Ballad Of The Thin Man
Stephen Malkmus & The Million Dollar Bashers Lyrics
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With your pencil in your hand
You see somebody naked
And you say, "Who is that man?"
You try so hard
But you don't understand
Just what you'll say
When you get home
Because something is happening here
But you don't know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?
You raise up your head
And you ask, "Is this where it is?"
And somebody points to you and says
"It's his"
And you say, "What's mine?"
And somebody else says, "Where what is?"
And you say, "Oh my God
Am I here all alone?"
Because something is happening here
But you don't know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?
You hand in your ticket
And you go watch the geek
Who immediately walks up to you
When he hears you speak
And says, "How does it feel
To be such a freak?"
And you say, "Impossible"
As he hands you a bone
Because something is happening here
But you don't know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?
You have many contacts
Among the lumberjacks
To get you facts
When someone attacks your imagination
But nobody has any respect
Anyway they already expect you
To just give a check
To tax-deductible charity organizations
You've been with the professors
And they've all liked your looks
With great lawyers you have
Discussed lepers and crooks
You've been through all of
F. Scott Fitzgerald's books
You're very well read
It's well known
Because something is happening here
But you don't know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?
Well, the sword swallower, he comes up to you
And then he kneels
He crosses himself
And then he clicks his high heels
And without further notice
He asks you how it feels
And he says, "Here is your throat back
Thanks for the loan"
Because something is happening here
But you don't know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?
Now you see this one-eyed midget
Shouting the word "NOW"
And you say, "For what reason?"
And he says, "How?"
And you say, "What does this mean?"
And he screams back, "You're a cow
Give me some milk
Or else go home"
Because something is happening here
But you don't know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?
Well, you walk into the room
Like a camel and then you frown
You put your eyes in your pocket
And your nose on the ground
There ought to be a law
Against you comin' around
You should be made
To wear earphones
Because something is happening here
But you don't know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?
The Ballad of a Thin Man is a Bob Dylan classic that Stephen Malkmus & The Million Dollar Bashers decided to give a new touch. The song speaks of a man named Mr. Jones who is somewhat lost and out of touch with what is happening in his surrounding. The perception of his surroundings is entirely different from what everyone around him is experiencing. The song goes on to describe the frustration and confusion that Mr. Jones is going through as he tries to fit in with the events happening around him but doesn't quite grasp them.
The song's meaning is centered around the loss of purpose and lack of direction that is very relatable today. Mr. Jones represents a person who is out of touch with their surroundings due to their detachment from reality, which is causing them great confusion as they try to make sense of what is happening. The song's message is very clear, and it speaks of the need for individuals to stay in touch with the reality of their communities and the world around them.
Fact 1: The song was first released in 1965 as part of Dylan's album Highway 61 Revisited.
Fact 2: The song was inspired by a journalist named Jeffrey Owen Jones, who worked for Newsweek.
Fact 3: The song has been covered by several other musicians, such as The Grateful Dead, Elvis Costello, and The Hollies.
Fact 4: The line "Something is happening here, but you don't know what it is, do you, Mr. Jones?" inspired the name of the band Buffalo Springfield.
Fact 5: The song's time signature is 4/4, and it has a moderate tempo of 144 bpm.
Fact 6: The song uses a lot of imagery and metaphors to describe Mr. Jones's confusion and disorientation.
Fact 7: The lyrics have been interpreted as a criticism of journalists and their tendency to report biased news based on their own perceptions.
Fact 8: Bob Dylan has described the song as "a sort of Gothic, experimental blues number."
Fact 9: The song has been featured in several movies, including Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and The Big Lebowski.
Fact 10: The song's chord progression is simple and consists mainly of E, A, and D chords in various combinations.
Chords (unofficial)
Verse
E A
You walk into the room
E A
With your pencil in your hand
E A
You see somebody naked
E A
And you say, "Who is that man?"
Chorus
D A
Because something is happening here
D A
But you don't know what it is
D A
Do you, Mister Jones?
Line by Line Meaning
You walk into the room
You enter the space
With your pencil in your hand
Holding on to a writing tool
You see somebody naked
Looking at a stripped person
And you say, "Who is that man?"
