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.
I'm In The Mood
Bob Dylan and The Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm in the mood baby, I'm in the mood for love
I'm in the mood, I'm in the mood, baby, I'm in the mood for love
I said night time is the right time, to be with the one you love
You know when night come baby, God know, you're so far away
I'm in the mood, I'm in the mood baby, I'm in the mood for love
I'm in the mood, in the mood, baby, in the mood for love
I said yes, my mama told me, to leave that girl alone
But my mama didn't know, God know, girl was puttin' down
I'm in the mood, I'm in the mood baby, in the mood for love
I'm in the mood, I'm in the mood, baby, in the mood for love
The song "The Shape I'm In" by Bob Dylan and The Band is a bluesy love song filled with desire and longing. The lyrics suggest that the singer is in the mood for love and wants to be with his partner. He says that nighttime is the right time to be with the one you love, but laments that his partner is far away. He mentions that his mother advised him to leave the girl alone, but he cannot resist her charms.
The song captures the essence of a man who is deeply in love and cannot resist the temptation of his partner. The lyrics are simple, yet powerful, and the music adds to the overall mood of the song. The driving beat and bluesy rhythm create a sense of urgency, while the lyrics express a deep emotional need.
Overall, "The Shape I'm In" is a classic blues love song that captures the essence of desire and longing. The powerful combination of Bob Dylan's lyrics and The Band's music make it a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in the mood baby, I'm in the mood for love
I am feeling romantic and desire to express my love
I'm in the mood, I'm in the mood, baby, I'm in the mood for love
I am experiencing overwhelming feelings of love and passion
I said night time is the right time, to be with the one you love
It's ideal to spend the night with your loved one
You know when night come baby, God know, you're so far away
When night falls, I feel distant from you
I said yes, my mama told me, to leave that girl alone
My mother advised me to stay away from that girl
But my mama didn't know, God know, girl was puttin' down
My mother didn't realize how fulfilling the relationship with this girl was
I'm in the mood, I'm in the mood baby, in the mood for love
I am feeling strongly attracted to my partner
I'm in the mood, I'm in the mood, baby, in the mood for love
My emotions are escalating, and I am craving intimacy with my partner
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BERNARD BESMAN, JOHN LEE HOOKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind