Gotta Serve Somebody (outtake – May 4, 1979) Songtext
von Bob Dylan

You may be an ambassador
To England or France
You might like to gamble
You might like to dance
You may be the heavyweight
Champion of the world.
You might be a socialite
With a long string of pearls

But you′re gonna have to serve somebody
Yes indeed, you're gonna have to serve somebody
Well it may be the Devil
Or it may be the Lord
But you′re gonna have to serve somebody


Might be a Rock-n-roll addict
Prancing on the stage
Money, Drugs at your command
Women in a cage
You may be a businessman
Or some high degree thief
They may call you doctor
Or they may call you chief

But you're gonna have to serve somebody
Yes you are, you're gonna have to serve somebody
Well it may be the Devil
Or it may be the Lord
But you′re gonna have to serve somebody

You may be a state trooper
You might be a young Turk
You may be the head
Of some big TV network
You may be rich or poor
You may be blind or lame
Maybe livin′ in another Country
Under another name

But you're gonna have to serve somebody
Yes you are, you′re gonna have to serve somebody
Well it may be the Devil
Or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody


Maybe a construction worker
Workin′ on a home
Might be livin' in a Mansion
You might live in a dome
You may own guns
And you may even own tanks
You may be someone′s landlord
You may even own banks

But you're gonna have to serve somebody
Yes, you're gonna have to serve somebody
Well it may be the Devil
Or it may be the Lord
But you′re gonna have to serve somebody

You may be a Preacher
Preaching Spiritual Pride
Maybe a City Councilman
Takin′ bribes on the side
Maybe working in a Barbershop
You may know how to cut hair
You may be somebody's mistress
Maybe somebody′s heir

But you're gonna have to serve somebody
Yes, you′re gonna have to serve somebody
Well it may be the Devil
Or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody

Might like to wear cotton
Might like to wear silk
Might like to drink whiskey
Might like to drink milk
Might like to eat caviar
You might like to eat bread
Maybe sleeping on the floor
Sleepin′ in a king-size bed

But you're gonna have to serve somebody
Yes indeed, you're gonna have to serve somebody
Well it may be the Devil
Or it may be the Lord
But you′re gonna have to serve somebody

You may call me Terry
You may call me Timmy
You may call me Bobby
Or you may call me Zimmy
You may call me RJ
You may call me Ray
You may call me anything
No matter what you say

You′re still gonna have to serve somebody
Yes, you're gonna have to serve somebody
Well it may be the Devil
And it may be the Lord
But you′re gonna have to serve somebody

Ohh Yeah
Serve Somebody