For some reason, today has been a morose Friday. Usually, I’m excited and looking forward to fun and play ahead – and I’m sure there would be. Maybe it’s the weather, maybe it’s recent events triggering too many reminiscent thoughts and even worse, triggering the never-answered question of what my capacity for anything is.
Bob Dylan was my friend for most of this morning. Sad Bob Dylan, of course. “If You See Her, Say Hello” and “It Ain’t Me, Babe” have been suffering the wrath of repeat. And here, as always, for the purpose of over-identifying, are the lyrics of the latter song.
Go ‘way from my window
Leave at your own chosen speed
I’m not the one you want, babe
I’m not the one you need
You say you’re lookin’ for someone
Who’s never weak but always strong
To protect you and defend you
Whether you are right or wrong
Someone to open each and every door
But it ain’t me, babe
No, no, no, it ain’t me babe
It ain’t me you’re lookin’ for, babe.
Go lightly from the ledge, babe
Go lightly on the ground
I’m not the one you want, babe
I will only let you down
You say you’re lookin’ for someone
Who will promise never to part
Someone to close his eyes for you
Someone to close his heart
Someone who will die for you and more
But it ain’t me, babe
No, no, no, it ain’t me babe
It ain’t me you’re lookin’ for, babe.
Go melt back in the night
Everything inside is made of stone
There’s nothing in here moving
And anyway I’m not alone
You say you’re looking for someone
Who’ll pick you up each time you fall
To gather flowers constantly
And to come each time you call
A lover for your life and nothing more
But it ain’t me, babe
No, no, no, it ain’t me, babe
It ain’t me you’re lookin’ for, babe.
I do prefer the Bob Dylan original but Joan Baez’s version is sweet and somewhat pensive. Her little soliloquy, prior to starting the song, makes me feel a little sad – but hey, it was the 60’s – the time of free love. (It also ties in awkwardly to the prior post)
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB79mhN6Kb4]