Thursday May 27, 2021 “It Ain't Me Babe” The Turtles

Staying somewhat chronological, this was another early Dylan song recorded by another artist that became a big hit and broadened Dylan’s audience appreciably. Bob has never been noted as a great singer.

The Turtles (originally The Tyrtles, like the Byrds) had an international top five hit with this and it is one of Dylan’s more frequently recorded tunes with version from artists as varied as Nancy Sinatra, Sebastian Cabot, Bryan Ferry, Betty LaVette and Davy Jones of the Monkees (you’re welcome Susan).

Sonny Bono (Sonny & Cher) would combine Dylan’s folky “babe” with Phil Spector’s production values and turn it into an international number one for both Sonny and Cher and launch their career with it.

Here’s an interesting thought, in 1965, Johnny Cash recorded this with his wife June Carter. The song appears in the 2005 movie Walk The Line, which is about Cash. Do you think Cash was trying to tell his wife something?

Stay safe and well...and Dylan has suggested that this song was written for his fans (“babe”) and not a musical message for then paramour, Joan Baez as so many have thought. 

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

Who's never weak but always strong

To protect you and defend you

Whether you are right or wrong

Someone to open each and every door

 But it ain't me, babe

A-no, no, no it ain't me, babe

Well, 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'll only lead you down

You say you're lookin' for someone

Who'll promise never to part

Someone to close his eyes to you

Someone to close his heart

Someone who will die for you and more

 But it ain't me, babe

A-no, no, no it ain't me, babe

Well, it ain't me you're lookin' for, babe

No it ain't me you're lookin' for, babe

I said a-no, no, no, it ain't me, babe

I said a-no, no, no, it ain't me, babe

I said a-no, no, no, it ain't me, babe

I said a-no, no, no, it ain't me, babe

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

Who's never weak but always strong

To protect you and defend you

Whether you are right or wrong

Someone to open each and every door

 But it ain't me, babe

A-no, no, no it ain't me, babe

Well, 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'll only lead you down

You say you're lookin' for someone

Who'll promise never to part

Someone to close his eyes to you

Someone to close his heart

Someone who will die for you and more

 But it ain't me, babe

A-no, no, no it ain't me, babe

Well, it ain't me you're lookin' for, babe

No it ain't me you're lookin' for, babe

I said a-no, no, no, it ain't me, babe

I said a-no, no, no, it ain't me, babe

I said a-no, no, no, it ain't me, babe

I said a-no, no, no, it ain't me, babe

 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

Who's never weak but always strong

To protect you and defend you

Whether you are right or wrong

Someone to open each and every door

 But it ain't me, babe

A-no, no, no it ain't me, babe

Well, 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'll only lead you down

You say you're lookin' for someone

Who'll promise never to part

Someone to close his eyes to you

Someone to close his heart

Someone who will die for you and more

 But it ain't me, babe

A-no, no, no it ain't me, babe

Well, it ain't me you're lookin' for, babe

No it ain't me you're lookin' for, babe

I said a-no, no, no, it ain't me, babe

I said a-no, no, no, it ain't me, babe

I said a-no, no, no, it ain't me, babe

I said a-no, no, no, it ain't me, babe