Identify song using your Microphone
Lyrics
Meaning
Chords

Artist: Bob Dylan
Track: joker man

Lyrics
Standing on the waters casting your bread
While the eyes of the idol with the iron head are glowing
Distant ships sailing into the mist,
You were born with a snake in both of your fists while a hurricane was blowing
Freedom just around the corner for you
But with the truth so far off, what good will it do?

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman

So swiftly the sun sets in the sky,
You rise up and say goodbye to no one
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread,
Both of their futures, so full of dread, you don't show why
Shedding off one more layer of skin,
Keeping one step ahead of the persecutor within

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman

You're a man of the mountains, you can walk on the clouds,
Manipulator of crowds, you're a dream twister
You're going to Sodom and Gomorrah
But what do you care? Ain't nobody there would want to marry your sister
Friend to the martyr, a friend to the woman of shame,
You look into the fiery furnace, see the rich man without any name

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman

Well, the Book of Leviticus and Deuteronomy,
The law of the jungle and the sea are your only teachers
In the smoke of the twilight on a milk-white steed,
Michelangelo indeed could've carved out your features
Resting in the fields, far from the turbulent space,
Half asleep near the stars with a small dog licking your face

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman

Well, the rifleman's stalking the sick and the lame,
Preacherman seeks the same, who'll get there first is uncertain
Nightsticks and water cannons, tear gas, padlocks,
Molotov cocktails and rocks behind every curtain,
False-hearted judges dying in the webs that they spin,
Only a matter of time 'til night comes steppin' in

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman

It's a shadowy world, skies are slippery gray,
A woman just gave birth to a prince today and dressed him in scarlet
He'll put the priest in his pocket, put the blade to the heat,
Take the motherless children off the street
And place them at the feet of a harlot
Oh, Jokerman, you know what he wants,
Oh, Jokerman, you don't show any response

