D
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Desolation Row 1

Bob Dylan © 1965 Warner Bros. Music, renewed 1993 Special Rider Music

(Official lyrics @ www.bobdylan.com)


4 Aug 1965
HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED

Highway 61 Revisited session 5, Columbia Studio A - 4.aug.1965, take 5, album version  

They're selling postcards of the hanging, they're painting the passports brown
The beauty parlor's filled with sailors, the circus is in town
Here comes the blind commissioner, they've got him in a trance
One hand is tied to the tight rope walker, the other is in his pants
And the riot squad they're restless, they need somewhere to go
As lady an' i look out tonight from desolation row.

Cinderella, she seems so easy, it takes one to know when she smiles
An' puts her hands in her back pockets, Betty Davies' style
Then in comes Romeo he's moanin', "You belong to me i believe"
An' someone says, "You're in the wrong place my friend, you'd better leave"
And the only sound that's left after the ambulances go
Is Cinderella sweeping up on desolation row.

Now the moon is almost hidden, the stars are beginning to hide
The fortune teller lady has even taken all her things inside
All except for Cain an' Abel and the hunchback of Notre Dame
Everybody is makin' love or else expectin' rain
And the good samaritan he's dressing, he's gettin' ready for the show
He's going to the carnival tonight on desolation row.

Ophelia she's neath the window, for her i feel so afraid
On her twenty-second birthday, she already is an old maid
To her death is quite romantic, she wears an iron vest
Her profession's her religion, her sin is her lifelessness
And though her eyes are fixed upon Noah's great rainbow
She spends her time peeking into desolation row.

Einstein disguised as Robin Hood with his memories in a trunk
Passed this way an hour ago with his friend, a jealous monk
Now he looked so immaculately frightful as he bummed a cigarette
Then he went off sniffing drain pipes an' reciting the alphabet
You would not think to look at him but he was famous long ago
For playing electric violin on desolation row.

Doctor Filth he keeps his world inside of a leather cup
But all his sexless patients they're tryin' to blow it up
Now his nurse, some local loser, she's in charge of the cyanide hole
An' she also keeps the cards that read, "Have mercy on his soul"
They all play on the penny whistle you can hear them blow
If you lean your head out far enough from desolation row.	

Across the street they've nailed the curtains, they're gettin' ready for the feast
The phantom of the opera in a perfect image of a priest
They' are spoonfeeeding Casanova to get him to feel more assured
Then they kill him with self confidence after poisoning him with words
An the phantom's shoutin' to skinny girls, "Get outta here if you don't know
Casanova is just bein' punished for going to desolation row".

At midnight all the agents and the super human crew
Come out an' round up everyone that knows more than they do
Then they bring them to the factory where the heart attack machine
Is strapped across their shoulders and then the kerosene
Is brought down from the castles by insurance men who go
Check to see that nobody is escaping to desolation row.

Praise be to Nero's Neptune, the Titanic sails at dawn
Everybody's shoutin', "Which side are you on?"
An' Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliott fighting in the captain's tower
While calypso singers laugh at them an' fishermen hold flowers
Between the windows of the sea where lovely mermaids flow
An' nobody has to think too much about desolation row.

Yes i received your letter yesterday about the time the doorknob broke
When you asked me, how i was doing, was that some kind of joke?
All these people that you mentionned, yes i know them they're quite lame
I had to rearrange their faces an' give them all another name
Right now i can't read too good, don't send me no more letters no
Not unless you mail them from desolation row.  
    

D
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Desolation Row 2


30 July 1965
NO DIRECTION HOME The Soundtrack:
    THE BOOTLEG SERIES Vol. 7
HIGHWAY 61 REVISTED AGAIN (T-174)
THE LONESOME SPARROW SINGS (T-349)
GENUINE BOOTLEG SERIES (T-393)

Highway 61 Revisited session 3, Columbia Studio A - 29.jul.1965, take 1  

They're sellin' postcards of the hangin', they're painting the passports brown
The beauty parlor's filled with sailors, the circus is in town
Here comes the blind commissioner, they've got him in a trance
One hand's tied to the tight rope walker, the other's nailed is in his pants
And the riot squad they're restless, they need somewhere to go
As lady an' i look out tonight from desolation row.

Cinderella, she seems so easy, it takes one to know when she smiles
An' puts her hands in her back pockets, Betty Davies' style
Then someone comes in screaming, "You belong to me i believe"
An' someone says, "I'm sorry my friend, but i'm afraid you'd better leave"
And the only sound that's left after the ambulances go
Is Cinderella sweeping up on desolation row.

Now the moon is almost hidden, the stars they pretend to hide
The fortune telling lady has even taken all her things inside
All except for Cain an' Abel and the hunchback of Notre Dame
Everybody is a-makin' love or else expectin' rain
And the good samaritan's dressin', he's getting ready for the show
He's going to the carnival tonight on desolation row.

Now Ophelia she's neath the window, for her i feel so afraid
On her twentieth birthday, she already is an old maid
To her death is quite romantic, she wears an iron vest
Her profession is her religion, her sin is her lifelessness
And though she always looks upon Noah's rainbow
She spends her time peeking into desolation row.

Einstein disguised as Robin Hood with his memories in his trunk
Passed this way an hour ago with his friend, a jealous monk
He looked so immaculate as he bummed a cigarette
Then he wen' off sniffin' drain pipes an' recitin' the alphabet
Now you would not think to look at him but he was famous long ago
For playing the electric violin on desolation row.

Doctor Filth he keeps his world inside of his leather cup
But all his sexless patients they're plannin' to blow it up
Now his nurse, some local loser, she's in charge of the cyanide hole
She's also in charge of the cards that read, "Have mercy on his soul"
They all play on the penny whistle, you can hear them blow
If you lean your head out far enough from desolation row.	

Across the street they've closed the curtains, they're gettin' ready for the feast
The phantom of the opera, a perfect image of a priest
Now he's spoonfeeeding Casanova, the boiled guts of birds
Then he'll torture him with self confidence and poison him with words
And the phantom shouts to skinny girls, "Get out if you don't know
Casanova's just bein' punished for going to desolation row".

Now at midnight all the agents and the super human crew
Come out an' round up everybody that knows more than they do
Then they bring them to the factory and the heart attack machine
Is strapped across their bossoms and then the kerosene
Is brought down from the castles by insurance men who go
Check to see that nobody is escaping to desolation row.

Praise be to Nero's Neptune, the Titanic sails at dawn
An' everybody's shoutin', "Which side are you on?"
An' Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliott fighting in the captain's tower
While calypso singers laugh at them an' fishermen hold flowers
Between the windows of the sea where lovely mermaids flow
An' nobody ever thinks too much about desolation row.

Now i got your letter yesterday about the time the doorknob broke
When you asked how i was doing, was that some kind of joke?
All these people that you mentionned, yes i know them they're quite lame
I had to rearrange their faces an' give them all another name
Right now i don't feel so good, i don't want your letters no more, no
Unless of course you mail them from desolation row. up
    

D
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Desolation Row 3


2 Aug 1965
THE CUTTING EDGE: THE BOOTLEG SERIES Vol. 12 / 1965-1966 (DeLuxe Edition) #3

Highway 61 Revisited session 5, Columbia Studio A - 2.aug.1965, take 5 remake  

They're selling postcards of the hanging, they're painting the passports brown
The beauty parlor's filled with sailors, the circus is in town
Here comes the blind commissioner, they've got him in a trance
One hand is tied to the tight rope walker, the other is in his pants
And the riot squad they're restless, they need somewhere to go
As lady an' i look out tonight from desolation row.

Cinderella, she seems so easy, it takes one to know when she smiles
An' puts her hands in her back pocket, Betty Davies' style
Then here comes Romeo moanin', "You belong to me i believe"
An' someone turns an' says to him, "My friend you'd better leave"
And the only sound that's left after the ambulances go
Is Cinderella sweeping up on desolation row.

Now the moon is almost hidden, the stars they begin to hide
Even the fortune telling lady has taken all her things inside
All except for Cain an' Abel and the hunchback of Notre Dame
Everybody else is making love or else expecting rain
And the good samaritan he's dressing, he's getting ready for the show
He's going to the carnival on desolation row.

Ophelia she's neath the window, for her i feel afraid
On her twenty-second birthday, she already is an old maid
To her, death is quite romantic, she wears an iron vest
Her profession is her religion, her sin is her lifelessness
And though her eyes are fixed upon Noah's rainbow
She spends her time peeking into desolation row.

Einstein disguised as Robin Hood with his memories in a trunk
Passed this way an hour ago with his friend, a jealous monk
He looked so immaculately frightful as he bummed a cigarette
Then he wen' off sniffin' drain pipes an' reciting the alphabet
Now you would not think to look at him but he was famous long ago
For playing the electric violin upon desolation row.

Doctor Filth he keeps his world inside of a leather cup
But all his sexless patients they are tryin' to blow it up
Now his nurse, some local loser, she's in charge of the cyanide hole
She also keeps the cards that read, "Have mercy on his soul"
They all play the penny whistle, you can hear them blow
If you lean your head out far enough from desolation row.	

Across the street they have nailed the curtains, they are getting ready for the feast
The phantom of the opera in a perfect image of a priest
He is spoonfeeeding Casanova, the guts of birds
Then he'll flock him with self confidence and poison him with words
And the phantom shouts to skinny girls, "Get out here if you don't know
Casanova is just being punished for going to desolation row".

Now at midnight all the agents and the super human crew
Come out an' round up everybody that knows more than they do
Then they bring them to the factory and the heart attack machine
Is strapped across their shoulders and then the kerosene
Is brought down from the castles by insurance men who go
Check to see that nobody is escaping to desolation row.

Praise be to Nero's Neptune, the Titanic sails at dawn
Everybody is shouting, "Which side are you on?"
An' Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliott fighting in the captain's tower
While calypso singers laugh at them an' fishermen hold flowers
Between the windows of the sea where lovely mermaids flow
An' nobody ever has to think too much about desolation row.

I received your letter yesterday about the time that the doorknob broke
When you asked how i was doing, is that some kind of a joke?
Yes all these people that you mentionned, i know them, they're quite lame
I had to rearrange their faces an' give them all another name
Right now i 'm just walkin' by himself, don't write me no more letters, no
Unless of course you mail them from desolation row. 
    

D
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Desolation Row 4


4 Aug 1965
THE CUTTING EDGE: THE BOOTLEG SERIES Vol. 12 / 1965-1966 (DeLuxe Edition)

4 Aug 1965
THE CUTTING EDGE: THE BOOTLEG SERIES Vol. 12 / 1965-1966 (DeLuxe Edition) #2

Highway 61 Revisited session 7, Columbia Studio A - 4.aug.1965, take 1   
Highway 61 Revisited session 7, Columbia Studio A - 4.aug.1965, take 2, piano demo  

They're selling postcards of the hanging, they're painting the passports brown
The beauty parlor's filled with sailors, the circus is in town
Here comes the blind commissioner, they've got him in a trance
One hand is tied to the tight rope walker, the other is in his pants
And the riot squad they're restless, they need somewhere to go
As lady an' i look out tonight from desolation row.

Cinderella, she seems so easy, it takes one to know when she smiles
Puts her hands in her back pocket, Betty Davies' style
Then in comes Romeo he's moaning, "You belong to me i believe"
An' someone turns an' says to him, "My friend you'd better leave"
And the only sound that's left after the ambulances go
Is Cinderella sweeping up on desolation row.

Now the moon is almost hidden, the stars are beginning to hide
The fortune telling lady has even taken all her things inside
All except for Cain an' Abel and the hunchback of Notre Dame
Everybody else is makin' love or else expecting rain
And the good samaritan he's dressing, he's getting ready for the show
He's going to the carnival tonight on desolation row.

Ophelia she's neath the window, for her i feel so afraid
On her twenty-second birthday, she already is an old maid
Now to her, death is quite romantic, she wears an iron vest
Her profession is her religion, her sin is her lifelessness
And though her eyes are fixed upon Noah's great rainbow
She spends her time peeking into desolation row.

Einstein disguised as Robin Hood with his memories in a trunk
Passed this way an hour ago with his friend, a jealous monk
Now he looked so immaculate as he bummed a cigarette
Then he went off sniffing drain pipes an' reciting the alphabet
You would not think to look at him but he was famous long ago
For playing the electric violin upon desolation row.

Doctor Filth he keeps his world inside of a leather cup
An' all his sexless patients they're tryin' to blow it up
Now his nurse, some local loser, she's in charge of the cyanide hole
She also keeps the cards that read, "Have mercy on his soul"
They all play on the penny whistle, you can hear them blow
If you lean your head out far enough from desolation row.	

Across the street they've nailed the curtains, they're gettin' ready for the feast
A phantom of the opera in a perfect image of a priest
He is spoonfeeeding Casanova, boiled guts of birds
He will kill him with self confidence after poisoning him with words
And the phantom is shouting to skinny girls, "Get out here if you don't know
Casanova is just being punished for going to desolation row".

Now at midnight all the agents and the super human crew
Come out an' round up everyone that knows more than they do
Then they take them to the factory and the heart attack machine
Is strapped across their shoulders and then the kerosene
Is brought down from the castles by insurance men who go
Check to see that no one is escaping to desolation row.

Now praise be to Nero's Neptune, the Titanic sails at dawn
Everybody is shouting, "Which side are you on?"
An' Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliott they're fighting in the captain's tower
While calypso singers laugh at them an' fishermen hold flowers
Between the windows of the sea where lovely mermaids flow
An' nobody has to think too much about desolation row.

I received your letter yesterday about the time the doorknob broke
When you asked how i was doing, was that some kind of joke?
All these people that you mentionned, yes i know them they're quite lame
I had to rearrange their faces an' give them all another name
Right now my head is breaking, don't send me no more letters, no
Not unless you mail them from desolation row. 
    

D
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Desolation Row 5


April-May 1966
THE 1966 LIVE RECORDINGS [36 cd box]

13 Apr 1966
LIVE 1962-1966
    Rare Performances From The Copyright Collections

17 May 1966
The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert:
    THE BOOTLEG SERIES Vol. 4 LIVE 1966

26 May 1966
THE REAL ROYAL ALBERT HALL 1966 CONCERT!

1966 World Tour - April-May 1966  
    Westchester County Center, White Plains, NY USA - 5.feb.1966  
    Syria Mosque, Pittsburgh, PA USA - 6.feb.1966  
    Island Garden, Hempstead, NY USA - 26.feb.1966  
    Stadium, Sydney, Australia - 13.apr.1966  
    Festival hall, Melbourne, Australia - 19.apr.1966  
    Festival hall, Melbourne, Australia - 20.apr.1966  
    Konserthuset, Stockholm, Sweden - 29.apr.1966  
    Adelphi Theatre, Dublin, Ireland - 5.may.1966  
    ABC, Belfast, Ireland - 6.may.1966  
    Colston hall, Bristol, England - 10.may.1966  
    Odeon Theatre, Birmingham, England - 12.may.1966 incomplete  
    Odeon Theatre, Liverpool, England - 14.may.1966  
    Free Trade Hall, Manchester England - 17.may.1966  
    Odeon Theatre, Glasgow, Scotland - 19.may.1966  
    ABC Theatre, Edinburgh, Scotland - 20.may.1966  
    Odeon Theatre, Newcastle, England - 21.may.1966  
    Olympia, Paris, France - 24.may.1966, incomplete  
    Royal Albert Hall, London England - 26.may.1966  
    Royal Albert Hall, London England - 27.may.1966  

They're selling postcards of the hanging, they're painting the passports brown
The beauty parlor's filled with sailors, the circus is in town
Here comes the blind commissioner, they've got him in a trance
One hand is tied to the tight rope walker, the other is in his pants
And the riot squad they're restless, they need somewhere to go
As lady an' i look out tonight from desolation row.

Cinderella, she seems so easy, it takes one to know when she smiles
An' puts her hands in her back pockets, Betty Davies' style
Then in comes Romeo he's moanin', "You belong to me i believe"
An' someone says, "You're in the wrong place my friend, you'd better leave"
And the only sound that's left after the ambulances go
Is Cinderella sweeping up on desolation row.

Now the moon is almost hidden, the stars are beginning to hide
The fortune teller lady has even taken all her things inside
All except for Cain an' Abel and the hunchback of Notre Dame
Everybody is makin' love or else expectin' rain
And the good samaritan he's dressing, he's gettin' ready for the show
He's going to the carnival tonight on desolation row.

Ophelia she's neath the window, for her i feel so afraid
On her twenty-second birthday, she already is an old maid
To her death is quite romantic, she wears an iron vest
Her profession's her religion, her sin is her lifelessness
And though her eyes are fixed upon Noah's great rainbow
She spends her time peeking into desolation row.

Einstein disguised as Robin Hood with his memories in a trunk
Passed this way an hour ago with his friend, a jealous monk
Now he looked so immaculately frightful as he bummed a cigarette
Then he went off sniffing drain pipes an' reciting the alphabet
You would not think to look at him but he was famous long ago
For playing electric violin on desolation row.

Doctor Filth he keeps his world inside of a leather cup
But all his sexless patients they're tryin' to blow it up
Now his nurse, some local loser, she's in charge of the cyanide hole
An' she also keeps the cards that read, "Have mercy on his soul"
They all play on the penny whistle you can hear them blow
If you lean your head out far enough from desolation row.	

Across the street they've nailed the curtains, they're gettin' ready for the feast
The phantom of the opera in a perfect image of a priest
They' are spoonfeeeding Casanova to get him to feel more assured
Then they kill him with self confidence after poisoning him with words
An the phantom shoutin' to skinny girls, "Get outta here if you don't know
Casanova is just bein' punished for going to desolation row".

At midnight all the agents and the super human crew
Come out an' round up everyone that knows more than they do
Then they bring them to the factory where the heart attack machine
Is strapped across their shoulders and then the kerosene
Is brought down from the castles by insurance men who go
Check to see that nobody is escaping to desolation row.

Praise be to Nero's Neptune, the Titanic sails at dawn
Everybody's shoutin', "Which side are you on?"
An' Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliott fighting in the captain's tower
While calypso singers laugh at them an' fishermen hold flowers
Between the windows of the sea where lovely mermaids flow
An' nobody has to think too much about desolation row.

Yes i received your letter yesterday about the time the doorknob broke
When you asked me, how i was doing, was that some kind of joke
All these people that you mentionned, yes i know them they're quite lame
I had to rearrange their faces an' give them all another name
Right now i can't read too good don't send me no more letters no
Not unless you mail them from desolation row. 
    

Recording dates & record list

30 Jul 1965 2 NO DIRECTION HOME The Soundtrack: THE BOOTLEG SERIES Vol. 7
THE LONESOME SPARROW SINGS (bootleg cd)
HIGHWAY 61 REVISTED AGAIN (bootleg cd)
THE GENUINE BOOTLEG SERIES (3cd pack bootleg)
2 Aug 1965 3 THE CUTTING EDGE: THE BOOTLEG SERIES Vol. 12 / 1965-1966 (DeLuxe Edition) #3
4 Aug 1965 1 HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED
4 Aug 1965 4 THE CUTTING EDGE: THE BOOTLEG SERIES Vol. 12 / 1965-1966 (DeLuxe Edition)
THE CUTTING EDGE: THE BOOTLEG SERIES Vol. 12 / 1965-1966 (DeLuxe Edition) #2
3 Sep 1965 ELECTRIC BLACK NITE CRASH (bootleg cd)

5 Feb 1966 5THE 1966 LIVE RECORDINGS (36 cd box) White Plains, NY - 5 February 1966
6 Feb 1966 5THE 1966 LIVE RECORDINGS (36 cd box) Pittsburgh, PA - 6 February 1966
26 Feb 1966 5THE 1966 LIVE RECORDINGS (36 cd box) Hempstead, NY - 26 February 1966
13 Apr 1966 5THE 1966 LIVE RECORDINGS (36 cd box) Sydney, Australia - 13 April 1966
LIVE 1962-1966 Rare Performances From The Copyright Collections
HAPPY DYLLENIUM (bootleg cd)
19 Apr 1966 51966 LIVE RECORDINGS (36 cd box) Melbourne, Australia - 19 April 1966
BOB DYLAN'S DREAM - HISTORIC LIVE PERFORMANCES VOL. 1 (bootleg cd)
20 Apr 1966 5THE 1966 LIVE RECORDINGS (36 cd box) Melbourne, Australia - 20 April 1966
29 Apr 1966 5THE 1966 LIVE RECORDINGS (36 cd box) Stockholm, Sweden - 29 April 1966
5 May 1966 5THE 1966 LIVE RECORDINGS (36 cd box) Dublin, Ireland - 5 May 1966
DUBLIN MAY 5 1966 (bootleg cd)
LIVE IN ENGLAND MAY 1966 (bootleg cd)
BLACK NITE CRASH (vinyl bootleg)
6 May 1966 5THE 1966 LIVE RECORDINGS (36 cd box) Belfast, Ireland - 6 May 1966
10 May 1966 5THE 1966 LIVE RECORDINGS (36 cd box) Bristol, England - 10 May 1966
LEICESTER '66 (bootleg cd)
12 May 1966 5THE 1966 LIVE RECORDINGS (36 cd box) Birmingham, England - 12 May 1966
14 May 1966 5THE 1966 LIVE RECORDINGS (36 cd box) Liverpool, England - 14 May 1966
15 May 1966 5THE 1966 LIVE RECORDINGS (36 cd box) Leicester, England - 15 May 1966
LEICESTER '66 (bootleg cd)
17 May 1966 5THE 1966 LIVE RECORDINGS (36 cd box) Manchester, England - 17 May 1966
The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert : THE BOOTLEG SERIES Vol. 4 LIVE 1966
GUITAR KISSING AND THE CONTEMPORARY FIX (bootleg cd)
19 May 1966 5THE 1966 LIVE RECORDINGS (36 cd box) Glasgow, Scotland - 19 May 1966
20 May 1966 5THE 1966 LIVE RECORDINGS (36 cd box) Edinburgh, Scotland - 20 May 1966
21 May 1966 5THE 1966 LIVE RECORDINGS (36 cd box) Newcastle, England - 21 May 1966
24 May 1966 5THE 1966 LIVE RECORDINGS (36 cd box) Paris, France - 24 May 1966
26 May 1966 5THE 1966 LIVE RECORDINGS (36 cd box) London, England - 26 May 1966
THE REAL ROYAL ALBERT HALL 1966 CONCERT!
27 May 1966 5THE 1966 LIVE RECORDINGS (36 cd box) London, England - 27 May 1966
MANCHESTER PRAYER (cd bootleg)
MANCHESTER PRAYER (vinyl bootleg)

8 Oct 1987 FLASHING FOR THE REFUGEES (bootleg cd)
18 Oct 1990 THANK YOU EV'RYBODY (bootleg cd)
12 Feb 1991 THE BOOTLEG SERIES Volume 4 (vb)
29 Jun 1993 HARD TIMES IN MARSEILLE (bootleg cd)
15 Nov 1994 THE UNPLUGGED REHEARSALS
17 Nov 1994 COMPLETELY UNPLUGGED (bootleg cd)
UNPLUGS IT ONCE MORE (bootleg cd)
18 Nov 1994 MTV UNPLUGGED
COMPLETELY UNPLUGGED (bootleg cd) #2
20 Apr 1996 THE MAINE EVENT (bootleg cd)
18 Jan 1998 VOICES IN THE GARDEN (bootleg cd)
30 Jun 1998 NEVER ENDING TOUR IN FRANCE Vol. 1 - PARIS (bootleg cd)
Sep 2000 SCEWG 2000 COMPILATION (bootleg cd)
8 Nov 2000 PATHWAY TO THE STARS (bootleg cd)
30 Apr 2002 PARIS SECOND 2002 (bootleg cd)