It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) (take 2, 1/15/1965, released on Bringing It All Back Home, 1965)
🎵 3637 characters
⏱️ 7:32 duration
🆔 ID: 23214899
📜 Lyrics
Darkness at the break of noon
Shadows even the silver spoon
The handmade blade, the child's balloon
Eclipses both the sun and moon
To understand you know too soon
There is no sense in trying
Pointed threats, they bluff with scorn
Suicide remarks are torn
From the fool's gold mouthpiece
The hollow horn plays wasted words
Proves to warn that he not busy being born
Is busy dying
Temptation's page flies out the door
You follow, find yourself at war
Watch waterfalls of pity roar
You feel to moan but unlike before
You discover that you'd just be, one more person crying
So don't fear, if you hear
A foreign sound to your ear
It's alright, ma, I'm only sighing
As some warn victory, some downfall
Private reasons, great or small
Can be seen in the eyes of those that call
To make all that should be killed to crawl
While, others say don't hate nothing at all except hatred
Disillusioned words like bullets bark
As human gods aim for their mark
Can make everything from toy guns that spark
To flesh-colored Christs that glow in the dark
It's easy to see without looking too far
Their not much is really sacred
While, preachers preach of evil fates
Teachers teach that knowledge waits
Can lead to 100 dollar plates
Goodness hides behind its gates
But even the president of the United States
Sometimes must have to stand naked
And all the rules of the road have been lodged
It's only people's games that you got to dodge
And it's alright, ma, I can make it
Advertising signs that con you, into thinking you're the one
That can do what's never been done
That can win what's never been won
Meantime life outside goes on all around you
You lose yourself, you reappear
You suddenly find you got nothing to fear
Alone you stand with nobody near
When a trembling distant voice, unclear
Startles your sleeping ears to hear
That somebody thinks they really found you
A question in your nerves is lit
Yet you know there is no answer fit
To satisfy ensure you not to quit
To keep it in your mind and not forget
That it is not he or she or them or it that you belong to
Although the masters, make the rules
For the wise men and the fools
I got nothing ma, to live up to
For them that must obey authority
That they do not respect in any degree
Who despise their jobs, their destinies
Speak jealousy of them that are free
Do what they do just to be nothing more than something they invest in
While some on principles baptized
To strict party platform ties
Social clubs in drag disguise
Outsiders they can freely criticize
Tell nothing except who to idolize
And say God bless him
While one who sings with his tongue on fire
Gargles in the rat race choir
Bent out of shape from society's pliers
Cares not to come up any higher
But rather get you down in the hole that he's in
But I mean no harm, nor put fault
On anyone that lives in a vault
But it's alright ma, if I can't please him
Old lady judges watch people in pairs
Limited in sex, they dare
To push fake morals, insult and stare
While, money doesn't talk, it swears
Obscenity, who really cares
Propaganda, all is phony
While, them that defend what they cannot see
With a killer's pride, security
It blows the minds most bitterly
For them that think death's honesty
Won't fall upon them naturally
Life sometimes must get lonely
My eyes collide head-on with stuffed graveyards
False gods, I scuff at pettiness which plays so rough
Walk upside-down inside handcuffs
Kick my legs to crash it off
Say, "Okay, I have had enough
What else can you show me?"
