Bob Dylan Live 1961-2000

(first release, live version, 2000, portsmouth, england)

One two three four

'twas in another lifetime, one of toil and blood
When blackness was a virtue and the road was full of mud
I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form.
"come in," she said,
"i'll give you shelter from the storm."

And if i pass this way again, you can rest assured
I'll always do my best for her, on that i give my word
In a world of steel-eyed death, and men who are fighting to be warm.
"come in," she said,
"i'll give you shelter from the storm."

Not a word was spoke between us, there was little risk involved
Everything up to that point had been left unresolved.
Try imagining a place where it's always safe and warm.
"come in," she said,
"i'll give you shelter from the storm."

I was burned out from exhaustion, buried in the hail,
Poisoned in the bushes an' blown out on the trail,
Hunted like a crocodile, ravaged in the corn.
"come in," she said,
"i'll give you shelter from the storm."

Suddenly i turned around and she was standin' there
With silver bracelets on her wrists and flowers in her hair.
She walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of thorns.
"come in," she said,
"i'll give you shelter from the storm."

Now there's a wall between us, somethin' there's been lost
I took too much for granted, got my signals crossed.
Just to think that it all began on a long-forgotten morn.
"come in," she said,
"i'll give you shelter from the storm."

Well, the deputy walks on hard nails and the preacher rides a mount
But nothing really matters much, it's doom alone that counts
And the one-eyed undertaker, he blows a futile horn.
"come in," she said,
"i'll give you shelter from the storm."

I've heard newborn babies wailin' like a mournin' dove
And old men with broken teeth stranded without love.
Do i understand your question, man, is it hopeless and forlorn?
"come in," she said,
"i'll give you shelter from the storm."

In a little hilltop village, they gambled for my clothes
I bargained for salvation an' they gave me a lethal dose.
I offered up my innocence and got repaid with scorn.
"come in," she said,
"i'll give you shelter from the storm."

Well, i'm livin' in a foreign country but i'm bound to cross the line
Beauty walks a razor's edge, someday i'll make it mine.
If i could only turn back the clock to when god and her were born.
"come in," she said,
"i'll give you shelter from the storm."

(first release, live version "second gaslight tape", late 1962

Sometimes i feel so low-down and disgusted
Can't help but wonder what's happenin' to my companions,
Are they lost or are they found, have they counted the cost it'll take to bring
Down
All their earthly principles they're gonna have to abandon?
There's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend.

I had a woman down in alabama,
She was a backwoods girl, but she sure was realistic,
She said, "boy, without a doubt, have to quit your mess and straighten out,
You could die down here, be just another accident statistic."
There's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend.

All that foreign oil controlling american soil,
Look around you, it's just bound to make you embarrassed.
Sheiks walkin' around like kings, wearing fancy jewels and nose rings,
Deciding america's future from amsterdam and to paris
And there's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend.

Man's ego is inflated, his laws are outdated, they don't apply no more,
You can't rely no more to be standin' around waitin'
In the home of the brave, jefferson turnin' over in his grave,
Fools glorifying themselves, trying to manipulate satan
And there's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend.

Big-time negotiators, false healers and woman haters,
Masters of the bluff and masters of the proposition
But the enemy i see wears a cloak of decency,
All non-believers and men stealers talkin' in the name of religion
And there's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend.

People starving and thirsting, grain elevators are bursting
Oh, you know it costs more to store the food than it do to give it.
They say lose your inhibitions, follow your own ambitions,
They talk about a life of brotherly love, show me someone who knows how to
Live it. there's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend.

Well, my baby went to illinois with some bad-talkin' boy she could destroy
A real suicide case, but there was nothin' i could do to stop it,
I don't care about economy, i don't care about astronomy
But it sure do bother me to see my loved ones turning into puppets,
There's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend.

Uttering idle words from a reprobate mind,
Clinging to strange promises, dying on the vine,
Never bein' able to separate the good from the bad,
Ooh, i can't stand it, i can't stand it,
It's makin' me feel so sad.

Dead man, dead man,
When will you arise?
Cobwebs in your mind,
Dust upon your eyes.

Satan got you by the heel, there's a bird's nest in your hair.
Do you have any faith at all? do you have any love to share?
The way that you hold your head, cursin' god with every move,
Ooh, i can't stand it, i can't stand it,
What are you tryin' to prove?

Dead man, dead man,
When will you arise?
Cobwebs in your mind,
Dust upon your eyes.

The glamour and the bright lights and the politics of sin,
The ghetto that you build for me is the one you end up in,
The race of the engine that overrules your heart,
Ooh, i can't stand it, i can't stand it,
Pretending that you're so smart.

Dead man, dead man,
When will you arise?
Cobwebs in your mind,
Dust upon your eyes.

What are you tryin' to overpower me with, the doctrine or the gun?
My back is already to the wall, where can i run?
The tuxedo that you're wearin', the flower in your lapel,
Ooh, i can't stand it, i can't stand it,
You wanna take me down to hell.

Dead man, dead man,
When will you arise?
Cobwebs in your mind,
Dust upon your eyes.

(first release, live version, december 16, 1997, el ray theatre, los angeles)

I'm beginnin' to hear voices and there's no one around
Well i'm all used up and the fields have turned brown
I went to church on sunday, she passed by
Well my love for her has taken such a long time to die.
Well, i'm waist deep, waist deep in the mist
It's almost like, almost like i don't exist.
I'm twenty miles out of town, cold irons bound.

Well, the walls of pride, well they're high and they're wide
Can't see over to the other side
It's such a sad thing to see beauty decay
But it's sadder still to feel your heart turn away.
One look at you and i'm out of control
Like the universe has swallowed me whole.
I'm twenty miles out of town and cold irons bound.

There's too many people, too many to recall
I thought some of 'em were friends of mine, i was wrong about 'em all
Well, the road is rocky and the hillside mud
Up over my head, nothing but clouds of blood.
I found my world, found my world in you
But your love just hasn't proved true.
I'm twenty miles out of town and cold irons bound
Twenty miles out of town and cold irons bound.

Well the winds in chicago ah, they torn me to shreds
Reality has always had too many heads
I tried to love and protect you because i care
I'm gonna remember forever the joy we've shared
I'm looking at you and i'm on my bended knee
You've no idea what you did to me
I'm twenty miles out of town and cold irons bound
Twenty miles out of town and cold irons bound.

(first release, live version portsmouth, england, september 24, 2000

I can't understand,
She let go of my hand
An' left me here facing the wall.
I'd sure like t' know
Why she did go,
But i can't get close t' her at all.
Though we kissed through the wild blazing nighttime,
She said she would never forget.
But now mornin's clear,
It's like i ain't here,
She just acts like we never have met.

It's all new t' me,
Like some mystery,
It could even be like a myth.
Yet it's hard t' think on,
That she's the same one
That last night i was with.
From darkness, dreams're deserted,
Am i still dreamin' yet?
I wish she'd unlock
Her voice once an' talk,
'stead of acting like we never have met.

If she ain't feelin' well,
Then why don't she tell
'stead of turnin' her back t' my face?
Without any doubt,
She seems too far out
For me t' return t' her chase.
Though the night ran swirling an' whirling,
I remember her whispering yet.
But evidently she don't
An' evidently she won't,
She just acts like we never have met.

If i didn't have t' guess,
I'd gladly confess
T' anything i might've tried.
If i was with 'er too long
Or have done something wrong,
I wish she'd tell me what it is, i'll run an' hide.
Though her skirt it swayed as a guitar played,
Her mouth was watery and wet.
But now something has changed
For she ain't the same,
She just acts like we never have met.

I'm leavin' today,
I'll be on my way
Of this i can't say very much.
But if you want me to,
I can be just like you
An' pretend that we never have touched.
An' if anybody asks me, "is it easy to forget?"
I'll say, "it's easily done,
You just pick anyone,
An' pretend that you never have met!"