The session on February 18 was devoted exclusively to duet covers with Cash. "One Too Many Mornings" and "I Still Miss Someone" were revisited, and rejected, yet again. "Matchbox", "That's All Right Mama", "Mystery Train", "Big River", "I Walk the Line", and "Guess Things Happen That Way", all made famous by celebrated Sun recordings performed by Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and Cash himself, were all attempted on February 18, but none of these were deemed usable. Covers of Jimmie Rodgers' "Blue Yodel #1" and "#5", Cash's "Ring of Fire" (written by his wife, June Carter and Merle Kilgore), "You Are My Sunshine", "Mountain Dew", the traditional ballad "Careless Love", the traditional hymn "Just A Closer Walk With Thee", "How High The Water", and "Wanted Man" (a song written by Dylan specifically for Cash) were also attempted, and all were rejected. There was little enthusiasm for any of these tracks, but one duet of Dylan's, "Girl From The North Country" (which originally appeared on The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan), was ultimately sequenced as the album's opener.
Girl From the North Country
Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline
Remember me to one who lives there
Oh, she once was a true love of mine
See for me if her hair's hanging down
It curls and falls all down her breast
See for me that her hair's hanging down
If you go when the snowflakes falls
When the rivers freeze and summer ends
Please see for me if she's wearing a coat so warm
To keep her from the howlin' winds
If you're travelin' in the north country fair
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline
Please say "hello" to the one who lives there
Oh she was once a true love of mine
If you're travelin' in the north country fair
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline
Remember me to one who lives there
Oh, she once was a true love of mine
A true love of mine
A true love of mine
True love of mine
A true love of mine
A true love of mine
She was once a true love of mine
In "Girl from the North Country," Dylan and Cash craft a delicate and poignant message of longing for a love that is now absent. The first verse sets the scene in the north country, an area with harsh winds and perhaps uncertain borders. Dylan asks for a favor from a traveler, to pass along a message to an old flame. The second verse is particularly descriptive, with Dylan's request that the traveler observe the woman's long, curly hair that falls down her breast. This image seems to be a memory that has stayed with Dylan, representing a time when he was with her and life was simpler. The third verse again focuses on the harsh winds of the north country but this time directs the traveler to look out for the woman's warm coat which may shield her from the cold.
The repetition of the chorus, "she was once a true love of mine," emphasizes the memory of what was lost. The song highlights the emotional pain of losing someone and being left with only the memories of love. Dylan and Cash use vivid imagery and a sense of longing to convey a beautifully melancholic message.
Line by Line Meaning
If you're travelin' in the north country fair
If you ever find yourself wandering in the remote north countryside
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline
Where the biting cold winds howl relentlessly at the border
Remember me to one who lives there
Tell her I still think of her fondly and send my greetings
Oh, she once was a true love of mine
She used to be a woman I deeply loved
See for me if her hair's hanging down
Look out for me if her hair is flowing down her shoulders
It curls and falls all down her breast
Her hair is soft and curly, cascading down her chest
See for me that her hair's hanging down
Make sure her hair is still that way and hasn't changed
That's the way I remember her best
That's how my memory of her is still vivid and strong
If you go when the snowflakes falls
If you happen to be there during the snowy season
When the rivers freeze and summer ends
As the rivers freeze over and summer fades away
Please see for me if she's wearing a coat so warm
Can you check if she's wrapped up warmly in a cozy coat?
To keep her from the howlin' winds
To protect her from the fierce and unforgiving winds
Please say "hello" to the one who lives there
Convey my warm regards and send a greeting her way
She was once a true love of mine
She used to be the one I truly loved
A true love of mine
She once meant everything to me
A true love of mine
My love for her was real and authentic
True love of mine
I couldn't help but love her deeply
A true love of mine
She was once the most important person in my life
A true love of mine
The memory of her still lingers in my heart
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@juliecrane9647
I separated after 22 yrs. It was 2yrs til we divorced. We should have ripped our bandaids off sooner.
Looking back....
It took awhile to get away from romancing what we had...
And thinking it could work again.
It wasn't.
But I told him we didn't do the best job teaching our girls how to have a good marriage but we could teach them how to end it with dignity and grace.
We have...
It's been 12 yrs. I see him often at our 3 daughters homes. There are grands now.
I call him when my car battery is dead or the dryer blew a fuse.
He's a good guy and a damn good dad...
My girls call him for the same stuff.
He was there when I battled cancer and my mom passed.
No romance but still love.
Just remember our kids are always watching.
It does get better in time and it all comes into focus.
Acceptance.
Wish you peace as you go....
And to thine own self be true.
@mr.impatient4850
A star is born and he goes by the name Dibesh Pokhrel aka “Arthur Gunn”
Girl from the North Country road was written and recorded by Nobel Prize winning legend, who goes by the name BOB DYLAN. It was recorded in the year 1973 from his album “The Free Wheelin Bob Dylan”. The song unfolds about Bob’s first trip to England in December 1962, where he stumbles upon beautiful, gorgeous “Susan Elizabeth Rotolo”. After that blissful memory, Bob flew to Italy and finally completed this masterpiece, soul-soothing tune along with sweet and romantic cover picture of him and her in his back then album.(“The Free Wheelin Bob Dylan”)
Wooow, time does flies ain’t it?
47 years later, a 21 year young kid from Kansas, originally from Nepal, collected his guts to show some love and respect thereby giving a shot to this legendary tune in his own beautiful way.Good grace of god!!! Additionally, he is sooooo humble and down to earth. We are rooting you from all over the world, Arthur! Go on son, show them what you truly behold and keep smiling! God bless ya!
#TeamArthurSquad ✍️
@lucaamorosoofficial
If you're traveling till the north country fair
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline
Remember me to one who lives there
For she once was the true love of mine
See for me if her hair's hanging down
It curls and flows all down her breast
See for me that her hair's hanging down
That's the way I remember her best
If you go when the snowflakes fall
When the rivers freeze and summer ends
Please see for me if she's wearing a coat so warm
To keep her from the howlin' winds
If you're traveling in the north country fair
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline
Please say hello to the one who lives there
For she once was a true love of mine
And if you're traveling in the north country fair
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline
Remember me to one who lives there
For she once was a true love of mine
True love of mine, a true love of mine
True love of mine, a true love of mine
A true love of mine, a true love of mine
She was once a true love of mine
@arneanderson187
I met my first and true love at a north country fair (Lake County, Minnesota) in 1975. But we ended up going our separate ways. But I never forgot her and this song always made me think of her. And after 45 years of being apart, we are now back together.
@ercanozgur7621
16 yıl bekledik biz. Mutluluklar sizlerin olsun. Büyük aşklara
@allbottledup9513
I wish I had the words. Thank god, you found each other again. That special love never goes away it seems. I hope y’all enjoy your time together as much as possible!
@a.nobodys.nobody
God bless you both. enjoy it. Hoping for the same
@PrincessWowNetwork
That’s so beautiful and inspiring. So happy for you both❤
@angelag1702
Congrats!
@jackwendigo6541
Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. Does it get any better than that?
@SwinginPig
Possibly Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, but other than that, doubtful.
@rossmacneil3544
@Esther Ruby Not this one, it would've been amazing if she did though.
@SwinginPig
Esther Ruby 1976. But I consider their golden years the 60s. I have some great Dylan-Baez recordings on my channel if you like them together.