Artist: Bob Dylan
Track: Black Rider
Lyrics
Black rider, black rider, you've been living too hard
Been up all night, have to stay on your guard
The path that you're walking, too narrow to walk
Every step of the way, another stumbling block
The road that you're on, same road that you know
Just not the same as it was a minute ago
Black rider, black rider, you've seen it all
You've seen the great world and you've seen the small
You fell into the fire and you're eating the flame
Better seal up your lips if you wanna stay in the game
Be reasonable, mister, be honest, be fair
Let all of your earthly thoughts be a prayer
Black rider, black rider, all dressed in black
I'm walking away, you try to make me look back
My heart is at rest, I'd like to keep it that way
I don't wanna fight, at least not today
Go home to your wife, stop visiting mine
One of these days, I'll forget to be kind
Black rider, black rider, tell me when, tell me how
If there ever was a time, then let it be now
Let me go through, open the door
My soul is distressed, my mind is at war
Don't hug me, don't flatter me, don't turn on the charm
I'll take a sword and hack off your arm
Black rider, black rider, hold it right there
The size of your cock will get you nowhere
I'll suffer in silence, I'll not make a sound
Maybe I'll take the high moral ground
Some enchanted evening, I'll sing you a song
Black rider, black rider, you've been on the job too long
Full Lyrics and Meaning
 Genius Lyrics
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Bob Dylan – Black Rider
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In an album that has already made reference to a number of poets and writers, “Black Rider” is likely a reference to Stephen Crane’s “Black Riders & Other Lines” (The same Stephen
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Bob Dylan – Crossing the Rubicon
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[Verse 1] / I crossed the Rubicon on the 14th day / Of the most dangerous month of the year / At the worst time, at the worst place / That's all I seem to hear / I got up early
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Bob Dylan – Make You Feel My Love
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While “Make You Feel My Love” was originally written by Bob Dylan, the first released recording was actually done by Billy Joel, who put it on his Greatest Hits Volume III. The
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The Byrds – Ballad of Easy Rider
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[Verse 1]The river flows / It flows to the sea / Wherever that river goes / That's where I want to be / [Chorus] / Flow, river, flow / Let your waters wash down / Take me from this
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Bob Dylan – My Own Version of You
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Throughout the song, Dylan references creating a person out of disparate parts, perhaps in reference to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
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Bob Dylan – All Along the Watchtower
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A classic song from Dylan’s John Wesley Harding. The meaning is cryptic; there have been theories of it being about everything from the Vietnam War to Armageddon. Some critics have
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Bob Dylan – Angelina
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[Verse 1] / Well, it’s always been my nature to take chances / My right hand drawing back while my left hand advances / Where the current is strong and the monkey dances / To the
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Bob Dylan – Moonlight
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[Verse 1] / The seasons they are turnin' / And my sad heart is yearnin' / To hear again the songbird’s sweet melodious tone / Won't you meet me out in the moonlight alone? / [Verse
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Bob Dylan – Goodbye Jimmy Reed
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[Verse 1] / I live on a street named after a Saint / Women in the churches wear powder and paint / Where the Jews, and Catholics, and the Muslims all pray / I can tell they're
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New Riders of the Purple Sage – Farewell, Angelina
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Dylan / Farewell Angelina, the bells of the crown / Have being stolen by bandits, I must follow the sound / The triangle tingles and the trumpet play slow / Farewell Angelina, the
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Bob Dylan – I Contain Multitudes
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On April 16, 2020, Bob Dylan teased a new work on his Twitter account with the hashtag #IContainMultitudes
https://twitter.com/bobdylan/status/1250913270933917709?s=20
Similarly
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Bob Dylan – Nettie Moore
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A track off Modern Times, we see Bob reviewing the art he trades in and the life he’s lived.
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Bob Dylan – Highlands
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“Highlands” is the 11th and final track on Bob Dylan’s 1997 album, Time Out Of Mind. Like the other songs on the album, “Highlands” was recorded in January 1997. At 16 minutes and
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Bob Dylan – Angelina (Shot of Love Outtake)
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[Verse 1] / Well, it’s always been my nature to take chances / My right hand drawing back while my left hand advances / Where the current is strong and the monkey dances / To the
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Bob Dylan – Mississippi
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“Mississippi” is the second song on Bob Dylan’s “Love and Theft”. Originally written during the 1997 sessions for Dylan’s previous album, Time Out of Mind, he was unable to find an
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Bob Dylan – Po' Boy
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[Verse 1] / Man comes to the door, I say, “For whom are you looking?” / He says, “Your wife,” I say, “She’s busy in the kitchen cooking” / Poor boy, where you been? / I already
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Bob Dylan – Not Dark Yet
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“Not Dark Yet” is the signature track on 1997’s Time Out of Mind.
The double album is considered to be a comeback after a seven year period during which Dylan released no new
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Old Crow Medicine Show – Wagon Wheel
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Co-written by Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor, the chorus was written by Dylan as a short tune, known as “Rock Me Mama.” A young Secor had a bootleg copy of “Rock Me Mama” and wrote the
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Bob Dylan – Key West (Philosopher Pirate)
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[Verse 1] / McKinley hollered, McKinley squalled / Doctor said, "McKinley, death is on the wall / Say it to me, if you got something to confess" / I heard all about it, he was
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Bob Dylan – Thunder on the Mountain
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This is a Rockabilly story song about Dylan’s contentious relationship with the press and life in the 21st century.
The title is a reference to sensationalism in the press; all
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Bob Dylan – Mother of Muses
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In many epic poems, such as the Iliad, the poet begins by calling upon a muse (traditionally a goddess) to give the poet divine inspiration to tell the story.
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View 18 More →
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Genius Q&A
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Q:When did Bob Dylan release “Black Rider”?
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Bob Dylan released “Black Rider” on June 19, 2020.
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Genius Artists
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Special Rider Music
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Get all the lyrics to songs by Special Rider Music and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
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Bob Dylan Lyrics
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Bob Dylan lyrics - 570 song lyrics sorted by album, including "Forever Young ... Black Rider · Goodbye Jimmy Reed · Mother Of Muses · Crossing The Rubicon · Key ...
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