Silvio

It's about a gay caballero dying (perhaps of AIDS?) and bidding a farewell to his partner

The opening lyrics are Bob saying "stake my future on a hell of a past" to his critics. He's saying, hey, I may not be at the peak of my career right now, but I've had a hell of a run so far, and I'd bet the future will be pretty much like the past. "Stake (means I'll bet)my future on a hell of a past. Looks like tomorrow is coming on fast. I ain't complaining about what I got. I've seen better days but who has not." And, really, who has not seen better days sometimes? At some shitty time in your life you know you have seen better days. That's life. And the next verse he continues saying basically hey, if you don't want to come to a show when I'm around fine. I'm out on the road playing my music in order to survive. Again the lyrics are about Bob. He say that he is "Honest as the next jade rolling that stone." Meaning that he is as honest as the next person out working, playing a gig. "When I come knocking don't throw me no bone" Hey, I ain't looking for a handout. I'm here to play for my people. If you don't like the music leave me alone. Which he says like this. "I'm an old boil weevil looking for a home, If you don't like it you can leave me alone" And he says about himself "I give what I've got until I've got no more. "I take what I get until I even the score" He's, saying getting paid evens the score for the time working on his craft, composing masterpiece after masterpiece for a lifetme, and performing live all over the world about 250 shows a year minimum, giving what he had till he is on the verge of collapse, and had no more to give. As a writer, a poet, a performer, and a human being, he gives what he's got until he's got no more. It's not a scam to take fans money and then leave town without playing the show. He says he has to play harmonica and guitar until his fingers and lips bleed to satisfy some who come out just to see an electric dildo. A human juke box who'll up and play every single song they know. And they don't care if you blow your soul. He does not take advantage of or rip off the customers. It's an exchange of money for services provided to those who want the service provided. Next verse he speaks to his critics and tells them that he can use simple and/or plain language but either way the meaning is the same. "I can tell you simple, I can tell you plain, you give something up for everything you gain. Since every pleasure has an edge of pain, pay for your ticket and don't complain." And he tells anyone listening, "one of these days and it won't be long, I'm going down to the valley to sing my song. I'm gonna sing it loud, gonna sing it strong, and let the echo decide if I was right or wrong." And he's had a huge following(echo)for a long time. Early 60's is when he wrote all those protest songs, and critiques, and explanations in a way I'd never heard. And I'd never heard so blunt and in your face lyrics about peoples behavior and the bullshit that comes out of their mouth. I always likes this one. "Broken cutters, broken saws, broken buckles, broken laws, broken bodies, broken bones, broken voices, on broken phones, take a deep breath, feel like you're choking, everything"s broken Everytime you leave and go out someplace, things fall to pieces, in my face Broken hands, on broken ploughs, broken treaties, broken vows, broken pipes, broken tools, people bending, broken rules, hound dog howling, bullfrog croaking, everything's broken

For the record, these lyrics are actually written by Grateful Dead lyrist Robert Hunter who gave them to Bob and was shocked and honored that he used them. If you ask me it goes to show how strikingly alike these to masters are at their art, and proof of why few, if any, can touch either of them.

regardless of what this song is actually about, the first verse really caught my attention the first time i heard it, it's pretty much how i'm feeling right now...about to graduate college with no plans as of now "looks like tomorrow is coming on fast"-- i'm going to graduate in 2 months, but where did the last 4 years go? "seen better times, but who has not?"-- completely stressed out about graduation/life after college, but man it's been fun

love it either way

These lyrics are so cool! it fits the music so perfectly. the background soulful voices are a plus.

"silvio, i gotta go find out something only dead men know." love it! i think dylan and hunter share writing credits. anyway, this song is great :)

This song is actually dedicated to Silvio Rodriguez, a Cuban folk singer and songwriter. Silvio admired Bob for a long time and when they met he gave him a song calles "la cosa esta en..."

The story of a dying man looking back on his life and the judgement to come:

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Stake my future on a hell of a past Looks like tomorrow is coming on fast Ain't complaining 'bout what I got Seen better times, but who has not? .

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His gains are from unworthy past exploits, dishonest living, he has reaped the price for bad living, his time is running out.

. .

Honest as the next jade rolling that stone When I come knocking don't throw me no bone I'm an old boll weevil looking for a home If you don't like me, you can leave me alone .

. .

He claims he is like everyone else trying to get ahead, they are no better than him, he is no worse than them - He warns us, when he reaches out to us with his lies, beware to not get involved with him, he is bad news, you will regret it, stay away, leave him alone (the boll weevil causes the cotton to rot) .

. .

I can snap my fingers and require the rain From a clear blue sky and turn it off again I can stroke your body and relieve your pain And charm the whistle off an evening train

. .

This is a warning - He is a very charismatic character, a con-man extraordinaire, a charmer of the highest degree - beware

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I give what I got until I got no more I take what I get until I even the score You know I love you and furthermore When it's time to go you got an open door

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He gives the appearance of being a generous person, a giving person, but in the pretense of love he will take from you til he feels satisfied, when he has taken from you what he can, he will show you the door

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I can tell you fancy, I can tell you plain (come on) You give something up for everything you gain (come on) Since every pleasure's got an edge of pain (come on) Pay for your ticket and don't complain

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As a consummate con-man he can read you, he can see your desires and knows exactly how to play you, when you realize how you have been used, scammed & robbed, he reminds you it was by your choice, you bought the ticket, you take the ride

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One of these days and it won't be long Going down in the valley and sing my song I will sing it loud and sing it strong Let the echo decide if I was right or wrong

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His time is about up, he is dying soon, he will be in the valley (of death) where his life will be in full view, he asks no forgiveness, he loudly proclaims all he has done, and he will be judged by his past (echo) whether it was right or wrong

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Silvio, silver and gold Won't buy back the beat of a heart grown cold (come on) Silvio, I gotta go Find out something only dead men know (come on)

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All his gains, silver & gold, will not buy another minute of life, he faces his final fate, the same fate we all face, he will soon know what only dead men know, the final judgement .

[Edit: readability]

amazing