Don't Think Twice It's Alright
Jerry Jeff Walker Lyrics


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Bob Dylan

It ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe
It don't matter, anyhow
An' it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe
If you don't know by now
When your rooster crows at the break of dawn
Look out your window and I'll be gone
You're the reason I'm trav'lin' on
Don't think twice, it's all right

It ain't no use in turnin' on your light, babe
That light I never knowed
An' it ain't no use in turnin' on your light, babe
I'm on the dark side of the road
Still I wish there was somethin' you would do or say
To try and make me change my mind and stay
We never did too much talkin' anyway
So don't think twice, it's all right

It ain't no use in callin' out my name, gal
Like you never did before
It ain't no use in callin' out my name, gal
I can't hear you any more
I'm a-thinkin' and a-wond'rin' all the way down the road
I once loved a woman, a child I'm told
I give her my heart but she wanted my soul
But don't think twice, it's all right

I'm walkin' down that long, lonesome road, babe
Where I'm bound, I can't tell
But goodbye's too good a word, gal
So I'll just say fare thee well
I ain't sayin' you treated me unkind
You could have done better but I don't mind




You just kinda wasted my precious time
But don't think twice, it's all right

Overall Meaning

Jerry Jeff Walker's version of Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" is a melancholic and introspective track about a failed relationship. The lyrics suggest that there's no point in trying to understand what caused the breakup, and that it's time to move on. The first stanza tells us that there's no use in pondering over why the relationship ended, and even if we did, it wouldn't make a difference. The second stanza talks about how being in the dark symbolizes the unknown future that lies ahead. The singer wishes that their partner would try to do something to convince him to stay, but he knows that it's useless. There's no use in holding on to something that isn't meant to be.


The third stanza is an admission that the relationship failed because the woman was not supportive or understanding of Jerry Jeff Walker. In fact, she only wanted the best for herself and not for him. The last stanza reveals that the singer is walking away from the relationship and doesn't know where he's heading, but he knows that he can't stay in a relationship that is not fulfilling. The song's tone is hauntingly beautiful and provoking.


Line by Line Meaning

It ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe
It's pointless to contemplate why things happened


It don't matter, anyhow
In the end, it doesn't matter


An' it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe
Reinforcing the point that there is no use in wondering


If you don't know by now
If you don't already understand


When your rooster crows at the break of dawn
When the day starts anew


Look out your window and I'll be gone
I won't be around anymore


You're the reason I'm trav'lin' on
The relationship with the person is what's driving me away


Don't think twice, it's all right
Just accept it and move on


It ain't no use in turnin' on your light, babe
Lighting the way won't change my departure


That light I never knowed
I never experienced that kind of light


An' it ain't no use in turnin' on your light, babe
Reiterating the futility of turning on the light


I'm on the dark side of the road
I'm in a dark place


Still I wish there was somethin' you would do or say
Even though I'm leaving, I still desire closure


To try and make me change my mind and stay
In hopes of making me have a change of heart


We never did too much talkin' anyway
Our communication was lacking anyway


So don't think twice, it's all right
It's not worth stressing over


It ain't no use in callin' out my name, gal
No need to call out to me


Like you never did before
As if it would make a difference


I can't hear you any more
I've moved on and left it behind


I'm a-thinkin' and a-wond'rin' all the way down the road
Reflecting on what's already happened


I once loved a woman, a child I'm told
A past relationship that has ended


I give her my heart but she wanted my soul
I gave everything I had but it wasn't enough


But don't think twice, it's all right
It was what it was, nothing to worry about now


I'm walkin' down that long, lonesome road, babe
Walking down a lonely path


Where I'm bound, I can't tell
I don't know where I'm headed


But goodbye's too good a word, gal
Saying goodbye isn't appropriate


So I'll just say fare thee well
A subtler way of saying goodbye


I ain't sayin' you treated me unkind
I'm not blaming you


You could have done better but I don't mind
It could have been better but it's okay


You just kinda wasted my precious time
It wasn't completely productive


But don't think twice, it's all right
Just move on and don't worry about it




Contributed by Ava V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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