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You Ain't Goin' Nowhere

This article is about the song by Bob Dylan. For the song by Jake Owen, seeAmerican Love.

"You Ain't Goin' Nowhere"is a song written by the American musicianBob Dylanin 1967 in Woodstock, New York, during the self-imposed exile from public appearances that followed his July 29, 1966 motorcycle accident.[1][2]A recording of Dylan performing the song in September 1971 was released on theBob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol. IIalbum in November of that year, marking the first official release of the song by its author.[3]Earlier 1967 recordings of the song, performed by Dylan andthe Band,were issued on the 1975 albumThe Basement Tapesand the 2014 albumThe Bootleg Series Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes Complete.[4]

"You Ain't Goin' Nowhere"
SongbyBob Dylan
from the albumBob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol. II
ReleasedNovember 17, 1971
RecordedSeptember 24, 1971
GenreCountry rock
Length2:41
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Bob Dylan
Producer(s)Leon Russell

The Byrdsrecorded a version of the song in 1968 and issued it as asingle.[5][6]This was the first commercial release of the song, predating Dylan's own release by three years.[3][6][7]A later cover by ex-Byrds membersRoger McGuinnandChris Hillmanreached the top 10 of theHot Country Songscharts in 1989.

"You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" has also been covered by many other artists, includingJoan Baez,Unit 4 + 2,andGlen HansardwithMarkéta Irglová.[8]

Bob Dylan's versions

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1967 versions

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Starting in June 1967 and ending in October 1967, Bob Dylan's writing and recording sessions withthe Band(then known as the Hawks) in the basement of their house in Woodstock, New York, known as "Big Pink", were the source of many new songs.[9]"You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" was written and recorded during this period and features lyrics that allude to the singer waiting for his bride to arrive and, possibly, a final premarital fling.[10]

The song is in the key ofG major,[11]and has been described by authorClinton Heylinas, "one of those songs where Dylan never quite settled on a single set of lyrics."[12]In its earliest recorded version, Dylan had a tune, the last line of each verse, and a chorus,[12]but the song featured a stream of improvised, absurdist lyrics, including, "Now look here, dear soup/You'd best feed the cats/The cats need feeding",[13]and "Just pick up that oil cloth, cram it in the corn/I don't care if your name is Michael/You're gonna need some boards/Get your lunch, you foreign bib".[14]This first take was not officially released until 2014'sThe Bootleg Series Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes Complete.

Dylan changed the song's lyrics soon afterwards, with authors Philippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon remarking that, in the final 1967 draft, the first verse sounds like a weather report: "Clouds so swift/Rain won't lift/Gate won't close/Railings froze/Get your mind off wintertime".[13]The pair also describe the finished lyrics as being surrealist, with the narrator waiting for his bride to arrive, before flying "down in the easy chair", and even name-droppingMongolrulerGenghis Khan.[13]This second 1967 version of "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" was circulated by Dylan'spublisheras ademofor fellow artists to record[9]and was first officially released on Dylan's 1975The Basement Tapesalbum.

Margotin and Guesdon have described the sound of this version as having "acountry musictone, to the point of sounding like a tribute toHank Williams".[13]They also describe Dylan's singing voice in the recording as being laid-back, while he accompanies himself on a 12-string acoustic guitar, backed byRick Dankoon bass,Garth Hudsonon organ,Richard Manuelon piano, andRobbie Robertsonon drums (the Band's drummerLevon Helmhad temporarily left the group at this point).[13]An additional electric guitar part may have beenoverdubbedin 1975, just prior to the song's release onThe Basement Tapesalbum.[13]

1971 version

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"You Ain't Goin' Nowhere (1971 version)"
The 1971 version of "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere", recorded withHappy Traumand released onBob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol. II.
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Although Dylan had recorded "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" in 1967, he didn't release a version of the song until 1971'sBob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol. IIalbum.[13]On September 24, 1971, Dylan re-recorded threeBasement Tapes-era songs for inclusion on this compilation— "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere", "I Shall Be Released",and"Down in the Flood"—withHappy Traumplaying bass, banjo, and electric guitar, as well as providing a vocal harmony.[15]Traum notes that these songs "were very popular songs... that [Dylan] wanted to put his own stamp on."[16]Author John Nogowski has described the 1971 version of "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" as having a "joyus delivery."[17]