And if my thought-dreams could be seen
They'd probably put my head, in a guillotine
But it's alright, ma, it's life and life only
Shadows even the silver spoon
The handmade blade, the child's balloon
Eclipses both the sun and moon
To understand you know too soon
There is no sense in trying
Pointed threats, they bluff with scorn
Suicide remarks are torn
From the fool's gold mouthpiece
The hollow horn plays wasted words
Proves to warn that he not busy being born
Is busy dying
Temptation's page flies out the door
You follow, find yourself at war
Watch waterfalls of pity roar
You feel to moan but unlike before
You discover that you'd just be, one more person crying
So don't fear, if you hear
A foreign sound to your ear
It's alright, ma, I'm only sighing
As some warn victory, some downfall
Private reasons, great or small
Can be seen in the eyes of those that call
To make all that should be killed to crawl
While, others say don't hate nothing at all except hatred
Disillusioned words like bullets bark
As human gods aim for their mark
Can make everything from toy guns that spark
To flesh-colored Christs that glow in the dark
It's easy to see without looking too far
Their not much is really sacred
While, preachers preach of evil fates
Teachers teach that knowledge waits
Can lead to 100 dollar plates
Goodness hides behind its gates
But even the president of the United States
Sometimes must have to stand naked
And all the rules of the road have been lodged
It's only people's games that you got to dodge
And it's alright, ma, I can make it
Advertising signs that con you, into thinking you're the one
That can do what's never been done
That can win what's never been won
Meantime life outside goes on all around you
You lose yourself, you reappear
You suddenly find you got nothing to fear
Alone you stand with nobody near
When a trembling distant voice, unclear
Startles your sleeping ears to hear
That somebody thinks they really found you
A question in your nerves is lit
Yet you know there is no answer fit
To satisfy ensure you not to quit
To keep it in your mind and not forget
That it is not he or she or them or it that you belong to
Although the masters, make the rules
For the wise men and the fools
I got nothing ma, to live up to
For them that must obey authority
That they do not respect in any degree
Who despise their jobs, their destinies
Speak jealousy of them that are free
Do what they do just to be nothing more than something they invest in
While some on principles baptized
To strict party platform ties
Social clubs in drag disguise
Outsiders they can freely criticize
Tell nothing except who to idolize
And say God bless him
While one who sings with his tongue on fire
Gargles in the rat race choir
Bent out of shape from society's pliers
Cares not to come up any higher
But rather get you down in the hole that he's in
But I mean no harm, nor put fault
On anyone that lives in a vault
But it's alright ma, if I can't please him
Old lady judges watch people in pairs
Limited in sex, they dare
To push fake morals, insult and stare
While, money doesn't talk, it swears
Obscenity, who really cares
Propaganda, all is phony
While, them that defend what they cannot see
With a killer's pride, security
It blows the minds most bitterly
For them that think death's honesty
Won't fall upon them naturally
Life sometimes must get lonely
My eyes collide head-on with stuffed graveyards
False gods, I scuff at pettiness which plays so rough
Walk upside-down inside handcuffs
Kick my legs to crash it off
Say, "Okay, I have had enough
What else can you show me?"
And if my thought-dreams could be seen
They'd probably put my head, in a guillotine
But it's alright, ma, it's life and life only
⏱️ Synced Lyrics
[00:12.38] Darkness at the break of noon
[00:14.27] Shadows even the silver spoon
[00:16.26] The handmade blade, the child's balloon
[00:18.63] Eclipses both the sun and moon
[00:20.75] To understand you know too soon
[00:22.81] There is no sense in trying
[00:32.89] Pointed threats, they bluff with scorn
[00:35.65] Suicide remarks are torn
[00:37.59] From the fool's gold mouthpiece
