I'll come back home
If you don't want your husband
To be a hobo.
Originally known as "500 Miles," with another 400 miles added by Dylan and the Band during the Basement Tapes sessions of 1967. It's the old folk tale of the hobo roaming far, missing his straight life as a husband, and wishing he could come back, but he can't because he's ashamed of himself. Dylan adds some oddball lyrics, particularly "Even down on the ocean side, no she don't wade in just to bang my pride." From Volume 11 of the Bootleg Series.
But I’m down here on this track
Not a shirt upon my back
I will sell to you this allen that I own
Yes I feed the mouths I took
But as down winds on the brook
Lord I’m 900 miles from my home
If my old lady she says so
I’ll railroad no more
Sidetrack this engine but I still roam
Yes I’ve given it my coal
I’ve gladly given it all
Cause I’m 900 miles from my home
If I get down by the bank And the river still does run
Yes and everything I see turns to foam
Even down on the ocean side
No she don’t wade in just to bang my pride
Cause I’m 900 miles from my home
Oh Mary don’t you moan
Don’t you weep on the ground Oh Mary don’t you weep and don’t you moan
If I get myself in line
I will be there in due time
Cause I’m 900 miles from my home
If you don't want your husband
To be a hobo.
Originally known as "500 Miles," with another 400 miles added by Dylan and the Band during the Basement Tapes sessions of 1967. It's the old folk tale of the hobo roaming far, missing his straight life as a husband, and wishing he could come back, but he can't because he's ashamed of himself. Dylan adds some oddball lyrics, particularly "Even down on the ocean side, no she don't wade in just to bang my pride." From Volume 11 of the Bootleg Series.
But I’m down here on this track
Not a shirt upon my back
I will sell to you this allen that I own
Yes I feed the mouths I took
But as down winds on the brook
Lord I’m 900 miles from my home
If my old lady she says so
I’ll railroad no more
Sidetrack this engine but I still roam
Yes I’ve given it my coal
I’ve gladly given it all
Cause I’m 900 miles from my home
If I get down by the bank And the river still does run
Yes and everything I see turns to foam
Even down on the ocean side
No she don’t wade in just to bang my pride
Cause I’m 900 miles from my home
Oh Mary don’t you moan
Don’t you weep on the ground Oh Mary don’t you weep and don’t you moan
If I get myself in line
I will be there in due time
Cause I’m 900 miles from my home
Hello there, Thank you for posting this analysis of a song from Bob Dylan's Music Box: http://thebobdylanproject.com/Song/id/6/900-Miles-from-My-Home-500-Miles Come and join us inside and listen to every song composed, recorded or performed by Bob Dylan, plus all the great covers streaming on YouTube, Spotify, Deezer and SoundCloud plus so much more... including this link.
ReplyDeleteActually 500 miles was made after 900 miles... if you look up the history of the song 500 miles... Just noticed what you wrote above...
ReplyDelete