Lenny Bruce is dead but his ghost lived on and on
Never did get any Golden Globe award, never made it to Synanon
He was an outlaw, that's for sure
More of an outlaw than you ever were
Lenny Bruce is gone but his spirit's living on and on.
Maybe he had some problems, maybe some things that he couldn't work out
But he sure was funny and he sure told the truth and he knew what he was talking about
Never robbed any churches nor cut off any babie's heads
He just took the folks in high places and he shined a light in their beds
He's on some other shore, he didn't wanna live anymore.
Lenny bruce is dead but he didn't commit any crime
He just had the insight to rip off the lid before it's time
I rode with him in a taxi once, only for a mile and a half
Seemed like it took a couple of months
Lenny Bruce moved on and like the ones that killed him, gone.
They said that he was sick 'cause he didn't play by the rules
He just showed the wise men of his day to be nothing more than fools
They stamped him and they labeled him like they do with pants and shirts
He fought a war on a battlefield where every victory hurts
Lenny Bruce was bad, he was the brother that you never had. [ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/b/bob_dylan/lenny_bruce.html ]
Well i had a thought about this song. I think it may be about john lennon. Why? This song is on the first album released since lennons death and the reference to sharing a taxi ride with him. And also... Why wait 14 years after bruce's death to suddenly write about it? Why just after lennons death? On an album called 'shot of love'?
Its just a thought i had. I may be wrong, but interesting theory eh? I mean theres no way dylans gunna write a song entitled 'john lennon'
it would just never happen. Dont forget the songwriting games them two played. Dylan recentley wrote gotta serve somebody, and was then quickly answered by johns home recording; gotta serve yourself (not long before his death)
So i think it is entirely possible, unless it is a sick jibe at lennon... Singing about an outlaws death, fresh after lennons death... Whatever it is.. I think at least it was written with lennon in mind.