Heylin has concluded that Dylan took a lot more time and care over his third revision of the song's lyrics in 1971 than he had done back in 1967.[12]The lyrics of the 1971 recording differed significantly from theBasement Tapesversion,[13]and featured what Heylin describes as "riddles, wisely expounded", such as, "Buy me some rings and a gun that sings/A flute that toots and a bee that stings/A sky that cries and a bird that flies/A fish that walks and a dog that talks."[12]The 1971 lyrics also make mention of the filmGunga Din,while Genghis Khan (who was mentioned in the earlier version) is now accompanied by his brother Don.[13]These revised lyrics also name-checked guitaristRoger McGuinnofthe Byrds,and played upon a mistaken lyric in the Byrds'cover versionof the song from three years earlier (see below).[18]

The 1971 version of "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" was later released on the compilationsThe Essential Bob Dylan(2000) andDylan(2007), although the latter album's liner notes erroneously state that it is the 1967 version.[19][20]

Live performances

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According to his official website, Dylan performed the song live 108 times between 1976 and 2012.[21]

The Byrds' version

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"You Ain't Goin' Nowhere"
Dutch picture sleeve
Singlebythe Byrds
from the albumSweetheart of the Rodeo
B-side"Artificial Energy"
ReleasedApril 2, 1968
RecordedMarch 9, 1968
StudioColumbia(Nashville, Tennessee)
GenreCountry rock
Length2:33
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Bob Dylan
Producer(s)Gary Usher
The Byrdssingles chronology
"Goin' Back"
(1967) 		"You Ain't Goin' Nowhere"
(1968) 		"I Am a Pilgrim"
(1968)

The Byrds' recording of "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" was released as asingleon April 2, 1968 and was the first commercial release of the song, coming three years prior to any release of it by Dylan.[3][6][7]The Byrds' single reached number 74 on theBillboardHot 100chart and number 45 on theUK Singles Chart.[22][23]The song was also the lead single from the band's 1968country rockalbum,Sweetheart of the Rodeo.[6]Although it is not as famous as their cover version of Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man",the Byrds' recording of" You Ain't Goin' Nowhere "is sometimes considered by critics to be the band's best Dylan cover.[24]Billboardmagazine described it as being "infectious rhythm material" and having a "good lyric line, well performed".[25]

The song was selected as a suitable cover by the Byrds after theirrecord label,Columbia Records(which was also Dylan's record label), sent them somedemosfrom Dylan's Woodstock sessions.[26]Included among these demos were the songs "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" and "Nothing Was Delivered",both of which were recorded by the Byrds in March 1968, during theNashvillerecording sessionsforSweetheart of the Rodeo.[5][18]The Byrds' version of "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" features musical contributions from session musicianLloyd Greenonpedal steel guitar.[18]AuthorJohnny Roganhas commented that despite the change in musical style that the country-influencedSweetheart of the Rodeoalbum represented for the band, the inclusion of two Dylan covers forged a link with their previousfolk rockincarnation, when Dylan's material had been a mainstay of their repertoire.[27]

The Byrds' recording of "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" caused a minor controversy between the band and its author. Dylan's original demo of the song contained the lyric "Pick up your money, pack up your tent", which was mistakenly altered in the Byrds' version, by guitarist and singer Roger McGuinn, to "Pack up your money, pick up your tent".[28]Dylan expressed mock-annoyance at this lyric change in his 1971 recording of the song, singing "Pack up your money, put up your tent, McGuinn/You ain't goin' nowhere."[18]McGuinn replied in 1989 on a new recording of the song included on theNitty Gritty Dirt Band'sWill the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Twoalbum, adding the word "Dylan" after the same "Pack up your money, pick up your tent" lyric.[29]

Following its appearance onSweetheart of the Rodeo,"You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" would go on to become a staple of the Byrds'live concertrepertoire, until their final disbandment in 1973.[30]The Byrds re-recorded "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" in 1971 withEarl Scruggs,as part of theEarl Scruggs, His Family and Friendstelevision special, and this version was included on the program's accompanying soundtrack album.[31]The song was also performed live by a reformed line-up of the Byrds featuring Roger McGuinn,David Crosby,andChris Hillmanin January 1989.[30]McGuinn continues to perform the song in his solo concerts and consequently it appears on his 2007 album,Live from Spain.[32]

