Subterranean Homesick Blues

Johnny's in the basement mixing up the medicine I'm on the pavement thinking

about the government the man in a trenchcoat badge out laid off says he's

got a bad cough and wants to get it paid off look out kid it's something you did

God knows when but you're doing it again you better duck down the alleyway

looking for a new friend a man in a coon skin cap and a pig pen wants $11 bills

you only got 10. Maggie comes sweet foot face full of black soot talking at the

heat put plants in the bed but the phone's tapped anyway Maggie says the

many say they must bust an early May orders from the DA look out kid don't

matter what you did walk on tiptoes don't try no bows better stay away from

those carry around a fire hose keep a clean nose watch the plane close you

don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.

Oh, get sick, get well, hang around an inkwell, ring bell.

Hard to tell if anything is going to sell.

Try hard, get barred, get back, write braille, get jailed,

jump bail, join the army if you fail.

Look out, kid, you're going to get hit by losers, cheaters,

six-time users hanging around the theaters.

Girl by the whirlpool's looking for a new fool.

Don't follow leaders.

Watch your parking meters.

Oh, get born, keep 'em short pants romance

Learn to dance, get dressed, get blessed

Try to be a success, please sir, please him

Buy gifts, don't steal, don't lift

20 years of schoolin' and they put you on the day shift

Look out, kid, they keep it all hid

Better jump down a manhole, light yourself a candle

Don't wear sandals, try to avoid the scandals

Don't wanna be a bum, you better chew gum

The pump don't work 'cause the vandals took the handles