Come gather round people, wherever you roam
And admit the original wasn't a poem
And each time he sang it, you wished he'd go home
For your time to you he was wastin'
But now I am changin' them to a new tome,
For these lines, I am a-changin'

Come writers and critics who blab with your pen
And keep your mouths shut, the chance won't come again
Just write me good reviews and I'll slip you a ten
I'll give more if you don't tell I cheated
And I'll soon be sued by many score men
For these lines I have been changin'
Come mothers and fathers throughout the land
Won't you please buy my record from your nearest stand
And if it's too gauche, won't you please understand
My old voice is rapidly fadin'
And many of these song will too soon be banned
For these lines I am a-changin'
The fine it is drawn, the purse it is cast
Too soon all my trials will later be past
It seems all these lawsuits just go by too fast
My paycheck is rapidly shrinkin'
And the first one it seems, it will be my last
From these lines I am a-changin'
Come DJs and talk-show men, please heed my call
Make sure that I am on your guest list this fall
And don't make me stand too long out in the hall
For my old joints are rapidly grindin'
And watch out if I find my paycheck too small
Or your show, I'll be a-changin'

Written c. 1968

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