It's All Over Now Baby Blue
Bob Dylan 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
Well, the highway is for gamblers, better use your sense
The empty-handed painter from your streets
Is drawing crazy patterns on your sheets
The sky, too, is folding under you
Yes, and it's all over now, baby blue
All your seasick sailors, they are rowing home
All your reindeer armies, they're all going home
The lover who has just walked out the door
Has taken all of his blankets from the floor
The carpet, too, is moving under you
Yes, 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
Yes, and it's all over now, baby blue
The song “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” by Bob Dylan, seems to be about the end of a relationship, where the singer is advising the other person to leave and take whatever they think they will need because their time together is over. The lyrics encourage the other person to move on and start anew, forgetting about the past and the people they have left behind. The first stanza tells the other person to leave before it’s too late, but to make sure they grab what they want because time is running out. The second stanza advises the other person to take what they have learned and gained from the relationship and use it to move forward. It also speaks about the chaos that is happening in their lives, represented by the empty-handed painter and the sky folding under them, indicating that the time for departure is now.
The third stanza seems to suggest that everyone is leaving, including the sailors and the lover who has taken his blankets and gone. The carpet is also moving under them, indicating that the life they knew is no more. The final stanza, however, suggests a hopeful outlook, as the singer encourages the other person to leave the past behind and start again. The vagabond at the door is the new opportunity, wearing the singer’s old clothes. Strike another match and start anew, the song advises, because it’s all over now, baby blue.
Line by Line Meaning
You must leave now, take what you need, you think will last
It's time for you to leave, take only what you value and believe will be useful in the future
But whatever you wish to keep, you better grab it fast
If you want to keep it, take it quickly before it's too late
Yonder stands your orphan with his gun
There is someone waiting for you who is lost and looking for guidance
Crying like a fire in the sun
This person is crying desperately, in a way that's impossible to ignore
Look out, the saints are comin' through
Be aware that something important is about to happen
And it's all over now, baby blue
This is a final farewell, things will never be the same from this point on
The highway is for gamblers, better use your sense
The road ahead is uncertain, so it's best to be practical and cautious
Take what you have gathered from coincidence
Use the experiences you've had along the way to inform your decisions
The empty-handed painter from your streets
Someone who used to rely on their creativity is now destitute
Is drawing crazy patterns on your sheets
This person is still trying to create something new, despite their lack of resources
The sky, too, is folding under you
The world feels chaotic and unstable around you
And it's all over now, baby blue
This chaos signifies an end, a time to move on to something else
All your seasick sailors, they are rowing home
Those who were once lost or struggling are now finding their way back to a safe place
Your empty-handed army is all going home
Those who once had nothing now have something, and they're headed back to where they came from
You lover who just walked out your door
Someone you loved has left you
Has taken all his blankets from the floor
This person has taken everything they owned with them, leaving you with nothing
The carpet, too, is moving under you
The world is spinning and shifting around you, leaving you feeling off balance
And it's all over now, baby blue
This loss signifies an end, a chance to move on and start over
Leave your stepping stones behind now, something calls for you
It's time to move on from your past and look to the future, there's something new waiting for you
Forget the dead you've left, they will not follow you
Don't dwell on those who have passed away, they can no longer be part of your life journey
The vagabond who's rapping at your door
There is someone new in your life, someone who is seeking a place to belong
Is standing in the clothes that you once wore
This new person is like the old you, and they are looking for a fresh start
Strike another match, go start anew
Light a new flame and begin a new chapter in your life
And it's all over now, baby blue
This is a definitive end, a final farewell to what has come before
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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