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 Shall Be Released
Bob Dylan and The Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They say every distance is not near
So I remember every face
Of every man who put me here
I see my light come shining
From the west down to the east
Any day now, any day now
They say every man needs protection
They say that every man must fall
Yet I swear I see my reflection
Somewhere so high above this wall
I see my light come shining
From the west down to the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
Now, yonder stands a man in this lonely crowd
A man who swears he's not to blame
All day long I hear him shouting so loud
Just crying out that he was framed
I see my light come shining
From the west down to the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
The lyrics of Bob Dylan and The Band's song "I Shall Be Released" carry a strong message of hope and determination, despite being trapped in difficult circumstances. The opening lines, "They say everything can be replaced, they say every distance is not near", sets the tone of the song and suggests the idea of a journey or a struggle.
As the song progresses, Dylan's voice becomes more hopeful and speaks of a potential new start in life. He remembers the faces of every man who put him in his current situation, but he also sees his "light come shining" from the west down to the east, indicating a ray of hope shining upon him. He then repeats the phrase "any day now, any day now, I shall be released," expressing a sense of anticipation and eagerness for a fresh start.
As the song goes on, the listener is introduced to a man who claims to be innocent and who is shouting loudly for the world to hear. In the context of the song, this man is trapped within a lonely crowd, perhaps a metaphor for his belief in his own innocence being drowned out by the voices of society. Despite this, Dylan's repeated refrain and assertion that he shall be released implies that there is always hope for a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
They say everything can be replaced
According to general belief, anything can be substituted
They say every distance is not near
It is said that proximity is not always physical
So I remember every face
Consequently, I keep in mind the faces of every person who has put me in this current situation
Of every man who put me here
Remembering the identity of each individual responsible for my current state of being
I see my light come shining
I notice my own source of illumination shining forth
From the west down to the east
Extending across the horizon from west to east
Any day now, any day now
It could happen any day, it could happen soon
I shall be released
I will be emancipated
They say every man needs protection
It is widely believed that every person requires safety
They say that every man must fall
Additionally, it is said that everyone must experience defeat
Yet I swear I see my reflection
Notwithstanding that, I affirm that I perceive my own image
Somewhere so high above this wall
Located somewhere well beyond this physical barrier
Now, yonder stands a man in this lonely crowd
There is a man standing far away from me in this desolate group of people
A man who swears he's not to blame
He declares that he is not accountable
All day long I hear him shouting so loud
Throughout the day, I can hear his voice bellowing
Just crying out that he was framed
Merely exclaiming that he was set up
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
sumo
I Shall Be Released by Bob Dylan
They say everything can be replaced
They say every distance is not near
So I remember every face
Of every man who put me here
I see my light come shining
From the west down to the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
They say every man needs protection
They say that every man must fall
Yet I swear I see my reflection
Somewhere so high above this wall
I see my light come shining
From the west down to the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
Now, yonder stands a man in this lonely crowd
A man who swears he's not to blame
All day long I hear him shouting so loud
Just crying out that he was framed
I see my light come shining
From the west down to the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
Chamberfield
OMG the amount of talent on that stage.... just imagine being at that show!
Judy Weinstock
Yeah, and they served dinner!
Daryl Mixan
There were 8,000 fans there, and I met at least 9,000 of em
Andy Snadden
Incredible
Alma
I have been a Dylan fanatic for nearly 60 years now, but in my opinion Richard Manuel steals this performance with the second verse, I just love his voice
lionel bastos
Was about to ask who that was. Brilliant vocal
Lewis C
off topic
Max Ragno
Actually if I recall correctly Richard was supposed to sing the first verse but was very fucked up and missed the start. Bob picked it up and started the song for him to finish it
Freddie Coen
wow! literal chills . Not only a star studded line up but a truly iconic gathering of legends, to see the like of ronnie hawks besides joni mitchell is like watching poseidon brush shoulders with athena herself. The end of a great band (if you will pun the pardon) but much more than that, the end of an era, or in the words of the great robbie robertson the beginning of the end of the beginning of the end. This is not the funeral for an era of music, nor music itself. Its a celebration of the start of everything great to be strummed, drummed, blown or sung.
Peter Iacontino
WOW ! What a band ! I love Richard Manual's voice . Beautiful !