Johnny’s in the basement / Mixing up the medicine / I’m on the pavement / Thinking about the government / The man in the trench coat / Badge out, laid off / Says he’s got a bad cough / Wants to get it paid off

Look out kid / It’s somethin’ you did / God knows when / But you’re doin’ it again / You better duck down the alley way / Lookin’ for a new friend / The man in the coon-skin cap / By the big pen / Wants eleven dollar bills / You only got ten

Maggie comes fleet foot / Face full of black soot / Talkin’ that the heat put / Plants in the bed but / The phone’s tapped anyway / Maggie says that many say / They must bust in early May / Orders from the D.A.

Look out kid / Don’t matter what you did / Walk on your tiptoes / Don’t try “No-Doz” / Better stay away from those / That carry around a fire hose / Keep a clean nose / Watch the plain clothes / You don’t need a weatherman / To know which way the wind blows

Get sick, get well / Hang around a ink well / Ring bell, hard to tell / If anything is goin’ to sell / Try hard, get barred / Get back, write braille / Get jailed, jump bail / Join the army, if you fail

Look out kid / You’re gonna get hit / But users, cheaters / Six-time losers / Hang around the theaters / Girl by the whirlpool / Lookin’ for a new fool / Don’t follow leaders / Watch the parkin’ meters

Ah get born, keep warm / Short pants, romance, learn to dance / Get dressed, get blessed / Try to be a success / Please her, please him, buy gifts / Don’t steal, don’t lift / Twenty years of schoolin’ / And they put you on the day shift

Look out kid / They keep it all hid / Better jump down a manhole / Light yourself a candle / Don’t wear sandals / Try to avoid the scandals / Don’t wanna be a bum / You better chew gum / The pump don’t work / ’Cause the vandals took the handles

[By Bob Dylan © Columbia – Warner Bros. Inc. / Special Rider Music, 1965-1993]