Analysis of Maggie's Farm by Bob Dylan

I ain't gonna work on Maggie's Farm, no more
No, I ain't gonna work on Maggie's Farm, no more
Well, I wake up in the morning, fold my hands, and pray for rain
I got a head full of ideas, that are drivin' me insane

-for the NotePD community...

I'm going to try to figure this out without looking up any other websites, just the lyrics.

1. Maggie's Brother is a local/municipal government

I ain't gonna work for Maggie's brother, no more
Nah, I ain't gonna work for Maggie's brother, no more
Well, he hands you a nickel, and he hands you a dime
And he asks you with a grin, if you're havin' a good time

Services are meagre or poor (parks, garbage collection), but one is supposed to have hometown pride

2. Maggie's Brother is a local/municipal government (part 2)

Then he fines you every time
You slam the door
I ain't gonna work for, nah
I ain't gonna work for Maggie's brother, no more

By-laws are restrictive and punitive - you get fined.

3. Maggie's Pa is the federal government

I ain't gonna work for Maggie's pa, no more
No, I ain't gonna work for Maggie's pa, no more
Well, he puts his cigar out in your face just for kicks
His bedroom window it is made out of bricks

Capable of cruelty, and displays a lack of transparency in its operations.

4. Maggie's Pa is the federal government (part 2)

The National Guard stands around his door
I ain't gonna work for Maggie's pa no more

Protected by the military

5. Maggie's Ma is the military industrial complex or the wealthy elite

I ain't gonna work for Maggie's ma no more
No, I ain't gonna work for Maggie's ma no more

Well, she talks to all the servants about man and God and law
Everybody says she's the brains behind pa

The power behind the power...

6. Maggie's Ma is the military industrial complex or the wealthy elite (part 2)

She's sixty-eight, but she says she's fifty-four
I ain't gonna work for Maggie's ma no more

Maintaining that 'behind the curtain' status takes deception.

7. Maggie's Farm is Society itself

Well, I try my best to be just like I am
But everybody wants you to be just like them
They say, "Sing while you slave" and I just get bored
I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more

Conformity, being a cog in the machine.

Apkussma