Bob Dylan - Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts (Official Audio)

yOU DON'T need a video clip. You just picture it in your mind.

Theres never been any other song like this where a whole movie was played out in a song, not even close. Only Dylan has done that, you watched a 2 hr movie listening to a song less than 9 min. Ridiculous talent. And to top it off, the song musically is foot stomping fun and great. Dude really is a genius.

This song is an absolute masterpiece. It's a big part of the reason that blood on the tracks is considered one of the best albums ever made. The story, the lyrics and the way he ties it all in. No one else could write this song.

I’m 85 been following Bob Dylan for about 50years. Still listening in awe

I dedicated this song to my sister who passed away in 2015. She always referred this song as a mini soap opera.

This song should be made into a film - a great western movie.

The festival was over, the boys were all plannin' for a fall The cabaret was quiet except for the drillin' in the wall. The curfew had been lifted and the gamblin' wheel shut down Anyone who had any sense had already left town. He was standin' in the doorway lookin' like the Jack of Hearts. He moved across the mirrored room, "Set it up for everyone, " he said Then everyone commenced to do what they were doin' before he turned their heads. Then he walked up to a stranger and he asked him with a grin "Could you kindly tell me, friend, what time the show begins?" Then he moved into the corner, face down like the Jack of Hearts. Backstage the girls were playin' five-card stud by the stairs Lily had two queens, she was hopin' for a third to match her pair. Outside the streets were fillin' up, the window was open wide A gentle breeze was blowin', you could feel it from inside. Lily called another bet and drew up the Jack of Hearts. 🎵🎶🎵🎶 Big Jim was no one's fool, he owned the town's only diamond mine He made his usual entrance lookin' so dandy and so fine. With his bodyguards and silver cane and every hair in place He took whatever he wanted to and he laid it all to waste. But his bodyguards and silver cane were no match for the Jack of Hearts. Rosemary combed her hair and took a carriage into town She slipped in through the side door lookin' like a queen without a crown. She fluttered her false eyelashes and whispered in his ear "Sorry, darlin', that I'm late, " but he didn't seem to hear. He was starin' into space over at the Jack of Hearts. "I know I've seen that face somewhere, " Big Jim was thinkin' to himself "Maybe down in Mexico or a picture up on somebody's shelf." But then the crowd began to stamp their feet and the house lights did dim And in the darkness of the room there was only Jim and him Starin' at the butterfly who just drew the Jack of Hearts. 🎵🎶🎵🎶 Lily was a princess, she was fair-skinned and precious as a child She did whatever she had to do, she had that certain flash every time she smiled. She had come away from a broken home, had lots of strange affairs With men in every walk of life which took her everywhere. But she'd never met anyone quite like the Jack of Hearts. The hangin' judge came in unnoticed and was being wined and dined The drillin' in the wall kept up but no one seemed to pay it any mind. It was known all around that Lily had Jim's ring And nothing would ever come between Lily and the king. No, nothin' ever would except maybe the Jack of Hearts. 🔪🔪🔪 Rosemary started drinkin' hard and seein' her reflection in the knife She was tired of the attention, tired of playin' the role of Big Jim's wife. She had done a lot of bad things, even once tried suicide Was lookin' to do just one good deed before she died. She was gazin' to the future, riding on the Jack of Hearts. Lily took her dress off and buried it away. "Has your luck run out?" she laughed at him, "Well, I guess you must Have known it would someday. Be careful not to touch the wall, there's a brand-new coat of paint I'm glad to see you're still alive, you're lookin' like a saint." Down the hallway footsteps were comin' for the Jack of Hearts. The backstage manager was pacing all around by his chair. "There's something funny going on, " he said, "I can just feel it in the air." He went to get the hangin' judge, but the hangin' judge was drunk As the leading actor hurried by in the costume of a monk. There was no actor anywhere better than the Jack of Hearts. ⚰️⚰️⚰️ No one knew the circumstance but they say that it happened pretty quick The door to the dressing room burst open and a Colt revolver clicked. And Big Jim was standin' there, ya couldn't say surprised Rosemary right beside him, steady in her eyes. She was with Big Jim but she was leanin' to the Jack of Hearts. Two doors down the boys finally made it through the wall And cleaned out the bank safe, it's said they got off with quite a haul. In the darkness by the riverbed they waited on the ground For one more member who had business back in town. But they couldn't go no further without the Jack of Hearts. 🎵🎶🎵🎶 The next day was hangin' day, the sky was overcast and black Big Jim lay covered up, killed by a penknife in the back. And Rosemary on the gallows, she didn't even blink The hangin' judge was sober, he hadn't had a drink. The only person on the scene missin' was the Jack of Hearts. The cabaret was empty now, a sign said, "Closed for repair, " Lily had already taken all of the dye out of her hair. She was thinkin' 'bout her father, who she very rarely saw Thinkin' 'bout Rosemary and thinkin' about the law. But, most of all she was thinkin' 'bout the Jack of Hearts.

Thank God we are all lucky enough to have lived in the lifetime of this genius

A group of guys who rode bikes because they loved their lifestyle. Some cold beer a block of hash and Bob Dylan. We slept under the stars and rode off when we felt like it. I'm old now but those memories are precious and Dylan was always there with us.

The amount of talent it takes to write a song like this is mind-boggling.

"Anyone with any sense had already left town." Sums up my life.

This may be the greatest album ever made. It's surely a contender.

I love this song. I know people criticize its place on the album, but it's always fit for me. The scenes and characters are so evocative, it's unbelievable.

I think this is one of Bob Dylan's best songs personally, the characters and scenery described is so vivid. The rhythm is great and the story is just as great, I don't know I just really enjoy this particular song.

Perfect storytelling. Perfect rhythm. Perfect cadence. Poety of unmatched perfection 💜

Bobs often described as a poor singer. No chance ! Singing is not all about holding notes ! Its about presentation rhythm and phrasing and interpretation. Bob is peerless in those aspects

There are not enough superlatives in the world to describe this man's talent. I've been listening to Bob since 1962, no one else even comes close. Not even close.

Someone once said when Johnny Cash sang a song it stayed sung. When Bob spins a yarn, it stays spun.

My mother (ha! ) gave me many pesos in the Philippines for my 10th birthday 1964. .. warm and loving ,Mom right? I went to the record store and spent every peso on Dylan LPs and I have never looked back. God bless him for molding me.

I've been singing this song word for word since I was 5, blessed are Grandparents with great music taste 🙌