Sara
Bob Dylan Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I laid on a dune, I looked at the sky
When the children were babies and played on the beach
You came up behind me, I saw you go by
You were always so close and still within reach

Sara, Sara
Whatever made you want to change your mind
Sara, Sara
So easy to look at, so hard to define

I can still see them playin' with their pails in the sand
They run to the water their buckets to fill
I can still see the shells fallin' out of their hands
As they follow each other back up the hill

Sara, Sara
Sweet virgin angel, sweet love of my life
Sara, Sara
Radiant jewel, mystical wife

Sleepin' in the woods by a fire in the night
Drinkin' white rum in a Portugal bar
Them playin' leapfrog and hearin' about Snow White
You in the marketplace in Savanna-la-Mar

Sara, Sara
It's all so clear, I could never forget
Sara, Sara
Lovin' you is the one thing I'll never regret

I can still hear the sounds of those Methodist bells
I'd taken the cure and had just gotten through
Stayin' up for days in the Chelsea Hotel
Writin' sad-eyed lady of the lowlands for you

Sara, Sara
Wherever we travel we're never apart
Sara, oh Sara
Beautiful lady, so dear to my heart

How did I meet you? I don't know
A messenger sent me in a tropical storm
You were there in the winter, moonlight on the snow
And on Lily Pond Lane when the weather was warm

Sara, oh Sara
Scorpio Sphinx in a calico dress
Sara, Sara
You must forgive me my unworthiness

Now the beach is deserted except for some kelp
And a piece of an old ship that lies on the shore
You always responded when I needed your help
You gimme a map and a key to your door

Sara, oh Sara
Glamorous nymph with an arrow and bow




Sara, oh Sara
Don't ever leave me, don't ever go

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bob Dylan’s song “Sara” paint a picture of nostalgia, longing and love. The song is believed to be a tribute to his then-wife, Sara Lowndes. The lyrics capture the essence of memories and moments shared together, as if they are playing through his mind like a movie. Dylan sings about watching their children play on the beach, and how Sara would often be close by, yet still just out of reach. The ambiguity is haunting, as it’s unclear what Dylan is really referring to when he sings of Sara changing her mind.


As the verse progresses, Dylan recalls memories of Sara in Portugal and Jamaica, where they drank white rum and played leapfrog. Other memories are set in the Chelsea Hotel, where Dylan penned “Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands,” a love song to Sara. The chorus consistently features Dylan singing about how hard it is to define Sara, how lovable she is and how he’ll never regret loving her. The final verse takes a particularly poignant turn, describing the desolate beach and how Sara would always respond whenever Dylan needed her help. The final line, "Don't ever leave me, don't ever go," is particularly poignant, showing just how much Sara meant to Dylan.


Overall, “Sara” is an ode to a love that has passed, but clearly holds a special place in Dylan's heart. The song captures the beauty found in memories, the pain in letting go of something that once was, and the enduring nature of love, even after time and distance have made it just a memory.



Line by Line Meaning

I laid on a dune, I looked at the sky
I was lying on a sand dune, gazing up at the sky


When the children were babies and played on the beach
It was a time when our children were young and playing on the beach


You came up behind me, I saw you go by
You walked by behind me, and I caught a glimpse of you


You were always so close and still within reach
Even though we may have been distant, you always remained close and reachable


Sara, Sara Whatever made you want to change your mind Sara, Sara So easy to look at, so hard to define
Oh Sara, I wonder what caused you to change your mind; you are beautiful and yet difficult to understand


I can still see them playin' with their pails in the sand They run to the water their buckets to fill I can still see the shells fallin' out of their hands As they follow each other back up the hill
I can still remember the children playing with their buckets in the sand, running to the water's edge to fill them, and the shells tumbling out of their hands as they returned up the hill


Sara, Sara Sweet virgin angel, sweet love of my life Sara, Sara Radiant jewel, mystical wife
Sara, you are my sweet, angelic love in life, a radiant and mystical gem of a wife


