Released: November 2, 2018
Songwriter: Bob Dylan
Producer: Phil Ramone
[Verse 1]
Everything went from bad to worse, money never changed a thing
Death kept following, tracking us down, at least I heard your bluebird sing
Now somebody's got to show their hand, time is an enemy
I know you’re long gone, I guess it must be up to me
[Verse 2]
If I'd thought about it I never would've done it, I guess I would’ve let it slide
If I'd have paid attention to what others were thinking, the heart inside me would've died
I was just too stubborn to ever be governed by enforced insanity
Someone had to reach for the rising star, I guess it was up to me
[Verse 3]
Well, the Union Central is pulling out and the orchids are in bloom
I've only got me one good shirt left and it smells of stale perfume
In fourteen months I've only smiled once and I didn't do it consciously
Somebody's got to find your trail, I guess it must be up to me
[Verse 4]
It was like a revelation when you betrayed me with your touch
I'd just about convinced myself that nothing had changed that much
The old Rounder in the iron mask slipped me the master key
Somebody had to unlock your heart, he said it was up to me
[Verse 5]
Well, I watched you slowly disappear down into the officers’ club
I would’ve followed you in the door but I didn't have a ticket stub
So I waited all night ’til the break of day, hoping one of us could get free
When the dawn came over the river bridge, I knew it was up to me
[Verse 6]
Well, the only decent thing I did when I worked as a postal clerk
Was to haul your picture down off the wall near the cage where I used to work
Was I a fool or not to try to protect your identity?
You looked a little burned out, my friend, I thought it might be up to me
[Verse 7]
Well, I met somebody face to face and I had to remove my hat
She's everything I need and love but I can't be swayed by that
It frightens me, the awful truth of how sweet life can be
But she ain't a-going to make me move, I guess it must be up to me
[Verse 8]
We heard the Sermon on the Mount and I knew it was too complex
It didn’t amount to anything more than what the broken glass reflects
When you bite off more than you can chew you pay the penalty
Somebody's got to tell the tale, I guess it must be up to me
[Verse 9]
Well, Dupree came in pimpin' tonight to the Thunderbird Café
Crystal wanted to talk to him, I had to look the other way
Well, I just can't rest without you, love, I need your company
But you ain't a-going to cross the line, I guess it must be up to me
[Verse 10]
There's a note left in the bottle, you can give it to Estelle
She's the one you been wondering about, but there's really nothing much to tell
We both heard voices for a while, now the rest is history
Somebody's got to cry some tears, I guess it must be up to me
[Verse 11]
So go on, boys, and play your hands, life is a pantomime
The ringleaders from the county seat say you don't have all that much time
And the girl with me behind the shades, she ain't my property
One of us has got to hit the road, I guess it must be up to me
[Verse 12]
And if we never meet again, baby, remember me
How my lone guitar played sweet for you that old-time melody
And the harmonica around my neck, I blew it for you, free
No one else could play that tune, you know it was up to me
Everything went from bad to worse, money never changed a thing
Death kept following, tracking us down, at least I heard your bluebird sing
Now somebody's got to show their hand, time is an enemy
I know you’re long gone, I guess it must be up to me
[Verse 2]
If I'd thought about it I never would've done it, I guess I would’ve let it slide
If I'd have paid attention to what others were thinking, the heart inside me would've died
I was just too stubborn to ever be governed by enforced insanity
Someone had to reach for the rising star, I guess it was up to me
[Verse 3]
Well, the Union Central is pulling out and the orchids are in bloom
I've only got me one good shirt left and it smells of stale perfume
In fourteen months I've only smiled once and I didn't do it consciously
Somebody's got to find your trail, I guess it must be up to me
[Verse 4]
It was like a revelation when you betrayed me with your touch
I'd just about convinced myself that nothing had changed that much
The old Rounder in the iron mask slipped me the master key
Somebody had to unlock your heart, he said it was up to me
[Verse 5]
Well, I watched you slowly disappear down into the officers’ club
I would’ve followed you in the door but I didn't have a ticket stub
So I waited all night ’til the break of day, hoping one of us could get free
When the dawn came over the river bridge, I knew it was up to me
[Verse 6]
Well, the only decent thing I did when I worked as a postal clerk
Was to haul your picture down off the wall near the cage where I used to work
Was I a fool or not to try to protect your identity?
You looked a little burned out, my friend, I thought it might be up to me
[Verse 7]
Well, I met somebody face to face and I had to remove my hat
She's everything I need and love but I can't be swayed by that
It frightens me, the awful truth of how sweet life can be
But she ain't a-going to make me move, I guess it must be up to me
[Verse 8]
We heard the Sermon on the Mount and I knew it was too complex
It didn’t amount to anything more than what the broken glass reflects
When you bite off more than you can chew you pay the penalty
Somebody's got to tell the tale, I guess it must be up to me
[Verse 9]
Well, Dupree came in pimpin' tonight to the Thunderbird Café
Crystal wanted to talk to him, I had to look the other way
Well, I just can't rest without you, love, I need your company
But you ain't a-going to cross the line, I guess it must be up to me
[Verse 10]
There's a note left in the bottle, you can give it to Estelle
She's the one you been wondering about, but there's really nothing much to tell
We both heard voices for a while, now the rest is history
Somebody's got to cry some tears, I guess it must be up to me
[Verse 11]
So go on, boys, and play your hands, life is a pantomime
The ringleaders from the county seat say you don't have all that much time
And the girl with me behind the shades, she ain't my property
One of us has got to hit the road, I guess it must be up to me
[Verse 12]
And if we never meet again, baby, remember me
How my lone guitar played sweet for you that old-time melody
And the harmonica around my neck, I blew it for you, free
No one else could play that tune, you know it was up to me
more tracks from the album
The Bootleg Series Vol. 14: More Blood, More Tracks
- If You See Her, Say Hello (9/16/74, Take 1)
- You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go (9/17/74, Take 1, Remake)
- Idiot Wind (9/19/74, Take 4, Remake)
- Meet Me in the Morning (9/19/74, Take 1, Remake)
- Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts (9/16/74, Take 2)
- Buckets of Rain (9/18/74, Take 2, Remake)
- You’re a Big Girl Now (9/16/74, Take 2)
- Shelter from the Storm (9/17/74, Take 1)
- Simple Twist of Fate (9/16/74, Take 3A)
- Tangled Up in Blue (9/19/74, Take 3, Remake 3)
- Up to Me (9/19/74, Take 2, Remake)
From the album
Bob Dylan popular songs
- Murder Most Foul
- Blowin’ in the Wind
- The Times They Are A-Changin’
- All Along the Watchtower
- Like a Rolling Stone
- Make You Feel My Love
- Hurricane
- Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
- Mr. Tambourine Man
- A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall
- Subterranean Homesick Blues
- Desolation Row
- Tangled Up in Blue
- Masters of War
- Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
- It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
- Girl from the North Country
- Tempest
- It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
- Ballad of a Thin Man
- Visions of Johanna
- I Contain Multitudes
- To Fall in Love with You
- Shelter from the Storm