TEMPEST LYRICS

sito italiano di BOB DYLAN
	"TEMPEST" LYRICS
	1. DUQUESNE WHISTLE Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing Blowing like it's gonna sweep my world away I wanna stop in Carbondale and keep on going That Duquesne train gon' rock me night and day You say I'm a gambler, you say i'm a pimp But i ain't neither one Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing Sounding like it's on a final run Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing Blowing like she never blowed before Blue light blinking, red light glowing Blowing like she's at my chamber door You smilin' through the fence at me Just like you always smiled before Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing Blowing like she ain't gon' blow no more Can't you hear that Duquesne whistle blowing? Blowing like the sky's gonna blow apart You're the only thing alive that keeps me going You're like a time bomb in my heart I can hear a sweet voice steadily calling Must be the mother of our Lord Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing Blowing like my woman's on board Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing Blowing like it's gon' blow my blues away You old rascal, I know exactly where you're going I'll lead you there myself at the break of day I wake up every morning with that woman in my bed Everybody telling me she's gone to my head Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing Blowing like it's gon' kill me dead Can't you hear that Duquesne whistle blowing? Blowing through another no good town The lights on my lady's land are glowing I wonder if they'll know me next time 'round I wonder if that old oak tree's still standing That old oak tree, the one we used to climb Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing Blowing like she's blowing right on time 2. SOON AFTER MIDNIGHT I'm searching for phrases To sing your praises I need to tell someone It's soon after midnight And my day has just begun A gal named Honey Took my money She was passing by It's soon after midnight And the moon is in my eye My heart is cheerful It's never fearful I've been down on the killing floors I'm in no great hurry I'm not afraid of your fury I've faced stronger walls than yours Charlotte's a harlot Dresses in scarlet Mary dresses in green It's soon after midnight And I've got a date with the fairy queen They chirp and they chatter What does it matter? They lie and dine in their blood Two-timing slim Who's every heard of him? I'll drag his corpse through the mud It's now or never More than ever When I met you I didn't think you do It's soon after midnight And I don't want nobody but you 3. NARROW WAY I'm gonna walk across the desert 'til I'm in my right mind. I won't even think about what I left behind Nothing back there anyway I can call my own Go back home, leave me alone It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday. Ever since the British burned the White House down There's a bleeding wound in the heart of town I saw you drinking from an empty cup I saw you buried, and I saw you dug up It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday. Look down angel from the skies Help my weary soul to rise I kissed your cheek, I dragged your plow You broke my heart, I was your friend 'til now. It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday. In the courtyard of the golden sun You stand and fight, or you break and run You went and lost your lovely head For a drink of wine and a crust of bread It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday. We looted and we plundered on distant shores Why is my share not equal to yours? Your father left you, your mother too Even death has washed its hands of you It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday. This is hard country to stay alive in Blades are everywhere, and they're breaking my skin I'm armed to the hilt, and I'm struggling hard You won't get out of here unscarred It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way If I cant work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday. You got too many lovers waiting at the wall If I had a thousand tongues, I couldn't count them all Yesterday, I could've thrown them all in the sea Today, even one may be too much for me It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday. Cakewalking baby, you could do no wrong Put your arms around me, where they belong I won't take you on a roller coaster ride Lay my hands all over ya, tie you to my side It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday. I've got a heavy stacked woman with a smile on her face And she has crowned my soul with grace I'm still hurting from an arrow that pierced my chest I'm gonna have to take my head and bury it between your breasts It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday. Been dark all night, but now it's dawn The moving finger is moving on You can guard me while I sleep Kiss away the tears I weep It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday. I love women, and she loves men We've been to the West, and we're going back again I heard a voice at the dusk of day Saying, "Be gentle brother, be gentle and pray." It's a long road, it's a long and narrow way If I can't work up to you, you'll surely have to work down to me someday. 