A native of Woodstock, New York, Weider was born in 1951 and began playing guitar at age 11. Some of his early influences included Chuck Berry, James Burton and Scotty Moore. While still a teenager in Woodstock, he became acquainted with Levon Helm and was exposed to The Band's music. Weider went on to become an accomplished studio session player in cities such as Atlanta and Nashville, but eventually returned to Woodstock and was invited to become The Band's sole guitarist in 1985, remaining until the group's dissolution in 2000 following the death of Rick Danko in late 1999.
Weider's main instrument is the Fender Telecaster, but he also plays a vintage 1960s Silvertone electric guitar (primarily for slide) and a vintage 1960s Guild Starfire III. For amplification, Weider uses a combination of Fender amplifiers and his own signature series JW40 amp, designed in conjunction with Fargen Amplification, Inc.
In addition to his work with The Band and his own musical group The Jim Weider Band, Weider has performed and recorded with numerous other musicians, including Robbie Dupree, Dr. John, Graham Parker, Keith Richards and Bob Weir. He is also featured in several instructional videos produced by Homespun Video
Subterranean Homesick Blues
Jim Weider Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mixing up the medicine
I'm on the pavement
Thinking about the government
The man in the trench coat
Badge out, laid off
Says he's got a bad cough
Wants to get it paid off
It's somethin' you did
God knows when
But you're doin' it again
You better duck down the alley way
Lookin' for a new friend
The man in the coon-skin cap
In the big pen
Wants eleven dollar bills
You only got ten
Maggie comes fleet foot
Face full of black soot
Talkin' that the heat put
Plants in the bed but
The phone's tapped anyway
Maggie says that many say
They must bust in early May
Orders from the D. A.
Look out kid
Don't matter what you did
Walk on your tip toes
Don't try "No Doz"
Better stay away from those
That carry around a fire hose
Keep a clean nose
Watch the plain clothes
You don't need a weather man
To know which way the wind blows
Get sick, get well
Hang around a ink well
Ring bell, hard to tell
If anything is goin' to sell
Try hard, get barred
Get back, write braille
Get jailed, jump bail
Join the army, if you fail
Look out kid
You're gonna get hit
But users, cheaters
Six-time losers
Hang around the theaters
Girl by the whirlpool
Lookin' for a new fool
Don't follow leaders
Watch the parkin' meters
Ah get born, keep warm
Short pants, romance, learn to dance
Get dressed, get blessed
Try to be a success
Please her, please him, buy gifts
Don't steal, don't lift
Twenty years of schoolin'
And they put you on the day shift
Look out kid
They keep it all hid
Better jump down a manhole
Light yourself a candle
Don't wear sandals
Try to avoid the scandals
Don't wanna be a bum
You better chew gum
The pump don't work
'Cause the vandals took the handles
The opening line of Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" as interpreted by Jim Weider, "Johnny's in the basement/Mixing up the medicine," is referencing the use of drugs to escape the realities of life. The second line, "I'm on the pavement/Thinking about the government," suggests the singer is fighting against the powers that be. The man in the trench coat, badge out, laid off, who has a cough, is referencing someone who is frustrated with their job and is looking for a way out. The man in the coonskin cap who is in the "big pen" and wants "eleven dollar bills/you only got ten" points to someone who is looking for justice in a corrupt world, but they are always one step behind.
The mention of "Maggie" in the third stanza refers to marijuana, with "face full of black soot" suggesting that the drug is not that pure. As the stanza continues, "the phone's tapped anyway / Maggie says that many say / they must bust in early May / orders from the D. A." suggests a paranoid atmosphere, where even talking about something can lead to trouble. The singer warns the listener (a young kid) to watch out, even if they don't know what they did wrong. The message of the song is to stay alert in a world that is unpredictable and unjust.
Line by Line Meaning
Johnny's in the basement
Johnny is in the basement of a building
Mixing up the medicine
He is using illegal drugs.
I'm on the pavement
I am on the street.
Thinking about the government
I am thinking about issues related to the government.
The man in the trench coat
There is a man wearing a trench coat nearby.
Badge out, laid off
He no longer works for the police department.
Says he's got a bad cough
He claims to have a medical issue.
Wants to get it paid off
He wants to get his medical issue resolved.
Look out kid
Be careful, young man.
It's somethin' you did
You did something wrong in the past.
God knows when
It's unclear when you did this.
But you're doin' it again
You're repeating your past mistake.
You better duck down the alley way
Hide in the alley to avoid trouble.
Lookin' for a new friend
Find someone new to associate with.
The man in the coon-skin cap
A man wearing a coon-skin cap is present.
In the big pen
He is in prison.
Wants eleven dollar bills
He wants more money than what is available.
You only got ten
You don't have enough money to give him.
Maggie comes fleet foot
Maggie is walking quickly.
Face full of black soot
Her face is dirty with soot.
Talkin' that the heat put
Referring to the police.
Plants in the bed
Growing plants in a garden bed.
but the phone's tapped anyway
Someone is listening in on phone conversations.
Maggie says that many say
Maggie tells us that many people claim.
They must bust in early May
The police must make arrests early in May.
Orders from the D. A.
Orders from the District Attorney.
Don't matter what you did
Your past does not matter.
Walk on your tip toes
Be cautious and quiet.
Don't try "No Doz"
Avoid drugs like No Doz.
Better stay away from those
Avoid people who carry fire hoses.
That carry around a fire hose
People who carry fire hoses in public.
Keep a clean nose
Stay out of trouble and keep a clean record.
Watch the plain clothes
Stay away from undercover police officers.
You don't need a weather man
You don't need anyone to tell you.
To know which way the wind blows
To know what is happening or about to happen.
Get sick, get well
You can get sick and get better.
Hang around a ink well
Spend time around a place to write.
Ring bell, hard to tell
Difficult to know what is happening when someone rings a bell.
If anything is goin' to sell
If something can be sold and make money.
Try hard, get barred
Trying too hard could lead to getting rejected.
Get back, write braille
Go back to writing and remain unnoticed.
Get jailed, jump bail
Is not recommended to try and escape from jail.
Join the army, if you fail
Join the military if your plans fail.
Users, cheaters
People who use drugs and cheat others.
Six-time losers
People who lost six times in a row.
Hang around the theaters
Spend time around theaters or movie houses.
Girl by the whirlpool
A woman is by the whirlpool.
Lookin' for a new fool
She is searching for a new person to take advantage of.
Don't follow leaders
Don't be a follower, be your own person.
Watch the parkin' meters
Be aware of parking meters if you are driving a vehicle.
Ah get born, keep warm
Be born and stay warm.
Short pants, romance, learn to dance
Wear short pants, experience love, and learn how to dance.
Get dressed, get blessed
Get dressed and be blessed.
Try to be a success
Aim to become successful.
Please her, please him, buy gifts
Make her and him happy by buying gifts.
Don't steal, don't lift
Don't steal anything.
Twenty years of schoolin'
Twenty years of education.
And they put you on the day shift
End up working during the day.
They keep it all hid
They keep everything a secret.
Better jump down a manhole
Hide underground in a manhole.
Light yourself a candle
Use a candle for light in dark areas.
Don't wear sandals
Wearing sandals is not practical.
Try to avoid scandals
Stay away from situations that could lead to trouble.
Don't wanna be a bum
Don't want to be a failure or a nuisance.
You better chew gum
Chewing gum is a good way to pass the time.
The pump don't work
The pump is not working.
'Cause the vandals took the handles
Someone took the handles of the pump.
Contributed by Addison Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.