Just Like Tom Thumb Blues

Lyrics: Bob Dylan
Music: Bob Dylan

Phil started singing this in 1985. He sang a number of variations to the lyrics: this is the version on "Terrapin Station (Limited Edition). Click [D] to see the original Dylan line (and [P] to get back to Phil's version):

When you're lost in the rain in Juarez and it's Easter time too
When your gravity fails you and negativity don't pull you through
Don't you put on any airs when you're lost on Rue Morgue Avenue
They got some hungry creatures there, they'll surely make a mess out of you [D]

Now if you see St Annie, won't you please tell her thanks a lot
My stalks they are twisted and my tentacles are all in a knot [D]
I can't even roll out of the bed and crawl across the floor to take another shot [D]
And my best friend, my drummer, won't even tell me what it was that I dropped [D]

Now sweet Melinda, the peasants call her the goddess of gloom
She speaks such good English when she invites you up into her room
And of course you, you're so kind and conscientious and careful not to go to her too soon [D]
Still she steals your voice and she leaves you howling at the moon

Up on Housing Project Hill, it's either fortune or fame
You must choose one or the other though neither are to be what they claim
If you're looking to get silly, you better go back to from where you came
Because the cops don't need you and man, they expect the same

Now all the authorities, they just lay around and boast
How they blackmailed the seargent at arms into leaving his post
And picking up Angel, who just arrived out here from the coast
Who looked so fine at first, but left just looking like a ghost

Now I started out on burgundy, but then I soon hit the harder stuff
Everybody swore that they would stand beside me when the game got rough
But the joke was on everybody, there wasn't even anybody there to bluff [D]
I'm goin' back to Foggy Bottom, I do believe I've had enough [D]

When you're lost in the rain in Juarez and it's Easter time too
When your gravity's down and negativity won't pull you through
Don't you put on any airs when you're down on Rue Morgue Avenue
They got some hungry creatures there, they'll surely make a mess out of you

Well if you see St Annie, please tell her thanks a lot
My (mumbles) are twisted and my stalks are all in a knot
I don't even have the strength to get up and crawl across the floor for another shot
And my best friend, my drummer, won't even tell me what it was that I dropped

Now sweet Melinda, the peasants call her the goddess of gloom
She speaks good English and she invites you up into her room
And you, you're so kind and conscientious not to go to her too soon
But she steals your voice and leaves you howling at the moon

Up on Housing Project Hill, it's either fortune or fame
You must choose one or the other, but neither are to be what they claim
If you're looking to get silly, you better get back to from where you came
Because the cops don't need you and man, they expect the same

Now all the authorities, they just lay around and boast
How they blackmailed the seargent at arms into leaving his post
And picking up Angel, who just arrived out here from the coast
Who looked so fine at first, but left just looking like a ghost

Now I started out on Heineken, but I soon hit the harder stuff
Everybody swore that they'd stand beside me when the game got rough
But the joke was on everybody, there wasn't even anybody there to bluff
I'm goin' back to New York City, I do believe I've had enough

She speaks excellent English and she invites you up into her room

Now, all the Panamanians they just lay around and boast [D]
About how they blackmailed the President into leaving his post

About how they blackmailed the Speaker of the House into leaving his post [D]

I'm going back to [Berkeley/San Anselmo etc], I do believe I've had enough

Well if you see sweet Annie, please tell her thanks a lot [D]

Now I started out on mother's milk, but I soon hit the harder stuff

When you're lost in the rain in Juarez and it's Easter time too
When your gravity fails and negativity don't pull you through
Don't put on any airs when you're down on Rue Morgue Avenue
They got some hungry women there, and they really make a mess out of you [P]

If you see St Annie, please tell her thanks a lot [P]
I cannot move, my fingers are all in a knot [P]
I don't even have the strength to get up and take another shot [P]
Now my best friend, my doctor, won't even say what it was that I got [P]

Sweet Melinda, the peasants call her the goddess of gloom
She speaks good English, and she invites you up into her room
And you're so kind and careful not to go to her too soon [P]
And she takes your voice and leaves you howling at the moon

Up on Housing Project Hill, it's either fortune or fame
You must pick one or the other though neither are to be what they claim
If you're looking to get silly, you better get back from where you came
Because the cops don't need you and man, they expect the same

Now all the authorities, they just stand around and boast [P]
About how they blackmailed the seargent at arms into leaving his post [P]
And picking up Angel, who just arrived here from the coast
Who looked so fine at first, but left looking just like a ghost

Now I started out on burgundy, but soon hit the harder stuff
Everybody said they'd stand behind me when the game got rough
But the joke was on me, there was nobody even there to call my bluff [P]
I'm goin' back to New York City, I do believe I've had enough [P]