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The Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar 1

Bob Dylan © 1981 Special Rider Music

(Official lyrics @ www.bobdylan.com)


1 May 1981
TROUBLE NO MORE: THE BOOTLEG SERIES Vol. 13 / 1979-1981

early May 1981
SHOT OF LOVE
BIOGRAPH
GREATEST HITS Vol. 3
DYLAN 2007

Shot Of Love session 14, Clover Recorders, Los Angeles CA - early may.1981, album version  
Shot Of Love session 14, Clover Recorders, Los Angeles CA - 1.may.1981, take 2, BS-13 version (2) 

Prayin' in the ghetto with my face in the cement
Heard the last moan of a boxer, seen the massacre of the innocent
Felt around for the light switch, felt around for her face
Been treated like a farm animal on a wild goose chase.

West of the Jordan, east of the rock of Gibraltar
I see the turnin' of the page
Curtain risin' on a new age
See the groom still waitin' at the altar.

[Try to be pure/Be brave(2)] at heart, they arrest you for robbery
Mistake your shyness for aloofness, your silence for snobbery
Got the message this mornin', [listen(2)], the one that was sent to me
About the madness of becomin' what one was never meant to be.

West of the Jordan, east of the rock of Gibraltar
I see the turnin' of the page
Curtain risin' on a new age
See the groom still waitin' at the altar.

Don't know what i can say about Claudette that wouldn't come back to haunt me
Finally had to her give up 'bout the time she began to want me
[But i know god has/I guess i have(2)] mercy on 'em who are slandered an' humiliated
I'd have done anythin' for what woman if she didn't make me feel obligated.

West of the Jordan, east of the rock of Gibraltar
See the turnin' of the page
See the curtain risin' on a new stage
See the groom still waitin' at the altar.

Put your hand on my head, baby, [do i have/do you think i got(2)] a temperature
I see people who are supposed to know better, standin' around like furniture
There's a wall between you an' what you want you got to leap it
Tonight you got the power to take it, tomorrow [you won't have/you'll need(2)] the power to keep it. 

West of the Jordan, east of the rock of Gibraltar
I see the turnin' of the page
Curtain risin' on a new age
See the groom still waitin' at the altar.

Cities on fire, phones out of order
They're killin' nuns an' soldiers, there's fightin' on the border
[So now(2)] What can i say about Claudette? Ain't seen her since january
She could be respectably married or runnin' a whorehouse in Buenos Aires.

West of the Jordan, east of the rock of Gibraltar
I see the turnin' of the page
Curtain risin' on a new age
See the groom still waitin' at the altar.

[West of the Jordan, West of the Jordan, West of the Jordan, ...(2)]   
    

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The Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar 2


13 Nov 1980
TROUBLE NO MORE: THE BOOTLEG SERIES Vol. 13 / 1979-1981

Live Fox Warfield theatre, San Francisco - 13.nov.1980 13  

Prayin' in the ghetto, forced face in the cement
Heard the last moan of a boxer, at the massacre of the innocent
I felt not the murder, became nauseated
Just me and an overweight dancer, the walls are being deteriorated.

Oh, set my affections on things above
Let nothing stand in the way of that love
Not even the Rock of Gibraltar
If you see her on Fanning Street
Tell her that i still think she's neat
And that the groom's still waiting at the altar.

Highwaymen on murder target, pushin' around in robbery
Mistaking your shyness for aloofness, your silence for snobbery
Never did get the message, don't even know when one was sent to me
About the madness of becoming what one was never meant to be.

Well, set my affections on things above
Let nothing stand in the way of that love
Not even the rock of Gibraltar
If you see her on Fanning Street
Tell her that i still think she's neat
And that the groom's still waiting at the altar.

Well what can i say about Claudette, wouldn't come back to haunt me
I finally had to give her up 'bout the time she began to want me
What i know to save them slandered and humiliated
I'd have done anything for that woman, if she'd only made me feel obligated.

Well, set my affections on things above
Let nothing stand in the way of that love
Not even the rock of Gibraltar
If you see her on Fanning Street
Tell her that i still think she's neat
And that the groom's still waiting at the altar.

Well i'm locked into a time-zone with a high degree temperature
The world's coming to an end, wise men standin' 'round like furniture
What can i say about Claudette, ...... can believe it
.................................... receiving, well.

Well, set my affections on things above
Let nothing stand in the way of that love
Not even the rock of Gibraltar
If you see her on Fanning Street
Tell her that i still think she's neat
And that the groom's still waiting at the altar.

There's a wall between you and what you want an' you gotta leap it
Tonight you got the power to take it, tomorrow you won't have the power to keep it
What i can say about Claudette, she could be in the mountains or the prairies
She could be respectably married or running a whorehouse in Buenos Aires.

Oh, set my affections on things above
Let nothing stand in the way of that love
Not even the rock of Gibraltar
Well if you see her on Fanning Street
Tell her that i still think she's neat
And that the groom's still waiting at the altar.   
    

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The Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar 3


15 Nov 1980
A MUSICAL RETROSPECTIVE (T-719)

16 Nov 1980
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE ANTICHRIST (T-185)

Live Fox Warfield theatre, San Francisco - 15.nov.1980 15  
Live Fox Warfield theatre, San Francisco - 16.nov.1980 16  

Prayin' in the ghetto, [with my15] face in the cement
Heard the last moan of a boxer, seen the massacre of the innocent
Felt around for the light switch, became [so] nauseated
Just me and an overweight dancer, between walls that are [really16] deteriorated.

Oh, set my affections on things above
Let nothing stand in the way of that love
Not even the Rock of Gibraltar
If you see her on Fanning Street
Tell her that i still think she's neat
And that the groom's still waiting at the altar.

Well hitmen and highwaymen, pushin' women into robbery15
          / Highwaymen and hitmen, pushin', hellraisin' in robbery16
Mistaking your shyness for aloofness, your silence for snobbery
Never did get the message, don't even know when one was sent to me
About the madness of becoming what one was never meant to be.

Well, set my affections on things above
Let nothing stand in the way of that love
Not even the rock of Gibraltar
If you see her on Fanning Street
Tell her that i still think she's neat
And that the groom's still waiting at the altar.

Well what can i say about Claudette, [that16] wouldn't come back home to haunt me
I finally had to give her up 'bout the time she began to want me
[But lord] God has mercy on them slandered and humiliated
I'd have done anything for that woman, if she'd only made me feel obligated.

Well, set my affections on things above
Let nothing stand in the way of that love
Rock of Gibraltar
If you see her on Fanning Street
Tell her that i still think she's neat
And that the groom's still waiting at the altar.

Locked into a time-zone, with a high degree temperature
Wise men countin' their money, fools standin' around like furniture15
          / Fools countin' their money, wise men standin' around like furniture16
There's a wall between you and what you want an' you gotta leap it
Tonight you got the power to take it, tomorrow you won't have the power to keep it.

Well, set my affections on things above
Let nothing stand in the way of that love
[Not even the rock of Gibraltar15]
If you see her on Fanning Street
Tell her that i still think she's neat
And that the groom's still waiting at the altar.

Wait about a minute, i found a solution15
          / Looked for the answer, found a solution16
Too rich for my blood and i needed a transfusion
Don't know what i can say about Claudette, she could in the mountains or the prairies
She could be respectably married or running a whorehouse in Buenos Aires.

Oh, set my affections on things above
Let nothing stand in the way of that love
[Not even the rock of Gibraltar15]
If you see her on Fanning Street
Tell her that i still think she's neat
And that the groom's still waiting at the altar.   
    

Recording dates & record list

13 Nov 1980 2TROUBLE NO MORE: THE BOOTLEG SERIES Vol. 13 / 1979-1981 (DeLuxe Edition) #1
15 Nov 1980 3A MUSICAL RETROSPECTIVE (bootleg)
16 Nov 1980 3KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE ANTICHRIST (bootleg)
1 May 1981 1TROUBLE NO MORE: THE BOOTLEG SERIES Vol. 13 / 1979-1981 (DeLuxe Edition) #2
early May 1981 1 SHOT OF LOVE
BIOGRAPH
GREATEST HITS Vol. 3
DYLAN 2007