Joey

Joey - Bob Dylan

Born in Red Hook Brooklyn in the year of who knows when

Opened up his eyes to the tune of an accordion

Always on the outside whatever side there was

When they asked him why it had to be that way

Well he answered just because

Larry was the oldest Joey was next to last

They called Joe Crazy the baby they called Kid Blast

Some say they lived off gambling and running numbers too

It always seemed they got caught between the mob and

The man in blue

Joey Joey

King of the streets child of clay

Joey Joey

What made them want to come and blow you away

There was talk they killed their rivals

But the truth was far from that

No one ever knew for sure where they were really at

When they tried to strangle Larry Joey almost hit the roof

He went out that night to seek revenge thinking he was bulletproof

The war broke out at the break of dawn it emptied out

The streets

Joey and his brothers suffered terrible defeats

Till they ventured out behind the lines and took five prisoners

They stashed them away in a basement called them amateurs

The hostages were trembling when they heard a man exclaim

Let's blow this place to kingdom come let Con Edison take the

Blame

But Joey stepped up and he raised his hand and said

We're not those kind of men

It's peace and quiet that we need to go back to work

Again

Joey Joey

King of the streets child of clay

Joey Joey

What made them want to come and blow you away

The police department hounded him they called him Mr Smith

They got him on conspiracy they were never sure who with

What time is it said the judge to Joey when they met

Five to ten said Joey The judge says

That's exactly what you get

He did ten years in Attica reading Nietzche and Wilhelm Reich

They threw him in the hole one time for trying to stop

A strike

His closest friends were black men

'Cause they seemed to understand

What it's like to be in society with a shackle on

Your hand

When they let him out in 71 he'd lost a little weight

But he dressed like Jimmy Cagney and I swear

He did look great

He tried to find the way back into the life he left

Behind

To the boss he said I've returned and now I want

What's mine

Joey Joey

King of the streets child of clay

Joey Joey

What made them want to come and blow you away

It was true that in his later years he would not carry