Sleepin' in the woods by a fire in the night Drinkin' white rum in a Portugal bar Them playin' leapfrog and hearin' about Snow White You in the marketplace in Savanna-la-Mar
I remember sleeping in the woods by the fire, drinking rum in a bar in Portugal, watching the children play leapfrog and hearing the story of Snow White, and seeing you in the marketplace of Savanna-la-Mar


Sara, Sara It's all so clear, I could never forget Sara, Sara Lovin' you is the one thing I'll never regret
Oh Sara, it's all so clear in my mind; I could never forget those moments with you, and loving you is the one thing I will never regret


I can still hear the sounds of those Methodist bells I'd taken the cure and had just gotten through Stayin' up for days in the Chelsea Hotel Writin' sad-eyed lady of the lowlands for you
I can still hear the sounds of the Methodist bells, and remember staying up for days in the Chelsea Hotel after my treatment, writing 'Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands' for you


Sara, Sara Wherever we travel we're never apart Sara, oh Sara Beautiful lady, so dear to my heart
Sara, no matter where we go in life, we're always together; you, beautiful lady, are so dear to my heart


How did I meet you? I don't know A messenger sent me in a tropical storm You were there in the winter, moonlight on the snow And on Lily Pond Lane when the weather was warm
I do not know exactly how we met, but I remember a messenger coming for me during a tropical storm; I also remember seeing you in the snow during winter, and on Lily Pond Lane when the weather was warm


Sara, oh Sara Scorpio Sphinx in a calico dress Sara, Sara You must forgive me my unworthiness
Sara, you are like a Scorpio Sphinx wearing a calico dress; please forgive my feelings of unworthiness


Now the beach is deserted except for some kelp And a piece of an old ship that lies on the shore You always responded when I needed your help You gimme a map and a key to your door
The beach is empty now, except for some kelp and a piece of an old ship; you always came to my aid when I needed it, and you gave me a map and a key to your door


Sara, oh Sara Glamorous nymph with an arrow and bow Sara, oh Sara Don't ever leave me, don't ever go
You are a glamorous nymph with an arrow and a bow, Sara; please never leave me or go away




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@justmebeingbored1794

- blowin in the Wind
- Masters of war
- Hard Rain
- the times they are a changin
- chimes of freedom
- all I want
- it’s all over now
- like a Rolling Stone
- desolation row
- almost everything off blonde on blonde
- all along the watchtower
- tangled up in blue
- idiot wind
- isis
- hurricane
- cup of coffee

And that’s just a little piece of his early career, the nineties material is pretty good as well



@yassineazekri2942

I laid on a dune, I looked at the sky,
When the children were babies and played on the beach.
You came up behind me, I saw you go by,
You were always so close and still within reach.
Sara, Sara,
Whatever made you want to change your mind?
Sara, Sara,
So easy to look at, so hard to define.
I can still see them playin' with their pails in the sand,
They run to the water their buckets to fill.
I can still see the shells fallin' out of their hands
As they follow each other back up the hill.
Sara, Sara,
Sweet virgin angel, sweet love of my life,
Sara, Sara,
Radiant jewel, mystical wife.
Sleepin' in the woods by a fire in the night,
Drinkin' white rum in a Portugal bar,
Them playin' leapfrog and hearin' about Snow White,
You in the marketplace in Savanna-la-Mar.
Sara, Sara,
It's all so clear, I could never forget,
Sara, Sara,
Lovin' you is the one thing I'll never regret.
I can still hear the sounds of those Methodist bells,
I'd taken the cure and had just gotten through,
Stayin' up for days in the Chelsea Hotel,
Writin' "Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" for you.
Sara, Sara,
Wherever we travel we're never apart.
Sara, oh Sara,
Beautiful lady, so dear to my heart.
How did I meet you? I don't know.
A messenger sent me in a tropical storm.
You were there in the winter, moonlight on the snow
And on Lily Pond Lane when the weather was warm.
Sara, oh Sara,
Scorpio Sphinx in a calico dress,
Sara, Sara,
You must forgive me my unworthiness.
Now the beach is deserted except for some kelp
And a piece of an old ship that lies on the shore.
You always responded when I needed your help,
You gimme a map and a key to your door.
Sara, oh Sara,
Glamorous nymph with an arrow and bow,
Sara, oh Sara,
Don't ever leave me, don't ever go.



