BOB DYLAN - Tin Angel lyrics

rate me

It was late last night when the boss came home

To a deserted mansion and a desolate throne

Servant said: “Boss, the lady’s gone

She left this morning just ‘fore dawn.” (Servant)

“You got something to tell me, tell it to me, man

Come to the point as straight as you can” (The Boss)

“Old Henry Lee, chief of the clan

Came riding through the woods and took her by the hand” (Servant)

The boss he lay back flat on his bed

He cursed the heat and he clutched his head

He pondered the future of his fate

To wait another day would be far too late

“Go fetch me my coat and my tie

And the cheapest labour that money can buy

Saddle me up my buckskin mare

If you see me go by, put up a prayer” (The Boss)

Well, they rode all night, and they rode all day

Eastward, long down the broad highway

His spirit was tired and his vision was bent

His men deserted him and onward he went

He came to a place where the light was dull

His forehead pounding in his skull

Heavy heart was racked with pain

Insomnia raging in his brain

Well, he threw down his helmet and his cross-handled sword

He renounced his faith, he denied his lord

Crawled on his belly, put his ear to the wall

One way or another put an end to it all

He leaned down, cut the electric wire

Stared into the flames and he snorted the fire

Peered through the darkness, caught a glimpse of the two

It was hard to tell for certain who was who

He lowered himself down on a golden chain

His nerves were quaking in every vein

His knuckles were bloody, he sucked in the air

He ran his fingers through his greasy hair

They looked at each other and their glasses clinked

One single unit, inseparably linked

“Got a strange premonition there’s a man close by” (Henry Lee)

“Don’t worry about him, he wouldn’t harm a fly” (The Wife)

From behind the curtain, the boss he crossed the floor

He moved his feet and he bolted the door

Shadows hiding the lines in his face

With all the nobility of an ancient race

She turned, she was startled with a look of surprise

With a hatred that could hit the skies

“You’re a reckless fool, I could see it in your eyes

To come this way was by no means wise” (The Wife)

“Get up, stand up, you greedy-lipped wench

And cover your face or suffer the consequence

You are making my heart feel sick

Put your clothes back on, double-quick” (The Boss)

“Silly boy, you think me a saint

I’ll listen no more to your words of complaint

You’ve given me nothing but the sweetest lies

Now hold your tongue and feed your eyes” (The Wife)

“I’d have given you the stars and the planets, too

But what good would these things do you?

Bow the heart if not the knee

Or never again this world you’ll see” (The Boss)

“Oh, please let not your heart be cold

This man is dearer to me than gold” (The Wife)

“Oh, my dear, you must be blind

He’s a gutless ape with a worthless mind” (The Boss)

“You’ve had your way too long with me

Now it’s me who’ll determine how things shall be” (The Wife)

“Try to escape,” he cussed and cursed

‘You’ll have to try to get past me first” (The Boss)

“Do not let your passion rule

You think my heart the heart of a fool

And you, sir, you can not deny

You made a monkey of me, what and for why?” (The Boss)

“I’ll have no more of this insulting chat

The devil can have you, I’ll see to that

Look sharp or step aside

Or in the cradle you’ll wish you’d died” (Henry Lee)

The gun went boom and the shot rang clear

First bullet grazed his ear

Second ball went right straight in

And he bent in the middle like a twisted pin

He crawled to the corner and he lowered his head

He gripped the chair and he grabbed the bed

It would take more than needle and thread

Bleeding from the mouth, he’s as good as dead

“You shot my husband down, you fiend” (The Wife)

“Husband? What husband? What the hell do you mean?

He was a man of strife, a man of sin

I cut him down and threw him to the wind” (Henry Lee)

This she said with angry breath

“You too shall meet the lord of death

It was I who brought your soul to life” (The Wife)

Then she raised her robe and she drew out a knife

His face was hard and caked with sweat

His arms ached and his hands were wet

“You’re a murderous queen and a bloody wife

If you don’t mind, I’ll have the knife” (Henry Lee)

“We’re two of a kind and our blood runs hot

But we’re no way similar in body or thought

All husbands are good men, as all wives know” (The Wife)

Then she pierced him to the heart and his blood did flow

His knees went limp and he reached for the door

His tomb was sealed, he slid to the floor

He whispered in her ear: “This is all your fault

My fighting days have come to a halt” (Henry Lee)

She touched his lips and kissed his cheek

He tried to speak but his breath was weak

“You died for me, now I’ll die for you” (The Wife)

She put the blade to her heart and she ran it through

All three lovers together in a heap

Thrown into the grave, forever to sleep

Funeral torches blazed away

Through the towns and the villages all night and all day