When you ain’t got nothing, you got nothing to lose.
How does it feel?

“Like a Rolling Stone” is the riches-to-rags story of a woman who had it all. Bob Dylan seems to take some delight in her fall from grace but also spends some time pointing out some things that might be useful to her now. Things that she ignored while she was a princess on top of the world. Perhaps there is some empathy in that. Probably not.

This woman was horrible to people when she had the world in her hand and there is a certain satisfaction when someone receives their comeuppance. Dylan was certainly not one to be ashamed of his petty nature.

One of the reasons Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” is so popular is because everyone universally despises this type of person. This person who has it all but looks down on others who are “beneath them”. Their fall from grace is cathartic. Another reason the song is successful is because the lyrics are just so damn good. There are so many precious lines, and although the language is slightly difficult, it paints a perfect picture of the woman.

It is crazy to think what this song was competing against at the time.  In 1965 when it was released, The Beatles were singing Help, and Unchained Melody and Wolly Bully charted. This was altogether different. It still sounds fresh today.

“Like a Rolling Stone” is the song that officially led Dylan away from a full-fledged folk artist and he transitioned to rock artist. The sound he created on this record—with the electric guitars and the organ is not folk music. At the time folk purists despised him; his sound was simply evolving.

Like A Rolling Stone Lyrics

Once upon a time you dressed so fine,
Threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn’t you?
People call say ‘beware doll, you’re bound to fall’,
You thought they were all kidding you.
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hanging out.
Now you don’t talk so loud.
Now you don’t seem so proud,
About having to be scrounging your next meal.

How does it feel, how does it feel?
To be without a home?
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone.

Ahh you’ve gone to the finest schools, alright Miss Lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it.
Nobody’s ever taught you how to live out on the street
And now you’re gonna have to get used to it.
You say you never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but now you realize:
He’s not selling any alibis,
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes:
And say “do you want to make a deal”?

How does it feel, how does it feel?
To be on your own, with no direction home?
A complete unknown, like a rolling stone.

Ah you never turned around to see the frowns
On the jugglers and the clowns when they all did tricks for you.
You never understood that it ain’t no good,
You shouldn’t let other people get your kicks for you.
You used to ride on a chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat.
Ain’t it hard when you discovered that
He really wasn’t where it’s at,
After he took from you everything he could steal?

How does it feel, how does it feel?
To have on your own, with no direction home?
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone.

Ahh princess on a steeple and all the pretty people
They’re all drinking, thinking that they’ve got it made;
Exchanging all precious gifts,
But you better take your diamond ring, you better pawn it babe.
You used to be so amused,
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used.
Go to him he calls you, you can’t refuse.
When you ain’t got nothing, you got nothing to lose.
You’re invisible now, you’ve got no secrets to conceal.

How does it feel, ah how does it feel?
To be on your own, with no direction home?
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone.