Them It's All Over Now Baby Blue Lyrics
Introduction
"It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" is a song written and performed by Bob Dylan in 1965. The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including Them, whose version is the subject of this article. The song's lyrics are widely interpreted as a farewell to a lover or a protest against the music industry. In this article, we'll explore the meaning of the lyrics in depth and examine how Them's version differs from Dylan's original.
The Lyrics
The song's opening verse sets the tone for the rest of the lyrics:
You must leave now, take what you need, you think will last
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
The narrator is addressing someone who is about to leave, perhaps on a journey or to start a new life. The line "yonder stands your orphan with his gun" suggests that the person is leaving behind someone who is vulnerable and in need of protection.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "it's all over now, baby blue" several times, suggesting that the relationship or situation that the narrator is referring to is coming to an end. The second verse continues the theme of departure:
The highway is for gamblers, better use your sense
Take what you have gathered from coincidence
The empty-handed painter from your streets
Is drawing crazy patterns on your sheets
Here, the narrator is warning the person to be careful in their travels and to rely on their own judgment. The line "the empty-handed painter from your streets" refers to someone who is creative but perhaps not financially successful.
Them's Version
Them's version of "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" was released in 1966, a year after Dylan's original. The band, led by Van Morrison, added a more upbeat and soulful sound to the song, with Morrison's distinctive voice giving the lyrics a new depth of emotion.
The band also made some changes to the lyrics, most notably in the chorus. Instead of repeating "it's all over now, baby blue," Them sings "la la la la la," adding a sense of ambiguity to the song's meaning.
The Meaning of the Lyrics
The meaning of "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" has been widely debated since its release. Some interpret the song as a farewell to a lover, while others see it as a protest against the music industry or a commentary on the changing times of the 1960s.
One interpretation is that the song is a reaction to Dylan's own growing fame and the pressures that came with it. The line "you better grab it fast" could be seen as a warning to himself to hold onto what is important before it's too late.
Another interpretation is that the song is about the end of an era, perhaps the end of the 1960s counterculture movement. The line "the empty-handed painter from your streets" could refer to artists and musicians who were struggling to survive in a changing world.
Conclusion
"It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" is a song that has stood the test of time, with its lyrics continuing to resonate with listeners today. Whether you prefer Dylan's original or Them's version, the song's message of departure and change is one that will always be relevant.