4. LONG AND WASTED YEARS It's been such a long long time Since we loved each other and our hearts were true One time, for one brief day, I was the man for you Last night I heard you talkin in your sleep Saying things you shouldn't say, oh baby You just may have to go to jail someday Is there a place we can go, is there anybody we can see? Maybe it's the same for you as it is for me I ain't seen my family in twenty years That ain't easy to understand, they may be dead by now I lost track of em after they lost their land Shake it up baby, twist and shout You know what it's all about What are you doing out there in the sun anyway? Don't you know, the sun can burn your brains right out My enemy crashed into the dust Stopped dead in his tracks and he lost his lust He was run down hard and he broke apart He died in shame, he had an iron heart I wear dark glasses to cover my eyes There are secrets in em that I can't disguise Come back baby If I hurt your feelings, I apologize Two trains running side by side, forty miles wide Down the eastern line You don't have to go, I just came to you because you're a friend of mine I think that when my back was turned The whole world behind me burned It's been a while Since we walked down that long, long aisle We cried on a cold and frosty morn We cried because our souls were torn So much for tears So much for these long and wasted year 5. PAY IN BLOOD Well I’m grinding my life out, steady and sure Nothing more wretched than what I must endure I’m drenched in the light that shines from the sun I could stone you to death for the wrongs that you done Sooner or later you make a mistake, I’ll put you in a chain that you never will break Legs and arms and body and bone I pay in blood, but not my own. Night after night, Day after day They strip your useless hopes away The more I take the more I give The more I die the more I live I got something in my pocket make your eyeballs swim I got dogs could tear you limb from limb I’m circlin’ around the Southern Zone I pay in blood, but not my own. Low cards are what I’ve got But I’ll play this hand whether I like it or not I’m sworn to uphold the laws of God You could put me out in front of a firing squad I’ve been out and around with the rising men Just like you my handsome friend My head’s so hard, must be made of stone I pay in blood, but not my own. Another politician pumping out the piss another angry beggar blowing you a kiss you got the same eyes that your mother does if only you could prove who your father was someone must of slipped a drug in yer wine you gulped it down and you cross the line man can’t live by bread alone I pay in blood, but not my own. How I made it back home, nobody knows or how I survived so many blows I’ve been thru Hell, What good did it do? You bastard!!! I’m suppose to respect you!! I’ll give you justice, I’ll fattem your purse Show me your moral that you reversed Hear me holler and hear me moan I pay in blood but not my own. You get your lover in the bed Come here I’ll break your lousy head Our nation must be saved and freed You’ve been accused of murder, how do you plead? This is how I spend my days I came to bury, not to raise I’ll drink my fill and sleep alone I play in blood, but not my own. 6. SCARLET TOWN In Scarlet Town, where I was born There's ivy leaf and silver thorn The streets have names that you can't pronounce Gold is down to a quarter of an ounce The music starts and the people sway Everybody says, "Are you going my way?" Uncle Tom still workin' for Uncle Bill Scarlet Town is under the hill. Scarlet Town in the month of May Sweet William Holme on his deathbed lay Mistress Mary by the side of the bed Kissin' his face and puttin' prayers on his head So brave and true, so gentle is he I'll weep for him as he would weep for me Little Boy Blue come your blow horn In Scarlet Town, where I was born. Scarlet Town, in the hot noon hours, There's palm-leaf shadows and scattered flowers Beggars crouching at the gate Help comes, but it comes too late By marble slabs and in fields of stone You make your humble wishes known I touched the garment, but the hem was torn In Scarlet Town, where I was born. In Scarlet Town, the end is near The Seven Wonders of the World are here The evil and the good livin' side by side All human forms seem glorified Put your heart on a platter and see who will bite See who will hold you and kiss you good night There's walnut groves and maplewood In Scarlet Town cryin' won't do no good. In Scarlet Town, you fight your father's foes Up on the hill, a chilly wind blows You fight 'em on high and you fight 'em down in You fight 'em with whiskey, morphine and gin You've got legs that can drive men mad A lot of things we didn't do that I wish we had In Scarlet Town, the sky is clear You'll wish to God that you stayed right here. Set 'em Joe, play "Walkin' the Floor" Play it for my flat-chested junkie whore I'm staying up late, I'm making amends While we smile, all heaven descends If love is a sin, then beauty is a crime All things are beautiful in their time The black and the white, the yellow and the brown It's all right there in front of you in Scarlet Town. 7. EARLY ROMAN KINGS All the early Roman kings In their sharkskin suits Bow ties and buttons High top boots Drivin’ the spikes in Blazin’ the rails Nailed in their coffins In top hats and tails Fly away over Fly away, flap your wings Fly by night Like the early Roman kings All the early roman kings In the early early morn Coming down the mountain Distributing the corn Speeding through the forest Racing down the track You try to get away They drag you back Tomorrow is friday We’ll see what it brings Everybody’s talking Bout the early roman kings They’re peddlers and they’re meddlers They buy and they sell They destroyed your city They’ll destroy you as well They’re lecherous and treacherous A-Hell bent for leather Each of ‘em bigger than all of them put together Sluggers and muggers Wearing fancy gold rings All the women goin’ crazy For the early Roman kings I can dress up your wounds With a blood-clotted rag I ain't afraid to make love To a bitch or a hag If you see me comin’ And you’re standing there Wave your handkerchief In the air I ain’t dead yet My bell still rings I keep my fingers crossed Like them early roman kings I can strip you of life Strip you of breath Ship you down To the house of death One day You will ask for me There’ll be no one else That you’ll wanna see Bring down my fiddle Tune up my strings I’m