The traditional Roll on John":
Tentative lyrics to the new "Roll on John" from the soon-to-be released Bob Dylan album "Tempest" (you can hear the entire album for free on iTunes until September 11):
Doctor,
doctor, tell me the time of day
Another
bottle's empty
Another
penny spent
He
turned around and he slowly walked away
They
shot him in the back and down he went
Shine
your light, move it on, you burn so bright, roll on John
From
the Liverpool docks to the red light Hamburg streets
Down
in the quarry with the Quarrymen.
Playing
to the big crowds
Playing
to the cheap seats
Another
day in the life on your way to your journey’s end
Shine
your light, move it on, you burn so bright, roll on John
Sailing
through the tradewinds
Bound for the south
Bound for the south
Rags
on your back just like any other slave
They
tied your hands and they clamped your mouth
Wasn’t
no way out of that deep dark cave
Shine
your light, move it on, you burn so bright, roll on John
I
heard the news today, oh boy
They
hauled your ship up on the shore
Now
the city’s gone dark
There
is no more joy
They tore the heart right out and cut it to the core
Shine
your light, move it on, you burn so bright, roll on John
Put
on your bags and get ‘em packed.
Leave
right now you won’t be far from wrong
The
sooner you go, the quicker you’ll be back
You’ve
been cooped up on an island far too long
Shine
your light, move it on, you burn so bright, roll on John
Slow
down you’re moving way too fast
Come
together right now over me
Your
bones are weary
You’re
about to breathe your last
Lord,
you know how hard that it can be
Shine
your light, move it on, you burn so bright, roll on John
Roll
on John, roll through the rain and snow
Take
the righthand road and go where the buffalo roam
They’ll
trap you in an ambush before you know
Too
late now to sail back home
Shine
your light, move it on, you burn so bright, roll on John
Tyger,
Tyger burning bright
I
pray the Lord my soul to keep
In
the forest of the night
Cover
him over and let him sleep
Something tells me this song is about John of Patmos ("...You’ve been cooped up on an island far too long...") as well as John Lennon.
("A Birthday In May," in watercolor, painted by am in the early 1980s)
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