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman
Full Lyrics and Meaning
Genius Lyrics
Bob Dylan – Jokerman
“Jokerman” is the first track from Dylan’s 1983 album Infidels. This album is often seen as Dylan’s return to secular music after a conversion to Christianity and three gospel
Bob Dylan – Jokerman (Infidels Alternate Take)
[Verse 1] / Standing on the waters casting your bread / While the eyes of the idol with the iron head are glowing / Distant ships sailing into the mist / You were born with a snake
Bob Dylan – Jokerman (Reggae Remix by Doctor Dread)
[Verse 1] / Standing on the waters casting your bread / While the eyes of the idol with the iron head are glowing / Distant ships sailing into the mist / You were born with a snake
Bob Dylan – Jokerman (Instrumental Dub by Doctor Dread)
Joker-man / Joker-man, while ya deal wit'? / Standing on the waters casting your bread / While the eyes of the idol with the iron head are glowing / Freedom just around the corner
Bob Dylan – Jokerman Covers
See all of “Jokerman” by Bob Dylan’s covers
Bob Dylan – Jokerman Samples
See all of “Jokerman” by Bob Dylan’s samples, covers, remixes, interpolations and live versions
Bob Dylan – All Along the Watchtower
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
David Duchovny – Positively Madison Avenue
This song was inspired by the Chrysler Superbowl Ad in which Bob Dylan appeared. “It’s a song I wrote after watching the Super Bowl a couple years ago.” Duchovny told Rolling
Bob Dylan – Man of Peace
[Verse 1] / Look out your window, baby, there’s a scene you’d like to catch / The band is playing “Dixie,” a man got his hand outstretched / Could be the Führer / Could be the
Song Directory
– Сон Lyrics · Harmonic Hits – Red Raindrops Lyrics · Bob Dylan – Jokerman (Reggae Remix by Doctor Dread) Lyrics · Why Don't We – Fantasy Lyrics · Τάσος Μπουγάς ...
Traveling Wilburys – Tweeter and the Monkey Man
A playful homage to Bruce Springsteen, this song was written by Bob Dylan. It bears a strong resemblance to Lily, Rosemary And The Jack Of Hearts, except for the constant
Bob Dylan – I and I (Reggae Remix by Doctor Dread)
[Verse 1] / Been so long since a strange woman has slept in my bed / Look how sweet she sleeps, how free must be her dreams / In another lifetime, she must have owned the world, or
Bob Dylan – License to Kill
[Verse 1] / Man thinks because he rules the earth he can do with it as he please / And if things don’t change soon, he will / Oh, man has invented his doom / First step was
Bob Dylan – I and I
[Verse 1] / Been so long since a strange woman has slept in my bed / Look how sweet she sleeps, how free must be her dreams / In another lifetime she must have owned the world, or
Bob Dylan – I and I (Reggae Dub by Doctor Dread)
Creation (Creation, creation, creation, creation) / Been so long since a strange woman has slept in my bed (Bed, bed, bed, bed, bed) / I and I / I and I / I and I / I and I / Took
Bob Dylan – Mary of the Wild Moor (Rehearsal)
It was on one cold and wintry night / When the wind blew across the wild moor / 'Twas there Mary wandered alone with her child / Till she came to her own father's door / Why did I
Bob Dylan – Neighborhood Bully
The song was written after israel bombed the Iraqi nuclear reactor (“Operation Opera”) and was condemned all around the world.
Bob Dylan – We Just Disagree (Rehearsal)
[Verse 1] / Been away, haven't seen you in a while / How've you been, have you changed your style? / And do you think that we've grown up differently? / Don't seem the same, seems
Bob Dylan – I and I (Infidels Alternate Take)
[Verse 1] / Been so long since a strange woman has slept in my bed / Look how sweet she sleeps, how free must be her dreams / In another lifetime she must have owned the world or
Bob Dylan – Too Late (Acoustic Version) (Infidels Outtake)
[Verse 1] / Well, wether there was a murder I don't know I wasn't there / I was busy visiting a friend in jail / There were just two women on the scene at the time / Neither one of
Bob Dylan – Dignity
The song “Dignity” was recorded during the sessions for Dylan’s album Oh Mercy (1989), but was not released until 1994, when it was put on Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits Volume 3 and
Bob Dylan – Lord Protect My Child (Infidels Outtake)
For his age, he’s wise / He’s got his mother’s eyes / There’s gladness in his heart / He’s young and he’s wild / My only prayer is, if I can’t be there / Lord, protect my child
Bob Dylan – Sweetheart Like You
[Verse 1] / Well, the pressure’s down, the boss ain't here / He gone North, for a while / They say that vanity got the best of him / But he sure left here in style / By the way
Bob Dylan – Union Sundown
[Verse 1] / Well, my shoes, they come from Singapore / My flashlight’s from Taiwan / My tablecloth’s from Malaysia / My belt buckle’s from the Amazon / You know, this shirt I wear
Bob Dylan – Jesus Met the Woman at the Well (Rehearsal)
[Verse 1] / Jesus met the woman at the well / Jesus met the woman at the well / And he told her, everything that she'd done, that she'd done / [Verse 2] / And he said, woman, look-
Bob Dylan – Too Late (Band Version - Infidels Outtake)
[Verse 1] / Well, wether there was a murder I don't know I wasn't there / I was busy visiting a friend in jail / There were just two women on the scene at the time / Neither one of
View 23 More →
AZ Lyrics
Bob Dylan - Jokerman Lyrics
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman. ... Keeping one step ahead of the persecutor within. ... Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman. ... You look into the fiery furnace, see the rich man without any ...
Genius Albums
Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits Volume 3 by Bob Dylan
Get all the lyrics to songs on Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits Volume 3 and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
The Reggae Remix by Bob Dylan
Get all the lyrics to songs on The Reggae Remix and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
Infidels by Bob Dylan
Get all the lyrics to songs on Infidels and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
The Essential Bob Dylan [2014 Edition] by Bob Dylan
Get all the lyrics to songs on The Essential Bob Dylan [2014 Edition] and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
The Essential Bob Dylan [2000 Edition] by Bob Dylan
Get all the lyrics to songs on The Essential Bob Dylan [2000 Edition] and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
The Bootleg Series Vol. 16: Springtime in New York 1980 - 1985 (Standard Edition) by Bob Dylan
Get all the lyrics to songs on The Bootleg Series Vol. 16: Springtime in New York 1980 - 1985 (Standard Edition) and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
The Bootleg Series Vol. 16: Springtime in New York 1980 - 1985 (Deluxe Edition) by Bob Dylan
Get all the lyrics to songs on The Bootleg Series Vol. 16: Springtime in New York 1980 - 1985 (Deluxe Edition) and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan’s eponymous debut studio album, Bob Dylan proved to be the joker in the pack of Dylan’s catalogue. Featuring only two original compositions, the album provided listeners
The Bootleg Series, Vol. 9: The Witmark Demos: 1962-1964 by Bob Dylan
The Bootleg Series Vol. 9: The Witmark Demos: 1962-1964 is a collection of demo recordings Dylan produced for his first two publishing companies,Leeds Music and M. Witmark & Sons
Biograph by Bob Dylan
A massive landmark box set by Dylan, Biograph included many previously unreleased tracks as well as most of Dylan’s major hits. It was originally released as five LPs with liner
The Bootleg Series Vol. 5: Bob Dylan Live 1975, The Rolling Thunder Revue by Bob Dylan
Get all the lyrics to songs on The Bootleg Series Vol. 5: Bob Dylan Live 1975, The Rolling Thunder Revue and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
Bringing It All Back Home by Bob Dylan
This 1965 Bob Dylan classic isn’t just special for it’s sound and lyrics the critics and his fans love but also for it’s tremendous influentiality it holds. In ‘Bring it All Back
View 9 More →
Genius Q&A
Q:When did Bob Dylan release “Jokerman”?
Bob Dylan released “Jokerman” on October 27, 1983.
Q:Who produced “Jokerman (Infidels Alternate Take)” by Bob Dylan?
“Jokerman (Infidels Alternate Take)” by Bob Dylan was produced by Bob Dylan & Mark Knopfler.
Q:When did Bob Dylan release “Jokerman (Instrumental Dub by Doctor Dread)”?
Bob Dylan released “Jokerman (Instrumental Dub by Doctor Dread)” on June 12, 2021.
Q:Who wrote “Jokerman (Live in Indianapolis)” by Vampire Weekend?
“Jokerman (Live in Indianapolis)” by Vampire Weekend was written by Bob Dylan.
Q:What is the most popular song on Infidels by Bob Dylan?
The most popular song on Infidels by Bob Dylan is “Jokerman” with a total of 66.8K page views.
View 2 More →
MusixMatch Lyrics
Bob Dylan - Jokerman translation in Spanish
Spanish translation of lyrics for Jokerman by Bob Dylan. Standing on the water casting your bread While the eyes of the idol with the iron head are...
Bob Dylan - Jokerman (Infidels Alternate Take) letra
Letras de Jokerman (Infidels Alternate Take) por Bob Dylan. Standing on the waters, casting your bread While the eyes of the idol With the iron head a...
Caetano Veloso - Jokerman translation in Portuguese
Portuguese translation of lyrics for Jokerman by Caetano Veloso. Standing on the waters casting your bread While the eyes of the idol with the iron head ar...
Genius Artists
Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler (born 12 August 1949) is a British songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He led the rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded with his brother David in 1977
Shazam Lyrics
Ratso on Shazam
... Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Tour for Rolling Stone. Invited by Dylan himself ... Dylan's "Jokerman" with famed art director George Lois. He is also, for the ...
Jokerman - Divana
Jokerman. Divana. Tribute. 64 Shazams. PLAY FULL SONG. Get up to 1 month free ... Composition & Lyrics. Bob Dylan. Songwriter. Usha Sastri. Translation.