Bob Dylan live-debuted this song on March 3, 2022, and quickly established a near nightly lyric variation. Documented here is the first instance of each lyric change, together with audio.
March 3, 2022 Phoenix, AZ
I can feel the bones beneath my skin and they’re tremblin’ with rage
I’ll make your wife a widow – you’ll never see old age
The summer turned to gold, and the winter chill is gone
I pawned my watch, and I paid my debts, then I crossed the Rubicon
Put my heart up on the hill, where some happiness I’ll find
If I survive then let me love – let the hour be mine
Take the high road – take the low, take any one that you’re on
But I poured the cup, I passed along, I crossed the Rubicon
Well, you foxy man, you’re the talk of the town
You’ve been suckin’ off all of the younger men
I trusted you once and that was more than enough
I’ll never trust another person again
I’ll rip your heart, cut your heart out with a crooked knife
And I’ll weep until it’s gone
I stood between heaven and earth, and I crossed the Rubicon
March 4, 2022 Tucson, AZ
I put my heart up on a hill, where some happiness I’ll find
If I survive then let me love, let the hour be mine
Take the high road, take the low, you take any one you’re on
I poured the cup, I passed around, and I crossed the Rubicon
Well, I can feel the bones beneath my skin, they’re tremblin’ with rage
I’ll make your wife a widow, you’ll never see old age
The summer meadows turned to gold, well, and the winter chill was gone
I pawned my watch, I paid my debts, and I crossed the Rubicon
You foxy man, you’re the talk of the town
Suckin’ off the younger men
I’ll trust you once – that was more than enough
I’ll never trust another livin’ soul again
Well, I’ll cut your heart out with a broken knife
Lord, I’ll weep over you when you’re gone
I stood between heaven and earth, Lord, and I crossed the Rubicon
March 8, 2022 Lubbox, TX
You foxy man, you’re the talk of the town
You been (going) down for other men
I trusted you once – that was more than enough
I’ll never trust anyone again
I’ll cut you up with a crooked knife
I’ll weep over you after you’re gone
I stood between heaven and earth, and I crossed the Rubicon
March 10, 2022 Irving, TX
Well, there’s nothin’ you got, my good man
And that ought to be understood
You can keep your gifts, take ’em all back
I got things that are just as good
Well, I’ll cut your heart out with a crooked knife
And I’ll burn it till it’s gone
I stood between heaven and earth, and I crossed the Rubicon
March 13, 2022 San Antonio, TX
Right or wrong what can I say
What more needs to be said
I’ll spill your brains out on the ground
You’d be better off over there with the dead
Seems like ten – maybe 20 – years now that I’ve been gone
I stood between heaven and earth and I crossed the Rubicon
March 14, 2022 San Antonio, TX
Right or wrong, what can I say?
Anything need to be said?
I’ll spill your brains upon the ground
You’d be better off over there with the dead
The dying sun is goin’ down, and the night was comin’ on
I stood between heaven and earth and I crossed the Rubicon
I can feel the holy spirit inside
I see the light that freedom gives
I believe it’s within the reach of every man who lives
Seem like ten, maybe 20, years now I’ve been gone
I turned the key, I broke it off, and I crossed the Rubicon
March 16, 2022 Austin, TX
Right or wrong, what can I say?
What’s left that needs to be said?
I’ll spill your brains upon the ground
You’ll be better off with the dead
Seem like only yesterday, since then I’ve been gone
I stood between heaven and earth and I crossed the Rubicon