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.
Love Is Only Mine
Bob Dylan and The Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Someone who loves you tender like I do
You'll never find, no matter where you search
Someone who cares about you the way I do
Whoa, I'm not braggin' on myself, baby
But I'm the one who loves you
And there's no one else! No one else
You'll never find, it'll take the end of all time
Someone to understand you like I do
You'll never find the rhythm, the rhyme
All the magic we shared, just us two
Whoa, I'm not tryin' to make you stay, baby
But I know some how, some day, some way
You are (you're gonna miss my lovin')
You're gonna miss my lovin' (you're gonna miss my lovin')
You're gonna miss my lovin' (you're gonna miss my lovin')
You're gonna miss, you're gonna miss my love
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh (you're gonna miss my lovin')
Late in the midnight hour, baby (you're gonna miss my lovin')
When it's cold outside (you're gonna miss my lovin')
You're gonna miss, you're gonna miss my love
Love is in the air, in the whisper of the tree
Love is in the air in the thunder of the sea
And I don't know if I'm just dreaming
Don't know if I feel safe
But it's something that I must believe in
And it's there when you call out my name
Love is in the air
Love is in the air
Oh, oh, oh, oh, uh
Love is in the air
My darling I, can't get enough of your love, babe
Girl, I don't know, I don't know why
Can't get enough of your love babe
Oh, some things I can't get used to
No matter how I try
Just like the more you give, the more I want
And baby, that's no lie
Oh no, babe
Tell me, what can I say?
What am I gonna do?
How should I feel when everything is you?
What kind of love is this that you're givin' me?
Is it in your kiss or just because you're sweet?
Girl, all I know is every time you're here
I feel the change
Somethin' moves
I scream your name
Do whatcha got to do
Darling, I, can't get enough of your love, babe
Girl, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know why
I can't get enough of your love babe
Oh no, babe
Girl, if only I could make you see
And make you understand
Girl, your love for me is all I need
And more than I can stand
Oh well, babe
My first, my last, my everything
And the answer to all my dreams
You're my sun, my moon, my guiding star
My kind of wonderful, that's what you are
I know there's only, only one like you
There's no way they could have made two
You're, you're all I'm living for
Your love I'll keep for evermore
You're the first, my last, my everything
I see so many ways that I can love you
'Till the day I die
You're my reality, yet I'm lost in a dream
You're my first, my last, my everything.
The lyrics of "Love Is Only Mine" by Bob Dylan and The Band speak to the deep and unconditional love the singer feels for someone. The opening lines emphasize the uniqueness of their love, suggesting that no one else can love the person as tenderly and deeply as the singer does. The singer wants to make it clear that they are not boasting about their love, but they genuinely believe that their love is unparalleled.
The second verse continues this theme by expressing that the connection between them is something that goes beyond time and the understanding of others. The singer believes that they possess a special understanding and shared magic that cannot be replicated or replaced. While the singer doesn't want to force the person to stay with them, they are confident that eventually, the person will realize the depth of their love and miss it.
The chorus reinforces the idea of love being in the air, referencing the natural world as a symbol of the all-encompassing presence of love. The lyrics suggest that holding onto the belief in love is essential, even if it sometimes feels uncertain or unsafe. The mention of the person calling out the singer's name signifies the importance they hold in each other's lives and the power of their connection.
The following verses delve deeper into the individual's overwhelming love for the person. It expresses their inability to get enough of their love and a sense of wonder about why they feel this way. The lyrics also touch upon the idea that their love is indescribable and goes beyond physical gestures or sweetness. It's a profound and transformative force that fills their life.
The bridge acknowledges the significant impact of the person's presence in the singer's life. Their love brings about change, stirring something within the singer every time they are together. The lyrics convey the intensity of their feelings and the urgency to act on them.
The final section of the lyrics brings in snippets from other songs, including Barry White's "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe" and The Bee Gees' "The First, My Last, My Everything." These references further illustrate the depth of the singer's affection and the correlation between love and music. It conveys that the person they love is everything to them, their guiding star, their source of happiness, and the embodiment of their dreams.
Overall, "Love Is Only Mine" explores the all-encompassing nature of love, emphasizing the singer's belief in the uniqueness and incomparable depth of their connection. It conveys a sense of longing, devotion, and the transformative power of love.