@user-ip9yu7lp1q

Lyrics:
I laid on a dune, I looked at the sky,
When the children were babies and played on the beach.
You came up behind me, I saw you go by,
You were always so close and still within reach.
Sara, Sara,
Whatever made you want to change your mind?
Sara, Sara,
So easy to look at, so hard to define.
I can still see them playin' with their pails in the sand,
They run to the water their buckets to fill.
I can still see the shells fallin' out of their hands
As they follow each other back up the hill.
Sara, Sara,
Sweet virgin angel, sweet love of my life,
Sara, Sara,
Radiant jewel, mystical wife.
Sleepin' in the woods by a fire in the night,
Drinkin' white rum in a Portugal bar,
Them playin' leapfrog and hearin' about Snow White,
You in the marketplace in Savanna-la-Mar.
Sara, Sara,
It's all so clear, I could never forget,
Sara, Sara,
Lovin' you is the one thing I'll never regret.
I can still hear the sounds of those Methodist bells,
I'd taken the cure and had just gotten through,
Stayin' up for days in the Chelsea Hotel,
Writin' "Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" for you.
Sara, Sara,
Wherever we travel we're never apart.
Sara, oh Sara,
Beautiful lady, so dear to my heart.
How did I meet you? I don't know.
A messenger sent me in a tropical storm.
You were there in the winter, moonlight on the snow
And on Lily Pond Lane when the weather was warm.
Sara, oh Sara,
Scorpio Sphinx in a calico dress,
Sara, Sara,
You must forgive me my unworthiness.
Now the beach is deserted except for some kelp
And a piece of an old ship that lies on the shore.
You always responded when I needed your help,
You gimme a map and a key to your door.
Sara, oh Sara,
Glamorous nymph with an arrow and bow,
Sara, oh Sara,
Don't ever leave me, don't ever go.



@michaelstockman8521

Thanks 😊 ☺️😘 n I love you too...U know
Sad Lady 💔😥💔😢 of the Lowlands , ...
Really , ... SUCKS , ...
Dylan has so many ...
Great ONES... , Like
" Shelter From the
Storm " anything on
" Blood on the Tracks"
Visions of Joanna , ...
Sara 2 mention a... Few... ! !



All comments from YouTube:

@saratummers8128

So glad my parents called me after this song. My sweet mom died 10 years ago and we've burried my dear dad one week ago. My heart is broken but I'm so thankfull for everything they learnt me. Love, but also the real music!

@WolfCourtaud

May they rest in peace, I'm sorry for your lose. I was listening to this song with my Dad, and we don't talk tho he's still alive. But those are still good memories and I'm sure you got much better ones with your parents. That's what this song is about, remembering and cherishing loving memories that stay with us although the people that created them ain't around anymore.

@1829scott

you are a sweet lady, you made me smile

@oliverdecker249

im so sorry,hard times losing the ones who always cared.my father died 86 of aids when i was fifteen.my mom is still with me and with the years we get along even better.she introduced me this song,i love it

@stojandobrocelic1315

In this song we recognize pain, and beauty!

@NamNguyen-zc6hq

I'm crying when i read your coment ... This is frist time I listed this song ...I feel so embarrassed because I've never heard this song
Take care , Sara lady ... Greeting from VietNam

126 More Replies...

@kimwakefield7793

Imagine having a song like this being written for you. It's so so beautiful.

@sirbarnabyst.johntoffingto9017

. . . and she still divorced him!!

@prabinprabin5490

This song came before or after the divorce?

@guilhermevideira1

@@prabinprabin5490 when a couple splits, it was already over long ago... It doesn't matter if it was before or after the divorce, I guess

More Comments

More Versions