Mr. Tambourine Man

Album: Bringing It All Back Home (1965)
Play Video
  • Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
    I'm not sleepy and there ain't no place I'm going to
    Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
    In the jingle jangle morning I'll come following you

    Though I know that evenings empire has returned into sand
    Vanished from my hand
    Left me blindly here to stand but still not sleeping
    My weariness amazes me, I'm branded on my feet
    I have no one to meet
    And the ancient empty street's too dead for dreaming

    Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
    I'm not sleepy and there ain't no place I'm going to
    Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
    In the jingle jangle morning I'll come following you

    Take me on a trip upon your magic swirling ship
    My senses have been stripped
    My hands can't feel to grip
    My toes too numb to step
    Wait only for my boot heels to be wandering
    I'm ready to go anywhere, I'm ready for to fade
    Into my own parade
    Cast your dancing spell my way, I promise to go under it

    Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
    I'm not sleepy and there ain't no place I'm going to
    Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
    In the jingle jangle morning I'll come following you

    Though you might hear laughing, spinning, swinging madly through the sun
    It's not aimed at anyone
    It's just escaping on the run
    And but for the sky there are no fences facing
    And if you hear vague traces of skipping reels of rhyme
    To your tambourine in time
    It's just a ragged clown behind
    I wouldn't pay it any mind
    It's just a shadow you're seeing that he's chasing

    Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
    I'm not sleepy and there ain't no place I'm going to
    Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
    In the jingle jangle morning I'll come following you

    Take me disappearing through the smoke rings of my mind
    Down the foggy ruins of time
    Far past the frozen leaves
    The haunted frightened trees
    Out to the windy bench
    Far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow
    Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky
    With one hand waving free
    Silhouetted by the sea
    Circled by the circus sands
    With all memory and fate
    Driven deep beneath the waves
    Let me forget about today until tomorrow

    Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
    I'm not sleepy and there ain't no place I'm going to
    Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
    In the jingle jangle morning I'll come following you Writer/s: Bob Dylan
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 2

  • Mr. Bones from Strawberry, Az"Out to the windy bench." s/b "Out to the windy beach."
  • Mike Forealz from MichiganI imagine it's an amalgam of all the explained inspirations for the song in the end. I didn't like it till I spent several days wandering through through the French Quarters of New Orleans, so I tend to believe that one.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Zakk Wylde

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Greg talks about writing songs of "universal truth" for King Crimson and ELP, and tells us about his most memorable stage moment (it involves fireworks).

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song Spoofs

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song SpoofsSong Writing

When singers started spoofing their own songs on Sesame Street, the results were both educational and hilarious - here are the best of them.

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.