gonna break it wide open Like the early roman kings I was up on black mountain The day Detroit fell They killed ‘em all off And they sent ‘em to hell Ding dong daddy You’re coming up short Gonna put you on trail In a sicilian court I’ve had my fun I’ve had my flings Gonna shake em all down Like the early roman kings 8. TIN ANGEL it was late last night when the boss came home to wander early his mansion and a desolate throne servant said boss the ladies gone she left this morning just before dawn you got something to tell me, tell it to me man come to the point as straight as you can old Henry Lee chief of the clan came riding through the woods and took her by the hand the boss he lay back flat on his bed he cursed the heat and he clutched his head he pondered the future of his fate to wait another day would be far too late go fetch me my coat and my tie and the cheapest labour that money can buy saddle me up my buckskin mare if you see me go by put up a prayer well they rode all night and they rode all day eastward long on the broad highway his spirit was tired and his vision was bent his men deserted him and onward he went he came to a place where the land was dull his poor head pounding in his skull heavy heart was racked with pain insomnia raging in his brain well he threw down his helmet and his cross handle sword he renounced his faith he denied his lord crawled on his belly put his ear to the wall one way or another put an end to it all he leaned down cut the electric wire stared into the flames and he snorted the fire peered through the darkness caught a glimpse of the two hard to tell for certain who was who he lowered himself down on a golden chain his nerves were quickening every vein his knuckles were bloody he sucked in the air he ran his fingers through his greasy hair they looked at each other and their glasses clinked one single unit inseparably linked got a strange premonition there's a man close by don't worry about him he wouldn't harm a fly from behind the curtain the boss crossed the floor he moved his feet and he bolted the door shadows hiding the lines in his face with all the nobility of an ancient race she turned she was startled by a look of surprise with the hatred that could hit the skies you're a reckless fool i could see it in your eyes to come this way was by no means wise get up stand up you greedy lipped wench and cover your face with some other consequence you are making my heart feel sick put your clothes on double quick sill boy you think me a saint to listen no more to your words of complaint you've given me nothing but the sweetest lies now hold your tongue and feed your eyes id have given you the stars and the planets too what good are these things to you by the heart if not the knee or never again this world you see oh please let not your heart be cold this man is dearer to me than gold oh my dear you must be blind he's a gutless ape with a worthless mind you've had your way too long with me now its me who will determine how things will be tried to escape he cussed and cursed you'll have to try get passed me first i dared not let your passion rule you think my heart the heart of a fool and you sir you can not deny you made a monkey of me for what and for why ill have no more of this insulting chat the devil can have you i'll see to that look sharp or step aside or in the cradle you'll wish you died the gun went boom and the shot rang clear the first bullet grazed his ear second ball went right straight in and he bent in the middle like a twisted bin he crawled to the corner and he lowered his head He grabbed the chair and he grabbed the bed it would take more than needle and thread bleeding from the mouth he's as good as dead you shot my husband down you fiend husband what, husband what the hell do you mean he was man of strife a man of sin i cut him down and i throw him to the wind hear this she said with angry breath you too shall meet the lord of death it was i who brought your soul to life and she raised her robe and she drew out a knife his face was hard and caked with sweat his arms ached and his hands were wet you're a murderous woman and bloody wife if you dont mind ill have the knife we're two of a kind and our blood runs hot but we're no way similar in body or thought all husbands are good men is all i knew then she pierced him to the heart and his blood did flow his knees went limp and he reached for the door his doom was sealed he slipped to the floor he whispered in her ear this is all your fault my fighting days have come to a halt she touched his lips and kissed his cheek he tried to speak but his breath was weak you die for me i will die for you she put the blade to her heart and she ran it though all three lovers together in a heap thrown into the grave forever to sleep funeral torches blazed away through the towns and the villages all night and all day 9. TEMPEST The pale moon rose in its glory Out o'er the western town She told a sad, sad story Of the great ship that went down T’was the fourteenth day of April Over the way she rolled Sailing into tomorrow To a golden age foretold The night was bright with starlight The seas were sharp and clear Moving through the shadows The promised hour was near Lights were holding steady Gliding over the foam All the lords and ladies Heading for their eternal home The chandeliers were swaying From the balustrades above The orchestra was playing The songs of faded love The watchman, he lay dreaming As the ballroom dancers twirled He dreamed the Titanic was sinking Into the underworld Leo took his sketchbook He was often so inclined He closed his eyes and painted The scenery in his mind Cupid struck his bosom And broke it with a snap The closest woman to him He fell into her lap He heard a loud commotion Something sounded wrong His inner spirit was saying That he couldn't stand here long He staggered to the