Bob Dylan - When I Paint My Masterpiece Lyrics






Oh, the streets of Rome are filled with rubble
Ancient footprints are everywhere
You can almost think that you're seein' double
On a cold, dark night on the Spanish Stairs
Got to hurry on back to my hotel room
Where I've got me a date with Botticelli's niece
She promised that she'd be right there with me
When I paint my masterpiece

Oh, the hours I've spent inside the Coliseum
Dodging lions and wastin' time
Oh, those mighty kings of the jungle, I could hardly stand to see 'em
Yes, it sure has been a long, hard climb
Train wheels runnin' through the back of my memory
When I ran on the hilltop following a pack of wild geese
Someday, everything is gonna be smooth like a rhapsody
When I paint my masterpiece

Sailin' round the world in a dirty gondola
Oh, to be back in the land of Coca-Cola!

I left Rome and landed in Brussels
On a plane ride so bumpy that I almost cried
Clergymen in uniform and young girls pullin' muscles
Everyone was there to greet me when I stepped inside
Newspapermen eating candy
Had to be held down by big police
Someday, everything is gonna be diff'rent
When I paint my masterpiece





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Bob Dylan When I Paint My Masterpiece Comments
  1. C.... C....

    We both know Jerry sang it better, and it's ok.

  2. c.... b....

    Melody by Jackson C Frank, Yellow Walls. Must listen

  3. J.... R....

    Put speed to .125

  4. J.... J....

    Yet another great song that Leon Russell had a hand in writing.. that guy didnt get near enough love by the majority.

    J.... J....

    I bet we'll never know what all Leon Russell had a part in.

  5. B.... P....

    I wish he could do it all over again for the next generation

  6. J.... M....

    I prefer the album version. But it's always the lyrics with Bob that matter. Someone mentioned his involvement with the Rolling Thunder Revue. Whatever became of Renaldo and Clara? I once had coffee with Ramblin' Jack Elliott in a Monterey coffeehouse. What a character. He was rather jealous of Bob's success.

  7. G.... Z....

    I didn't know that Botticelli's niece was from Greece. A Long hard climb from martyrdom in Rome to a Christian in 1979. A Slow Train Coming.

  8. g.... b....

    Just imagine this insane singing, those incredible lyrics, this beautiful song with modern day standard in band togetherness, I don't mean modern production, which is sterile, but playing together, especially bass & drums, and what do you get? A fucking masterpiece. What a shame. But incredibly touching and beautiful. And many musicians think Dylan is a bad singer !

    g.... b....

    i always held young dylan for an unbelievably brilliant singer, sharp and angry and beautiful... see: "rolling stone" / some guy from the audience calls dylan "judas" and dylan pulls off a performance for eternity.

  9. c.... v....

    A Powerful Masterpiece. Thanks for sharing.
    An old tree is singing in Brussels.

  10. h.... C....

    This is my theme song

  11. S.... W....

    One of The Master's overlooked gems. Great verses.

  12. S.... G....

    This is incredible! Gives me chills!

  13. c.... v....

    Singing or Painting, it matters, it's Bob Dylan. Thanks for sharing this cheerful song.

  14. D.... M....

    Ol boy is puffin hard on that j lol

    D.... M....

    Richard Danko

  15. C.... S....

    lmao i havent listened to bob in awhile

  16. D.... S....

    Hell of a writer. Bubbling crap for vocals.

  17. O.... J....

    she promised...

  18. J.... W....

    Dylan's a master, but The Band are the muse... this song is a perfect example of their extraordinary musical abilities
    .

  19. O.... J....

    this is the one.

  20. D.... J....

    This is a favorite song of mine..

  21. G.... M....

    Oh, the streets of Rome are filled with rubble,
    ancient footprints are everywhere.
    You could almost think that you're seeing double,
    On the cold, dark night on the Spanish Stairs.
    Gotta hurry on back to my hotel room,
    Where I got me a date with a pretty little girl from Greece.
    She promised she'd be there with me,
    When I paint my masterpiece.

    Oh, the hours we spent, inside the Coliseum.
    Dodging lions, and a-wasting time,
    oh those mighty kings of the jungle, I could hardly stand to see 'em
    Yes it sure has been a long, hard drive.
    Train wheels a-running thru the back of my memory,
    When I ran on a hilltop following a pack of wild geese,
    Someday everything is gonna sound like a rhapsody
    When I paint my masterpiece.

    Sailing round the world in a dirty gondola,
    Oh to be back in the land of, Coca-cola.
    Well I left Rome, and landed in Brussels,
    On a plane ride so bumpy that I almost cried,
    Clergy men in uniform, and young girls pulling mussels,
    Everyone was there to greet me when I stepped inside,
    Newspaper men eating candy,
    Had to be held down by big police.
    Someday, its gonna be different,
    When I paint my masterpiece.

  22. L.... D....

    Bob is Bob you listen for Bob is Bob you stay around for Bob is Bob you like because Bob is Bob

  23. T.... E....

    Bob Dylan= American Natural Resource

  24. C.... B....

    Horrible voice. Sounds like Kermit the frog when you step unto his rear end.

  25. j.... k....

    Botticelli's niece/pretty little girl from Greece...

  26. B.... H....

    not quite perfect pitch

  27. G.... M....

    Brilliant song by old Elston! Levon on drums. Rick on bass. Richard on piano. Greatly missed guys.

    Watch the skies...

  28. T.... T....

    A poor substitute for Levon Helm's singing it.

  29. P.... M....

    this is ridiculous

    you're ridiculous bob, how can st be that good

  30. A.... B....

    One of the greatest song ever written. ...Bob and the band.....Just amazes me...... Down home

  31. J.... S....

    WOW. LEGEND!!!

  32. G.... J....

    It would have been historic to have been there to have seen and heard Bob sing the song he wrote and I'm not without appreciation for it being here to listen to. But I have to agree with at least one other poster, I prefer hearing the late, great, Levon Helm sing it!

  33. F.... H....

    i worked with Dylan during his ROLLING THUNDER REVUE, 1975. I was part of the film crew, shooting what ultimately was called Renaldo and Clara. I´ll never forget what it felt like to be in the stage with him, the energy from the audience. It´s more addicting than drugs and alcohol, THE SPOTLIGHT!

    F.... H....

    the scene in Renaldo and Clara where Bob sings ISIS is amazing. His raw power and energy is on high display! he's just vibrating! ❤

    F.... H....

    sweet glory.

    F.... H....

    Waooo man, what a stuff!!! you've surely experienced one of the most powerful trip in pop-rock history!! what a luck!!!!

    F.... H....

    I was there: Worcester Memorial Auditorium, November 19, 1975. Gotta love Setlist.fm.
    https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/bob-dylan/1975/worcester-memorial-auditorium-worcester-ma-63d7c68f.html

    F.... H....

    @Bee Java shamanistic

  34. h.... c....

    this is my personal theme song

  35. K.... M....

    Like this

  36. D.... G....

    "Someday everything gonna smooth as a Rhapsody"

  37. D.... ....

    Man I still love Levon's vocal better on this of course Bob was not known for that attribute but I still love the SOB.

  38. l.... ....

    Looks like Mike Bloomfield beside Robby.

    l.... ....

    l2string actually sitting directly to the left of Dylan is Bob Neuwirth a Berkley artist and poet. I think thats Rick Danko to his right smoking but im not positive.

    l.... ....

    At the discotheque Ondine in Manhattan on the evening of the first recording session for Blonde on Blonde, October 5, 1965. Left to right: Rick Danko, Bob Dylan, Bob Neuwirth, David Blue, and unidentified [Venetia Cunningham?] (This photo and caption from a book: Bob Dylan in America, Simon Wilentz, 2010)

    l.... ....

    @l2string yeah thats what i thought. although i had no clue the two in the back. Thanks for the reference

  39. M.... ....

    Nobel price is not a winner, its shit.....anyway, Bob Dylan IS da man

  40. M.... N....

    Well Mr Dylan ...you have been painting your masterpiece for decades in music and poetic words. Thank you.

  41. M.... K....

    Bob Dylan Nobel piece prize winner

    M.... K....

