Original Bob Dylan version
Oh, God said to Abraham, "Kill me a son"
Abe says, "Man, you must be puttin' me on"
God say, "No," Abe say, "What?"
God say, "You can do what you want, Abe, but
The next time you see me comin' you better run"
Well, Abe said, "Where do you want this killin' done?"
God said, "Out on Highway 61"
Well, Georgia Sam, he had a bloody nose
Welfare Department, they wouldn't give him no clothes
He asked poor Howard, "Where can I go?"
Howard said, "There's only one place I know"
Sam said, "Tell me quick, man, I got to run"
Ol' Howard just pointed with his gun
And said, "That way down on Highway 61"
Well, Mack the Finger said to Louie the King,
"I got forty red white and blue shoe strings
And a thousand telephones that don't ring
Do you know where I can get rid of these things?"
And Louie the King said, "Let me think for a minute, son"
And he said, "Yes, I think it can be easily done
Just take everything down to Highway 61"
Now, the fifth daughter on the twelfth night
Told the first father that things weren't right
"My complexion," she says, "is much too white"
He said, "Come here and step into the light"; he says, "Hmm, you're right
Let me tell the second mother this has been done"
But the second mother was with the seventh son
And they were both out on Highway 61
Now, the rovin' gambler, he was very bored
Tryin' to create a next world war
He found a promoter who nearly fell off the floor
He said, "I never engaged in this kind of thing before
But yes, I think it can be very easily done
We'll just put some bleachers out in the sun
And have it on Highway 61"
Ooh, mm
Yeah!
HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED is a song written by Bob Dylan and originally released on his 1965 album Highway 61 Revisited (Columbia Records).
The above lyrics are for the original Bob Dylan version of HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED as released in 1965.
Bruce Springsteen performed HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED live on a few occasions. See the live 16 Nov 1990 version for more details.
Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help.
List of available versions of HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED on this website:
HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED [Live 16 Nov 1990 version]