California Brown Eyed Baby – Dylan song number 620 we’ve just been sent

This song lyric comes from the summer 1961 “McKenzie manuscript and the picture is of Bob Dylan in 1961 taken by John Cohen  from the Bob Dylan Roots page.

The story that is reported that Bob met Ramblin Jack Elliott at a gig performing in a Fifth Avenue Hotel.

Bob had written a song for his new girlfriend called California Brown-Eyed Baby, and he sang it to her down the phone.  Allegedly it made everyone who heard it cry.

At least that is the story told in “Eve McKenzie Remembers” in The Telegraph 56, Winter 1997 pp 36/7.

The McKenzie manuscripts appeared in Isis No 44, August/September 1992, and yes, Untold Dylan, trying to build the ultimate definitive list of every Bob Dylan song and set of lyrics, has missed it.  So this will be song number 620 on our files.

And of course, we shall do what we have done before- ask all the musicians who read Untold to consider writing the music, which we will then put on the site under the Showcase heading, and the person or persons who create the song will be listed as having a song written by Bob Dylan and themselves.

Here are the lyrics

The rain is falling at my window
My thoughts are sad forever.
Thinking about my fair haired baby,
The one I really do adore

She's my California brown eyed baby,
She's the one I think about today,
She's my California brown eyed baby,
Livin' down San Francisco way

Sadly I look out my window,
Where I can hear the raindrops fall.
My heart is sayin' ***** ****
Where I can hear my true love call.

Now boys don't start to ramble,
You better stay in your hometown
Get you a gal that really loves you,
Stay right there and settle down.

If you want to send in a performance of the music, please send it as an MP3 or MP4 to Tony@schools.co.uk along with details of who you are, including any biographical details you want to reveal.

Here are some of the earlier songs we’ve had completed in this way

• Tioga Pass – Jeff Kosoff.
• Bowling Alley Blues: another Dylan set of lyrics needing the music
• Song to Bonny Paul Robert Thomas
• Listen Robert Moses: Chris Sheriden
• Dope Fiend Robber Nick Juno.

• Untold Dylan Showcase: the publisher’s turn
• Don’t let anyone write your story – original renditions
• Don’t let anyone write your story, Rob Beretta
• Don’t let anyone write your story, Paul Robert Thomas
• Don’t let anyone write your story, fourth edition
• Don’t Let Anyone write your story: Claudio Diarni

Untold Dylan: who we are what we do

Untold Dylan is written by people who want to write for Untold Dylan.  It is simply a forum for those interested in the work of the most famous, influential and recognised popular musician and poet of our era, to read about, listen to and express their thoughts on, his lyrics and music.

We welcome articles, contributions and ideas from all our readers.  Sadly no one gets paid, but if you are published here, your work will be read by a fairly large number of people across the world, ranging from fans to academics.  If you have an idea, or a finished piece send it as a Word file to Tony@schools.co.uk with a note saying that it is for publication on Untold Dylan.

We also have a very lively discussion group “Untold Dylan” on Facebook with around 7000 active members. Just type the phrase “Untold Dylan” in, on your Facebook page or follow this link 

You’ll find some notes about our latest posts arranged by themes and subjects on the home page of this site.  You can also see details of our main sections on this site at the top of this page under the picture.  Not every index is complete but I do my best.   Tony Attwood