[00:39.34] The hollow horn plays wasted words
[00:41.58] Proves to warn that he not busy being born
[00:44.61] Is busy dying
[00:55.36] Temptation's page flies out the door
[00:57.96] You follow, find yourself at war
[00:59.86] Watch waterfalls of pity roar
[01:02.33] You feel to moan but unlike before
[01:04.15] You discover that you'd just be, one more person crying
[01:14.04] So don't fear, if you hear
[01:18.92] A foreign sound to your ear
[01:23.75] It's alright, ma, I'm only sighing
[01:43.71] As some warn victory, some downfall
[01:46.80] Private reasons, great or small
[01:48.91] Can be seen in the eyes of those that call
[01:51.02] To make all that should be killed to crawl
[01:52.93] While, others say don't hate nothing at all except hatred
[02:04.49] Disillusioned words like bullets bark
[02:07.29] As human gods aim for their mark
[02:08.98] Can make everything from toy guns that spark
[02:11.46] To flesh-colored Christs that glow in the dark
[02:14.30] It's easy to see without looking too far
[02:16.14] Their not much is really sacred
[02:26.74] While, preachers preach of evil fates
[02:29.27] Teachers teach that knowledge waits
[02:31.29] Can lead to 100 dollar plates
[02:33.49] Goodness hides behind its gates
[02:35.30] But even the president of the United States
[02:37.80] Sometimes must have to stand naked
[02:48.07] And all the rules of the road have been lodged
[02:52.44] It's only people's games that you got to dodge
[02:57.90] And it's alright, ma, I can make it
[03:11.19] Advertising signs that con you, into thinking you're the one
[03:15.23] That can do what's never been done
[03:17.31] That can win what's never been won
[03:19.46] Meantime life outside goes on all around you
[03:30.39] You lose yourself, you reappear
[03:32.38] You suddenly find you got nothing to fear
[03:34.99] Alone you stand with nobody near
[03:36.85] When a trembling distant voice, unclear
[03:39.00] Startles your sleeping ears to hear
[03:41.01] That somebody thinks they really found you
[03:52.80] A question in your nerves is lit
[03:54.81] Yet you know there is no answer fit
[03:56.92] To satisfy ensure you not to quit
[03:58.91] To keep it in your mind and not forget
[04:01.04] That it is not he or she or them or it that you belong to
[04:11.65] Although the masters, make the rules
[04:15.80] For the wise men and the fools
[04:21.12] I got nothing ma, to live up to
[04:39.32] For them that must obey authority
[04:41.86] That they do not respect in any degree
[04:44.12] Who despise their jobs, their destinies
[04:46.47] Speak jealousy of them that are free
[04:49.11] Do what they do just to be nothing more than something they invest in
[04:58.69] While some on principles baptized
[05:01.35] To strict party platform ties
[05:03.58] Social clubs in drag disguise
[05:05.79] Outsiders they can freely criticize
[05:07.86] Tell nothing except who to idolize
[05:09.65] And say God bless him
[05:19.14] While one who sings with his tongue on fire
[05:21.85] Gargles in the rat race choir
[05:23.84] Bent out of shape from society's pliers
[05:26.18] Cares not to come up any higher
[05:28.14] But rather get you down in the hole that he's in
[05:37.41] But I mean no harm, nor put fault
[05:42.47] On anyone that lives in a vault
[05:46.33] But it's alright ma, if I can't please him
[06:04.62] Old lady judges watch people in pairs
[06:07.24] Limited in sex, they dare
[06:08.97] To push fake morals, insult and stare
[06:11.47] While, money doesn't talk, it swears
[06:13.60] Obscenity, who really cares
[06:15.58] Propaganda, all is phony
[06:26.53] While, them that defend what they cannot see
[06:29.53] With a killer's pride, security
[06:31.59] It blows the minds most bitterly
[06:33.88] For them that think death's honesty
[06:35.90] Won't fall upon them naturally
[06:37.71] Life sometimes must get lonely
[06:47.17] My eyes collide head-on with stuffed graveyards
[06:50.93] False gods, I scuff at pettiness which plays so rough
[06:54.66] Walk upside-down inside handcuffs
[06:56.93] Kick my legs to crash it off
[06:58.56] Say, "Okay, I have had enough
[07:00.35] What else can you show me?"
