Arlo Guthrie (born 10th July 1947, Brooklyn, New York ) is an American folk… Read Full Bio ↴Arlo Guthrie (born 10th July 1947, Brooklyn, New York ) is an American folk singer who is the son of folk singer and composer Woody Guthrie and his wife Marjorie Mazia Guthrie, a one-time professional dancer with the Martha Graham Company and founder of The Committee to Combat Huntington's Disease. He graduated from the Stockbridge School of Massachusetts in 1965, and briefly attended Rocky Mountain College.

His most famous work is Alice's Restaurant, a talking blues song that lasts eighteen minutes and twenty seconds (in its original recorded version; Guthrie has been known to spin the story out to forty-five minutes in concert). The song, a bitingly satirical protest against the Vietnam War draft, is based on a true incident. In the song, Guthrie was called up for a draft examination, and rejected as unfit for military service as a result of a criminal record consisting in its entirety of a single arrest, court appearance, fine and clean-up order for littering. In reality, Guthrie, though a carrier of the genetically inherited disease Huntington's chorea, was classified as fit (1A); however, his draft-lottery number did not come up.

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Arlo Guthrie Lyrics

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Hello again the mornin' dawn has burned away
The midnight mist
Now and then I feel so fine
And now and then I don't feel lonely
Now and then and only in my mind

I want to go outside today go away, I think I'll stay
Now and then I talk with you

And now and then you turn me on
Now and then and when I don't feel blue

Maybe I could tell you now that I really love you
Pleased to understand that you are there, in the air
Now and then you turn me on
Now and then you must be gone

Now and then I said
Say so long, now and forever then

Overall Meaning

Arlo Guthrie's song Now and Then reflects on different emotions and moments in life. The song starts with the singer acknowledging the passing of time in a beautiful metaphor. The morning is burning away the midnight mist, and the day is starting anew. The singer then talks about how sometimes they feel good and sometimes they don't, indicating the ups and downs of life. However, the positive moments are emphasized as they make the singer feel less lonely. These feelings are portrayed as the singer's internal thoughts, providing insight into the character's inner conflict. The contemplative tone highlights the introspective nature of the song, and the sentiment is echoed throughout.

The second verse continues with the singer expressing their desire to go outside but also suggests that they might stay in. The lyrics 'Now and then I talk with you, and now and then you turn me on' exposes the uncertainty surrounding the relationship being portrayed. Despite this, the narration conveys an undeniable fondness for the other person, saying that they 'really love them.' In contrast to the previous verse, where the singer was 'feeling blue' in this verse, they convey a sense of immersion- possibly with their loved one. The last line of this verse, 'Now and then and when I don't feel blue,' seems to emphasize that these good days come as intermittent bursts rather than lasting stabilities.

The final verse continues the reflection on the uncertainty in the relationship. The line 'Now and then you must be gone' might suggest that the person they love disappears at times, leaving them alone again. However, in response to this, the singer takes control, saying 'Now and then I said, say so long.' It might suggest that the singer is taking responsibility and choosing to end the relationship because they prefer freedom over staying with someone who abandons them. The last line of the song, 'Now and forever then,' suggests that the singer is finally content with their choice.

Overall, the song Now and Then explores many of the thoughts and worries people experience in life. It highlights the tumultuous nature of relationships and offers insight into the human psyche. It starts on a reflective note, acknowledging the passage of time, then switches focus to the internal dialogues people have with their emotions, before ending on a decisive note.

Line by Line Meaning

Hello again the mornin' dawn has burned away
It's a new day and the sun has cleared the mist

The midnight mist
The fog that settled during the night

Now and then I feel so fine
Occasionally, I feel great

And now and then I don't feel lonely
Sometimes, loneliness escapes me

Now and then and only in my mind
These feelings are infrequent and fleeting

I want to go outside today go away, I think I'll stay
I feel a pull between leaving and staying inside

Now and then I talk with you
Every so often I converse with you

And now and then you turn me on
Occasionally you stimulate me

Now and then and when I don't feel blue
This only happens some of the time, not when I'm down

Maybe I could tell you now that I really love you
I have strong feelings for you that I want to express

Pleased to understand that you are there, in the air
To know that you're around brings happiness