He Was a Friend of Mine

Bob's friend up and dies
And he can't keep from crying.
Understandable.

See for yourself:

He was a friend of mine
He was a friend of mine
Every time I think about him now
Lord I just can't keep from cryin'
'Cause he was a friend of mine

He died on the road
He died on the road
He never had enough money
To pay his room or board
And he was a friend of mine

I stole away and cried
I stole away and cried
'Cause I never had too much money
And I never been quite satisfied
And he was a friend of mine

He never done no wrong
He never done no wrong
A thousand miles from home
And he never harmed no one
And he was a friend of mine

He was a friend of mine
He was a friend of mine
Every time I hear his name
Lord I just can't keep from cryin'
'Cause he was a friend of mine.

The song's earliest known version is an Alan Lomax recording of a prisoner named Smith Casey performing it in Texas in 1939. Dave van Ronk's version, included here, is pretty strong. Dylan's version appears on the first of the Bootleg Series albums.