With one of her first singles turning into a national hit, 1962's "Let Me Down Easy", Detroit-raised LaVette would seem a natural soul star, but she was never able to cut an album deal. In 1972 her album A Child of the Seventies was shelved by Atlantic Records, then thought lost forever in a fire. She eked out a living on the European festival circuit, occasionally surfacing such as with the disco single "Doin' the Best that I Can", but remained obscure until French soul collector Gilles Petard tracked down the lost masters and persuaded Atlantic to let him release them on his vanity label as Souvenirs. A live album and 2005's cover album I've Got My Own Hell to Raise followed.
With the release of The Scene of the Crime, Bettye Lavette inches closer to the mainstream, or at least a much bigger cult following. Backed by The Drive-by Truckers and released on -Anti, The Scene of the Crime is recorded at the legendary FAME studios in Muscles Shoals, Alabama. The same place as her lost album. The connection doesn't end there - Patterson Hood of the Drive-by Truckers is the son of David Hood, who played on the 1972 album.
In 2009, she appeared at President Barack Obama's Inaugural Celebration, singing "A Change Is Gonna Come" with Jon Bon Jovi. It was televised globally.
Most Of The Time
Bettye LaVette Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm clear focused all around,
Most of the time
I can keep both feet on the ground,
I can follow the path, I can read the signs,
Stay right with it, when the road unwinds,
I can handle whatever I stumble upon,
I don't even notice she's gone,
Most of the time
It's well understood,
Most of the time
I wouldn't change it if I could,
I can't make it all match up, I can hold my own,
I can deal with the situation right down to the bone,
I can survive, I can endure
And I don't even think about her
Most of the time.
Most of the time
My head is on straight,
Most of the time
I'm strong enough not to hate.
I don't build up illusion 'till it makes me sick,
I ain't afraid of confusion no matter how thick
I can smile in the face of mankind.
Don't even remember what her lips felt like on mine
Most of the time.
Most of the time
She ain't even in my mind,
I wouldn't know her if I saw her
She's that far behind.
Most of the time
I can't even be sure
If she was ever with me
Or if I was with her.
Most of the time
I'm halfway content,
Most of the time
I know exactly where I went,
I don't cheat on myself, I don't run and hide,
Hide from the feelings, that are buried inside,
I don't compromised and I don't pretend,
I don't even care if I ever see her again
Most of the time.
The song "Most of the Time" by Bettye Lavette is a track about living in the present, without the burden of a past relationship. Lavette sings about being able to handle whatever life throws at her, without feeling the absence of a lost lover. She is clear focused, strong enough not to hate, and able to deal with situations right down to the bone. She can smile in the face of mankind, not even remembering what her ex-lover's lips felt like on her own. Her head is on straight most of the time, she can follow the path and read the signs, and she knows exactly where she's going.
The song is a reflection of letting go, knowing that most of the time you don't think about the past because you're too busy dealing with what's in front of you. The singer sings about how she's stronger without her ex-lover, and even though she acknowledges that there are moments of struggle, she can endure them. She doesn't cheat herself or compromise, nor does she pretend to feel something that she doesn't. Overall, the song is about being content with who she is without anyone else's help.
Overall, the track is a reflection of an empowered state of autonomy, that is achieved when one is comfortable being by themselves. By not thinking about their ex-lover "most of the time", the singer is indicating that they have healed and grown beyond the need for their presence in their life. The song speaks about confidence and how it can be gained through the acceptance of an ending relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Most of the time
I'm clear focused all around,
It's usually easy for me to stay focused and aware of everything.
Most of the time
I can keep both feet on the ground,
I'm generally able to stay grounded and not get carried away emotionally.
I can follow the path, I can read the signs,
Stay right with it, when the road unwinds,
I can stick to my goals and keep moving forward, even when things get difficult.
I can handle whatever I stumble upon,
I don't even notice she's gone,
I'm able to deal with whatever life throws my way, and I'm not bothered by the absence of my former partner.
Most of the time.
Overall, I'm doing pretty well.
Most of the time
It's well understood,
Most of the time, I have a good understanding of my own situation.
Most of the time
I wouldn't change it if I could,
I'm generally happy with my life, even though my past relationship ended.
I can't make it all match up, I can hold my own,
I can deal with the situation right down to the bone,
I might not be able to control everything, but I'm able to handle things on my own and face difficult situations head-on.
I can survive, I can endure
And I don't even think about her
Most of the time.
I'm able to persevere and keep going, even though my ex is not on my mind much.
Most of the time
My head is on straight,
I'm usually level-headed and thinking clearly.
Most of the time
I'm strong enough not to hate.
Despite my past relationship ending, I'm able to avoid harboring strong negative feelings towards my ex.
I don't build up illusion 'till it makes me sick,
I ain't afraid of confusion no matter how thick
I'm able to face reality and avoid deluding myself, even when things get complicated or uncertain.
I can smile in the face of mankind.
Don't even remember what her lips felt like on mine
Most of the time.
I'm able to put on a good face and interact with others, and I mostly forget about the physical aspects of my past relationship.
Most of the time
She ain't even in my mind,
Most of the time, I'm not thinking about my ex at all.
I wouldn't know her if I saw her
She's that far behind.
It's been so long since I've thought about my ex that I might not even recognize her if I saw her today.
Most of the time
I can't even be sure
If she was ever with me
Or if I was with her.
My previous relationship feels like such a distant memory that I'm not even sure if it really happened.
Most of the time
I'm halfway content,
Most of the time, I'm pretty happy with my life in general.
Most of the time
I know exactly where I went,
I have a good grasp of my own past and where I came from.
I don't cheat on myself, I don't run and hide,
Hide from the feelings, that are buried inside,
I'm honest with myself and not afraid to face my own emotions, even if they're difficult.
I don't compromised and I don't pretend,
I don't even care if I ever see her again
Most of the time.
I stay true to myself and don't try to be someone I'm not, and I'm mostly indifferent to the idea of seeing my ex again.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FRANCIS DOMINIC NICHOLAS ROSSI, ROBERT YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@martienevers
Most of the Time
Bob Dylan
Most of the time
I'm clear focused all around
Most of the time
I can keep both feet on the ground
I can follow the path
I can read the signs
Stay right with it
When the road unwinds
I can handle whatever
I stumble upon
I don't even notice
She's gone
Most of the time
Most of the time
It's well understood
Most of the time
I wouldn't change it if i could
I can't make it all match up
I can hold my own
I can deal with the situation
Right down to the bone
I can survive
And i can endure
And i don't even think
About her
Most of the time
Most of the time
My head is on straight
Most of the time
I'm strong enough not to hate
I don't build up illusion
'Till it makes me sick
I ain't afraid of confusion
No matter how thick
I can smile in the face
Of mankind
Don't even remember
What her lips felt like on mine
Most of the time
Most of the time
She ain't even in my mind
I wouldn't know her if i saw her
She's that far behind
Most of the time
I can't even be sure
If she was ever with me
Or if i was ever with her
Most of the time
I'm halfway content
Most of the time
I know exactly where it all went
I don't cheat on myself
I don't run and hide
Hide from the feelings
That are buried inside
I don't compromise
And i don't pretend
I don't even care
If i ever see her again
Most of the time
@Zimium
She doesn't just sing the lyrics, she expresses them. Great cover. Bob would approve. :)
@r.j.bianchino3379
Just adding a little funk 'n soul to America's greatest song poet's music. Thank you Bettye.
@StefluWildcatFan99
I almost never found this version after hearing it on the car radio. OMGSH i love it!
@chrisfreeman8941
I was fortunate to see her live at the Ryman Theatre last year. Hell of a show. She had great moves and energy. I couldn't believe I never heard of her back in the day. Funky and sexy as hell.
@meganmurray7407
This is awesome, took the words right out of my mouth. How she took Dylan's song that he did with great lyrics but not so good music and made it her own with such a great vibe and true emotion, to reach a whole different generation of listeners is completely AWESOME!!!
@davidroberts1702
Not sure I can agree with the last part of your paragraph, can you imagine Taylor Swift's "generation" listening to this? I can't, and they are definitely a "whole different" generation. Same for Bieber, Beyonce, Shakira, etc. Bettye has been around for decades, did her pop thing, and has the chops to do Dylan in her own voice (as you've pointed out). So in my opinion, she did this for those past generations who recognize R&B talent, not anyone current.
@YehudaAryehPollack
Amazing cover. So much soul and pain
@SuperBartles
Costas brought me here.
I had to listen really carefully to the lyrics and search and search. I eventually found the right song - and listened to Ani DiFancos version, Sophie Zelmani's - now finally found it. Brilliant vocal performance, excellent arrangement, lovely backing instruments. Anyone else reminded of Hendrix here?
Costas should really publish their playlists...
@speereettoo
Great Dylan's cover... ty 4 post!!!
@ukebob
Wow! Great music!