The members of The Band first worked together as The Hawks, the backing band of rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins from 1959 until 1963. Shortly afterwards, Bob Dylan came to Toronto and recruited the quintet for his history-making 1965/1966 world tour. The Band also worked with Dylan on the initial Blonde on Blonde sessions which, bar two tracks, were ultimately abandoned in favour of versions recorded with Nashville session musicians.
After a motorcycle accident in mid-1966, Dylan retreated from the public eye to his country house near Woodstock, New York. He was joined by the Band for some informal jam sessions starting in the autumn of 1967, nearly all of which were recorded. After being heavily bootleged, Columbia Records finally released The Basement Tapes in 1975, a selection of the better tracks recorded during the sessions along with new recordings by The Band.
Bob Dylan and The Band were reunited in 1974, recording Planet Waves for Asylum Records, Dylan's first album recorded for a record label other than Columbia. Although the album was released under Dylan's name alone, The Band joined Dylan for his first tour in eight years in support of Planet Waves, with some of the material recorded and released on the 1975 concert record Before the Flood.
Columbia Records finally released The Bootleg Series Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes Complete in November 2014, featuring every surving recording from the original sessions in Woodstock.
900 Miles from My Home
Bob Dylan and The Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not a shirt upon my back
I will sail to you this sailing that I own
Yes, I'll feed the ?? I took
But ??
Lord, I'm nine hundred miles from my home.
If my own lady she says so
Sidetrack this engine ?? to roam.
Yes, I'm giving it my coal
I'll gladly giving it all
'Cause I'm nine hundred miles from my home.
If I get down by the ??
And the river still does run
Yes, and everything I see turns to foam
Even down on the ocean side
'Cause he don't wait just to pay my bribe
'Cause I'm nine hundred miles from my home.
Oh, Mary don't you moan
Don't you weep all about
Oh, Mary don't you weep and don't you moan
If I get myself in line
I will be there in due time
'Cause I'm nine hundred miles from my home.
"900 Miles" is a beautiful folk song by the legendary Bob Dylan, who is famous for his amazing ability to create lyrical masterpieces that often convey a sense of loneliness and displacement. This song portrays the story of a man who is far away from his loved ones, perhaps traveling for work or struggling to make his way in the world. The singer is on a track, with no shirt on his back, and is traveling to see the one he cherishes the most. However, he is 900 miles away and has to face various challenges and obstacles to reach his destination.
As the song progresses, the singer continues his journey, sailing on a ship and working hard to earn money to survive. He talks about how he will do anything to reach his loved one, even if it means staying away from his job or working in adverse conditions. The lyrics convey a strong sense of longing that many people can relate to - the feeling of being separated from someone you care deeply about.
The song's chorus talks about how the singer is willing to endure everything - the hard work, the loneliness, the distance - to reach his home again. There's a sense of hope in the lines, suggesting that the singer will eventually be reunited with his loved one. The song is simple, yet beautifully written, and captures the essence of the human experience - the desire to be with the ones we love.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'm down here on this track
I find myself stranded on this train track with no clear path ahead.
Not a shirt upon my back
I have nothing to my name.
I will sail to you this sailing that I own
I'll use the only boat I have to reach you.
Yes, I'll feed the ?? I took But ??
I'll make do with the fish I catch, even if it's not my first choice.
Lord, I'm nine hundred miles from my home.
I'm far away from my loved ones and my heart aches to be with them.
If my own lady she says so
If my significant other prefers it.
I'll railroad no more
I'll abandon the only job I've ever known.
Sidetrack this engine ?? to roam.
I'll derail this train and take a different path in life.
Yes, I'm giving it my coal
I'm doing everything in my power.
I'll gladly giving it all
I'll do it joyfully and without hesitation.
'Cause I'm nine hundred miles from my home.
Because I'm feeling so homesick and far away.
If I get down by the ??
If I fall to the ground.
And the river still does run
And the river keeps flowing.
Yes, and everything I see turns to foam
My vision blurs and my surroundings distort.
Even down on the ocean side
Even by the sea.
'Cause he don't wait just to pay my bribe
Because the authorities won't excuse me from wrongdoing, even if I bribe them.
'Cause I'm nine hundred miles from my home.
Because I feel so distant and alone.
Oh, Mary don't you moan
Don't despair, Mary.
Don't you weep all about
Don't cry and be miserable.
Oh, Mary don't you weep and don't you moan
Stay strong and don't let sadness consume you.
If I get myself in line
If I follow the right path.
I will be there in due time
I'll arrive where I need to be eventually.
'Cause I'm nine hundred miles from my home.
Because being so far away makes everything harder.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TRADITIONAL, BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bryankeisling132
Lyrics:
But I'm down here on this track
Not a shirt upon my back
I will sell to you this island that I own
Yes I feed the mouths I took
But as down winds on the brook
Lord I'm 900 miles from my home
If my old lady she says so
I'll railroad no more
Sidetrack this engine but I still roam
Yes I've given in my call
I've gladly given it all
'Cause I'm 900 miles from my home
If I get down by the bank And the river still does run
Yes and everything I see turns to foam
Even down on the ocean side
No she don't wade in just to bang my pride
'Cause I'm 900 miles from my home
Oh Mary don't you moan
Don't you weep on the ground Oh Mary don't you weep and don't you moan
If I get myself in line
I will be there in due time
'Cause I'm 900 miles from my home
@astral2151
Legendary album. Every music fan should own a copy of The Basement Tapes: Complete
@bryankeisling132
Lyrics:
But I'm down here on this track
Not a shirt upon my back
I will sell to you this island that I own
Yes I feed the mouths I took
But as down winds on the brook
Lord I'm 900 miles from my home
If my old lady she says so
I'll railroad no more
Sidetrack this engine but I still roam
Yes I've given in my call
I've gladly given it all
'Cause I'm 900 miles from my home
If I get down by the bank And the river still does run
Yes and everything I see turns to foam
Even down on the ocean side
No she don't wade in just to bang my pride
'Cause I'm 900 miles from my home
Oh Mary don't you moan
Don't you weep on the ground Oh Mary don't you weep and don't you moan
If I get myself in line
I will be there in due time
'Cause I'm 900 miles from my home
@aidanh5215
Excellent work Bryan :)
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@ferdinandthecrow
"As dawn wears on the brook"?
@danielkelly1274
@@ferdinandthecrow i hear something different on last but one verse,,,'i'm waiting to bang my bride!!! lol
@JorgeLMarquezsM
Qué emoción en esto! Oh!
@mortimerzilch2608
my GOSH! first time I've heard this !!!! fantastic, tune sounds a little ike John Wesley Harding...what a gem of a song ! great performance.
@dailyhealthmotivation7079
Very touchy I am exactly 1450Km away from my Native home which is 900 miles....