The members of The Band first worked together as The Hawks, the backing band of rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins from 1959 until 1963. Shortly afterwards, Bob Dylan came to Toronto and recruited the quintet for his history-making 1965/1966 world tour. The Band also worked with Dylan on the initial Blonde on Blonde sessions which, bar two tracks, were ultimately abandoned in favour of versions recorded with Nashville session musicians.
After a motorcycle accident in mid-1966, Dylan retreated from the public eye to his country house near Woodstock, New York. He was joined by the Band for some informal jam sessions starting in the autumn of 1967, nearly all of which were recorded. After being heavily bootleged, Columbia Records finally released The Basement Tapes in 1975, a selection of the better tracks recorded during the sessions along with new recordings by The Band.
Bob Dylan and The Band were reunited in 1974, recording Planet Waves for Asylum Records, Dylan's first album recorded for a record label other than Columbia. Although the album was released under Dylan's name alone, The Band joined Dylan for his first tour in eight years in support of Planet Waves, with some of the material recorded and released on the 1975 concert record Before the Flood.
Columbia Records finally released The Bootleg Series Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes Complete in November 2014, featuring every surving recording from the original sessions in Woodstock.
Goin' to Acapulco
Bob Dylan and The Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She never does me wrong
She puts it to me plain as day
And gives it to me for a song
It's a wicked life but what the hell
But what that hell, oh everybody's got to eat
And I'm just the same as anyone else
Goin' to Acapulco
Goin' on the run
Goin' down to see fat gut
Goin' to have some fun
Yeah
Goin' to have some fun
Now, whenever I get up
And I can't find what I need
I just make it down to Rose Marie's
And get something quick to eat
It's not a bad way to make a living
And I ain't complainin' none
But I can blow my plump, and break my rump
And then go home and have my fun
Goin' to Acapulco
Goin' on the run
Goin' down to see soft gut
Goin' to have some fun
Yeah
Goin' to have some fun
Now, if someone offers me a joke
I just say no thanks
I try to tell it like it is
And keep away from pranks
And every time you know when the well breaks down
I just go pump on it some
Rose Marie, she likes to go to big places
And just set there waitin' for me to come
Goin' to Acapulco
Goin' on the run
Goin' down to see soft gut
Goin' to have some fun
Yeah
Goin' to have some fun
The song "Goin' to Acapulco" by Bob Dylan and The Band is about a man who frequents a woman named Rose Marie's establishment for his basic needs. Rose Marie is likely a prostitute as the singer alludes to her giving him what he needs for a song, indicating that he pays her for her services. Despite the apparent wickedness of the lifestyle, the singer justifies it by saying everyone needs to eat and that he's just like everyone else when it comes to scratching for his meat. He then sings about his plans to go to Acapulco to have some fun, implying that he's taking a break from his day-to-day life.
The singer seems content with his way of life and doesn't complain, even though he remarks that he can blow his plump and break his rump. His nonchalant attitude towards his circumstances is exemplified when he says that whenever he can't find what he needs, he goes down to Rose Marie's and gets something quick to eat. He also seems to have a strict moral code, as he refuses to partake in jokes and tries to tell it like it is. Finally, he mentions that Rose Marie likes to go to big places and wait for him to come, implying that the two have a special connection or relationship beyond their transactional one.
In summary, "Goin' to Acapulco" paints a picture of a man living a questionable lifestyle but justifying it by saying that everyone needs to eat. He seems content with his way of life and is taking a break from it to go to Acapulco and have some fun. The song is open to interpretation, but many believe it's a commentary on the commodification of sexuality and relationships in modern society.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm going down to Rose Marie's
I'm heading to the place where I can get what I need quickly.
She never does me wrong
Whenever I visit Rose Marie's place, I get what I want without any issues.
She puts it to me plain as day
Rose Marie tells me what I need to know or do in a clear and straightforward manner.
And gives it to me for a song
I get what I need easily and without having to pay much for it.
It's a wicked life but what the hell
Life can be tough, but I try not to worry about it.
But what that hell, oh everybody's got to eat
Despite life's challenges, everyone needs to eat to survive.
And I'm just the same as anyone else
I'm no different from anyone else when it comes to needing to eat and survive.
When it comes to scratchin' for my meat
I'll do what it takes to survive and make sure I don't go hungry.
Goin' to Acapulco
I'm off to Acapulco for a fun-filled adventure.
Goin' on the run
I'm going to leave everything behind and just focus on having a good time.
Goin' down to see fat gut
I'm on my way to see someone I know in Acapulco.
