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.
One Kind Favor
Bob Dylan and The Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That lives by his heart
Who believes in God almighty
Not fearin' the devil or the dark
Always there when you need me to be
Hold your hand, say I love you
In those hours of need
Wish you could close your eyes
Am I the kind of man
That thinks he's strong
To stand up in a crowd
And admit when he's wrong
When you're in trouble
To no one else you'll ever plead
Knock on my door, say honey
You're the man I needed to see
Wish you could close your eyes
Truthfully one day say them things to me
I know I ain't been much
But I'm tryin'
Things have been rough lately
I'm not denyin'
But I'm gonna try somehow
To be a better man
'Cause my heart and soul
Is tryin' as hard as it can
Am I the kind of man
Who believes in peace
Who'll stand up and fight in a minute
Over something that he believes
Loves all his brothers
Treats his elders with respect
Never heard me say that I don't give a damn
What the hell, who gives a heck
Wish you could close your eyes
Truthfully one day say them things to me
'Cause you're the only woman alive
That can make that kind of man out of me
Copyright Spirit One Music (BMI)
The song "One Kind Favor" by Bob Dylan and The Band is an ode to self-reflection and introspection. The lyrics are a series of questions that the singer asks himself about his character and the kind of person he wants to be. He questions whether he is the kind of man who lives by his heart, who believes in God, and who is always there for others when they need him. He wonders if he is the kind of man who can admit when he is wrong and who will stand up for his beliefs. The singer acknowledges that he hasn't been the best person lately, but he is trying to be a better man.
The song reflects the internal struggle that many people experience when trying to better themselves. The singer is aware of his flaws, but he is determined to overcome them. He wants to be the kind of man that his loved ones can rely on and be proud of. The soothing melody and somewhat melancholic tone of the song encapsulate the singer's journey of self-discovery and growth.
Line by Line Meaning
Am I the kind of man
Do I really exemplify the kind of man
That lives by his heart
Who follows his emotions and listens to his instincts
Who believes in God almighty
And has strong faith in the higher power
Not fearin' the devil or the dark
Not afraid of any evil or darkness that may come
Always there when you need me to be
Ready to help and support you anytime
Hold your hand, say I love you
Comfort and express my affection to you
In those hours of need
During the times when you require help and understanding
Wish you could close your eyes
Hope that you can truly rely on me
Truthfully one day say them things to me
Sincerely confess your feelings to me
That thinks he's strong
Who believes in his own strength and ability
To stand up in a crowd
To speak up and stand out in a group
And admit when he's wrong
And show the humility to apologize when at fault
When you're in trouble
When you're facing difficulties
To no one else you'll ever plead
You won't ask anyone else for help
Knock on my door, say honey
Come to me and ask for my assistance
You're the man I needed to see
I know you'll be the one to help me
I know I ain't been much
I realize that I haven't been exceptional
But I'm tryin'
But I am attempting to improve
Things have been rough lately
Because things have been challenging in recent times
I'm not denyin'
I am not hiding from this reality
But I'm gonna try somehow
But I am going to make an effort to improve myself somehow
To be a better man
To be a better person
'Cause my heart and soul
Because of my deep emotions and inner self
Is tryin' as hard as it can
Is making a resolute effort to improve
Who believes in peace
Who strongly values and desires peace
Who'll stand up and fight in a minute
And yet, who would take a stand for his beliefs in a moment
Over something that he believes
Over a matter that he truly believes in
Loves all his brothers
Embraces and cherishes all fellow human beings
Treats his elders with respect
Conveys great respect towards and for senior citizens
Never heard me say that I don't give a damn
Has never listened to me say that I don't care at all
What the hell, who gives a heck
What difference does it make in the end
'Cause you're the only woman alive
Because you are the only woman on this planet
That can make that kind of man out of me
That can make me a man worthy of your affection and admiration
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: TOY CALDWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind