Thin man lookin' at his last meal
Hollow man lookin' in a cottonfield
For dignity
Young man lookin' in the shadows that pass
Poor man lookin' through painted glass
For dignity
Somebody said dignity was the first to leave
I went into the city, went into the town
Went into the land of the midnight sun
Searchin' everywhere I know
Askin' the cops wherever I go
Have you seen dignity?
Puts both his hands in the pockets of chance
Hopin' to find one circumstance
Of dignity
She said ÒI don't want nobody see me talkin' to youÓ
Said she could get killed if she told me what she knew
About dignity
I would've got deeper, but there wasn't any need
Heard the tongues of angels and the tongues of men
Wasn't any difference to me
House on fire, debts unpaid
Gonna stand at the window, gonna ask the maid
Have you seen dignity?
In a crowded room full of covered up mirrors
Lookin' into the lost forgotten years
For dignity
Said he'd give me information if his name wasn't used
He wanted money up front, said he was abused
By dignity
Steps goin' down into tattoo land
I met the sons of darkness and the sons of light
In the bordertowns of despair
I'm on the rollin' river in a jerkin' boat
Tryin' to read a note somebody wrote
About dignity
Lookin' at his hands for the lines that were
And into every masterpiece of literature
for dignity
Combin' his hair back, his future looks thin
Bites the bullet and he looks within
For dignity
Dignity never been photographed
I went into the red, went into the black
Into the valley of dry bone dreams
So many dead ends, I'm at the edge of the lake
Sometimes I wonder what it's gonna take
To find dignity
You cant "get" dignity from your peers or superiors, dignity is something you have to find for yourselfe. And we all look for it, but in very different directions, that is what this masterpice tells me. I espessially enjoy the third last verse, about the englishman. I picture the WW2 and the London blitz; his future looks thin. The englishman takes the pain and suffering, and according to my opinion found dignity within.
And yes, dignity has beened photograpehd, look no further than to the picture of the student who stops 4 tanks at sinnamon square (not sure of the english translation), thats dignity.
im not english, but respect to those who are ;)
Bob Dylan wrote this song after hearing that Pete Maravich had died at 41 while playing a pick-up basketball game.
@FreePablo what's the connection??
@FreePablo what's the connection??
if one doesn't feel dignified by his peers or superiors, then they will seek a place where they can gain a sense of dignity and self-worth. dignity is intangible and extremely difficult to come by.
frankly, i'm sick of searching.
"Dignity never been photographed."
Yes, indeed.
Bob, you are a genius.
I think this is one of Dylan's most profound songs. How many of us truly earn dignity and receive it?
Definitely one of Dylan's all time best tracks. I never tire of it. I find it moving on a very basic level, the search for honor and respect in a society replete with tawdry commercialism, exploitation, and pervasive hucksterism and dishonesty. The search has religious overtones, e.g., the "valley of dry bone dreams" is a biblical reference. "I'm on a rollin' river, in a jerkin' boat" recalls the Rimbaud poem, The Drunken Boat. Many of the lines are nonetheless puzzling, e.g., "Footsteps running across the silver sand, steps goin' down into tattoo land" -- ? I haven't a clue what that means. Yet this is a Seeker's song, I am sure of that. It is about the lifelong search for Dignity, which ultimately cannot be found outside of our own hearts.
a seeker's song -great comment.
a seeker's song -great comment.
Dylan's words seem cryptic despite the lyrical simplicity. My advice: don't try too hard: close your eyes, open your ears, and let this most wonderful of songs take you downstream :)
Dylan's words seem cryptic despite the lyrical simplicity. My advice: don't try too hard: close your eyes, open your ears, and let this most wonderful of songs take you downstream :)
One of my favourite Dylan songs - lyrics so simple yet poetic. I love the upbeatness of the melody, and I think Dylan's singing is at just about its best here.
One of my favorite Dylan tracks, if not my favorite. Surprised there are not more comments. The song writing is pure poetry.
Dignity is a human state or quality that comes from within. Nobody else can grant you dignity and nobody can take it away. So what does Bob Dylan mean by "searching high, searching low?" Surely, he knows that his own dignity comes from within himself.
In my opinion, he's looking for signs of dignity in others and he ain't finding much. Much of the song seems to support that theory, although he leaves you with a question as to whether or not he's looking to find his own dignity:
So many roads, so much at stake So many dead ends, I'm at the edge of the lake Sometimes I wonder what it's gonna take To find dignity
If it wasn't for this last stanza (if that's the right word) I'd say he's mostly looking for signs of dignity in others and they are few and far between.
@reardongalt agree to an extend, or could be that dignity comes from our actions and isn't superficial?
@reardongalt agree to an extend, or could be that dignity comes from our actions and isn't superficial?
I think this is one of Dylan's most profound songs. How many of us truly earn dignity and receive it?