quarterdeck No time now to sleep Water on the quarterdeck Already three foot deep Smokestack was leaning sideways Heavy feet began to pound He walked into the whirlwind The sky splitting all around The ship was going under The universe had opened wide The roll was called up yonder The angels turned aside Lights down in the hallway Flickering dim and dull Dead bodies already floating In the double bottom hull The engines then exploded Propellers they failed to start The boilers overloaded The ship's bow split apart Passengers were flying Backward, forward, far and fast They mumbled, fumbled, and tumbled Each one more weary than the last The veil was torn asunder 'Tween the hours of twelve and one No change, no sudden wonder Could undo what had been done The watchman lay there dreaming At forty-five degrees He dreamed the Titanic was sinking Dropping to her knees Wellington he was sleeping His bed began to slide His valiant heart was beating He pushed the tables aside Glass of shattered crystal Lay scattered roundabout He strapped on both his pistols How long could he hold out? His men and his companions Were nowhere to be seen In silence there he waited for Time and space to intervene The passageway was narrow There was blackness in the air He saw every kind of sorrow Heard voices everywhere Alarm bells were ringing To hold back the swelling tide Friends and lovers clinging To each other side by side Mothers and their daughters Descending down the stairs Jumped into the icy waters Love and pity sent their prayers The rich man, Mister Astor Kissed his darling wife He had no way of knowing [It'd] be the last trip of his life Calvin, Blake, and Wilson Gambled in the dark Not one of them would ever live to Tell the tale of the disembark Brother rose up against brother In every circumstance They fought and slaughtered each other In a deadly dance. They lowered down the lifeboats From the sinking wreck There were traitors, there were turncoats Broken backs and broken necks The bishop left his cabin To help all those in need Turned his eyes up to the heavens Said: "the poor are yours to feed" Davey the brothel-keeper Came out, dismissed his girls Saw the water getting deeper Saw the changing of his world Jim Dandy smiled He'd never learned to swim Saw the little crippled child And he gave his seat to him He saw the starlight shining Streaming from the east Death was on the rampage But his heart was now at peace They battened down the hatches But the hatches wouldn't hold They drowned upon the staircase Of brass and polished gold Leo said to Cleo: "I think I'm going mad" But he'd lost his mind already Whatever mind he'd had He tried to block the doorway To save all those from harm Blood from that open wound Pouring down his arm. Petals fell from flowers 'Til all of them were gone In the long and dreadful hours The wizard's curse played on The host was pouring brandy He was going down slow He stayed right 'til the end, he Was the last to go There were many, many others Nameless here forevermore They never sailed the ocean Or left their homes before The watchman he lay dreaming The damage had been done He dreamed the Titanic was sinking And he tried to tell someone The Captain, barely breathing Kneeling at the wheel Above him and beneath him Fifty thousand tons of steel He looked over at his compass And he gazed into its face Needle pointing downward He knew he'd lost the race In the dark illumination He remembered bygone years He read the Book of Revelation And he filled his cup with tears When the Reaper's task had ended Sixteen hundred had gone to rest The good, the bad, the rich, the poor The loveliest and the best They waited at the landing And they tried to understand But there is no understanding For the judgement of God's hand News came o'er the wires And struck with deadly force Love had lost its fires All things had run their course The watchman he lay dreaming Of all things that can be He dreamed the Titanic was sinking Into the deep blue sea 10. ROLL ON, JOHN Doctor, doctor tell me the time of day Another bottle’s empty Another penny spent He turned around And he slowly walked away They shot him in the back and down he went Shine your light, move it on You burned so bright, Roll on, John From the Liverpool docks To the red-light Hamburg streets Down in the quarry with the Quarrymen Playing to the big crowds Playing to the cheap seats Another day in the life On your way to the journey’s end Shine your light, move it on You burned so bright, Roll on, John Sailing through the trade-winds Bound for the south Rags on your back just like any another slave They tied your hands And they clamped your mouth Wasn’t no way out of that deep dark cave Shine your light, move it on You burned so bright, Roll on, John I heard the news today, oh boy They hauled your ship up on the shore Now the city’s gone dark. There is no more joy They tore the heart right out And cut it through the core Shine your light, move it on You burned so bright, Roll on, John Put on your bags And get ’em packed Leave right now You won’t be far from home The sooner you go The quicker you’ll be back You been cooped up on that island far too long Shine your light, move it on You burned so bright, Roll on, John Slow down, You’re moving way too fast Come together right now Over me Your bones are weary You’r about to breath your last Lord, you know how hard that it can be Shine your light, move it on You burned so bright, Roll on, John Roll on, John Roll through the rain and snow Take the right-hand road And go where the buffalos go They’ll trap you in an ambush Before you know Too late now to say I might fall Shine your light, move it on You burned so bright, Roll on, John Tiger, tiger burning bright I pray the Lord my soul to keep In that forest of the night cover him over and let him sleep Shine your light, move it on You burned so bright, Roll on, John