Pondering about unfamiliar individual
You try so hard
Making a great effort
But you don't understand
Being confused
Just what you'll say
Unsure about what to express
When you get home
After returning to your residence
Because something is happening here
Noticing that things are changing
But you don't know what it is
Not fully comprehending the alteration
Do you, Mister Jones?
Addressing an individual named Jones
You raise up your head
Lifting your chin
And you ask, "Is this where it is?"
Questioning if this is the right location
And somebody points to you and says
Another person signals towards you
"It's his"
Suggesting that it belongs to you
And you say, "What's mine?"
Inquiring about what you own
And somebody else says, "Where what is?"
An alternate person requests the location
And you say, "Oh my God
Exclaiming in surprise
Am I here all alone?"
Wondering if you are left without company
You hand in your ticket
Submitting your entrance pass
And you go watch the geek
Observing the oddity
Who immediately walks up to you
Coming straight towards you
When he hears you speak
Upon hearing your voice
And says, "How does it feel
Asking about your emotions
To be such a freak?"
Curious about your peculiar behavior
And you say, "Impossible"
Denying the feasibility
As he hands you a bone
Giving you a fragment of remains
You have many contacts
Having numerous acquaintances
Among the lumberjacks
Specifically relating to woodcutters
To get you facts
To provide you with information
When someone attacks your imagination
When an individual criticizes your thoughts
But nobody has any respect
Nobody shows admiration
Anyway they already expect you
In any case, they anticipate from you
To just give a check
To simply write a monetary contribution
To tax-deductible charity organizations
To not-for-profit groups that qualify for reduced taxation
You've been with the professors
You have conversed with the scholars
And they've all liked your looks
They admire your physical appearance
With great lawyers you have
Having close relationships with exceptional attorneys
Discussed lepers and crooks
Talked about outcasts and lawbreakers
You've been through all of
You have experienced every single one of
F. Scott Fitzgerald's books
The literary works of F. Scott Fitzgerald
You're very well read
Being knowledgeable due to extensive reading
It's well known
It is widely recognized
Well, the sword swallower, he comes up to you
The performer who swallows swords approaches you
And then he kneels
Bending down on his knee
He crosses himself
Making the gesture of crossing his chest
And then he clicks his high heels
Heels are tapped together loudly
And without further notice
Without any additional prompting
He asks you how it feels
Inquiring about your emotions
And he says, "Here is your throat back
Returning your throttled body part
Thanks for the loan"
Expressing gratitude for the temporary use
Now you see this one-eyed midget
You spot a diminutive individual with a single eye
Shouting the word "NOW"
Yelling the term "NOW"
And you say, "For what reason?"
Asking the purpose of the outburst
And he says, "How?"
Responding with the question "How?"
And you say, "What does this mean?"
Inquiring about the significance
And he screams back, "You're a cow
Yelling that you are a bovine
Give me some milk
Provide some lactate
Or else go home"
Otherwise leave the vicinity
Well, you walk into the room
Entering the space
Like a camel and then you frown
Pondering similar to how a camel looks
You put your eyes in your pocket
Hiding your vision away
And your nose on the ground
Your sense of smell is on lower level
There ought to be a law
A rule should be established
Against you comin' around
To restrict your visitation
You should be made
You need to be compelled
To wear earphones
To have headphones on
Because something is happening here
Things are changing
But you don't know what it is
You are unsure of the alterations
Do you, Mister Jones?
Asking Jones if they are understanding the situation
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mattg9065
this is the only song where malkmus has tried really, really hard, and it shows
@TheEletricity
Cate Blanchett blowed my mind in this movie.
@heavymetalheretic5386
You know your acting when you are playing against gender and nobody realizes it. It' wasn't a gimmick, she inhabited and became a Bob Dylan, one of any at least.
@MrErtunc
The past tense of blow is blew!
@arniemarnie
Best version ever
@Pudentame
Arnulfo García Perhaps so if you've never had the opportunity to hear Dylan or the Grateful Dead perform the song live.
@arniemarnie
John Sessoms
Thanks I'll look into it
@tiagobianchi182
+John Sessoms Or else, Dylan with The Band, specially the version from Before The Flood '75
@VinceverevecniV
Second best version ever...
@ryanjavierortega8513
Is that Comment a reference to the Chuck Klosterman Article on Pavement?