    Yup. He sure got a peace of that...

  42. C.... K....

    So good.

  43. M.... N....

    Unquestionably the best that ever existed!

  44. j.... h....

    Bob and The Band= Brilliance

  45. n.... ....

    so cajun

  46. s.... w....

    very good

  47. M.... H....

    Happy Birthday Bob from the unofficial Crow Wing County MN fan club!

  48. k.... v....

    Who doesn't want to paint ( or write) a masterpiece ?

    k.... v....

    Happy 75th Birthday Zimmy! You have painted many Masterpieces...

    k.... v....

    Absolutely true, the humble Hibbing MN minstrel with the poetry books in his pockets.....

  49. R.... O....

    Sure has been a long hard climb...

    R.... O....

    Thank you for that climb.

  50. p.... ....

    I felt it. It felt good.

  51. P.... d....

    GORGEOUS WHAT A VOICE .........

  52. B.... F....

    this is unbelievably bad jesus I wish I never clicked on it thank god the band covered it

  53. T.... P....

    "And pulled into Brussels
    With a Picture of Poetry by my side" ?????????

    T.... P....

    @Tony Peek It kinda throws you a bit right? Reminds me of the old Mexican singers that would constantly change the lyrics to their songs from one performance to the next.

    T.... P....

    Yes, he's good at that isnt' he. it will be a strange place when he's gone!

    T.... P....

    +Tony Peek 'Picture of a tall oak tree'.

  54. G.... ....

    What recording is this? On what album or bootleg?

    G.... ....

    It's off the Rock Of Ages Album.

    G.... ....

    +GeniusHaydn to clarify previous comment, it's on The Band's album "Rock of Ages" a 2 piece set I would recommend to any music lovers.

  55. R.... C....

    If they only made em like that again. Love Dylan

    R.... C....

    the dream is over....well, it's alive, here, and within us, at least...but as for today's music; the spirit that made this happen, well, it's at Guaranteed Rate Ballpark in Illinois er some place thereabouts, USA

  56. P.... G....

    Wish I wuz there....

  57. W.... M....

    #classic

  58. S.... G....

    he's not supposed to hit all the notes. he sounds ragged like someone doing all that traveling would. i always preferred this version cause it sounds like Dylan actually means it. 

    S.... G....

    Sam Greencart Great way to describe it!!!

    S.... G....

    spot on.

    S.... G....

    I remember reading somewhere that Dylan's style of singing had such an impact on popular music because before, people cared about how pretty the singing voice was, but after Dylan, people only cared that whoever was singing meant it.

    S.... G....

    I'm in New Orleans in 73 window pane St Anne's an Burgundy,this was on the stereo, the best times can seem the worst,an to think phone calls were a nickel.

    S.... G....

    I agree, give me this version and Before The Flood. Some people don't like Dylan's voice on that either.

  59. M.... K....

    Bob singing this one has me reaching for the mute button. Nobody sings it as good as the late great Levon Helm.

    M.... K....

    Micky Kraut i prefer the levon too, but this is a great rendition

    M.... K....

    Micky Kraut The original Dylan song is UNMATCHABLE. The rasp in his voice suits the song perfectly. And Mr. Levon's rendition may well be the greatest rendition of a cover song of all time.

  60. L.... ....

    You people that say "OMG Dylan's vocals are so great" or "Amazing" are tone def fucking hipsters and have never listened to another Bob Dylan song in your life. You don't know shit about what you're trying to"Look cool" listening to and need to listen to THE BAND

    L.... ....

    calm down man

    L.... ....

    You are obviously not familiar with folk music, sounds and voices.  Oh, and I am not old enough to remember Dylan in his day and sure enough not young enough to be a hipster, but I know that Dylan has an amazing (not perfect) voice with lots of character and I am glad that he has kept traditional folk/bluegrass alive from playing the old stuff to writing his own.

    L.... ....

    @LonelyHippie420 You obviously are not aware of the correct properties of art.WATCH:(Fart Noise)See... Art.

