Bob Dylan - Neighborhood Bully lyrics
[Bob Dylan - Neighborhood Bully lyrics]
Well, the neighborhood bully
He’s just one man
His enemies say he’s on their land
They got him outnumbered about
A million to one
He got no place to escape to, no place to run
He’s the neighborhood bully
The neighborhood bully just lives to survive
He’s criticized and condemned for being alive
He’s not supposed to fight back
He’s supposed to have thick skin
He’s supposed to lay down and die
When his door is kicked in
He’s the neighborhood bully
The neighborhood bully been driven
Out of every land
He’s wandered the earth an exiled man
Seen his family scattered
His people hounded and torn
He’s always on trial for just being born
He’s the neighborhood bully
Well, he knocked out a lynch mob
He was criticized old women condemned him
Said he should apologize
Then he destroyed a bomb factory
Nobody was glad
The bombs were meant for him he
Was supposed to feel bad
He’s the neighborhood bully
Well, the chances are against it
And the odds are slim
That he’ll live by the rules that
The world makes for him
Because there’s a noose at his neck
And a gun at his back
And a license to kill him is
Given out to every maniac
He’s the neighborhood bully
He got no allies to really speak of
What he gets he must pay for
He don’t get it out of love
He buys obsolete weapons and
He won’t be denied
But no one sends flesh and blood
To fight by his side
He’s the neighborhood bully
Well, he’s surrounded by pacifists
Who all want peace
They pray for it nightly that
The bloodshed must cease
Now, they wouldn’t hurt a fly to
Hurt one they would weep
They lay and they wait for
This bully to fall asleep
He’s the neighborhood bully
Every empire that’s enslaved him is gone
Egypt and Rome, even the great Babylon
He’s made a garden of paradise
In the desert sand
In bed with nobody, under no one’s command
He’s the neighborhood bully
Now his holiest books have been trampled upon
No contract he signed was worth
What it was written on
He took the crumbs of the world
And he turned it into wealth
Took sickness and disease and he
Turned it into health
He’s the neighborhood bully
What’s anybody indebted to him for?
Nothing, they say he just likes to cause war
Pride and prejudice and superstition indeed
They wait for this bully like
A dog wait's to feed
He’s the neighborhood bully
What has he done to wear so many scars?
Does he change the course of rivers? Does
He pollute the moon and stars?
Neighborhood bully, standing on the hill
Running out the clock, time standing still
Neighborhood bully
He’s just one man
His enemies say he’s on their land
They got him outnumbered about
A million to one
He got no place to escape to, no place to run
He’s the neighborhood bully
The neighborhood bully just lives to survive
He’s criticized and condemned for being alive
He’s not supposed to fight back
He’s supposed to have thick skin
He’s supposed to lay down and die
When his door is kicked in
He’s the neighborhood bully
The neighborhood bully been driven
Out of every land
He’s wandered the earth an exiled man
Seen his family scattered
His people hounded and torn
He’s always on trial for just being born
He’s the neighborhood bully
Well, he knocked out a lynch mob
He was criticized old women condemned him
Said he should apologize
Then he destroyed a bomb factory
Nobody was glad
The bombs were meant for him he
Was supposed to feel bad
He’s the neighborhood bully
Well, the chances are against it
And the odds are slim
That he’ll live by the rules that
The world makes for him
Because there’s a noose at his neck
And a gun at his back
And a license to kill him is
Given out to every maniac
He’s the neighborhood bully
He got no allies to really speak of
What he gets he must pay for
He don’t get it out of love
He buys obsolete weapons and
He won’t be denied
But no one sends flesh and blood
To fight by his side
He’s the neighborhood bully
Well, he’s surrounded by pacifists
Who all want peace
They pray for it nightly that
The bloodshed must cease
Now, they wouldn’t hurt a fly to
Hurt one they would weep
They lay and they wait for
This bully to fall asleep
He’s the neighborhood bully
Every empire that’s enslaved him is gone
Egypt and Rome, even the great Babylon
He’s made a garden of paradise
In the desert sand
In bed with nobody, under no one’s command
He’s the neighborhood bully
Now his holiest books have been trampled upon
No contract he signed was worth
What it was written on
He took the crumbs of the world
And he turned it into wealth
Took sickness and disease and he
Turned it into health
He’s the neighborhood bully
What’s anybody indebted to him for?
Nothing, they say he just likes to cause war
Pride and prejudice and superstition indeed
They wait for this bully like
A dog wait's to feed
He’s the neighborhood bully
What has he done to wear so many scars?
Does he change the course of rivers? Does
He pollute the moon and stars?
Neighborhood bully, standing on the hill
Running out the clock, time standing still
Neighborhood bully