[07:07.18] And if my thought-dreams could be seen
[07:11.38] They'd probably put my head, in a guillotine
[07:16.26] But it's alright, ma, it's life and life only
[07:22.08]
[00:14.27] Shadows even the silver spoon
[00:16.26] The handmade blade, the child's balloon
[00:18.63] Eclipses both the sun and moon
[00:20.75] To understand you know too soon
[00:22.81] There is no sense in trying
[00:32.89] Pointed threats, they bluff with scorn
[00:35.65] Suicide remarks are torn
[00:37.59] From the fool's gold mouthpiece
[00:39.34] The hollow horn plays wasted words
[00:41.58] Proves to warn that he not busy being born
[00:44.61] Is busy dying
[00:55.36] Temptation's page flies out the door
[00:57.96] You follow, find yourself at war
[00:59.86] Watch waterfalls of pity roar
[01:02.33] You feel to moan but unlike before
[01:04.15] You discover that you'd just be, one more person crying
[01:14.04] So don't fear, if you hear
[01:18.92] A foreign sound to your ear
[01:23.75] It's alright, ma, I'm only sighing
[01:43.71] As some warn victory, some downfall
[01:46.80] Private reasons, great or small
[01:48.91] Can be seen in the eyes of those that call
[01:51.02] To make all that should be killed to crawl
[01:52.93] While, others say don't hate nothing at all except hatred
[02:04.49] Disillusioned words like bullets bark
[02:07.29] As human gods aim for their mark
[02:08.98] Can make everything from toy guns that spark
[02:11.46] To flesh-colored Christs that glow in the dark
[02:14.30] It's easy to see without looking too far
[02:16.14] Their not much is really sacred
[02:26.74] While, preachers preach of evil fates
[02:29.27] Teachers teach that knowledge waits
[02:31.29] Can lead to 100 dollar plates
[02:33.49] Goodness hides behind its gates
[02:35.30] But even the president of the United States
[02:37.80] Sometimes must have to stand naked
[02:48.07] And all the rules of the road have been lodged
[02:52.44] It's only people's games that you got to dodge
[02:57.90] And it's alright, ma, I can make it
[03:11.19] Advertising signs that con you, into thinking you're the one
[03:15.23] That can do what's never been done
[03:17.31] That can win what's never been won
[03:19.46] Meantime life outside goes on all around you
[03:30.39] You lose yourself, you reappear
[03:32.38] You suddenly find you got nothing to fear
[03:34.99] Alone you stand with nobody near
[03:36.85] When a trembling distant voice, unclear
[03:39.00] Startles your sleeping ears to hear
[03:41.01] That somebody thinks they really found you
[03:52.80] A question in your nerves is lit
[03:54.81] Yet you know there is no answer fit
[03:56.92] To satisfy ensure you not to quit
[03:58.91] To keep it in your mind and not forget
[04:01.04] That it is not he or she or them or it that you belong to
[04:11.65] Although the masters, make the rules
[04:15.80] For the wise men and the fools
[04:21.12] I got nothing ma, to live up to
[04:39.32] For them that must obey authority
[04:41.86] That they do not respect in any degree
[04:44.12] Who despise their jobs, their destinies
[04:46.47] Speak jealousy of them that are free
[04:49.11] Do what they do just to be nothing more than something they invest in
[04:58.69] While some on principles baptized
[05:01.35] To strict party platform ties
[05:03.58] Social clubs in drag disguise
[05:05.79] Outsiders they can freely criticize
[05:07.86] Tell nothing except who to idolize
[05:09.65] And say God bless him
[05:19.14] While one who sings with his tongue on fire
[05:21.85] Gargles in the rat race choir
[05:23.84] Bent out of shape from society's pliers
[05:26.18] Cares not to come up any higher
[05:28.14] But rather get you down in the hole that he's in
[05:37.41] But I mean no harm, nor put fault
[05:42.47] On anyone that lives in a vault
[05:46.33] But it's alright ma, if I can't please him
[06:04.62] Old lady judges watch people in pairs
[06:07.24] Limited in sex, they dare
[06:08.97] To push fake morals, insult and stare
[06:11.47] While, money doesn't talk, it swears
[06:13.60] Obscenity, who really cares
[06:15.58] Propaganda, all is phony
[06:26.53] While, them that defend what they cannot see
[06:29.53] With a killer's pride, security
[06:31.59] It blows the minds most bitterly
[06:33.88] For them that think death's honesty
[06:35.90] Won't fall upon them naturally
[06:37.71] Life sometimes must get lonely
[06:47.17] My eyes collide head-on with stuffed graveyards
[06:50.93] False gods, I scuff at pettiness which plays so rough
[06:54.66] Walk upside-down inside handcuffs
[06:56.93] Kick my legs to crash it off
[06:58.56] Say, "Okay, I have had enough
[07:00.35] What else can you show me?"
[07:07.18] And if my thought-dreams could be seen
[07:11.38] They'd probably put my head, in a guillotine
[07:16.26] But it's alright, ma, it's life and life only
[07:22.08]