In addition to its appearance on theSweetheart of the Rodeoalbum, the Byrds' original recording of "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" also appears on several of the band'scompilations,includingThe Best of The Byrds: Greatest Hits, Volume II,History of The Byrds,The Byrds Play Dylan,The Original Singles: 1967–1969, Volume 2,The Byrds,andThere Is a Season.[24]Live performances of the song are included on the expanded edition of the band's(Untitled)album and onLive at Royal Albert Hall 1971.[24]

Other covers

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The BritishbeatgroupUnit 4 + 2released a recording of "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" as a single in 1968, but it suffered poor sales as a result of the competing version released by the Byrds[33]and consequently it did not chart.[34]Joan Baezincluded a gender-switched version of the song, in which she sings "Tomorrow's the day my man's gonna come", on her 1968 album of Dylan covers,Any Day Now.[35]

Former members of the Byrds Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman re-recorded the song in 1989 with theNitty Gritty Dirt Bandon that band'sWill the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Twoalbum. This recording was released as a single and peaked at number 6 on theBillboardHot Country Singleschart[29]and number eleven on the Canadian country music charts published byRPM.[36]In spite of the involvement of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, the single release was credited to McGuinn and Hillman alone.[37]

"You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" has also been covered byEarl Scruggs,Maria Muldaur,Old Crow Medicine Show,Phish,Counting Crows,the Dandy Warhols,Tedeschi Trucks Band,Loudon Wainwright III,andGlen HansardwithMarkéta Irglováamong others.[8]

It was one of about two dozen Dylan compositions included in the 2017 stage musicalGirl from the North Country.

Chart performance

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The Byrds version

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Chart (1968) Peak
position
CanadianRPMTop Singles[38] 55
UK Singles Chart[23] 45
USBillboardHot 100[22] 74

Chris Hillman/Roger McGuinn version

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Chart (1989) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[39] 11
USHot Country Songs(Billboard)[40] 6

Year-end charts

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Chart (1989) Position
USCountry Songs(Billboard)[41] 79

