Recording
The version of the song that appears on Bringing It All Back Home was recorded on the evening of January 14, 1965 and produced by Tom Wilson. This version included electric guitar parts played by John Hammond Jr. and Bruce Langhorne and a bass part played by William E. Lee in addition to Dylan's acoustic guitar and harmonica. However, like the other love song on side one, "Love Minus Zero/No Limit", "She Belongs to Me" was recorded a day earlier in an acoustic version. It was also recorded earlier in the day on January 14 with the full band that is used on the rest of side one of the album. An unreleased outtake of the song from the Bringing It All Back Home sessions is known to exist where Dylan is supported only by Langhorne's guitar, with no bass, drums or third guitar.
Meaning
The title of the song is ironic. Although entitled "She Belongs to Me", the singer clearly belongs to the woman described in the song, and that woman belongs to no one, as alluded to in this line:
She's nobody's child, the law can't touch her at all.
The lyrics describe how the woman cuts her man down to size but leaves him proud to serve her, as he bows down to her on Sunday" and "salute her when her birthday comes." Other lines celebrate the woman's assertiveness and moral conviction as the singer's tone alternates between devotion and contempt. Some of the lyrics appear to reference Dylan's former lover, folk singer Joan Baez, particularly the line about the woman wearing an "Egyptian ring", since Dylan had given Baez such a ring. Other lines that may refer to Baez are a line describing her as "an artist" and a reference to being a "walking antique", which may be a reference to Baez' desire to keep Dylan writing protest songs. John Cale of the Velvet Underground has stated that he believes the song to be about Nico, with whom Dylan spent some time around the time of the song's composition. An alternate interpretation of the song is that it is a paean to Dylan's muse, depicting it as unapproachable but domineering. According to English artist, journalist and political activist Caroline Coon, the song was inspired by her.
Another possible interpretation is that the song is about Dylan's country, America, rather than a person.For example "salute her when her birthday comes" may refer to Independence Day.Giving her a trumpet and drum may refer to American militarism.The "Egyptian ring" verse may refer (obliquely) to the power of the dollar. (The dollar bill bears the image of an Egyptian pyramid.)
Musical style
Any bitterness in the lyrics is offset by the gentleness of Dylan's singing and the delicacy of the accompaniment. The song is in a symmetrical 12-bar blues form. Music critic Robert Shelton has described the song as having a melody that is gentle, with relaxed phrasing and a swaying, waltz-like rhythm, although it does not use the 3/4 time signature of a waltz but rather a 4/4 time signature.
Cover versions
The song has been covered by many other artists, including Barry McGuire, Grateful Dead, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Tom Tom Club, Alain Bashung, Leon Russell, Harry Connick, Jr., The Nice, Richard Shindell, Billy Preston, Buddy Greene, Lloyd Cole, Ricky Nelson, Neil Finn and Pajama Club, Buffalo Tom, Ane Brun, Ólöf Arnalds, Trish Murphy and The Rose Garden. It has also been translated into a French version by Francis Cabrel, titled "Elle m'appartient (C'est une artiste)" on his 2008 album Des roses et des orties. Ricky Nelson's country version was a Top 40 hit.
Other releases
Although the song was first released on Bringing It All Back Home in 1965, it has been subsequently released on several Dylan compilation and live albums since, including Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol. II in 1971. A live performance from Dylan's 1969 Isle of Wight Festival performance was released on Self Portrait in 1970. It was the opening song of the famous May 17, 1966 concert in Manchester's Free Trade Hall, England (popularly but mistakenly known as the "Royal Albert Hall" concert) that has been released on The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Bob Dylan Live 1966, The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert in 1998. It was also included in Martin Scorsese's film No Direction Home and released on its soundtrack album, The Bootleg Series Vol. 7: No Direction Home: The Soundtrack in 2006.
Critical reception
In a 2005 reader's poll reported in Mojo, She Belongs to Me was listed as the #98 all time Bob Dylan song, and a similar poll of artists ranked the song #53. In 2002, Uncut listed it as the #14 all time Bob Dylan song. The aggregation of critics' lists at acclaimedmusic.net did not place this song in its list of the top 3000 songs of all time, but rated it as one of the 1965 songs "bubbling under" the top 3000.
