It's All Over Now Baby Blue
#BobDylan Lyrics
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But whatever you wish to keep, you better grab it fast
Yonder stands your orphan with his gun
Crying like a fire in the sun
Look out the saints are comin' through
And it's all over now, baby blue
The highway is for gamblers, better use your sense
The empty-handed painter from your streets
Is drawing crazy patterns on your sheets
This sky, too, is folding under you
And it's all over now, baby blue
All your seasick sailors, they are rowing home
All your reindeer armies, are all going home
The lover who just walked out your door
Has taken all his blankets from the floor
The carpet, too, is moving under you
And it's all over now, baby blue
Leave your stepping stones behind, something calls for you
Forget the dead you've left, they will not follow you
The vagabond who's rapping at your door
Is standing in the clothes that you once wore
Strike another match, go start anew
And it's all over now, baby blue
Bob Dylan's "It's All Over Now Baby Blue" is considered one of his masterpieces. The song features complex and ambiguous lyrics that have been interpreted in many different ways. The tone of the lyrics is generally considered to be one of mourning and loss, and the song is often interpreted as a farewell to the 1960s and the era of social, political, and cultural upheaval that it represented.
The first verse of the song describes a sense of urgency and the need to act quickly in order to gather what is most important and move on. The reference to an orphan with a gun adds to the overall sense of danger and instability. The line "Look out the saints are comin' through" can be interpreted in many ways, but it may refer to the religious and spiritual movements that were gaining popularity at the time.
The second verse of the song seems to warn against relying too much on chance and luck, and instead urges the listener to pay attention to what they have already learned and use that as a guide. The "empty-handed painter" may refer to an artist who has nothing to offer but their own unique perspective on the world. The line "this sky, too, is folding under you" suggests a sense of impending doom.
The final verse of the song suggests that it is time to leave the past behind and start over. The reference to "stepping stones" implies that there is a path to follow, and the line "forget the dead you've left" suggests that it is necessary to let go of past mistakes and regrets in order to move forward. The final line, "it's all over now, baby blue," seems to be a bittersweet farewell to the past.
Line by Line Meaning
You must leave now, take what you need, you think will last
You need to leave now, only taking with you what you believe will continue to last in the future.
But whatever you wish to keep, you better grab it fast
If there's anything you want to keep with you, you need to take it quickly because time is running out.
Yonder stands your orphan with his gun
Your orphaned past is standing before you, armed with the power to harm you.
Crying like a fire in the sun
Overwhelming emotions encapsulate the orphan like the intense heat of the sun feels on a scorching day.
Look out the saints are comin' through
Be aware that those deemed as saints are approaching with the intention to cleanse and purify the situation.
And it's all over now, baby blue
The situation and time to make a change is coming to a close, and it's time to move on.
The highway is for gamblers, better use your sense
The path ahead is unknown and uncertain, so it's essential to use your common sense rather than taking unnecessary risks.
Take what you have gathered from coincidence
Make the most of all the unique and unexpected opportunities that have come your way and use them to move forward.
The empty-handed painter from your streets
The unknown artist from your area with little to no belongings is taking part in your journey.
Is drawing crazy patterns on your sheets
Their artistic ability to depict the past, present, and future is illustrated vividly on your sheets for you to see.
This sky, too, is folding under you
The once-solid and stable environment that surrounded you is collapsing, putting pressure on you to make a move.
And it's all over now, baby blue
The situation you're in is coming to a close, and it's time to start anew.
All your seasick sailors, they are rowing home
Everyone who was in the same boat you were is making their way back to where they belong.
All your reindeer armies, are all going home
The armies of people that were once loyal to you are leaving your side and returning to their own lives.
The lover who just walked out your door
Your significant other who recently left without warning is now gone.
Has taken all his blankets from the floor
They have taken all of their possessions, leaving a void in what was once filled by them.
The carpet, too, is moving under you
The foundation of the environment around you is shifting, making you feel unstable.
And it's all over now, baby blue
The situation has come to a close, and it's time to find a new path forward.
Leave your stepping stones behind, something calls for you
It's time to leave the guideposts of your past behind and move towards a new calling that awaits you.
Forget the dead you've left, they will not follow you
Do not dwell on the memories of the past, because they cannot join you on the future journey.
The vagabond who's rapping at your door
The wanderer who does not have a fixed abode who is knocking at your door.
Is standing in the clothes that you once wore
They have donned the clothing you once possessed, representing a new beginning.
Strike another match, go start anew
Set a new flame to your past and start over with a fresh perspective.
And it's all over now, baby blue
The present struggle has come to a close, opening doors for new beginnings.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, AUDIAM, INC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@juanpablopigliacampo5317
This song inspires a "goodbye", at the same time that it forces you to just move on. The harmonica is almost literally crying before the last verses... And, oh my God, the last sentences:
"Leave your stepping stones behind, something calls for you
Forget the dead you've left, they will not follow you
The vagabond who's rapping at your door
Is standing in the clothes that you once wore
Strike another match, go start anew
And it's all over now, baby blue".
Incredible song from an incredible artist.
@jasonleon857
You must leave now, take what you need, you think will last
But whatever you wish to keep, you better grab it fast
Yonder stands your orphan with his gun
Crying like a fire in the sun
Look out, the saints are comin' through
And it's all over now, Baby Blue
The highway is for gamblers, better use your sense
Take what you have gathered from coincidence
The empty-handed painter from your streets
Is drawing crazy patterns on your sheets
The sky too is folding under you
And it's all over now, Baby Blue
All your seasick sailors, they're all rowing home
Your empty-handed army is all going home
Your lover who just walked out the door
Has taken all his blankets from the floor
The carpet too is moving under you
And it's all over now, Baby Blue
Leave your stepping stones behind there, something calls for you
Forget the dead you've left, they will not follow you
The vagabond who's rapping at your door
Is standing in the clothes that you once wore
Strike another match, go start anew
And it's all over now, Baby Blue
@skepticat2595
I haven't heard this song since 1970, I'd completely forgotten about it, when I heard it I wept, I'm a 70 yr old man, I've got a lump in my throat as I write this. Thank God for Bob Dylan.
@mikevo3974
Amen.
@xnimaryp
Me too. 73 now
@lenilenape
Same here- Seven Zero.
Always loved this song.
@charliebrockett428
Bob Dylan is sensational and this track breaks me up every time (and also Allen Ginsberg).........Allen Ginsberg on Bob Dylan https://youtu.be/84bNaA-BV4Q via @YouTube
@yamapenny5960
👍🧘♀️🌈🖼
@ruthmorgan7166
I'm 80, and this song meant so much to my late husband and I. He accompanied me on guitar but alas these days i sing Dylan's wonderful songs alone. I still have all Dylan's lps
@ghostmail
God bless you Ruth. Hope you're doing just fine
@snowblind8572
Thank you so much for sharing, this made me tear up.
@CO-oz1fk
❤️ what an incredible era to experience