LYRICS & MUSIC BY BOB DYLAN
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|
Guitar introduction |
| Dylan |
1.a |
If you're travelin', to the north country fair
Where the winds hit heavy, on the borderline
Remember me, to one who lives there
For she once was a true love of mine. |
| Cash |
2. |
See for me that her hair's hangin' down
It curls and falls all down her breast
See for me that her hair's hangin' down
That's the way I remember her best. |
| Dylan: |
3. |
If you go when the snow flakes fall
When the rivers freeze and summer ends
Please see for me if she's wearing her coat so warm
To keep her from the howling winds. |
| Duo
Cash/Dylan |
1.b |
If you're travelin', in the north country fair
Where the winds hit heavy, on the borderline
Please say hello/Remember me,to the
one who lives there
For she was once a true love of mine. |
|
|
Guitar Bridge |
| Duo |
1.c |
If you're travelin', in the north country fair
Where the winds hit heavy, on the borderline
Remember me, to the one who lives there
For she once was, a true, love, of, mine. |
| Cash |
|
True love of mine |
| Dylan |
|
A true love of mine |
| Cash |
|
:A true love of mine |
| Dylan |
|
A true love of mine |
| Cash |
|
:A true love of mine |
| Dylan |
|
A true love of mine |
| Cash |
|
She was once a true love of mine |
|
|
Drum roll close. |
Official Sony Music Lyrics at
nnn
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ANNOTATION
Source/Precedents
First Bob Dylan version on FREEWHEELIN' (1963), based on Martin
Carthy (arrangement) : Scarborough Fair (Traditional)
Bob Dylan toured England in December 1962, #15. recorded April 24,
1963.
Mellers: A Backdrop: 'a rehash of Scarborough Fair...in traditional
folk style, a message to his girl by way of a third party' pp 127 |
Comments
| 1. |
Slower than #15, sang as a duo: Dylan high voice first
verse, deep register Cash second verse, Dylan third verse and harmony
on double repeat first verse with alternating fade out. |
| 2. |
Verse 4 from the original is omitted and Verses 2 and 3 are switched. |
| 3. |
First of the major love songs, this hinging on the performance
negating the common implication of was once. |
| 4. |
First collaboration on record with another recognized artist,
a practice returned to at various times, most notably with Johnny Cash
and Carl Perkins' Sun stable mate Roy Orbison and some other musicians
in the Traveling Wilburys. |
| 5. |
High/low duo vocal arrangement used with double tracking onThe
Boxer (Paul Simon), track 10? on the next recording, SELFPORTRAIT
(1970). |
| 6. |
Four Bob Dylan alternative versions, all interesting. The song has
often appeared in live performance.Also compare and contrast Boots
of Spanish Leather. |
The Critics
| 1. Mellers: 'is more sensuous' pp 161 |
| 2.Heylin Behind Closed Doors: 'curiously soulless' page 76. |
Notes
north country and (Canadian/USA)
borderline : indicative of an early romance in Bob Dylan's hometown,
Hibbing/Duluth Minnesota.
'Echo Helstrom Hibbing girlfriend : subject of The Girl From
the North Country, and maybe of
Hazel.' Gray and Bauldie Telegraph pp
271. |
| fair : is lyrically incongruous and is a
remnant from the source Scarborough Fair. |
| once was and was once : are interchanged
regularly at 1.a.4, 1.b.4 and the last line. |
| Please say hello/Remember me : confusion
over correct phrase, with the deeper Cash dominating. |
|
ALTERNATIVE RECORDINGS
Bob Dylan
Other Artists
| 1. |
Martin Carthy : Scarborough Fair
? |
| 2. |
Paul Simon : Scarborough Fair/Canticle. Appears on PARSLEY,
SAGE, ROSEMARY AND THYME , (September 1966) and many compilations. |
| 3. |
Joe Cocker MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN, (1970) with Leon Russell.
Also on the compilation CD: THE SONGS OF BOB DYLAN, Sequel
Records1993 |
| 4. |
Pete Townshend: North Country Girl. - an interesting
post- nuclear holocaust version.
Appears on ALL THE BEST COWBOYS HAVE CHINESE EYES 198x. |
For extensive information on alternate versions see Olof
Björner's excellent ...
It
Ain’t Me, Babe
|
RECORDING DETAILS
| Recorded: |
February 18 1969 |
| Release Date : |
April 9 1969 |
| Published : |
Warner Bros, Inc. 1963 |
| Studio: |
Columbia Music Row Studios, Nashville Tennessee USA |
| Master Number: |
NCO 98945 |
| Producer: |
Bob Johnson |
| Engineer/s: |
Charlie Bragg, Neil Wilburn |
| Company: |
Columbia KCS 9825 CBS CDCBS 63601 |
| Record: |
Side A Track 1 (1969) |
| CD: |
Track 1 (1985) |
| Time: |
3.38 minutes |
Personnel:
Bob Dylan
Johnny Cash
W. S. Holland
Marshall Grant
Norman Blake and/or
Bob Wotton and/or
Carl Perkins |
Vocals/Guitar
Vocals/Guitar
Drums
Bass
Guitar (Probably one, unlikely all three) |
All Recording Data usually from Record /Compact Disc Cover,
and
Clinton Heylin, Dylan : Behind Closed Doors - The Recording Sessions
1960-1994 Penguin Books 1996
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