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.
Mr. Blue
Bob Dylan and The Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The day that I lost you
He lost all his glitter the day you said, "no"
And his silver turned to blue
Like him I am doubtful that our love is true
But if you decide to call on me
Ask for Mister Blue
I stay at home at night
But you won't call and I won't hurt my pride
Call me Mister
I won't tell you
While you paint the town
A bright red to turn it upside down
I'm painting it too
But I'm painting it blue
Call me Mister Blue
Call me Mister Blue
The song "Mr. Blue" by Bob Dylan and The Band explores the devastation of lost love through the symbolism of a fallen guardian star. The lyrics begin by describing the loss of brightness and glory when the singer lost their lover. The guardian star, which is often seen as a symbol of protection and guidance, lost its shine and turned blue, shadowing the singer's sorrow. The lyrics then reveal the singer's uncertainty about the authenticity of their love but the artist puts the ball in the lover's court, saying that, "if you decide to call on me, ask for Mister Blue." The singer stays at home, waiting for the lover's call that never comes, and explains that their pride won't let them reach out first. The singer and the fallen guardian star, both in blue, watch the world go on without them as they paint their own town blue.
The song "Mr. Blue" is unique in its display of vulnerability from an artist known for his poetic lyrics that sometimes seem to be shrouded in mystery. It is a rare glimpse into Dylan's personal life and experience with love and loss. Interestingly, the song was not included in any of Dylan's or The Band's studio albums but was released as a single in 1971. It was also covered by various artists, including Garth Brooks, who even named his production company after the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Our guardian star lost all his glow
The star that once guided us lost its sparkle on the day I lost you.
The day that I lost you
The day you left me.
He lost all his glitter the day you said, "no"
Just like how our star lost its shine the day you rejected me.
And his silver turned to blue
The once bright color of our star turned into a dull blue, symbolizing the sadness I feel.
Like him I am doubtful that our love is true
I am unsure if our love was ever real, just like how I doubt the star's ability to guide us.
But if you decide to call on me
If you change your mind and call me.
Ask for Mister Blue
Call me "Mister Blue", the person who is waiting for your call.
I stay at home at night
I spend my nights at home, alone.
Right by the phone at night
I wait by the phone for your call.
But you won't call and I won't hurt my pride
You won't call me and I won't admit that I am hurt.
Call me Mister
Refer to me as "Mister Blue".
I won't tell you
I won't reveal how I truly feel.
While you paint the town
While you go out and enjoy yourself.
A bright red to turn it upside down
You paint the town a vibrant color to change its atmosphere.
I'm painting it too
I also paint the town, but in a bleak blue color to reflect my mood.
But I'm painting it blue
I paint the town blue, a color of sadness and loneliness.
Call me Mister Blue
Call me "Mister Blue", the name that represents my current state of emotion.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DEWAYNE BLACKWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
A P
I love the subtle shift in perspectives from “I” and “me” in the studio to “he” and “him” in this version. And LOVE how he can shift words and contexts around, but retain the same exact feeling without losing any meaning AND keeping the same internal rhymes and structure. So that this verse on the studio version:
I had a job in the great north woods
Working as a cook for a spell
But I never did like it all that much
And one day the ax just fell
Becomes this when he sings it live:
He had a job in Santa Fe
Workin’ in an old hotel
But he never did like it all that much
And one day it just went to hell
It’s almost like tangible proof how much of a genius he is. And if you compare the lyrics from the Rolling Thunder version of Simple Twist of Fate to the studio version it gets even wilder.
Garth Seagrave
One of the greatest songs ever in my humble opinion.
ExpTube1969
Why ?
11Hasaan
Agreed! When you hear it and you're a true music/poet student you get how amazing this is.
jam
@11Hasaan You can also get how amazing this is without being conceited.
subg88
I feel the same of Simple Twist of Fate on the same album. Two of the best on one album, along with a bunch of excellent songs. Not too shabby
Mr Tambourine Man
No, not humble, I think the same
Andrew Dickinson
Masterful. I love the small changes of lyrics. How fast his mind is processing the next line to sing. I love the raggedness of his voice on certain parts. The guy is just amazing.
M EB
... and very beautiful eyes. I have never seen that before.
Ray Garafano
Yup the voice makes ya hink he's singing w a sore throat, but the words. Guitar an harmonica! A master of his trade telling a story musically.2 thumbs up!
BiggerThanJesus
he likes t change up lyrics often