Bob Dylan works in mysterious ways. The Nobel Prize-winning musician dropped a new song last night, “Murder Most Foul.” Inspired by John F. Kennedy’s assassination, the epic, nearly 17-minute song came with a message from Dylan telling fans to stay safe. Perhaps he’s reacting to the Covid-19 pandemic. You can listen to the song below. We also did our best to transcribe the lyrics.

Similar to other musicians, the coronavirus derailed Dylan’s tour plans. The artist was set to play a string of dates in Japan in April, but the shows have all been canceled. Hopefully, his U.S. tour, which kicks off June 4, will come to pass. It includes a show at Forest Hills Stadium on July 8 (tickets). For all dates, visit his website.

As for the new song, “Murder Most Foul,” Dylan posted the following note:

Greetings to my fans and followers with gratitude for all your support and loyalty across the years. This is an unreleased song we recorded a while back that you might find interesting. Stay safe, stay observant and may God be with you. – Bob Dylan

The song’s lyrics detail JFK’s assassination. But Dylan also has some fun by including a host of musical references. There’s a lot to dig into here.

“Murder Most Foul” is available for purchase on iTunes.

Murder Most Foul Lyrics
Twas a dark day in Dallas, November ’63
A day that would live on in infamy
President Kennedy was riding high
A good day to be living and a good day to die
Being led to the slaughter like a sacrificial lamb
Say wait a minute boys, do you know who I am?
Of course we do, we know who you are
Then they blew off his head while he was still in the car
Shot down like a dog in broad daylight
Was a matter a timing and the timing was right
You got unpaid debts, we’ve come to collect
We’re gonna kill you with hatred without any respect
We’ll mock you and shock you and we’ll put it in your face
We’ve already got someone here to take your place
The day they blew out the brains of the king
Thousands were watching, no one saw a thing
It happened so quick and so quick by surprise,
Right there in front of everyone’s eyes

Greatest magic trick ever under the sun
Perfectly executed, skillfully done
Wolfman, oh wolfman, oh wolfman howl
Rub-a-dub-dub it’s murder most foul

Hush little children you’ll soon understand
The Beatles are coming, they’re gonna hold your hand
Slide down the bannister go get your coat
Ferry ‘cross the Mersey and go for the throat
There’s three bums coming all dressed in rags
Pick up the pieces and lower the flags
I’m going to Woodstock, it’s the Aquarian age
Then I’ll go over to Altamont and sit near the stage
Put your head out the window, let the good times roll
There’s a party going on behind the grassy Knoll
Stack up the bricks, pour the cement
Don’t say Dallas don’t love you, Mr. President
Put your foot in the tank and step on the gas
Try to make it to the triple underpass
Black face singer, white face clown
Better not show your faces after the sun goes down

I’m in the red light district they got a cop on the beat
Living in a nightmare on Elm Street
When your down on deep Ellum put your money in your shoes
Don’t ask what your country can do for you
Cash on the barrel head, money to burn
Dealey Plaza, make a left-hand turn
I’m going to the crossroads, gonna flag a ride
That’s the place where faith, hope, and charity died
Shoot him while he runs, boy. Shoot him while you can
See if you can shoot the invisible man
Goodbye, Charlie. Goodbye, Uncle Sam
Frankly, Miss Scarlet, I don’t give a damn
What is the truth, where did it go?
Ask Oswald and Ruby, they ought to know
“Shut your mouth,” said a wise old owl
Business is business, and it’s murder most foul

Tommy, can you hear me? I’m the Acid Queen
I’m riding in a long black Lincoln limousine
Riding in the back seat, next to my wife
Heading straight on into the afterlife
I’m leaning to the left, got my head in her lap
Oh Lord, I’ve been led into some kind of a trap
We ask no quarter, no quarter do we give
We’re right down the street from the street where you live
They mutilated his body, and they took out his brain
What more could they do, they piled on the pain
But his soul was not there, where it was supposed to be at
For the last fifty years they’ve been searching for that
Freedom, oh freedom. Freedom over me
hate to tell you, Mister, but only dead men are free
Send me some loving, tell me no lie
Throw the gun in the gutter and walk on by
Wake up, little Suzie, let’s go for a drive
Cross the Trinity River, let’s keep hope alive
Turn the radio on, don’t touch the dials
Parkland Hospital’s only six more miles
You got me Dizzy Miss Lizzy, you filled me with lead
That magic bullet of yours is going to my head
I’m just a patsy like Patsy Cline
I never shot anyone from in front or behind
Got blood in my eyes, got blood in my ear
I’m never gonna make it to the new frontier

