When You Gonna Wake Up

Bob Dylan © 1979 Special Rider Music

(Official lyrics @ www.bobdylan.com)

Slow Train Coming session 3, Muscle Shoals Studio, Sheffield AL - 2.may.1979  

God don't make promises that he don't keep
You got some big dreams, baby, but in order to dream you gotta still be asleep
When you gonna wake up, when you gonna wake up
When you gonna wake up an' strengthen the things that remain

Counterfeit philosophies have polluted all of your thoughts
Karl Marx has got you by the throat an' Henry Kissinger's got you tied up into knots
When you gonna wake up, when you gonna wake up
When you gonna wake up an' strengthen the things that remain

You got innocent men in jail, your insane asylums are filled
You got unrighteous doctors dealin' drugs that'll never cure your ills
When you gonna wake up, when you gonna wake up
When you gonna wake up an' strengthen the things that remain

You got men who can't hold their peace, women who can't control their tongues
The rich seduce the poor and the old are seduced by the young
When you gonna wake up, when you gonna wake up
When you gonna wake up an' strengthen the things that remain

Adulterers in churches an' pornography in the schools
You got gangsters in power an' lawbreakers makin' rules
When you gonna wake up, when you gonna wake up
When you gonna wake up an' strengthen the things that remain

Spiritual advisors and gurus to guide your every move
Instant inner peace and every step you take's got to be approved
When you gonna wake up, when you gonna wake up
When you gonna wake up an' strengthen the things that remain

Do you ever wonder just what god requires?
You think he's just an errand boy to satisfy your wanderin' desires
When you gonna wake up, when you gonna wake up
When you gonna wake up an' strengthen the things that remain

You can't take it with you an' you know that it's worthless to be sold
They tell you time is money as if your life was worth its weight in gold
When you gonna wake up, when you gonna wake up
When you gonna wake up an' strengthen the things that remain

There's a man on the cross an' he's been crucified for you
Believe in in power that's about all you got to do
When you gonna wake up, when you gonna wake up
When you gonna wake up an' strengthen the things that remain. 
    

When You Gonna Wake Up ²

1981 Europe Summer tour june-july 1981  
     Earls Court, London England - 27.june.1981  (l)
     Drammenshallen, Drammen Norway - 9.july.1981  (d)
     Palais des sports, Avignon France - 25.july.1981 , verses 5,6 are not sung (a) 

God don't make promises that he don't keep
You got some big dreams, baby, but to dream you gotta still be asleep
When you gonna wake up, when you gonna wake up
When you gonna wake up, strengthen the things that remain

Counterfeit philosophies have polluted all of your thoughts
Karl Marx has got you by the throat, Henry Kissinger's got you wrapped up into knots
When you gonna wake up, when you gonna wake up
When you gonna wake up, strengthen the things that remain

You got innocent men in jail, your insane asylums are filled
Unrighteous doctors dealin' drugs that'll never cure your ills
When you gonna wake up [, when you gonna wake up]
When you gonna wake up, strengthen the things that remain

Spiritual advisors [and] gurus to make you hold your breath
Every step you take leads you right down to death  (l, d)
           / Instant inner peace with every step leads you down to death (a)
When you gonna wake up, when you gonna wake up
When you gonna wake up, strengthen the things that remain

[ Adulterers in churches an' pornography in school
Gangsters in power an' lawbreakers makin' rules
When you gonna wake up, when you gonna wake up
When you gonna wake up, strengthen the things that remain ](l, d)

[ Can't take it with you and you know it's too worthless to be sold
They tell you time is money as if your life was worth its weight in gold
When you gonna wake up, when you gonna wake up
When you gonna wake up, strengthen the things that remain ](l, d)

Do you ever wonder just what god requires?
You think he's just an errand boy to satisfy your wandering desires
Oh, when you gonna wake up
When you gonna wake up, strengthen the things that remain

There's a man up on the cross an' he been crucified
You know who he is and you know why he died
When you gonna wake up, when you gonna wake up
When you gonna wake up, strengthen the things that remain

When you gonna wake up, when you gonna wake up
When you gonna wake up, strengthen the things that remain.