Let Me Die In My Footsteps

(I Will Not Go Down Under The Ground)

Bob Dylan © 1963, 1965 Warner Chapell Music, 1991 Special Rider Music

(Official lyrics @ www.bobdylan.com)

Freewheelin' Bob Dylan session 2, Columbia Studio A, NYC - 25.apr.1962 (5th verse omitted) 
Live, Finjan club, Montréal, Québec - 2.jul.1962  
Witmark demo, NYC - december 1962 (interrupted at the middle of 3rd verse) 
Broadside Office, NYC - 24.jan.1963 (Happy Traum vocal, Bob Dylan guitar & background vocal) 

I will not go down under the ground
'Cause somebody tells me that death's comin' 'round
An' i will not carry myself down to die
When i go to my grave my head will be high
Let me die in my footsteps
Before i go down under the ground.

There's been rumors of war an' wars that have been
The meaning of life has been lost in the wind
An' some people thinkin' that the end is close by
'Stead of learnin' to live they are learnin' to die
Let me die in my footsteps
Before i go down under the ground.

I don't know if i'm smart but i think i can see
When someone is pullin' the wool over me
An' if this war comes and death's all around
Let me die on this land 'fore i die underground
Let me die in my footsteps
Before i go down under the ground.

There's always been people that have to cause fear
They've been talkin' about war now for many long years
I have read all their statements an' i've not said a world
But now, Lord God, let my poor voice be heard
Let me die in my footsteps
Before i go down under the ground.

If i had rubies an' riches an' crowns
I'd buy the whole world an' change things around
I'd throw all the guns and the tanks in the sea
For they are mistakes of the past history
Let me die in my footsteps
Before i go down under the ground.

Let me drink from the waters where the mountain streams flood
Let the smell of wildflowers flow free thru my blood
Let me sleep in your meadows with the green grassy leaves
Let me walk down the highway with my brother in peace
Let me die in my footsteps
Before i go down under the ground.

Go out in your country where the land meets the sun
See the craters and the canyons where the waterfalls run
Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Idaho
Let every state in this union seep down deep in your soul
An' you'll die in your footsteps
Before you go down under the ground. ;