Goin' to have some fun
I'm excited about the adventure and ready to enjoy myself.
Yeah
Now, whenever I get up
Whenever I wake up and need something,
And I can't find what I need
If I don't have what I need,
I just make it down to Rose Marie's
I'll head to Rose Marie's place to get what I need quickly.
And get something quick to eat
I'll grab something to eat so I can keep going.
It's not a bad way to make a living
Getting what I need easily and without spending much is a good way to make a living.
And I ain't complainin' none
I'm not complaining about the way I'm doing things.
But I can blow my plump, and break my rump
I can work hard if I need to and use up my resources to survive.
And then go home and have my fun
But I also make sure to enjoy myself and have fun when I'm not working hard.
Now, if someone offers me a joke
If someone tries to make me laugh with a joke,
I just say no thanks
I'll politely decline because I just want to focus on getting what I need done.
I try to tell it like it is
I prefer to be honest and straightforward in my interactions with others.
And keep away from pranks
I don't get involved in playing tricks or pranks because it's not helpful.
And every time you know when the well breaks down
Whenever something goes wrong or doesn't work properly,
I just go pump on it some
I'll try to fix it myself and get it working again.
Rose Marie, she likes to go to big places
Rose Marie enjoys going to fancy or important places.
And just set there waitin' for me to come
She'll wait for me to come along so we can go together.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@caerbannoghare4744
I'm going down to Rose Marie's
She never does me wrong
She puts it to me plain as day
And gives it to me for a song
It's a wicked life, but what the hell
Everybody's got to eat
And I'm just the same as anyone else
When it comes to scratching for my meat
Goin' to Acapulco
Goin' on the run
Goin' down to see soft gut
Goin' to have some fun
Yeah
Goin' to have some fun
Now, whenever I get up
And can't find what I need
I just make it down to Rose Marie's
And get something quick to eat
It's not a bad way to make a living
And I ain't complainin' none
Oh, I can pull my plum, and drink my rum
And then go on home and have my fun
Goin' to Acapulco
Goin' on the run
Goin' down to see soft gut
Goin' to have some fun
Yeah
Goin' to have some fun
Now if someone offers me a joke
I just say, "No thanks"
I try to tell it like it is
And keep away from pranks
Now every time you know when the well breaks down
I just go pump on it some
Rose Marie, she likes to go to big places
And just set there waitin' for me to come
Goin' to Acapulco
Goin' on the run
Goin' down to see soft gut
Goin' to have some fun
Yeah
Goin' to have some fun
@juancamacho5746
I'm going down to Rose Marie's
She never does me wrong
She puts it to me plain as day
And gives it to me for a song
It's a wicked life, but what the hell
Everybody's got to eat
And I'm just the same as anyone else
When it comes to scratching for my meat
Goin' to Acapulco
Goin' on the run
Goin' down to see soft gut
Goin' to have some fun
Yeah
Goin' to have some fun
Now, whenever I get up
And can't find what I need
I just make it down to Rose Marie's
And get something quick to eat
It's not a bad way to make a living
And I ain't complainin' none
Oh, I can pull my plum, and drink my rum
And then go on home and have my fun
Goin' to Acapulco
Goin' on the run
Goin' down to see soft gut
Goin' to have some fun
Yeah
Goin' to have some fun
Now if someone offers me a joke
I just say, "No thanks"
I try to tell it like it is
And keep away from pranks
Now every time you know when the well breaks down
I just go pump on it some
Rose Marie, she likes to go to big places
And just set there waitin' for me to come
Goin' to Acapulco
Goin' on the run
Goin' down to see soft gut
Goin' to have some fun
Yeah
Goin' to have some fun
@CipherSerpico
For as long as I live:
I will gladly debate anyone who says that Dylan is not one of the Greatest Vocalists of All Time.
@mikefelix6338
My Morning Jacket + Calexico cover version of this in “I’m Not There” absolutely floored me. One of the few (or many) times someone takes a Dylan song to new heights
@cactussticker2815
such a special song for us bums who cudda been somebody
@Furry67
Robbie's guitar work is outstanding.
@blueschewy2558
As is Garth's organ accoutrement.
@ervbefelnareik7604
And the harmonies, one of Dylans best vocals imo
@karenscigliano9787
My 3 sentiments, exactly.
@doncahooti
I'll tell him you said so.
@TheStrangeAeon
He and Hendrix were very similar with those crazy rhythms. You can hear it in this track. If you told someone Jimi played the track for Bob to someone who didn't know you could definitely fool them.
@jamesproffitt4868
Such a mysterious sound on this. It is music remembered from some dream surely.