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 Man's Loss
Bob Dylan and The Band Lyrics
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If you'd let me hold you honey, I'd holler out loud
I'll never love another even if I can
Well, come to me baby, I'm a one-woman man
A-won't you let me, baby, just a-kind of hang around?
I'll always love honey, and I'll never let you down
I'll never love another even if I can
Well, come to me baby, I'm a one-woman man
To prove that I love you, I would jump off and fly
I'd even swim the ocean from shore to shore
To prove that I love you just a little bit more
A-won't you let me, baby, just a-kind of hang around?
I'll always love you honey, and I'll never let you down
I'll never love another even if I can
Well, come to me baby, I'm a one-woman man
If you told me that you love me, I would feel so proud
If you'd let me hold you honey, I'd holler out loud
I'll never love another even if I can
Well, come to me baby, I'm a one-woman man
Won't you let me, baby, just a-kind of hang around?
I'll always love honey, and I'll never let you down
I'll never love another even if I can
Well, come to me baby, I'm a one-woman man
Come to me baby, I'm a one-woman man
The lyrics to Bob Dylan and The Band's song "One Man's Loss" convey a deep and unwavering commitment to one person. The singer expresses his pride and joy in the love that is shared, emphasizing that if the person he loves were to reciprocate his feelings, he would be overjoyed. The desire to hold the person close and the willingness to shout it out loud reflects the sense of longing and passion present in the relationship.
The singer claims that he will never love another, asserting his faithfulness and devotion. He implores his beloved to come to him, emphasizing that he is a "one-woman man," emphasizing his exclusivity in matters of the heart. This notion of clinging to one person and pledging his loyalty is reiterated throughout the song.
The lyrics also contain vivid imagery to symbolize the lengths the singer would go to prove his love. His willingness to climb the highest mountain and jump off to fly, and his readiness to swim the vast ocean from shore to shore, symbolizes his strong desire to demonstrate the depth of his affection. These metaphors express the idea that he would go to extreme lengths and overcome any obstacles to prove his love.
Ultimately, the singer requests that his beloved let him be by her side, to simply hang around and be there for her. He reaffirms his everlasting love and promises never to let her down. The repetition of the phrase "one-woman man" reinforces his singularity of devotion and his willingness to remain committed to her alone.
In summary, "One Man's Loss" highlights the singer's unwavering dedication and fidelity to his beloved. The lyrics express his pride, longing, and determination to prove his love, while emphasizing his commitment to never love another. This song beautifully captures the essence of a deep and unbreakable bond between two people.
Line by Line Meaning
If you told me that you love me, I would feel so proud
Expressing happiness and pride if the person they love expresses their love
If you'd let me hold you honey, I'd holler out loud
Eager to show affection by loudly expressing joy if allowed to hold the person they love
I'll never love another even if I can
Committed to loving only one person, regardless of other opportunities
Well, come to me baby, I'm a one-woman man
Inviting the person they love to be with them, emphasizing their commitment to monogamy
A-won't you let me, baby, just a-kind of hang around?
Requesting the opportunity to spend time with and be close to the person they love
I'll always love honey, and I'll never let you down
Assuring the person they love that their love will endure and they will always be dependable
I'd climb the highest mountain if it reached up to the sky
Expressing willingness to go to extreme lengths to prove their love
To prove that I love you, I would jump off and fly
Using hyperbole to illustrate their willingness to take risks and do anything to demonstrate their love
I'd even swim the ocean from shore to shore
Showing readiness to cross great distances and overcome obstacles to prove their love
To prove that I love you just a little bit more
Highlighting the desire to continually surpass expectations and demonstrate an increasing depth of love
Come to me baby, I'm a one-woman man
Reiterating the plea for the person they love to be with them, emphasizing their loyalty and devotion
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny Horton, Tillman Franks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind