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.
Don't Think Twice It's All Right
Bob Dylan and The Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If'n you don't know by now
An' it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe
It'll never do somehow
When your rooster crows at the break of dawn
Look out your window and I'll be gone
You're the reason I'm a-travelin' on
But don't think twice, it's all right
And it ain't no use in a-turnin' on your light, babe
The light I never knowed
And it ain't no use in turnin' on your light, babe
I'm on the dark side of the road
But I wish there was somethin' you would do or say
To try and make me change my mind and stay
We never did too much talkin' anyway
But don't think twice, it's all right
So it ain't no use in callin' out my name, gal
Like you never done before
And it ain't no use in callin' out my name, gal
I can't hear you anymore
I'm a-thinkin' and a-wonderin', walkin' way down the road
I once loved a woman, a child, I am told
I gave her my heart but she wanted my soul
But don't think twice, it's all right
So long, honey babe
Where I'm bound, I can't tell
Goodbye is too good a word, babe
So I just say, "fare thee well"
I ain't a-sayin' you treated me unkind
You could have done better but I don't mind
You just kinda wasted my precious time
But don't think twice, it's all right
The lyrics to Bob Dylan's song Don't Think Twice, It's All Right speaks to moving on from a relationship or a situation that is not working out. The opening lines suggest that there is no use sitting and wondering why someone is leaving if they do not already know. Their leaving is inevitable, and there is nothing the other person can do to keep them from going. The line "It'll never do somehow" implies that trying to figure out why the relationship failed is pointless, and it is better to accept that it is over and move on.
The second verse speaks to the singer's decision to leave, even though they wish their partner would give them a reason to stay. The line "I'm on the dark side of the road" suggests that they are in a dark or uncertain place in their life, and they must move forward, even though it is difficult. The third verse indicates that the singer has moved on and cannot hear their partner calling them back. They reminisce about a past love but ultimately say goodbye, suggesting that they have accepted the relationship's end and are ready to move forward without regret.
Overall, the message of the song is one of acceptance and moving on from a relationship that is not working out. Dylan's lyrics are powerful and evocative, capturing the emotions of those who have gone through similar experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe
If'n you don't know by now
An' it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe
It'll never do somehow
There's no point in trying to figure out why things went wrong, especially if you already know the answer or you never will
When your rooster crows at the break of dawn
Look out your window and I'll be gone
You're the reason I'm a-travelin' on
But don't think twice, it's all right
I'm leaving you and you might notice I'm not around when the rooster crows, but don't think twice about it, it's not your fault
And it ain't no use in a-turnin' on your light, babe
The light I never knowed
And it ain't no use in turnin' on your light, babe
I'm on the dark side of the road
But I wish there was somethin' you would do or say
To try and make me change my mind and stay
We never did too much talkin' anyway
But don't think twice, it's all right
Don't bother turning on your light; you don't know me and I'm already walking away in the dark. Even though it never seemed like we talked much, part of me wishes you would say something to convince me to stay, but don't worry if you don't. Everything is okay
So it ain't no use in callin' out my name, gal
Like you never done before
And it ain't no use in callin' out my name, gal
I can't hear you anymore
I'm a-thinkin' and a-wonderin', walkin' way down the road
I once loved a woman, a child, I am told
I gave her my heart but she wanted my soul
But don't think twice, it's all right
I'm too far gone to hear you call my name, even though you might have said it a million times before. I'm just reflecting on how I once loved someone who seemed to take everything from me, but I still don't blame them
So long, honey babe
Where I'm bound, I can't tell
Goodbye is too good a word, babe
So I just say, "fare thee well"
I ain't a-sayin' you treated me unkind
You could have done better but I don't mind
You just kinda wasted my precious time
But don't think twice, it's all right
I'm saying farewell instead of goodbye because it doesn't feel final. I don't think you were intentionally mean to me, but you didn't make the most of the time we had together. It's okay though, don't worry about it
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@drothberg3
Going through a breakup at 64 years old, and this song, written by a 21-year-old, 60 years ago, is at the top of my list.
@jumbles1957
Same here… but I’m 66. The song pretty much sums it all up for me. I’m traveling down that road, where I’m going I don’t know… but I certainly can’t go back
@didierdousset2666
Messieurs, si la mélodie de ce morceau est effectivement de très bonne facture, le texte en revanche ne brille certainement pas par sa poésie, et est plutôt d'un faible niveau littéraire.
Gentlemen, if the melody of this piece is indeed very good, the text on the other hand certainly does not shine with its poetry, and is rather of a low literary level.
@beanboi3178
It be like That
@sybell100
Please take care of yourself. I send you my love from Kerala, India. There are people in this world who want to be with you right now.
I wish I could send you some warm hugs and gifts @drothberg3
I wish I could make you a hot beverage.
I am a 26 year old man, I just had my break up with a wonderful woman. I feel you my old pal.
@ivanangeli
it should be easy at 64, to break with someone - just know that all important things you already have done, carier, kids, maybe grandkids, house, education - now it is all just fun and support. Don;t think about it, focus on your family
@jel011
As a kid, I used to think the "you just kinda wasted my precious time" line was kind of a throwaway line. As and adult, I understand it might be the soul of the whole song.
@5trezip23
Nice point
@wills9709
Very interesting point. I never thought about it that way until yuh ou
@wills9709
you pointed that out. But I sort of felt that way too.