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 Forgot To Remember To Forget
Bob Dylan and The Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't seem to get her off my mind.
I thought I'd never miss her,
But I found out somehow
I think about her almost all the time.
The day she went away
I made myself a promise
But something sure is wrong,
'Cause I'm so blue and lonely.
I forgot to remember to forget.
The day she went away
I made myself a promise
That I'd soon forget we ever met,
Well, but something sure is wrong,
'Cause I'm so blue and lonely.
I forgot to remember to forget.
The lyrics to "I Forgot To Remember To Forget" by Bob Dylan and The Band tell of a man who is struggling to forget a past love. He tries to convince himself that he will not miss her, but finds that he thinks about her almost constantly. The man made a promise to himself to forget about her when she left, but he is now feeling blue and lonely because he has forgotten to remember to forget her.
This song is an example of Dylan's poetic songwriting style, using simple words and honest phrases to express the depth of emotion that comes along with lost love. The repetition of the phrase "I forgot to remember to forget" emphasizes the man's struggle to move on from his past relationship. The use of the word "somehow" suggests that the man is not even sure why he cannot forget about her, adding to his feeling of confusion and desperation.
Overall, "I Forgot To Remember To Forget" is a relatable and timeless song for anyone who has ever struggled to move on from a past love.
Line by Line Meaning
I forgot to remember to forget her,
I failed to intentionally forget the memory of the woman I used to love.
I can't seem to get her off my mind.
She constantly occupies my thoughts and I can't stop thinking about her.
I thought I'd never miss her,
Initially, I believed that I wouldn't miss her or feel her absence.
But I found out somehow
However, through some experience or realization, I discovered something different.
I think about her almost all the time.
In fact, I can't stop thinking about her and she exists in my thoughts constantly.
The day she went away
At the moment of the end of our relationship.
I made myself a promise
I created an intention and goal for my future mindset.
That I'd soon forget we ever met.
I told myself that I would purposefully eliminate any memory or trace of our time together.
But something sure is wrong,
However, I recognize that something is not as I intended it to be.
'Cause I'm so blue and lonely.
My emotional state has shifted to feelings of sadness and solitude.
I forgot to remember to forget.
I failed to intentionally forget the memory of the woman I used to love.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Charlie Feathers, Stanley A Kesler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bryankeisling132
Lyrics:
Now, there's a certain thing
That I learned from Jim
That he'd always make sure I'd understand
And that is that there's a certain way
We all must swim
If we expect to live off of the fat of the land
Open the door, Richard
I've heard it said before
Open the door, Richard
Heard his name before
But I ain't gonna hear it said no more
Now, there's a certain thing
That I learned from my friend, Mouse
That fella who never blushes
And that is that one must always
Flush out his house
If he don't expect to be housing flushes
Open the door, Richard
I've heard it said before
Open the door, Richard
I've heard it said before
But I ain't gonna hear it said no more
Take care of all of your memories, said Nick
For you cannot relive them
And remember when you're out there
Trying to heal the sick
That you must always first forgive them
Open the door, Richard
I've heard it said before
Open the door, Richard
I've heard it said before
And I ain't gonna hear it said no more
@monicatolipan3238
Every time I think I knew almost all Bob Dylan"s work, he surpises me again with great and fantastic new songs. It's a long, long road til I get there, isn't it? This one is absolutely gorgeous! Thanks so much.
@blueschewy2558
Life lessons from Jim, Mouse, and Nick. I never tire of this album.
@nealpomea2836
You must always first forgive them
@kanjiwooowooo3202
Play this live one day, Bobby
@user-ps3fe3ms2v
pin?
@bryankeisling132
Lyrics:
Now, there's a certain thing
That I learned from Jim
That he'd always make sure I'd understand
And that is that there's a certain way
We all must swim
If we expect to live off of the fat of the land
Open the door, Richard
I've heard it said before
Open the door, Richard
Heard his name before
But I ain't gonna hear it said no more
Now, there's a certain thing
That I learned from my friend, Mouse
That fella who never blushes
And that is that one must always
Flush out his house
If he don't expect to be housing flushes
Open the door, Richard
I've heard it said before
Open the door, Richard
I've heard it said before
But I ain't gonna hear it said no more
Take care of all of your memories, said Nick
For you cannot relive them
And remember when you're out there
Trying to heal the sick
That you must always first forgive them
Open the door, Richard
I've heard it said before
Open the door, Richard
I've heard it said before
And I ain't gonna hear it said no more
@eutoober
on Dylan's official website, the lyric reads that Mouse "always blushes". How do you hear it in the recording? I hear Mouse "never blushes".
@user-ps3fe3ms2v
mexico in june?
@jakedulln
learnt this one
@JoseGarcia-tu9qb
Bob!!!!!!