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By Tony Attwood
“I’m not there” is one of the most troublesome lesser-known songs of Bob Dylan as it seems to have been removed from the various websites incorporating it, more than any other lesser known Dylan song.
So last time I wrote about the song I put up links to two locations at which the song could be heard but returning to them both today, I find that they too have been removed – as indeed the previous one’s were.
Is it a coincidence or is there something about this particular song?
Well, if the source of this copy goes down, then I will start to believe there is something odd about this song that means that someone somewhere really doesn’t want it available to fans. So if you don’t know it and want to hear it, I suggest you play it today and not tomorrow.
The lyrics are below.
And the irony of all this is that I personally don’t particularly care for this song. Now of course that doesn’t matter a jot – my intention is to have a website on which all of Bob’s compositions can be found, so whether the song is in my view a work of art, or something that didn’t work, doesn’t matter.
Still maybe its regular disappearance is, after all, just a coincidence.
Thing’s are all right and she’s all too tight In my neighbourhood she cries both day and night I know it because it was there It’s a milestone but she’s down on her luck And she’s daily salooning about to make a hard earned buck; I was there. I believe that she’d stop him if she would start to care I believe that she’d look upon the side that used to care And I’d go by the Lord anywhere she’s on my way But I don’t belong there. No, I don’t belong to her, I don’t belong to anybody She’s my Christ-forsaken-angel but she don’t hear me cry She’s a lone hearted mystic and she can’t carry on When I’m there she’s all right, but then she’s not, when I’m gone. Heaven knows that the answer she not calling no one She’s the way, forsaken beauty for she’s mine, for the one And I lost her hesitation by temptation lest it runs But she don’t honour me but I’m not there, I’m gone. Now I’ll cry tonight like I cried the night before And I’m leased on the highway but I still dream about the door It’s so long, she’s forsaken by her faith, (where’s to tell?) It don’t have consternation she’s my all, fare thee well. Now when I’ll teach that lady I was born to love her But she knows that the kingdom waits so high above her And I run but I race but it’s not too fast or still But I don’t perceive her, I’m not there, I’m gone. Well it’s all about diffusion and I cry for her veil I don’t need anybody now beside me to tell And it’s all affirmation I receive but it’s not She’s a lone-hearted beauty but she don’t like this spot and she’ gone. Yeah, she’s gone like the radio below the shining yesterday But now she’s home beside me and I’d like her here to stay She’s a lone, forsaken beauty and she don’t trust anyone And I wish I was beside her but I’m not there, I’m gone. Well, it’s too hard to stay here and I don’t want to leave It’s so bad, for so few see, but she’s a heart too hard to need It’s alone, it’s a crime the way she hauls me around But she don’t fall to hate me but tears are gone, a painted clown. Yes, I believe that it’s rightful oh, I believe it in my mind I’ve been told like I said one night before “Carry on the crying” And the old gypsy told her like I said, “Carry on,” I wish I was there to help her but I’m not there, I’m gone.