2005-02-10
It's Been A Bad Week Lyrics
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Water's gonna overflow,
Swamp's gonna rise,
No boat's gonna row.
Now, you can train on down
To Williams Point,
You can bust your feet,
You can rock this joint.
You're gonna have to find yourself
Another best friend, somehow.
Now, don't you try an' move me,
You're just gonna lose.
There's a crash on the levee
And, mama, you've been refused.
Well, it's sugar for sugar
And salt for salt,
If you go down in the flood,
It's gonna be your own fault.
Oh mama, ain't you gonna miss your best friend now?
You're gonna have to find yourself
Another best friend, somehow.
Well, that high tide's risin',
Mama, don't you let me down.
Pack up your suitcase,
Mama, don't you make a sound.
Now, it's king for king,
Queen for queen,
It's gonna be the meanest flood
That anybody's seen.
Oh mama, ain't you gonna miss your best friend now?
Yes, you're gonna have to find yourself
Another best friend, somehow.
In "Crash on the Levee (Down in the Flood)", Bob Dylan paints a picture of an impending flood and the chaos that ensues. The imagery in this song is vivid, as Dylan describes the rising swamp water and lack of transportation due to the flood. He suggests that people should make their escape while they still can, warning them that they will be on their own if they don't. The chorus punctuates this warning by asking Mama if she's going to miss her best friend when she's gone, acknowledging that people will need to find new companions in a time of crisis.
The song's refrain "sugar for sugar, salt for salt" references the ancient practice of talionic punishment, where a crime is punished in a similar manner to the offense committed. If you give sugar to someone, you can expect to receive sugar in return, but if you give salt, you'll receive salt instead. This resonates with the theme of personal responsibility that runs throughout the song, where those who do not take the necessary precautions to avoid the flood will have to face the consequences.
Interestingly, "Crash on the Levee (Down in the Flood)" was originally written and recorded by Dylan in 1967, but the version that appears on the album "Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol. II" is a live recording from 1971. This song has been covered by a number of other artists, including The Derek Trucks Band, Warren Zevon, and The Felice Brothers, among others.
Line by Line Meaning
Crash on the levee, mama,
There's been a disaster, mama,
Water's gonna overflow,
The water is going to flood,
Swamp's gonna rise,
The swamp will also be flooded,
No boat's gonna row.
It's impossible to steer a boat in such conditions,
Now, you can train on down
You can travel to Williams Point,
To Williams Point,
A specific location is mentioned for context,
You can bust your feet,
You can exhaust yourself by walking there,
You can rock this joint.
You can dance and have a good time despite the disaster,
But oh mama, ain't you gonna miss your best friend now?
But aren't you going to miss your companion in these tough times?
You're gonna have to find yourself
You will need to look for
Another best friend, somehow.
A new close friend to help you through,
Now, don't you try an' move me,
Please do not attempt to push me,
You're just gonna lose.
You will fail to move me,
There's a crash on the levee
There has been an accident near the levee,
And, mama, you've been refused.
And, mother, you are not allowed to pass,
Well, it's sugar for sugar
If you are kind to me,
And salt for salt,
I will be kind to you,
If you go down in the flood,
If you are the one who suffers in the flood,
It's gonna be your own fault.
It will be solely your responsibility,
Well, that high tide's risin',
The water level is continuing to rise,
Mama, don't you let me down.
Mother, please don't disappoint me,
Pack up your suitcase,
Gather your belongings,
Mama, don't you make a sound.
Mother, do not attract attention while fleeing,
Now, it's king for king,
Only those of equal importance can help one another,
Queen for queen,
Reliability and leadership are essential,
It's gonna be the meanest flood
This will be the most terrible flood ever,
That anybody's seen.
Exaggerating the severity of the flood,
Oh mama, ain't you gonna miss your best friend now?
But aren't you going to miss your companion in these tough times?
Yes, you're gonna have to find yourself
Indeed, you need to search for
Another best friend, somehow.
A new close friend to help you through.
Contributed by Daniel B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.