Empire Burlesque album cover

Bob Dylan – Clean Cut Kid Lyrics

Rock

Well, everybody is asking why he couldn't adjust
Adjust to what, a dream that bust?

He was a clean-cut kid, ooh
But they made a killer out of him
That's what they did

They said what's up is down, they said what isn't is
They put ideas in his head he thought were his

They took a clean-cut kid, ooh
But they made a killer out of him
That's what they did

He was on the baseball team, he was in the marching band
When he was ten years old, he had a watermelon stand

They took a clean-cut kid, ooh
But they made a killer out of him
That's what they did

He went to church on Sunday, he was a Boy Scout
For his friends, he would turn his pockets inside out

He was a clean-cut kid, ooh
But they made a killer out of him
That's what they did

They said, "Listen boy, you're just a pup"
They sent him to a napalm health spa to shape up
They gave him dope to smoke, drinks, and pills
A jeep to drive, blood to spill
They said, "Congratulations, you got what it takes"
They sent him back into the rat race without any brakes

He was a clean-cut kid, ooh
But they made a killer out of him
That's what they did

He bought the American dream, but it was all wet
The only game he could play was Russian roulette
He drank Coca-Cola, he was eating Wonder Bread
He ate Burger Kings, he was well-fed
He went to Hollywood to see Peter O'Toole
He stole a Rolls-Royce and drove it in a swimming pool

(He was) a clean-cut kid, ooh
And they made a killer out of him
That's what they did

He could've sold insurance, owned a bakery or bar
Could've been an accountant or a tennis star
He was wearing boxing gloves, he took a dive one day
Off the Golden Gate Bridge into China Bay
His mama weeps and cries, his daddy cries and moans
They sleep together in a home they don't own

They took a clean-cut kid, ooh
And they made a killer out of him
That's what they did

Well, they're asking me now why he couldn't adjust
All he ever wanted was somebody to trust
They said what's up is down, what isn't is
They put ideas in his head he thought were his
He was on the baseball team, he was in the marching band
When he was ten years old, he had a watermelon stand

He was a clean-cut kid, ooh
But they made a killer out of him
That's what they did

He went to church on Sunday, he was a Boy Scout
For his friends, he would turn his pockets inside out

They took a clean-cut kid, ooh
And they made a killer out of him
That's what they did

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