If You See Her Say Hello
Andrea von Kampen Lyrics
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She might be in Tangier
She left here last early spring
Is livin′ there, I hear
Say for me that I'm all right
Though things get kind of slow
She might think that I′ve forgotten her
Don't tell her it isn't so
Like lovers often will
And to think of how she left that night
It still brings me a chill
And though our separation
It pierced me to the heart
She still lives inside of me
We′ve never been apart
If you get close to her
Kiss her once for me
I always have respected her
For doin′ what she did and gettin' free
Oh, whatever makes her happy
I won′t stand in the way
Though the bitter taste still lingers on
From the night I tried to make her stay
I see a lot of people
As I make the rounds
And I hear her name here and there
As I go from town to town
And I've never gotten used to it
I′ve just learned to turn it off
Either I'm too sensitive
Or else I′m gettin' soft
Sundown, yellow moon
I replay the past
I know every scene by heart
They all went by so fast
If she's passin′ back this way
I′m not that hard to find
Tell her she can look me up
If she's got the time
In Andrea von Kampen's song "If You See Her Say Hello," the lyrics depict a narrator longing for a past lover who has moved on to Tangier. The singer asks whoever sees her to relay a message that they are doing fine, even though things have been slow. The singer acknowledges the possibility that the lover may think they have forgotten about her, but assures that she still lives inside of them. Reflecting on a falling-out they had, the singer still feels a chill when recalling the night she left. They express respect for her decision to leave and find freedom, and they won't stand in the way of her happiness. However, the bitterness of the past still lingers, particularly from the night they tried to make her stay. As the singer travels from town to town, they hear her name and haven't gotten used to it yet. They reminisce about the past, replaying each scene in their mind, and express that if she ever passes back their way, she can look them up if she has the time.
Overall, "If You See Her Say Hello" showcases the singer's lingering emotions and longing for a lost lover. The lyrics explore themes of separation, reflection on past mistakes, and the bittersweet process of moving on.
Line by Line Meaning
If you see her, say hello
If you happen to come across her, kindly convey my greeting
She might be in Tangier
She could possibly be residing in Tangier
She left here last early spring
She departed from this place during the previous spring season
Is livin' there, I hear
I have heard that she is currently residing there
Say for me that I'm all right
Please inform her that I am doing fine
Though things get kind of slow
Even though life may be moving at a slower pace
She might think that I've forgotten her
It is possible that she believes I have erased her from my memory
Don't tell her it isn't so
But in reality, please do not disclose that it is not the case
We had a falling-out
We experienced a disagreement or dispute
Like lovers often will
Similar to the way romantic partners frequently do
And to think of how she left that night
And when I recall the manner in which she departed that evening
It still brings me a chill
It still sends a shiver down my spine
And though our separation
Despite the physical distance between us
It pierced me to the heart
It deeply affected me emotionally
She still lives inside of me
But she continues to exist within my thoughts and emotions
We've never been apart
Because we have always remained connected in some way
If you get close to her
In case you have the opportunity to be near her
Kiss her once for me
Please give her a gentle kiss on my behalf
I always have respected her
I have consistently held admiration for her
For doin' what she did and gettin' free
Because of her actions and achieving her freedom
Oh, whatever makes her happy
Oh, whatever brings her joy and fulfills her
I won't stand in the way
I will not obstruct or impede her path
Though the bitter taste still lingers on
Although the bitterness of our past remains present
From the night I tried to make her stay
Since the night I attempted to convince her to remain
I see a lot of people
I frequently come across many individuals
As I make the rounds
While I move from place to place
And I hear her name here and there
And every now and then, I catch whispers of her name
As I go from town to town
When I travel from one town to another
And I've never gotten used to it
And I have never become accustomed to it
I've just learned to turn it off
Instead, I have simply learned to ignore or suppress it
Either I'm too sensitive
Either I am overly perceptive or emotionally responsive
Or else I'm gettin' soft
Or perhaps I am becoming more tender-hearted
Sundown, yellow moon
At sunset, with the yellow moon in the sky
I replay the past
I often revisit and replay memories from the past
I know every scene by heart
I am familiar with every moment and detail
They all went by so fast
They all passed by quickly, without much notice
If she's passin' back this way
If she happens to be returning in this direction
I'm not that hard to find
I am not difficult to locate
Tell her she can look me up
Inform her that she can contact me
If she's got the time
If she has the availability or willingness
Writer(s): Bob Dylan
Contributed by Vivian V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.