References

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  1. ^Marcus, Greil (1975).The Basement Tapes (1975 LP liner notes).
  2. ^Williams, Paul (1990).Bob Dylan: Performing Artist - Book One 1960 - 1973.Xanadu Publications. p. 215.ISBN1-85480-044-2.
  3. ^abcWilliams, Paul (1990).Bob Dylan: Performing Artist - Book One 1960 - 1973.Xanadu Publications Ltd. pp.265–266.ISBN1-85480-044-2.
  4. ^"The Basement Tapes review".AllMusic.Retrieved2009-08-28.
  5. ^abHjort, Christopher (2008).So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star: The Byrds Day-By-Day (1965-1973).Jawbone Press. pp.162–165.ISBN978-1-906002-15-2.
  6. ^abcdRogan, Johnny (1998).The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited(2nd ed.). Rogan House. pp.544–546.ISBN0-9529540-1-X.
  7. ^ab"The B List: You Ain't Goin' Nowhere".Glide Magazine.5 July 2007.Archivedfrom the original on 2010-09-16.Retrieved2010-01-13.
  8. ^ab"You Ain't Goin' Nowhere cover versions".AllMusic.Retrieved2009-08-28.[permanent dead link‍]
  9. ^abWilliams, Paul(2004).Bob Dylan: Performing Artist 1960-1973 - The Early Years.Music Sales Ltd. p. 222.ISBN1-84449-095-5.
  10. ^"You Ain't Goin' Nowhere lyrics".bobdylan.com.Archivedfrom the original on 2009-09-01.Retrieved2009-08-28.
  11. ^"You Ain't Goin' Nowhere ● Bob Dylan".NoteDiscover.Archivedfrom the original on 2018-03-18.Retrieved2020-01-07.
  12. ^abcdHeylin, Clinton(2009).Revolution in the Air: The Songs of Bob Dylan 1957-1973.London:Constable & Robinson.ISBN978-1-84901-051-1.
  13. ^abcdefghiMargotin, Philippe; Guesdon, Jean-Michel (2015).Bob Dylan: All The Songs.New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers Inc. "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" song entry.ISBN978-0-316-35353-3.
  14. ^Griffin, Sid (2007).Million Dollar Bash: Bob Dylan, the Band, and the Basement Tapes.Jawbone Press. p.200.ISBN978-1-906002-05-3.
  15. ^Björner, Olof (2013-01-15)."1971 Recording Sessions".Archivedfrom the original on 2017-06-21.Retrieved2013-01-30.
  16. ^Sounes, Howard (2001).Down the Highway: The Life of Bob Dylan.Grove Press. p.269.ISBN0-8021-1686-8.
  17. ^Nogowski, John (2008).Bob Dylan: A Descriptive, Critical Discography and Filmography, 1961-2007.Jefferson, North Carolina: MacFarland & Company, Inc. p. 55.ISBN978-0-7864-3518-0.
  18. ^abcdFricke, David (2003).Sweetheart of the Rodeo: Legacy Edition (2003 CD liner notes).
  19. ^Fraser, Alan."Audio: International Album Releases (Regular): The Essential Bob Dylan".Archivedfrom the original on 2011-06-17.Retrieved2010-05-16.
  20. ^Fraser, Alan."Audio: International Album Releases (Regular): Dylan (2007)".Archivedfrom the original on 2009-11-26.Retrieved2010-05-16.
  21. ^"You Ain't Goin' Nowhere | The Official Bob Dylan Site".www.bobdylan.com.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-05-14.Retrieved2021-05-14.
  22. ^ab"The Byrds Billboard Singles".AllMusic.Retrieved2010-01-13.
  23. ^abBrown, Tony (2000).The Complete Book of the British Charts.Omnibus Press. p. 130.ISBN0-7119-7670-8.
  24. ^abc"You Ain't Goin' Nowhere – The Byrds' version review".AllMusic.Retrieved2009-08-28.
  25. ^"Spotlight Singles"(PDF).Billboard.April 13, 1968. p. 72.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2021-03-07.Retrieved2021-02-23.
  26. ^Einarson, John (2008).Hot Burritos: The True Story of The Flying Burrito Brothers.Jawbone Press.ISBN978-1-906002-16-9.
  27. ^Rogan, Johnny (1998).The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited(2nd ed.). Rogan House. pp.269–270.ISBN0-9529540-1-X.
  28. ^Rogan, Johnny (1997).Sweetheart of the Rodeo (1997 CD liner notes).
  29. ^ab"Sweetheart of the Rodeo".ByrdWatcher: A Field Guide to the Byrds of Los Angeles. Archived fromthe originalon 2010-10-28.Retrieved2009-08-28.
  30. ^abRogan, Johnny (1998).The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited(2nd ed.). Rogan House. pp.591–615.ISBN0-9529540-1-X.
  31. ^Rogan, Johnny (1998).The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited(2nd ed.). Rogan House. p. 335.ISBN0-9529540-1-X.
  32. ^"Live from Spain product information".Sundazed.Archived fromthe originalon 2009-01-03.Retrieved2009-08-28.
  33. ^Eder, Bruce."Unit 4 + 2 Biography".AllMusic.Retrieved2010-11-05.
  34. ^Brown, Tony (2000).The Complete Book of the British Charts.Omnibus Press. p. 928.ISBN0-7119-7670-8.
  35. ^"Any Day Now".joanbaez.com. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-08-20.Retrieved2009-08-28.
  36. ^"RPM Country Tracks for July 31, 1989".RPM.Archived fromthe originalon 20 October 2012.Retrieved5 November2010.
  37. ^Whitburn, Joel (2008).Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008.Record Research, Inc. pp. 190, 273.ISBN978-0-89820-177-2.
  38. ^"RPM Top Singles for May 25, 1968".RPM.Archivedfrom the original on 20 October 2012.Retrieved7 November2010.
  39. ^"Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 6409."RPM.Library and Archives Canada.July 31, 1989. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  40. ^"Chris Hillman Chart History (Hot Country Songs)".Billboard.
  41. ^"Best of 1989: Country Songs".Billboard.1989.Archivedfrom the original on December 11, 2007.RetrievedAugust 28,2013.
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  • Lyricsat Bob Dylan's official site
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