Favorite Songs - Highway 61 Revisited

Recorded by Bob Dillon in 1965, this was named as song number 364 in Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 greatest songs. 

The actual Highway 61 goes from Duluth, Minnesota to New Orleans, Louisiana. It is considered a major highway that allowed for the great migration north.

The five verses cover the following:
1. God tells Abraham to "kill me a son".
2. Describes a poor fellow, Georgia Sam, who is beyond the helping of the welfare department. 
3. "Mack the Finger" has the problem of getting rid of particular absurd things.
4. Is about the "fifth daughter" who on the "twelfth night" told the "first father" that her complexion is too pale. 
5. Is the story of a bored gambler, trying "to create the next world war." 

Lyrics
God said to Abraham, "Kill me a son"
Abe say, "Man, you must be puttin' me on"
God say, "No, " Abe say, "What?"
God say, "You can do what you want Abe, but
Next time you see me comin', you better run"


Abe said, "Where do you want this killin' done?"
God said, "Out on Highway 61"


Georgia Sam, he had a bloody nose
Welfare Department, wouldn't give him no clothes
He asked poor Howard, "Where can I go?"
Howard said, "There's only one place I know"
Sam said, "Tell me quick, man, I got to run"


Oh, Howard just pointed with his gun
"That way down on Highway 61"


Mack the Finger said to Louie the King
"I got forty red, white and blue shoe strings
And a thousand telephones that don't ring
Do you know where I can get rid of these things?"
Louie the King said, "Let me think for a minute, son"


And he said, "Yes, I think it can be easily done
Just take it on down to Highway 61"


Daughter on the twelfth night
Told the first father that things weren't right
"My complexion, " she says, "is much too white"
He said, "Come over here girl, step into the light"
He says, "Hmm, you're right
Let me tell your mother this has been done"


But the second mother was with the seventh son
And they were both out on Highway 61


Rovin' gambler, he was very bored
Tryin' to create a next world war
He found a promoter who nearly fell off the floor
"I never did engage in this kind of thing before
But yeah, I think it can be very easily done"


"We'll just put some bleachers out in the sun
Have it on Highway 61"