Open the Door Homer
Bob Dylan and The Band Lyrics


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Now, there's a certain thing
That I learned from Jim
That he'd always make sure I'd understand
And that is that there's a certain way
We all must swim
If we expect to live off of the fat of the land

Open the door, Richard
I've heard it said before
Open the door, Richard
Heard his name before
But I ain't gonna hear it said no more

Now, there's a certain thing
That I learned from my friend, Mouse
That fella who never blushes
And that is that one must always
Flush out his house
If he don't expect to be housing flushes

Open the door, Richard
I've heard it said before
Open the door, Richard
I've heard it said before
But I ain't gonna hear it said no more

Take care of all of your memories, said Nick
For you cannot relive them
And remember when you're out there
Trying to heal the sick
That you must always first forgive them

Open the door, Richard
I've heard it said before
Open the door, Richard




I've heard it said before
And I ain't gonna hear it said no more

Overall Meaning

In "Open the Door, Homer," Bob Dylan and The Band explore the idea of learning from others and the importance of taking action. The lyrics reference specific individuals, Jim and Mouse, from whom Dylan has learned important life lessons. Jim taught him that there is a certain way people must swim in order to be successful and live off of the land. Mouse, on the other hand, taught him the importance of regularly flushing out one's house or cleaning up one's life. Both of these lessons tie into the recurring theme of taking action and working hard in order to achieve success.


The repetition of the phrase "Open the door, Richard" serves as the chorus for the song and seems to represent the idea of taking action and not waiting around for opportunities to come to you. The phrase is also used repeatedly in the second verse, indicating that the idea of taking action is a theme that runs throughout the entirety of the song. The final verse offers advice from Nick to "take care of all of your memories" and to forgive those who have wronged you, emphasizing the importance of personal growth and emotional maturity.


Overall, "Open the Door, Homer" is a song that encourages listeners to be proactive in their lives and to learn from the experiences of others. It combines themes of hard work, personal growth, and forgiveness to create a message that is both introspective and inspiring.


Line by Line Meaning

Now, there's a certain thing That I learned from Jim That he'd always make sure I'd understand And that is that there's a certain way We all must swim If we expect to live off of the fat of the land
Jim taught me that there's a right way to do things if we want to succeed


Open the door, Richard I've heard it said before Open the door, Richard Heard his name before But I ain't gonna hear it said no more
We need to move on and not dwell on the past


Now, there's a certain thing That I learned from my friend, Mouse That fella who never blushes And that is that one must always Flush out his house If he don't expect to be housing flushes
My friend Mouse taught me that we have to clean up our lives if we don't want to be stuck in a messy situation


Take care of all of your memories, said Nick For you cannot relive them And remember when you're out there Trying to heal the sick That you must always first forgive them
Nick advised me to cherish my memories and let go of grudges if I want to help others


Open the door, Richard I've heard it said before Open the door, Richard I've heard it said before And I ain't gonna hear it said no more
We need to move forward and not keep repeating the same mistakes




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan

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

@bryankeisling132

Lyrics:
Now, there's a certain thing
That I learned from Jim
That he'd always make sure I'd understand
And that is that there's a certain way
We all must swim
If we expect to live off of the fat of the land

Open the door, Richard
I've heard it said before
Open the door, Richard
Heard his name before
But I ain't gonna hear it said no more

Now, there's a certain thing
That I learned from my friend, Mouse
That fella who never blushes
And that is that one must always
Flush out his house
If he don't expect to be housing flushes

Open the door, Richard
I've heard it said before
Open the door, Richard
I've heard it said before
But I ain't gonna hear it said no more

Take care of all of your memories, said Nick
For you cannot relive them
And remember when you're out there
Trying to heal the sick
That you must always first forgive them

Open the door, Richard
I've heard it said before
Open the door, Richard
I've heard it said before
And I ain't gonna hear it said no more



All comments from YouTube:

@monicatolipan3238

Every time I think I knew almost all Bob Dylan"s work, he surpises me again with great and fantastic new songs. It's a long, long road til I get there, isn't it? This one is absolutely gorgeous! Thanks so much.

@blueschewy2558

Life lessons from Jim, Mouse, and Nick. I never tire of this album.

@nealpomea2836

You must always first forgive them

@kanjiwooowooo3202

Play this live one day, Bobby

@user-ps3fe3ms2v

pin?

@bryankeisling132

Lyrics:
Now, there's a certain thing
That I learned from Jim
That he'd always make sure I'd understand
And that is that there's a certain way
We all must swim
If we expect to live off of the fat of the land

Open the door, Richard
I've heard it said before
Open the door, Richard
Heard his name before
But I ain't gonna hear it said no more

Now, there's a certain thing
That I learned from my friend, Mouse
That fella who never blushes
And that is that one must always
Flush out his house
If he don't expect to be housing flushes

Open the door, Richard
I've heard it said before
Open the door, Richard
I've heard it said before
But I ain't gonna hear it said no more

Take care of all of your memories, said Nick
For you cannot relive them
And remember when you're out there
Trying to heal the sick
That you must always first forgive them

Open the door, Richard
I've heard it said before
Open the door, Richard
I've heard it said before
And I ain't gonna hear it said no more

@eutoober

on Dylan's official website, the lyric reads that Mouse "always blushes". How do you hear it in the recording? I hear Mouse "never blushes".

@user-ps3fe3ms2v

mexico in june?

@jakedulln

learnt this one

@JoseGarcia-tu9qb

Bob!!!!!!

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