Line by Line Meaning
You'll never find, as long as you live
It is impossible for you to find someone who loves you as deeply as I do for the rest of your life
Someone who loves you tender like I do
Someone who loves you with such gentleness and affection like I do
You'll never find, no matter where you search
No matter where you look, you will not find
Someone who cares about you the way I do
Someone who has the same level of concern and care for you as I do
Whoa, I'm not braggin' on myself, baby
I am not boasting about myself, my love
But I'm the one who loves you
But I am the individual who loves you deeply
And there's no one else! No one else
And there is no other person who can compare to me, no one at all
You'll never find, it'll take the end of all time
You will never find, it will require an eternity
Someone to understand you like I do
Someone who comprehends you in the same way that I do
You'll never find the rhythm, the rhyme
You will never discover the perfect harmony and synchronization
All the magic we shared, just us two
All the enchantment we experienced, just the two of us together
Whoa, I'm not tryin' to make you stay, baby
I am not attempting to make you stay, my love
But I know some how, some day, some way
But I know somehow, someday, in some manner
You are (you're gonna miss my lovin')
You will realize and long for my love
You're gonna miss my lovin' (you're gonna miss my lovin')
You will pine for the affection I gave you, you will long for it
You're gonna miss my lovin' (you're gonna miss my lovin')
You're going to feel the absence of the love I provided
You're gonna miss, you're gonna miss my love
You will yearn for and regret the loss of my love
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh (you're gonna miss my lovin')
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh (you will long for the love I gave)
Late in the midnight hour, baby (you're gonna miss my lovin')
Late at night, my love, you will yearn for the love I gave
When it's cold outside (you're gonna miss my lovin')
During cold times, my love, you will long for the affection I provided
You're gonna miss, you're gonna miss my love
You will miss and feel the absence of my love
Love is in the air, in the whisper of the tree
Love is present in the atmosphere, in the soft sound made by a tree
Love is in the air in the thunder of the sea
Love is present in the atmosphere, in the powerful sound of the ocean
And I don't know if I'm just dreaming
And I am uncertain if I am simply fantasizing
Don't know if I feel safe
I am unsure if I feel secure
But it's something that I must believe in
Yet it is something I must have faith in
And it's there when you call out my name
And this sentiment is present when you call my name
Love is in the air
Love is present in the atmosphere
Love is in the air
Love is present in the atmosphere
Oh, oh, oh, oh, uh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, uh
Love is in the air
Love is present in the atmosphere
My darling I, can't get enough of your love, babe
My sweetheart, I cannot get enough of your love, darling
Girl, I don't know, I don't know why
Girl, I am unsure, I do not understand why
Can't get enough of your love babe
I cannot obtain a sufficient amount of your love, darling
Oh, some things I can't get used to
Oh, there are certain things I cannot become accustomed to
No matter how I try
Regardless of how much effort I put in
Just like the more you give, the more I want
Similar to how the more you give, the more I desire
And baby, that's no lie
And my dear, that is the absolute truth
Oh no, babe
Oh no, my love
Tell me, what can I say?
Inform me, what can I express?
What am I gonna do?
What should I do?
How should I feel when everything is you?
What emotions should I experience when everything revolves around you?
What kind of love is this that you're givin' me?
What type of love are you bestowing upon me?
Is it in your kiss or just because you're sweet?
Is it evident in your kiss or simply because you are kind?
Girl, all I know is every time you're here
Girl, all I know is that every time you are present
I feel the change
I perceive a difference
Somethin' moves
Something stirs
I scream your name
I shout your name
Do whatcha got to do
Just do whatever you need to do
Darling, I, can't get enough of your love, babe
Darling, I cannot get enough of your love, darling
Girl, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know why
Girl, I am unsure, I do not understand why
I can't get enough of your love babe
I cannot obtain a sufficient amount of your love, darling
Oh no, babe
Oh no, my love
Girl, if only I could make you see
Girl, if only I could help you understand
And make you understand
And assist you in comprehending
Girl, your love for me is all I need
Girl, your love for me fulfills all my needs
And more than I can stand
And even surpasses what I can handle
Oh well, babe
Well, my love
My first, my last, my everything
You are my initial love, my final love, my everything
And the answer to all my dreams
And the solution to all my aspirations
You're my sun, my moon, my guiding star
You are my source of light, my source of calm, my guiding influence
My kind of wonderful, that's what you are
You are the embodiment of my idea of wonder and amazement
I know there's only, only one like you
I am aware that there is only, only one individual like you
There's no way they could have made two
It is impossible for there to be another person like you
You're, you're all I'm living for
You are all that I exist for
Your love I'll keep for evermore
I will forever hold onto your love
You're the first, my last, my everything
You are the beginning, the end, and the entirety of my love
I see so many ways that I can love you
I recognize various ways in which I can express my love for you
'Till the day I die
Until the day of my death
You're my reality, yet I'm lost in a dream
You are my reality, but I am simultaneously entranced in a dream
You're my first, my last, my everything
You are the earliest, the most recent, and the entirety of my love
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind