The song describes an anonymous lost love, who no longer loves the persona after they had "a falling out". Although the persona clearly feels wounded by the break up: "Our separation, It pierced me to the heart", he appears not to resent the anonymous character, declaring "Oh, whatever makes her happy, I won't stand in the way"
There is also a version in Italian by Francesco De Gregori, called Non Dirle Che Non E' Cosi'
Jeff Buckley covered the song in a live performance on his album Live at Sin-é.
It is mentioned by David Duchovny's character Hank at the end of episode five of the Showtime series Californication.
An interview with Ricky Gervais mentioned the song as a favourite, but it was incorrectly transcribed as "If You See A Sailor".
The Brazilian singer Renato Russo made a cover for this song but due to his homosexual preference changed the title and lyrics to "If you see HIM, say hello".
If You See Her Say Hello
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
We had a falling-out
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 "If You See Her, Say Hello," Bob Dylan mourns a lost love the inability to move past it. He asks a friend to relay a message to her: "Say for me that I'm alright. Even though things get kind of slow." He's putting on a brave face while acknowledging the disappointment of how things turned out. Dylan is also aware that she may believe that he has forgotten completely her, but assures her that it isn't so.
This song is tinged with the bittersweet nostalgia of someone who has endured a lot of painful memories. It's a message of resignation, a plea for his friend to relate to her that he won't stand in the way of her newfound happiness even if the bitter taste of rejection still lingers on. Dylan reflects on the night they parted ways, and it's still a source of pain, even though he acknowledges whatever made her happy was the right choice.
It's a song characterized by a sense of melancholy and longing. The lyrics are a poignant reminder of the inevitability of time moving on, and how people can grow apart. In the last verse, Dylan seems resigned to the fact that he may never see the woman again, but asks his friend to tell her to look him up if she ever passes back through.
Line by Line Meaning
If you see her, say hello
If you happen to come across her, please convey my regards
She might be in Tangier
I heard she might be residing in Tangier
She left here last early spring
She departed from here in the early springtime of the last year
Is livin' there, I hear
I have heard that she is living there now
Say for me that I'm all right
Kindly inform her that I am doing fine
Though things get kind of slow
Although life's pace has slowed down a little for me
She might think that I've forgotten her
Perhaps she assumes that I have erased her from my memory
Don't tell her it isn't so
Please do not correct her incorrect assumption
We had a falling-out
Our relationship ended abruptly
Like lovers often will
Just like it happens with many romantic relationships
And to think of how she left that night
Recalling the way she departed on that particular evening
It still brings me a chill
Can still make me shiver in apprehension
And though our separation
Despite the time that has passed since we parted ways
It pierced me to the heart
It hurt me deeply and emotionally
She still lives inside of me
I still hold feelings for her in my heart
We've never been apart
Our memories and the love still bind us together
If you get close to her
In case you happen to be near her
Kiss her once for me
Please greet her with a kiss from me
I always have respected her
I hold her in high regard and have always admired her
For doin' what she did and gettin' free
For doing what she wanted and setting herself free
Oh, whatever makes her happy
I hope she finds happiness, whatever she chooses to do
I won't stand in the way
I will not impede her path or decision
Though the bitter taste still lingers on
But the bitterness of what happened still remains
From the night I tried to make her stay
From the night when, against her wishes, I insisted she stay
I see a lot of people
As I continue to travel and meet new individuals
As I make the rounds
As I go from place to place
And I hear her name here and there
Her name comes up in conversations now and then
As I go from town to town
As I continue to move between various destinations
And I've never gotten used to it
But I have never grown accustomed to it
I've just learned to turn it off
But I have learned to ignore it or suppress my emotions
Either I'm too sensitive
Maybe I am more emotional and sensitive than other people
Or else I'm gettin' soft
Or maybe I am losing my strength and resilience
Sundown, yellow moon
As the sun sets and the moon rises
I replay the past
I often reminisce about the past
I know every scene by heart
I can recite every significant event of our relationship
They all went by so fast
It all feels like it happened in a flash
If she's passin' back this way
If she happens to come back this way
I'm not that hard to find
Let her know that I am easily accessible
Tell her she can look me up
Convey the message that she can get in touch with me
If she's got the time
If she is willing to take the time to reach out to me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@marcoevans2155
@Proper oh yeah, eat this?!?
Darkness at the break of noon
Shadows even the silver spoon
The handmade blade, the child's balloon
Eclipses both the sun and moon
To understand you know too soon
There is no sense in trying.
Pointed threats, they bluff with scorn
Suicide remarks are torn
From the fools gold mouthpiece
The hollow horn plays wasted words
Proves to warn
That he not busy being born
Is busy dying.
Temptation's page flies out the door
You follow, find yourself at war
Watch waterfalls of pity roar
You feel the moan but unlike before
You discover
That you'd just be
One more person crying.
So don't fear if you hear
A foreign sound to your ear
It's alright, Ma, I'm only sighing.
As some warn victory, some downfall
Private reasons great or small
Can be seen in the eyes of those that call
To make all that should be killed to crawl
While others say don't hate nothing at all
Except hatred.
Disillusioned words like bullets bark
As human gods aim for their mark
Make everything from toy guns that spark
To flesh-colored Christs that glow in the dark
It's easy to see without looking too far
That not much
Is really sacred.
While preachers preach of evil fates
Teachers teach that knowledge waits
Can lead to hundred-dollar plates
And goodness hides behind its gates
But even the President of the United States
Sometimes must have
To stand naked.
And though the rules of the road have been lodged
It's only people's games that you got to dodge
And it's alright, Ma, I can make it.
Advertising signs that con you
Into thinking you're the one
That can do what's never been done
That can win what's never been won
Meantime life outside goes on
All around you.
You lose yourself, you reappear
You suddenly find you got nothing to fear
Alone you stand with nobody near
When a trembling distant voice, unclear
Startles your sleeping ears to hear
That somebody thinks
They really found you.
A question in your nerves is lit
Yet you know there is no answer fit to satisfy
Ensure you not to quit
To keep it in your mind and not forget
That it is not he or she or them or it
That you belong to.
But though the masters make the rules
For the wise men and the fools
I got nothing, Ma, to live up to.
For them that must obey authority
That they do not respect in any degree
Who despise their jobs, their destiny
Speak jealously of them that are free
Do what they do just to be
Nothing more than something
They invest in.
While some on principles baptize
To strict party platforms ties
Social clubs in drag disguise
Outsiders they can freely criticize
Tell nothing except who to idolize
And say "God Bless him".
While one who sings with his tongue on fire
Gargles in the rat race choir
Bent out of shape from society's pliers
Cares not to come up any higher
But rather get you down in the hole
That he's in.
But I mean no harm nor put fault
On anyone that lives in a vault
But it's alright, Ma, if I can't please him.
Old lady judges, watch people in pairs
Limited in sex, they dare
To push fake morals, insult and stare
While money doesn't talk, it swears
Obscenity, who really cares
Propaganda, all is phony.
While them that defend what they cannot see
With a killer's pride, security
It blows the minds most bitterly
@juancamacho5746
If you see her, say hello
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
🎵🎶
We had a falling-out
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
@leulachamyeleh5054
No accusation, no blame game. Just simply a man singing his pain from the depth of his soul about loosing his lover. Magnificent
@lcolletti9901
I think true love is wanting the other to be happy
@cameroncampbell2277
Absolutely a legend I’m 26 and have known since I was a teen how wonderful his words are
@IainTheWizard
A beautiful depiction of a former lovers pain. He had a way of telling us a story in a way we can all relate to.
@treschicestmoi
*losing
@helenbostock2350
Hi if you say loose thier man pain
@evancodsworth2
Bob doesn’t get enough praise as a vocalist. He’s absolutely incredible.
@jeanniecampbell1374
I agree its more than a voice .
@lorrainedick8918
I love his vocals when he is in the studio but not so much on stage.
@trinidadapodaca7027
prove that with lay lady lay