He regularly does solo work, and returns again and again to bands he has formed like The Soft Boys and The Egyptians. Hitchcock is an avid and able collaborator with people like director Jonathan Demme, actor Alan Rickman, country/folk duo (and longtime Hitchcock fans) Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, The Venus 3, R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, Young Fresh Fellows' frontman Scott McCaughey, Andy Partridge of XTC, Nick Lowe, former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones, Jon Brion, and Grant-Lee Phillips, as well as Ministry's Bill Rieflin.
Hitchcock's musical and lyrical styles have been influenced by his appreciation of Bob Dylan, Gregory Corso, The Byrds, Country Joe & The Fish, and Syd Barrett.
Hitchcock's lyrics are an essential component of his work, and tend to include surrealism, comedic songs, characterisations of English eccentrics, plant roots, insects, trains, dreams, and melancholy depictions of everyday life. His themes include what many psychologists view as the roots of modern neurosis - namely, death, sex, and eating. (As if in recognition of these themes, he released an EP in 2007 called "Sex, Food, Death and Tarantulas".)
It's All Over Now Baby Blue
Robyn Hitchcock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But whatever you wish to keep, you better grab it fast
Yonder stands your orphan with his gun
Crying like a fire in the sun
Look out the saints are comin' through
And it's all over now, Baby Blue
The highway is for gamblers, better use your sense
Take what you have gathered from coincidence
Is drawing crazy patterns on your sheets
This sky, too, is folding under you
And it's all over now, Baby Blue
All your seasick sailors, they are rowing home
All your reindeer armies, are all going home
The lover who just walked out your door
Has taken all his blankets from the floor
The carpet, too, is moving under you
And it's all over now, Baby Blue
Leave your stepping stones behind, something calls for you
Forget the dead you've left, they will not follow you
The vagabond who's rapping at your door
Is standing in the clothes that you once wore
Strike another match, go start anew
And it's all over now, Baby Blue
"It’s all over now, Baby Blue" by Robyn Hitchcock is a cover of Bob Dylan's classic song. This song is often said to be a farewell song by Dylan for his fans, and it describes the whole viewpoint of Dylan's music at that time. Robyn Hitchcock's version of the song retains the haunting and melancholic mood of the original and has a dreamy tone to it.
The song lyrics use a lot of metaphors to convey the message of leaving, moving on, and letting go. The song starts with telling someone to leave with whatever they think will last because everything else will slip away. The Orphan with a gun in the next line might refer to someone feeling helpless and vulnerable, and the whole passage is a sort of warning or an advice to leave before it's too late. The next passage describes the futility of gambling and the importance of relying on one's senses. The empty-handed painter drawing crazy patterns on the sheets might be a metaphor for a free spirit, and the sky folding underneath conveys the feeling of everything collapsing.
The chorus of the song is where the importance lies. It describes all the people who are leaving and moving on. Seasick sailors rowing home, reindeer armies going home, and the lover who walked out with his blankets are all leaving. In the last few lines, the song tells the listener to leave behind what they have and start anew because something is calling for them.
Line by Line Meaning
You must leave now, take what you need, you think will last
It's time to move on and take with you only what truly matters
But whatever you wish to keep, you better grab it fast
Hold on tight to what is dear to you, for time is short
Yonder stands your orphan with his gun
You'll have to confront your past and face your mistakes
Crying like a fire in the sun
The pain and regret will be fierce and relentless
Look out the saints are comin' through
Be warned, those who are pure in heart are approaching
And it's all over now, Baby Blue
The end is near, and you must face the consequences of your actions
The highway is for gamblers, better use your sense
Life is unpredictable, be smart and take calculated risks
Take what you have gathered from coincidence
Take what you've learned from your experiences, both good and bad
The empty-handed painter from your streets
The artist who lost everything and still keeps creating
Is drawing crazy patterns on your sheets
The chaos of life is reflected in the art that surrounds us
This sky, too, is folding under you
The world as you know it is collapsing, and you must adapt
And it's all over now, Baby Blue
Time is running out, and you must make the most of what remains
All your seasick sailors, they are rowing home
Those who were lost at sea are finally finding their way back
All your reindeer armies, are all going home
The fantastical and imaginary are fading away
The lover who just walked out your door
Your romantic relationship has ended, and you must move on
Has taken all his blankets from the floor
Your former partner has taken everything that was once shared
The carpet, too, is moving under you
The foundation of your life is shifting, and you must find balance
And it's all over now, Baby Blue
The door to the past is closing, and a new chapter awaits
Leave your stepping stones behind, something calls for you
Forget the familiar and comfortable, adventure is calling
Forget the dead you've left, they will not follow you
Don't dwell on the past, because it will not come back
The vagabond who's rapping at your door
New possibilities and relationships are knocking at your door
Is standing in the clothes that you once wore
The new opportunities are connected to your past, but not your present
Strike another match, go start anew
Embrace change and ignite new passions and pursuits
And it's all over now, Baby Blue
The end of one journey marks the beginning of another
Contributed by Dylan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.