shadowplay Posted August 27, 2008 Posted August 27, 2008 Do you think the woman in this song has unrealistic, princess expectations, or the man is the one being unfair? My friend and I got into a discussion about this the other day and I'm curious to hear the opinions of others. Here are the lyrics: Go away from my window, Leave at your own chosen speed. I'm not the one you want, babe, I'm not the one you need. You say you're lookin' for someone Never weak but always strong, To protect you ane defend you Whether you are right or wrong, Someone to open each and every door, But it ain't me, babe, No, no, no, it ain't me, babe, It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe. Go lightly from the ledge, babe, Go lightly on the ground. I'm not the one you want, babe, I will only let you down. You say you're lookin' for someone Who will promise never to part, Someone to close his eyes for you, Someone to close his heart, Someone who will die for you an' more, But it ain't me, babe, No, no, no, it ain't me, babe, It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe. Go melt back into the night, babe, Everything inside is made of stone. There's nothing in here moving And anyway I'm not alone. You say you're looking for someone Who'll pick you up each time you fall, To gather flowers constantly And to come each time you call, A lover for your life and nothing more, But it ain't me, babe, No, no, no, it ain't me, babe, It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe. My opinion: At face value the woman seems like the unreasonable one, but digging a little deeper there's an ahole subtext to the guy's stance in some of the lines: You say you're lookin' for someone Who will promise never to part, Someone to close his eyes for you, Someone to close his heart, Go melt back into the night, babe, Everything inside is made of stone. There's nothing in here moving And anyway I'm not alone. On closer inspection, and based on what I know about Dylan's love life, it sounds to me like a guy who basically wants to be a player and is exaggerating a woman's expectations so he doesn't feel like the bad guy. (This is my favorite Dylan song, btw )
sumdude Posted August 27, 2008 Posted August 27, 2008 I think he's being honest. He's telling her to go away or get hurt. The impression I get is that the girl is in love with him and wants more than he can or is willing to give at the time. Her expectations are too much.. for him and maybe in general. I'm not the one you want, babe, I will only let you down. Everything inside is made of stone. There's nothing in here moving If anything this line says it all to me. Sounds like a man who's heart has been broken and just isn't able to to open up and do it again. Which makes sense depending on when Dylan wrote the song. BTW I think Idiot Wind is one of the ultimate anger stage breakup songs.
Author shadowplay Posted August 27, 2008 Author Posted August 27, 2008 I think he's being honest. He's telling her to go away or get hurt. The impression I get is that the girl is in love with him and wants more than he can or is willing to give at the time. Her expectations are too much.. for him and maybe in general. I'm not the one you want, babe, I will only let you down. Everything inside is made of stone. There's nothing in here moving If anything this line says it all to me. Sounds like a man who's heart has been broken and just isn't able to to open up and do it again. Which makes sense depending on when Dylan wrote the song. BTW I think Idiot Wind is one of the ultimate anger stage breakup songs. Who broke his heart? From what I read I got the impression he was a bit of a player, had trouble committing. I guess the "ahole" subtext I was referring to stems from his bitter, angry tone in the lyrics, like who is this woman to try and tie me down?
The Collector Posted August 27, 2008 Posted August 27, 2008 Dylan is parading his toughness and independence so the girls will fancy him.
Kamille Posted August 27, 2008 Posted August 27, 2008 I think that to understand It ain't me babe, you have to get past the romance ideas presented and more into what Dylan represented. Dylan was the epitom of rejecting the establishment and everything it stood for. Like many of the thinkers of those times, the thing that scared him most was being pegged to a movement. My dad always said It ain't me babe wasn't so much about romance as Dylan refusing to be the spokesperson for a generation. Like a Rolling Stone has the 'princess' idea woven into it but is really a blunt critique of the establishment. I understand Like a Rolling Stone to be a parody of yuppie ideals - not a dedication to an actual woman. Much the same way, It ain't me babe can be read as someone being honest about who he is. Like a Rolling Stone. Once upon a time you dressed so fine You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you? People'd call, say, "Beware doll, you're bound to fall" You thought they were all kiddin' you You used to laugh about Everybody that was hangin' out Now you don't talk so loud Now you don't seem so proud About having to be scrounging for your next meal. How does it feel How does it feel To be without a home Like a complete unknown Like a rolling stone? You've gone to the finest school all right, Miss Lonely But you know you only used to get juiced in it And nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street And now you find out you're gonna have to get used to it You said you'd never compromise With the mystery tramp, but now you realize He's not selling any alibis As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes And ask him do you want to make a deal? How does it feel How does it feel To be on your own With no direction home Like a complete unknown Like a rolling stone? You never turned around to see the frowns on the jugglers and the clowns When they all come down and did tricks for you You never understood that it ain't no good You shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you You used to ride on the chrome horse with your diplomat Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat Ain't it hard when you discover that He really wasn't where it's at After he took from you everything he could steal. How does it feel How does it feel To be on your own With no direction home Like a complete unknown Like a rolling stone? Princess on the steeple and all the pretty people They're drinkin', thinkin' that they got it made Exchanging all kinds of precious gifts and things But you'd better lift your diamond ring, you'd better pawn it babe You used to be so amused At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used Go to him now, he calls you, you can't refuse When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal. How does it feel How does it feel To be on your own With no direction home Like a complete unknown Like a rolling stone?
sumdude Posted August 27, 2008 Posted August 27, 2008 Who broke his heart? From what I read I got the impression he was a bit of a player, had trouble committing. I guess the "ahole" subtext I was referring to stems from his bitter, angry tone in the lyrics, like who is this woman to try and tie me down? He was married to Sara for about 10 years. She filed for divorce arouind '77 and the custody and court battles were rather bitter. Blood On The Tracks was his divorce album. But looking at the timeline that was way after It Ain't Me Babe came out. He's just not feeling it for her and wants her to go away or get hurt.
grogster Posted August 27, 2008 Posted August 27, 2008 Babe is a song about a cold, scolding brush-off and unrequited love: a player dumping the woman who loves him so that the player can continue to "play" around. Its brilliance lies in its table-turning. The speaker-player sounds noble, tough and independent while the dumped woman, whose big mistake was falling in love with the player, sounds weak, dependent and clingy. Her sin is her love, and her loneliness. The player gets to have the superior character, and get laid too. Who can argue with that. My favorite Dylan song: Story of Joanna.
Author shadowplay Posted August 27, 2008 Author Posted August 27, 2008 Babe is a song about a cold, scolding brush-off and unrequited love: a player dumping the woman who loves him so that the player can continue to "play" around. Its brilliance lies in its table-turning. The speaker-player sounds noble, tough and independent while the dumped woman, whose big mistake was falling in love with the player, sounds weak, dependent and clingy. Her sin is her love, and her loneliness. The player gets to have the superior character, and get laid too. Brilliant summation.
grogster Posted August 27, 2008 Posted August 27, 2008 Great Thread topic, SP. I've grown tired of the neverending gender wars, here, and I loved your original post. I've often thought the same thing about Babe, and its sister song, "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright," which I prefer to Babe, musically.
soserious1 Posted August 27, 2008 Posted August 27, 2008 "Tangled up in blue" is my favorite Dylan was and is very much his own person. I doubt he'd be an easy man to get to know.
Author shadowplay Posted August 27, 2008 Author Posted August 27, 2008 Great Thread topic, SP. I've grown tired of the neverending gender wars, here, and I loved your original post. I've often thought the same thing about Babe, and its sister song, "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright," which I prefer to Babe, musically. Thanks! And I agree about Don't Think Twice having a similar sentiment.
Melisande Posted August 30, 2008 Posted August 30, 2008 My dad always said It ain't me babe wasn't so much about romance as Dylan refusing to be the spokesperson for a generation. yep, the song isn't about a woman, it's about his break with the folk movement. Of course, you can interpret it however you like, as with any good piece of art
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