Everything Is Broken
Bob Dylan · The Essential 3.0 Bob Dylan [2009]
Broken threads broken springs
Broken idols broken heads
People sleeping in broken beds
Ain't no use jiving
Ain't no use joking
Everything is broken.
Broken bottles broken plates
Broken switches broken gates
Broken dishes broken parts
Streets are filled with broken hearts
Broken words never meant to be spoken
Everything is broken.
Seem like every time you stop and turn around
Something else just hit the ground
Broken cutters broken saws
Broken buckles broken laws
Broken bodies broken bones
Broken voices on broken phones
Take a deep breath feel like you're chokin'
Everything is broken.
Everytime you leave and go off someplace
Things fall to pieces in my face
Broken hands on broken ploughs
Broken treaties broken vows
Broken pipes broken tools
People bending broken rules
Hound dog howling bullfrog croaking
Everything is broken.
Everything Is Broken
Bob Dylan's "Everything Is Broken" stands as a poignant exploration of disillusionment and personal fracture within his broader catalog of work. Recorded during the late 1970s, the track reflects the artist's signature ability to distill complex emotional states into accessible, resonant melodies. The song appears on "The Essential 3.0 Bob Dylan [2009]" and aligns with the themes found in his earlier recordings, such as "It Ain't Me, Babe," where he examines the erosion of relationships and the weight of unfulfilled expectations. As a staple of his folk-rock and country-influenced repertoire, the recording captures a moment of introspection that has become integral to his legacy as a chronicler of the American experience. Its enduring appeal lies in its universal depiction of emotional instability, allowing listeners to connect with the narrative of a life feeling fundamentally undone.