This song, penned by Bob Dylan, mirrors his experience and frustration with the celebrity culture and music industry. The character Mister Jones stands for the individuals who are out of touch with the countercultural movement of the 60s, failing to grasp what was happening around them.
Key: Bm
Introduction:
Bm
Bm
Bm
Bm
Bm
F#+
You walk into the room with your pencil in your hand
D/A
E7/G#
You see somebody naked and you you say who is that man?
G
Em
You try so hard but you Don't understand
D
F#m
Bm
Just what you will say when you get home Be-
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F#m
Bm
-cause something is happening here but you don't know what it is
G
Bm
Do you? Mister Jones
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Bm
F#+
You raise up your head and you ask "is this where it is?"
D/A
E7/G#
And somebody points to you and Says, "It's his"
G
Em
And you say "what's mine" and somebody else says "well, what is?" and you
D
F#m
Bm
Say, "Oh my god am I here all a - lone?" But
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F#m
Bm
Something is happening and you don't know what it is
G
Bm
Do you? Mister Jones
Bm
Bm
F#+
You hand in your ticket and you go watch the geek
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E7/G#
Who immediately walks up to you when he hears you speak
G
Em
and says, "how does it feel to be such a freak?" and you say "im-
D
F#m
Bm
-possible" as he hands you a bone And
D
F#m
Bm
something is happening here but you don't know what it is
G
Bm
do you? Mister Jones
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Bm
D/A
You have many contacts Among the lumberjacks to
G
Bm
Get you facts when someone attacks your imagination
Bm
D/A
But nobody has any respect Anyway they already expect you
G
Em
To all give a check to Tax-deductible charity organi-
A7
-zations Ahhhhhh..........
Bm
F#+
You've been with the professors and they've all liked your looks
D/A
E7/G#
With great lawyers you have dis - cussed lepers and crooks
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Em
You've been through all of F. Scott Fitzgerald's books
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F#m
Bm
You're very well read it's well known But
D
F#m
Bm
something is happening here and ya don't know what it is
G
Bm
do you? Mister Jones
Bm
Well the
Bm
F#+
sword swallower he comes up to you and then he kneels
D/A
E7/G#
He crosses himself and then he clicks his high heels and
G
Em
without further notice he asks you how it feels and he says
D
F#m
Bm
Here is your throat back thanks for the loan
D
F#m
Bm
and you know something is happening but you don't know what it is
G
Bm
do you? Mister Jones
Bm
Bm
F#+
you see this one-eyed midget shouting the word "now"
D/A
E7/G#
and you say "for what reason" and he says "how?"
G
Em
and you say "what does this mean?" and he screams back "you're a cow"
D
F#m
Bm
Give me some milk or else go home and you
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F#m
Bm
know something's happening but you don't know what it is
G
Bm
do you? Mister Jones
Bm
Well...
Bm
F#+
You walk into the room like a camel and then you frown
D/A
E7/G#
You put your eyes in your pocket and your nose on the ground
G
Em
There oughtta be a law a - gainst you comin' around You
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F#m
Bm
Should be made to wear ear phones
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F#m
Bm
Cause something is happening and you don't know what it is