Words and music Bob Dylan
Released on John Wesley Harding (1967)
Tabbed by Eyolf Østrem

Capo 2nd fret (sounding key A major). It’s really a matter of taste.

  G                                                     F
  :   .   .   .     :   .   .   .     :   .   .   .     :
|-----6---3-------|-----------------|-----------------|-1---------
|-------------6---|-3---------------|-----------------|-1---------
|-----------------|-----5---3-------|-----------------|-2---------
|-----------------|-------------5---|-3---------------|-3---------
|-----------------|-----------------|-----5---3-------|-3---------
|-----------------|-----------------|-------------5---|-1---------
was   a  wic-ked   mes-sen-ger, from  E-  li  he  did   come       with a

  G
  :   .   .   .     :   .   .   .     :   .   .   .      :
|-----6---3-------|-----------------|-3----------------|----------
|-------------6---|-3---------------|-3----------------|----------
|-----------------|-----5---3-------|-4----------------|----------
|-----------------|-------------5---|-5----------------|----------
|-----------------|-----------------|-5----------------|----------
|-----------------|-----------------|-3----------------|----------
mind that mul-ti- plied the smal-lest mat-ter

G
There was a wicked messenger
                F
From Eli he did come,
       G
With a mind that multiplied the smallest matter.

When questioned who had sent for him,
                     F
He answered with his thumb,
        G
For his tongue it could not speak, but only flatter.

He stayed behind the assembly hall,
It was there he made his bed,
Oftentimes he could be seen returning.
Until one day he just appeared
With a note in his hand which read,
"The soles of my feet, I swear they're burning."

Oh, the leaves began to fallin'
And the seas began to part,
And the people that confronted him were many.
And he was told but these few words,
Which opened up his heart,
"If ye cannot bring good news, then don't bring any."