The song also makes many allusions to Dylan's personal relationship with fellow folk singer Joan Baez, at the time of its composition and subsequent release. It is another example of the G, G6, G7 melodic motif, Dylan uses pervasively on the record.
To Ramona
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shut softly your watery eyes
The pangs of your sadness
Will pass as your senses will rise
For the flowers of the city
Though breathlike, get deathlike sometimes
And there's no use in tryin'
To deal with the dyin'
Your cracked country lips
I still wish to kiss
As to be under the strength of your skin
Your magnetic movements
Still capture the minutes I'm in
But it grieves my heart, love
To see you tryin' to be a part of
A world that just don't exist
It's all just a dream, babe
A vacuum, a scheme, babe
That sucks you into feelin' like this
I can see that your head
Has been twisted and fed
With worthless foam from the mouth
I can tell you are torn
Between stayin' and returnin'
Back to the South
You've been fooled into thinking
That the finishin' end is at hand
Yet there's no one to beat you
No one t' defeat you
'Cept the thoughts of yourself feeling bad
I've heard you say many times
That you're better than no one
And no one is better than you
If you really believe that
You know you have
Nothing to win and nothing to lose
From fixtures and forces and friends
Your sorrow does stem
That hype you and type you
Making you feel
That you gotta be exactly like them
I'd forever talk to you
But soon my words
Would turn into a meaningless ring
For deep in my heart
I know there is no help I can bring
Everything passes
Everything changes
Just do what you think you should do
And someday maybe
Who knows, baby
I'll come and be cryin' to you
In Bob Dylan's "To Ramona," the singer is speaking to a woman named Ramona, presumably someone he has known for some time. He asks her to come closer and tries to comfort her by telling her that her sadness will pass, and her senses will rise. However, he also acknowledges that sometimes, the flowers of the city can get death-like, and while he can't explain it in words, there's no use trying to deal with the dying. He then professes his desire to kiss her lips and be under the strength of her skin, and how her magnetic movements still capture him, but it grieves him to see her trying to be a part of a world that doesn't exist, and how it's all just a dream that sucks her into feeling the way she does.
He tells her that he knows she's been twisted and fed worthless foam from the mouth, and that she's torn between staying and returning to the South. He tries to convince her that the finishing end is not yet at hand, and that she shouldn't feel bad about herself. He's heard her say that she's better than no one and that no one is better than her, but he tries to explain that this type of thinking isn't constructive either because it stems from fixtures and forces, making her feel like she has to be exactly like them. In the end, he tells her that everything passes and everything changes, and to just do what she thinks she should do because someday, maybe he'll come and be crying to her.
Overall, the song is a plea for Ramona to not get too caught up in the things that are bringing her down and to not worry about trying to fit in or be like others. Dylan implores her to just be herself and do what she believes is right, saying that in the end, everything will change, and perhaps he will even end up on the receiving end of her tears.
Line by Line Meaning
Ramona, come closer
Bob Dylan is asking Ramona to get closer to him as they talk.
Shut softly your watery eyes
Bob Dylan asks Ramona to close her eyes gently while trying to comfort her.
The pangs of your sadness
The intensity of Ramona's sadness and pain is being referred to as pangs.
Will pass as your senses will rise
Bob Dylan is telling Ramona that her sadness will eventually disappear as she gains more awareness and understanding of her situation.
For the flowers of the city
This line is referring to people's hopes and dreams in the city.
Though breathlike, get deathlike sometimes
Even dreams can die sometimes, no matter how lively and vibrant they seem.
And there's no use in tryin'
Trying to prevent your dreams from dying is a futile effort.
To deal with the dyin'
Dealing with the death of dreams is not easy.
Though I cannot explain that in lines
Bob Dylan admits that he can't fully describe the experience of losing dreams in words or lyrics.
Your cracked country lips
Bob Dylan is admiring the roughness of Ramona's lips, possibly referring to her working-class background.
I still wish to kiss
Despite her situation, Bob Dylan still wants to be close to Ramona.
As to be under the strength of your skin
Bob Dylan wants to be supported by Ramona's strength and resilience.
Your magnetic movements
The way Ramona moves is captivating and alluring to Bob Dylan.
Still capture the minutes I'm in
Bob Dylan is so entranced by Ramona that he feels like time is standing still when he's with her.
But it grieves my heart, love
Despite the attraction, Bob Dylan is also saddened by Ramona's apparent struggle to fit into a society that doesn't make sense to her.
To see you tryin' to be a part of
Ramona is trying to belong to a society that Bob Dylan sees as fake and unsustainable.
A world that just don't exist
Bob Dylan feels that society's expectations and ideals are impossible to achieve or maintain.
It's all just a dream, babe
The world is like a dream that doesn't reflect reality, according to Bob Dylan.
A vacuum, a scheme, babe
The world is an empty and deceptive place.
That sucks you into feelin' like this
Bob Dylan believes that society can be harmful and destructive to people's self-image and emotions.
I can see that your head
Bob Dylan can tell that Ramona is confused and conflicted about her situation.
Has been twisted and fed
Her mind has been muddled and filled with erroneous ideas and beliefs.
With worthless foam from the mouth
The ideas that were put in her head are shallow and meaningless.
I can tell you are torn
Bob Dylan senses that Ramona is struggling to decide what to do with her life.
Between stayin' and returnin'
Ramona can't decide whether to stay in her current situation or to go back to where she came from.
Back to the South
Bob Dylan is referring to Ramona's past, the place where she was raised.