Zapruder’s film, I’ve seen that before
Seen it thirty-three times, maybe more
It’s vile and deceitful. It’s cruel and it’s mean
Ugliest thing that you ever have seen
They killed him once and they killed him twice
Killed him like a human sacrifice
The day that they killed someone said to me, “Son,
The age of the anti-Christ has just only begun.”
Air Force One coming in through the gate
Johnson sworn in at two thirty-eight
Let me know when you decide to throw in the towel
It is what it is, and it’s murder most foul

What’s new, pussycat? Wha’d I say?
I said the soul of a nation been torn away
And it’s beginning to go down into a slow decay
And that it’s thirty-six hours past Judgement Day
Wolfman Jack, he’s speaking in tongues
He’s going on and on at the top of his lungs
Play me a song, Mr. Wolfman Jack
Play it for me and my long Cadillac
Play that Only the Good Die Young
Take me to the place Tom Dooley was hung
Play “St. James Infirmary” and in the court of King James
If you want to remember, better write down the names
Play Etta James too, play I’d Rather Go Blind
Play it for the man with the telepathic mind
Play John Lee Hooker play Scratch My Back
Play it for that strip club owner named Jack
Guitar Slim Going Down Slow
Play it for me and for Marilyn Monroe
And please, Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood
Play it for the First Lady, she ain’t feeling that good
Play Don Henley, play Glenn Frey
Take it to the Limit and let it go by
And play it for Carl Wilson, too
Looking far, far away down Gower Avenue
Play Tragedy, play Twilight Time
Take Me Back to Tulsa to the scene of the crime
Play another one, and Another One Bites the Dust
Play the Old Rugged Cross and in God We Trust
Ride the Pink Horse down that Long, Lonesome Road
Stand there and wait for his head to explode
Play Mystery Train for Mr. Mystery
The man who fell down dead like a rootless tree
Play it for the Reverend, play it for the Pastor
Play it for the dog that got no master
Play Oscar Peterson, play Stan Getz
Play Blue Sky, play Dickey Betts
Play Art Pepper, Thelonious Monk
Charlie Parker and all that junk
All that junk and All that Jazz
Play something for the Birdman of Alcatraz
Play Buster Keaton, play Harold Lloyd,
Play Bugsy Siegel, Play Pretty Boy Floyd
Play all the numbers, play all the odds
Play Cry Me a River for the Lord of the Gods
Play number nine, play number six
Play it for Lindsey and Stevie Nicks
Play Nat King Cole, play Nature Boy
Play Down in the Boondocks for Terry Malloy
Play It Happened One Night and One Night of Sin
There’s 12 million souls that are listening in
Play Merchant of Venice, play Merchants of Death
Play Stella by Starlight for Lady Macbeth
Don’t worry, Mr. President. Help’s on the way
Your brothers are coming, there’ll be hell to pay
Brothers? What brothers? What’s this about hell?
Tell ’em, we’re waiting. Keep coming. We’ll get them as well
Love Field is where his plane touched down
But it never did get back up off the ground
Was a hard act to follow, second to none
They killed him on the altar of the Rising Sun
Play Misty for Me, and That Old Devil Moon
Play Anything Goes, and Memphis in June
Play Lonely at the Top, and Lonely Are the Brave
Play it for Houdini spinning around in his grave
Play Jelly Roll Morton, play Lucille
Play Deep in a Dream, and play Driving Wheel
Play Moonlight Sonata in F sharp
And a Key to the Highway of the king of the harp
Play Marching Through Georgia, and Dumbarton’s Drum
Play Darkness and death will come when it comes
Play Love Me or Leave Me by the great Bud Powell
Play The Blood-Stained Banner, play Murder Most Foul