She Belongs to Me
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She don't look back
She's got everything she needs, she's an artist
She don't look back
She can take the dark out of the nighttime
And paint the daytime black
You will start out standing
You will start out standing
Proud to steal her anything she sees
But you will wind up peeking through her keyhole
Down upon your knees
She never stumbles, she's got no place to fall
She never stumbles, she's got no place to fall
She's nobody's child, the law can't touch her at all
She wears an Egyptian ring, it sparkles before she speaks
She wears an Egyptian ring, it sparkles before she speaks
She's a hypnotist collector, you are a walking antique
Bow down to her on Sunday
Salute her when her birthday comes
Bow down to her on Sunday
Salute her when her birthday comes
For Halloween, buy her a trumpet
And for Christmas, get her a drum
Bob Dylan's song "You Belong to Me" is full of imagery and metaphors that require a keen understanding of music and literature. The song speaks about a woman who is an artist and seems to be in a league of her own. Dylan sings, "She's got everything she needs, she's an artist, she don't look back." This line is a reminder that some people are born to create and express themselves through their art. The woman doesn't need anyone's approval or validation, as she is self-sufficient and confident in who she is.
Dylan uses the metaphor of light and darkness to describe the woman's creative abilities. He sings, "She can take the dark out of the nighttime and paint the daytime black." This line implies that she has a unique ability to shape the world as she sees fit. She can transform the night into day and manipulate reality to suit her artistic vision.
The third verse describes how the woman's power can be intoxicating to those around her. Dylan sings, "But you will wind up peeking through her keyhole, down upon your knees." This line implies that she can be alluring, and people will be willing to do anything for her attention. She is like a magnet, and anyone in her orbit is drawn to her enigmatic power.
Overall, "You Belong to Me" is a song that celebrates the beauty and mystery of art and creativity. It reminds us that some people are born with a unique talent that must be expressed, and their abilities can inspire and captivate others around them.
Line by Line Meaning
She's got everything she needs, she's an artist
The woman in question is content with her life because she is fulfilled as an artist.
She don't look back
The woman does not dwell on her past mistakes or regrets.
She can take the dark out of the nighttime
And paint the daytime black
The woman has an ability to transform even the darkest moments into something beautiful.
You will start out standing
Proud to steal her anything she sees
In the beginning of your relationship, you will do anything to impress her.
But you will wind up peeking through her keyhole
Down upon your knees
Over time, you will become so obsessed with her that you will become a voyeur looking for any glimpse of her, and be metaphorically below her.
She never stumbles, she's got no place to fall
She's nobody's child, the law can't touch her at all
The woman is independent and self-reliant, and is not held accountable to anyone but herself.
She wears an Egyptian ring, it sparkles before she speaks
She's a hypnotist collector, you are a walking antique
The woman has a certain allure and charm that is irresistible and hypnotic to others, while the listener is old-fashioned and outdated.
Bow down to her on Sunday
Salute her when her birthday comes
The woman is to be respected and admired, showing reverence and gratitude towards her.
For Halloween, buy her a trumpet
And for Christmas, get her a drum
The woman is passionate about music, so gifts relating to music will make her happy.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@halfaday1
She's got everything she needs, she's an artist
She don't look back
She's got everything she needs, she's an artist
She don't look back
She can take the dark out of the nighttime
And paint the daytime black
You will start out standing
Proud to steal her anything she sees
You will start out standing
Proud to steal her anything she sees
But you'll wind up peeking through her keyhole
Down upon your knees
She never stumbles, she's got no place to fall
She never stumbles, she's got no place to fall
She's nobody's child, the Law can't touch her at all
She wears an Egyptian ring that sparkles before she speaks
She wears an Egyptian ring that sparkles before she speaks
She's a hypnotist collector, you are a walking antique.
Bow down to her on Sunday
Salute her when her birthday comes
Bow down to her on Sunday
Salute her when her birthday comes
For Halloween give her a trumpet
And for Christmas, buy her a drum
@drDwatx
My sister was my Dylan soul mate. We heard his songs the same, discussions were filled with passion. She died suddenly three years ago. Now when I sing this song it is for her. Only the tenses have changed.
@PunguinYoga
Sudden death of a loved one must be soul-crushing and so confusing.
I always wanted a sister like that. So I try to treat the women I know like the sister I never had.
@Mike-fj2ln
Hopefully you learn from this.
@thedappercook
@@Mike-fj2ln if this was directed at the OPs comment this is a truly awful thing to say to someone.
@theloniouscoltrane3778
If Bob Dylan is not a lyrical genius, then who?
What a legend!
@gdpcpa
He is, just a fact, why he won the Nobel Peace Prize in Literature.
@TheJoker-um9tp
Bob Dylan is imo one of the greatest writers in any form of music.
@mordocapgerlan7290
lenard cohen has a way with words
@MrBornbadd
Bob Dylan is a legend, and McCartney- Lennon-cash-petty are all in the all-time hof imo
@JayAr709
Leonard Cohen, Aye—and Joni Mitchell. Here and there, Neil Young of all people. Canadians