Lyrics Roll on John - Bob Dylan

Roll on John

Doctor, doctor, tell me the time of day
Another bottle’s empty
Another penny spent
He turned around and he slowly walked away
They shot him in the back and down he went
Shine your light,
Move it on,
You burned so bright,
Roll on John
From the Liverpool docks to the red light Hamburg streets
Down in the quarry with the Quarrymen.
Playing to the big crowds
Playing to the cheap seats
Another day in your life on your way to your journey’s end
Shine your light,
Move it on,
You burned so bright,
Roll on John
Sailing through the trade winds bound for the sun
Rags on your back just like any other slave
They tied your hands and they clamped your mouth
Wasn’t no way out of that deep dark cave
Shine your light,
Move it on,
You burned so bright,
Roll on John
I heard the news today, oh boy
They hauled your ship up on the shore
Now the city’s gone dark
There is no more joy
They tore the heart right out and cut it to the core
Shine your light,
Move it on,
You burned so bright,
Roll on John
Put on your bags and get ‘em packed
Leave right now you won’t be far from wrong
The sooner you go, the quicker you’ll be back
You’ve been cooped up on an island far too long
Shine your light,
Move it on,
You burned so bright,
Roll on John
Slow down you’re moving way too fast
Come together right now over me
Your bones are weary you’re about to breathe your last
Lord, you know how hard that it can be
Shine your light,
Move it on,
You burned so bright,
Roll on John
Roll on John, roll through the rain and snow
Take the right hand road and go where the buffalo roam
They’ll trap you in an ambush before you know
Too late now to sail back home
Shine your light,
Move it on,
You burned so bright,
Roll on John
Tiger, Tiger burning bright
I pray the lord my soul to keep
In the forest of the night
Cover him over and let him sleep
Shine your light,
Move it on,
You burned so bright,
Roll on John