Written: Monterey Street, Farmington NM, spring 1966
Obviously a blatant ripoff of Bob Dylan’s Like a Rolling Stone, Knees amazed himself by coming up with so many rhymes. It started out as a guitar folksong but ended up as a keyboard tune. The verse about the pill shows that Knees was able to write commercial, politically correct lyrics, even if they didn’t exactly agree with his philosophy.
It takes less than a week
To learn how to speak
So doncha feel cheap
For interruptin my sleep
When you knew I would help you
To get back on your feet
Oh gimme a chance.
You said your life was real
But you never had a thrill
That didn’t make you ill
Or crave another pill
When you knew I would help you
An you know I always will
Oh gimme a chance.
You made all kinds of deals
With tramps an their spiels
But you missed a lot of meals
While chasin your bootheels
When you know I would help you
Cuz I know how it feels
Oh gimme a chance.
There once was a time
When I wouldn’t lend you a dime
But the change is not mine
An neither is the bind
When you know I would help you
If you don’t act too fine
Oh gimme a chance.
When you were on your own
An your mind was blown
But you didn’t ask for a loan
So your little pride was shown
When you knew I would help you
Aw you must have known
Oh gimme a chance.
I’ve taken it all while you were havin a ball
You were feelin so tall
But you were due for a fall
When you knew I would help you
But you didn’t give a call
Oh gimme a chance.