Bob Dylan › Lyrics › When the Deal Goes Down

In the still of the night, in the world's ancient light
Where wisdom grows up in strife
My bewilderin' brain, toils in vain
Through the darkness on the pathways of life

Each invisible prayer is like a cloud in the air
Tomorrow keeps turnin' around
We live and we die, we know not why
But I'll be with you when the deal goes down

We eat and we drink, we feel and we think
Far down the street we stray
I laugh and I cry, and I'm haunted by
Things I never meant nor wished to say

The midnight rain follows the train
We all wear the same thorny crown
Soul to soul, our shadows roll
And I'll be with you when the deal goes down

Well, the moon gives light and it shines by night
When I scarcely feel the glow
We learn to live and then we forgive
O'er the road we're bound to go

More frailer than the flowers, these precious hours
That keep us so tightly bound
You come to my eyes like a vision from the skies
And I'll be with you when the deal goes down

Well, I picked up a rose and it poked through my clothes
I followed that winding stream
I heard the deafening noise, I felt transient joys
I know they're not what they seem

In this earthly domain, full of disappointment and pain
You'll never see me frown
I owe my heart to you and that's sayin' it true
And I'll be with you when the deal goes down