You've been fooled into thinking
Bob Dylan believes that Ramona has been tricked into believing something that isn't true or real.
That the finishin' end is at hand
The end of the road or the completion of something is believed to be imminent, according to Ramona's perception.
Yet there's no one to beat you
There is no one trying to compete with or harm Ramona.
No one t' defeat you
Ramona is neither threatened nor challenged by anyone else in her life.
'Cept the thoughts of yourself feeling bad
Ramona's thoughts and feelings of not being good enough are the only things that are holding her back from happiness.
I've heard you say many times
Bob Dylan has listened to Ramona's story many times.
That you're better than no one
Ramona has expressed that she doesn't believe she is superior to anyone else.
And no one is better than you
Ramona also believes that no one else is better than her.
If you really believe that
However, Bob Dylan doubts that Ramona truly believes this about herself.
You know you have
If Ramona actually believes she's not superior, then she has the power to change her life.
Nothing to win and nothing to lose
Ramona has neither anything to gain nor anything to lose from her actions or decisions, according to Bob Dylan.
From fixtures and forces and friends
Ramona's current situation is a result of societal norms, peer pressure, and her own life circumstances.
Your sorrow does stem
Her sadness and pain come from her life circumstances.
That hype you and type you
Society is trying to fit Ramona into a certain mold or persona.
Making you feel
The society's expectations and norms are leading Ramona to feel a certain way.
That you gotta be exactly like them
Ramona feels like she must conform to society's expectations and become like other people.
I'd forever talk to you
Bob Dylan is willing to be a support system for Ramona for as long as she needs him.
But soon my words
Bob Dylan's reassuring words to Ramona won't be enough to solve her problems or give her a sense of happiness and stability.
Would turn into a meaningless ring
The words will become repetitive and hollow, losing their effectiveness over time.
For deep in my heart
Bob Dylan is feeling that he won't be able to help Ramona, no matter how much he cares about her.
I know there is no help I can bring
He has realized that he can't change or fix Ramona's situation and feelings.
Everything passes
Bob Dylan believes that all things, both good and bad things come to an end eventually.
Everything changes
Nothing stays the same forever and things are always in a state of change.
Just do what you think you should do
Bob Dylan is advising Ramona to do what she believes is the right thing for her, personally.
And someday maybe
There's a chance that in the future, things might be different for Ramona.
Who knows, baby
It's anyone's guess what the future holds for Ramona.
I'll come and be cryin' to you
Bob Dylan himself might one day be in need of Ramona's support or comforting embrace.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, ONErpm
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alexzinovenko1898
I learned to play this song over 50 years ago on my guitar. Each time I do I fall in love with Ramona all over again. I want to be part of her world- maybe take some hurt away and yet- I know I can't.
When I'm done playing the tears flow. Melancholy tears for a fictional Ramona Bob makes all too real. A Ramona I could talk to for hours. A Ramona I could cuddle with through the entire night. Just that. Cuddle. I want to hear her breathe.
'
I want to feel her soul.
After decades of requesting this, it FINALLY came to you tube.
It does not get any better than this. Bob never wrote or recorded better. He never touched the heartstrings as he does with this. He has never been as memorable..
He has forced so many performers to seek "their Ramona." To pine after one that may live up "to Ramona"
@knotNyourHead
Lyrics
Ramona, come closer
Shut softly your watery eyes
The pangs of your sadness
Will pass as your senses will rise
For the flowers of the city
Though breathlike, get deathlike sometimes
And there's no use in tryin'
To deal with the dyin'
Though I cannot explain that in lines
Your cracked country lips
I still wish to kiss
As to be under the strength of your skin
Your magnetic movements
Still capture the minutes I'm in
But it grieves my heart, love
To see you tryin' to be a part of
A world that just don't exist
It's all just a dream, babe
A vacuum, a scheme, babe
That sucks you into feelin' like this
I can see that your head
Has been twisted and fed
With worthless foam from the mouth
I can tell you are torn
Between stayin' and returnin'
Back to the South
You've been fooled into thinking
That the finishin' end is at hand
Yet there's no one to beat you
No one t' defeat you
'Cept the thoughts of yourself feeling bad
I've heard you say many times
That you're better than no one
And no one is better than you
If you really believe that
You know you have
Nothing to win and nothing to lose
From fixtures and forces and friends
Your sorrow does stem
That hype you and type you
Making you feel
That you gotta be exactly like them
I'd forever talk to you
But soon my words
Would turn into a meaningless ring
For deep in my heart
I know there is no help I can bring
Everything passes
Everything changes
Just do what you think you should do
And someday maybe
Who knows, baby
I'll come and be cryin' to you
@Goatchild90
Top 5 favourite Bob Dylan songs. Never fails to make me shed a tear, never.
@SIRENTAROT
it's in my top three with Sara and Queen Jane
@slystone4892
The same here.
@slystone4892
@@SIRENTAROT great songs
@joedoe783
It's astonishing
@MrPanacea999
We all know this is a masterpiece but a shout out to the production and mixing here - every word is crystal clear and the guitar an harmonica are perfectly levelled.
@444thetruth6
It grieves my heart love ' to see you trying to be a part of ' a world that just don't exist 💙
@xhankel4258
its all just a dream babe, a vacuum a scheme babe, that sucks you into feeling like this…
@tamannaporna3356
Love you Dylan! No one, absolutely no one can stand next to you!
@reginardlewandowski6009
Yo si 😅