Like A Rolling Stone completed the transformation of Dylan’s image from folk singer to rock star, and is considered one of the most influential compositions in postwar popular music. Rolling Stone listed it at No. 1 on their 2004 and 2010 “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” lists.
Bob Dylan – Like A Rolling Stone (Album: Highway 61 Revisited (1965))
INTRO: [C, Dm7, Em , F]x 2 → G
C Dm7
Once upon a time, you dressed so fine,
Em F G
Threw the bums a dime, in your prime, didn’t you?
C Dm7 Em
People call, say “Beware, doll, you’re bound to fall.”
F G
You thought they were all kiddin’ you.
F G F G
You used to laugh about Everybody that was hangin’ out,
F Em Dm7 C F Em Dm7 C
But now you don’t talk so loud, Now you don’t seem so proud,
Dm F G
About havin’ to be scroungin’ your next meal.
C: C F G C F G
How does it feel? How does it feel.
C F G C F G
To be on your own. With no direction home.
C F G C F G
A complete unknown. Like a rollin’ stone.
C Dm7 Em
You’ve gone to the finest schools, alright, Miss Lonely,
F G
But you know you only used to get juiced in it.
C Dm7 Em
You never had to live out on the street,
F G
But now you’re gonna have to get, used to it
F G F G
You said you’d never compromise With the Mystery Tramp but now you realize
F Em Dm7 C F Em Dm7 C
He’s not selling any alibis As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
Dm F G
And say, “Would you like to make a deal?” [chorus]
C Dm7
You never turned around to see the frowns
Em F G
On the jugglers and the clowns when they all did tricks for you.
C Dm7
Never understood that it ain’t no good.
Em F G
You shouldn’t let other people get your kicks for you.
F G
You used to ride on the chrome horse with your diplomat,
F G
Who carried on his shoulders a Siamese cat.
F Em Dm7 C F Em Dm7 C
Ain’t it hard when you discover that He really wasn’t where it’s at
Dm F G
After he took from you everything he could steal.
C Dm7
Princes on the steeple and all the pretty people
Em F G
They’re all drinkin’, thinkin’ that they’ve got it made.
C Dm7 Em
Exchanging all kinds of precious gifts and things,
F G
You’d better choose your diamond ring, you’d better pawn it babe.
F G F G
You used to be so amused At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
F Em Dm7 C
Go to him now he calls you, you can’t refuse
F Em Dm7 C
When you got nothin’, you got nothin’ to lose
Dm F G
You’re invisible now you’ve got no secrets to conceal.
[chorus]
