labor and helps build homes for others.

You may be living in a mansion or you might live in a dome
You could be a person who lives in a luxurious home or someone who lives in a uniquely-shaped structure.

You might own guns and you might even own tanks
You could be someone who possesses weapons of various degrees of lethality or even military equipment.

You might be somebody's landlord, you might even own banks
You could have control over the lives of others through owning property or financial establishments.

You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride
You might be someone who speaks publicly about religion and is proud of your beliefs.

You may be a city councilman taking bribes on the side
You could be someone who is responsible for decisions in your local community, but also corrupt and willing to break the law.

You may be workin' in a barbershop, you may know how to cut hair
You could be someone who performs a simple service for others, but has a valuable skill in doing so.

You may be somebody's mistress, may be somebody's heir
You could be involved in a morally ambiguous relationship with someone else or be someone who will inherit their family's wealth.

Might like to wear cotton, might like to wear silk
You may have a preference for certain styles or fabrics of clothing.

Might like to drink whiskey, might like to drink milk
You may have different tastes in alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages.

You might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread
You could have different preferences in the types of food you eat.

You may be sleeping on the floor, sleeping in a king sized bed
You could be living in vastly different levels of comfort or wealth from another person.

You may call me Terry, you may call me Timmy
You could address me by any name and it wouldn't change the fact that I serve someone.

You may call me Bobby, you may call me Zimmy
You could use any number of nicknames to refer to me, but it doesn't change the fact that I serve someone.

You may call me R.J., you may call me Ray
You could use any of several different variations of my name to refer to me, but it doesn't change the fact that I serve someone.

You may call me anything but no matter what you say
You may use any name you want for me, but it doesn't change the fact that I serve someone.

Still, you're gonna have to serve somebody
No matter how much you resist, you will still have to submit to a higher power.

Yes, you're gonna have to serve somebody (serve somebody)
Repeating the message that everyone will have to answer to a higher power in some way.

Ah, yeah
An exclamation of agreement and affirmation to previous lines.