Mr. Tambourine Man
The Byrds Lyrics
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I'm not sleepy and there ain't no place I'm going to
Hey, Mr. Tambourine man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning, I'll come followin' you
Take me for a trip upon your magic swirling ship
All my senses have been stripped
And my hands can't feel to grip and my toes too numb to stepWait only for my boot heels to be wandering
I'm ready to go anywhere, I'm ready for to fade
Into my own parade
Cast your dancing spell my way
I promise to go under it
Hey, Mr. Tambourine man, play a song for me
I'm not sleepy and there ain't no place I'm going to
Hey, Mr. Tambourine man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning, I'll come followin' you
The lyrics to The Byrds' song "Mr. Tambourine Man” are enigmatic and intriguing. On the surface, the song appears to be a request for a musician to play a tune for the singer, who is not sleepy nor is he going anywhere. The singer is, in fact, ready to accompany the musician on a voyage, a “trip upon your magic swirling ship." This sets up the rest of the lyrics, where the singer describes the transformative power of music, capable of stripping away his senses and leaving him ready to go anywhere - "all my senses have been stripped and my hands can't feel to grip and my toes too numb to step.”
The lyrics of "Mr. Tambourine Man" suggest a longing for escape and transformation from the mundanity and banality of everyday life, encapsulated in the phrase, "I'm ready to go anywhere, I'm ready for to fade into my own parade." The singer wants to break away from the perceived constraints of society and engage in a journey of discovery and exploration, under the guidance of the titular musician.
Overall, "Mr. Tambourine Man" is a hymn to the transformative power of music and its ability to take the listener on an otherworldly journey. It is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, Mr. Tambourine man, play a song for me
I am seeking escape from my mundane life and asking for your help
I'm not sleepy and there ain't no place I'm going to
I am wide awake and have no particular destination or purpose
In the jingle jangle morning, I'll come followin' you
I will follow your music wherever it takes me, even if I don't know where I'm going
Take me for a trip upon your magic swirling ship
Please take me on a psychedelic journey with your music
All my senses have been stripped
Your music has transported me beyond my normal perceptions
And my hands can't feel to grip and my toes too numb to step
I am so lost in the music that I am disconnected from my physical body
Wait only for my boot heels to be wandering
I am completely willing to let your music take me on a journey, wherever it may lead
I'm ready to go anywhere, I'm ready for to fade
I am open to any new experiences and willing to let go of my old self
Into my own parade
I want to create my own path, free from societal constraints
Cast your dancing spell my way
Please use your music to enchant and captivate me
I promise to go under it
I am willing to fully surrender myself to your musical spell
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ninjabluefyre3815
Man, the 12 string really is the instrument of the decade. It just gives such a dreamlike quality to certain riffs.
@dontall71
Larry Knechtel played the bass in the original studio recording
@seksimaro
I can tell you first hand. My uncle had it, maybe still does, don't known
And the sound it produces is amazing, especially when you use it as a rhytm guitar. Greetings from Slovenia
@KimJackson-z6y
Absolutely ❤
@marywilliams5347
The Byrds was a really a great band
@deco9863
What an epic masterpiece. It takes me back to when I was eight years old, riding my bike past our local drive-in. They had two old speakers hanging off the building, for those who chose to eat outside. That day, driving by that drive-in, they were blasting this song. It was the coolest thing I ever heard. It was 1967.
I am sixty years old now, and when I hear this song it instantly takes me back to that summer day in 1967, riding on that bike. I feel eight years old again, not a care in the world.
@peterpaul231
If you were 8 in 67, you must be 62.
@jacko222333
What a beautiful memory. Thanks for sharing.
@ragnorr2001
@@peterpaul231 I was 10 then, I remember it well
@AdonisMediaProductions
that's a beautiful insight, i really feel your comment to a deep level. I can only imagine how impactful it must of felt to grow up during the cultural revolution in America, amazing! Cheers to you.