  61. A.... W....

    finally figured out a line in When I Paint My Masterpiece "those mighty kings of the jungle I can hardly stand to see them" just looking at nworders makes me sick to my stomach "yes it sure has been a long hard climb" and that made it difficult for me to climb the ladder of success. "train wheels running through the back of my memory" revolution is part of my history "when I ran on a mountain" when I preached like MLK "following a pack" a predatory wolf pack "of wild geese" of vicious dumb people - should be gaggle of geese "someday everything is gonna be different when I paint my masterpiece." Only thing I can think of is "piece" as gun or piece as peace???

    A.... W....

    +Alan Weberman
    Give ... it ... a ... rest, ALAN.
    Mighty kings of the jungle: Lions. WTF.

    A.... W....

    +Anthony Schlagel long hard climb - like tree to tree

  62. c.... p....

    I guess my fav Bob song  Hell yes

  63. R.... K....

    Bob's life as an artist is in itself a masterpiece!

  64. m.... ....

    Thank You, Thank You !!

  65. j.... ....

    Phil Spector  seemed  to be where ever the action was

  66. b.... ....

    His Royal Bobness with the Band.Poet Scholar and an Hero of the highest order.

  67. p.... ....

    What I would give to be around then to listen to all of them live!! Thank God Ive gotten to see Dylan a few times and Levon once before he passed. I at least have that to be thankful for....

  68. K.... H....

    Good work with your good woman. The goldn day all spent. On a masterpiece.

  69. C.... ....

    Killer.

  70. E.... B....

    He's pumped up, the meshuggenah!!!!!~E

  71. D.... L....

    Oh Ya I Went There ! LOL ! iM tEASING u ! But Yes I Love This Man !

  72. I.... K....

    totally agree

  73. Z.... ....

    check out my channel if ya can

  74. V.... ....

    fuck weberman

  75. J.... S....

    Love Bob, but Garcia's cover of this on "Garcia Plays Dylan" may be the most therapeutic thing I've ever experienced.

  76. T.... B....

    psssh bob performs it way better:)

  77. K.... A....

    the band alone performs this song better

    K.... A....

    This is a great version, but I have to agree with you there. It is the only cover of a Dylan song I prefer to any version of Dylan's. It's just perfect.

  78. M.... ....

    I saw Dylan with Wilco and My Morning Jacket in June and I must admit that I was very disappointed with Bob's choice of songs. Luckily for the audience Bob Weir rocked the house with Masterpiece!!!!

  79. D.... S....

    Townes Van Zandt

  80. M.... ....

    ehi don't joke...i'm from Venice.....but i own 120 CDs by Bob

  81. H.... R....

    Que. Pieza maestra. Lo escuche muchas veces y no me canso de escuchar. Gracias por subir estas obra maestra

  82. A.... B....

    He did "Down in the Flood" and "Like A Rolling Stone" It's on a re -release of The Band's "Rock of Ages"

  83. j.... ....

    So badass.

    Do any fellow Dylanologists know if he played any other songs at this show?

  84. E.... T....

    Baby, baby, baby, sing with me somehow

  85. E.... T....

    Rick Danko is the quintessential singer :-) <3

  86. C.... ....

    Sailin’ round the world in a dirty gondola
    Oh, to be back in the land of Coca-Cola!

  87. C.... A....

    Bob, The Maverick Artist Victor-Hugo has painted the Masterpiece for you....

  88. C.... ....

    He may be the quintessential songwriter. Elvis is the quintessential singer.

  89. d.... f....

    I love this song..It's a masterpiece in it's self.

  90. f.... ....

    1 person still paints with crayons!!!

  91. T.... ....

    Townes VanZandt.

  92. A.... W....

    Oh the streets of New York are filled garbage
    AJ footprints are everywhere
    You can almost think there are two of him
    If you are Dylan trying to get high on smack

  93. E.... B....

    Popped on during a Band concert as Elmer Johnson....YOUTUBE! THANK YOU!! Long, strange trip indeed~E

  94. C.... S....

    Dylan is the pinnacle of songwriter/singer

  95. T.... ....

    Dylan's voice is truly a-m-a-z-i-n-g! What an absolutely fantastic version!

  96. D.... W....

    ole bobby is breaking up hash and looking around to check out if mgm is watching.