You got to serve somebody, Bob Dylan from 1980

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MzyBv4yOPU&t=7s ^ | 1980 | Dylan

[dennisw]

This from the 1980 Grammys as far as I can tell/

[Pearls Before Swine]

Timeless lyrics, IMO.

[Scarlett156]

wheeeee!!! (disclaimer: I know it’s politically incorrect to approve of anything Mr Dylan does lately; I’m going to drink, sweep, and probably make cookies to atone)

[Az Joe]

LYRICS

You may be an ambassador to England or France
You may like to gamble, you might like to dance
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody

You might be a rock ‘n’ roll addict prancing on the stage
You might have drugs at your command, women in a cage
You may be a business man or some high-degree thief
They may call you doctor or they may call you chief

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes you are
You’re gonna have to serve somebody (serve somebody)
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody

You may be a state trooper, you might be a young Turk
You may be the head of some big TV network
You may be rich or poor, you may be blind or lame
You may be living in another country under another name

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes you are
You’re gonna have to serve somebody (serve somebody)
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody (serve somebody)
You may be a construction worker working on a home
You may be living in a mansion or you might live in a dome
You might own guns and you might even own tanks
You might be somebody’s landlord, you might even own banks

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody (serve somebody)
Yes, you’re gonna have to serve somebody (serve somebody)
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody (serve somebody)

You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride
You may be a city councilman taking bribes on the side
You may be workin’ in a barbershop, you may know how to cut hair
You may be somebody’s mistress, may be somebody’s heir
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody
Yes, you’re gonna have to serve somebody (serve somebody)
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody (serve somebody)

Might like to wear cotton, might like to wear silk
Might like to drink whiskey, might like to drink milk
You might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread
You may be sleeping on the floor, sleeping in a king sized bed

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody (serve somebody) yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody (serve somebody)
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody

You may call me Terry, you may call me Timmy
You may call me Bobby, you may call me Zimmy
You may call me R.J., you may call me Ray
You may call me anything but no matter what you say

Still, you’re gonna have to serve somebody (serve somebody)
Yes, you’re gonna have to serve somebody (serve somebody)
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody
Ah, yeah
(Serve somebody)

[Repeal The 17th]

I like this one, but I don’t know why:
Bob Dylan - One More Cup of Coffee For The Road
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95cufW4h-gA
-
Your breath is sweet
Your eyes are like two jewels in the sky
Your back is straight, your hair is smooth
On the pillow where you lie
I don’t sense affection
Nor no gratitude or love
Your loyalty is not to me but to the stars above

One more cup of coffee for the road
One more cup of coffee before I go
To the valley below

Your daddy, he’s an outlaw
And a wanderer by trade
He’ll teach you how to pick an’ choose
And how to throw the blade
He oversees his kingdom
Where no stranger does intrude
His voice it trembles as he calls out
For another plate of food

One more cup of coffee for the road
One more cup of coffee before I go
To the valley below

Your sister sees the future
Like your momma and yourself
She never learned to read or write
There’s no books upon her shelf
And her pleasure knows no limits
Her voice is like a meadow lark
But your heart is like an ocean
So mysterious and dark

One more cup of coffee for the road
One more cup of coffee before I go
To the valley below

[Trumpet 1]

I thought I remember seeing it performed on SNL.

[BraveMan]

This whole album is worth adding to the collection:

[circlecity]

John Lennon wrote a song in response to this titled “Serve Yourself”.

[firebrand]

Typical.

[SamAdams76]

From the album "Slow Train Coming" (1979) which was one of Dylan's best.

I was literally a dishwasher (it's in the lyrics) when this song came out.

Reminder that this was over 40 years ago and Dylan is still going strong today. He's been writing songs for over 60 years now.

And yes, John Lennon recorded an answer song called "Serve Yourself." Then he was shot. Not saying there's a connection.

[Ge0ffrey]

Thanks for posting.

[daniel1212]

True lyrics. Hope Dylan can find his way back.

[dennisw]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx5PVjsRamk&t=6s