Restless Farewell
Bob Dylan
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Oh, all the money that in my whole life I did spend Be it mine right or wrongfully I let it slip gladly to friends To tie up the time most forcefully But the bottles are done We've killed each one And the table's full and overflowed And the corner sign Says it's closing time So I'll bid farewell and be down the road Oh, ev'ry girl that ever I've touched I did not do it harmfully And ev'ry girl that ever I've hurt I did not do it knowin'ly But to remain as friends You need the time to make amends And stay behind And since my feet are now fast And point away from the past I'll bid farewell and be down the line Oh, ev'ry foe that ever I faced The cause was there before we came And ev'ry cause that ever I fought I fought it full without regret or shame But the dark does die As the curtain is drawn and somebody's eyes Must meet the dawn And if I see the day I'd only have to stay So I'll bid farewell in the night and be gone Oh, ev'ry thought that's strung a knot in my mind I might go insane if it couldn't be sprung But it's not to stand naked under unknowin' eyes It's for myself and my friends my stories are sung But the time ain't tall Yet on time you depend and no word is possessed By no special friend And though the line is cut It ain't quite the end I'll just bid farewell till we meet again Oh, a false clock tries to tick out my time To disgrace, distract, and bother me And the dirt of gossip blows into my face And the dust of rumors covers me But if the arrow is straight And the point is slick It can pierce through dust no matter how thick So I'll make my stand And remain as I am And bid farewell and not give a damn
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Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
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11 facts about this song
Song Authorship"Restless Farewell" was not a collaborative composition between Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, but solely written and first recorded by Dylan.
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Album FactThe song was included in Bob Dylan's 1964 album "The Times They Are a-Changin'".
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Inspiration ContextThis song was reportedly Dylan’s response to a Newsweek article that dug into his past and gave Dylan the urge to write "Restless Farewell".
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Live PerformancesWhile Joan Baez never recorded the song on an album, she has frequently sung it at her concerts and cited it as one of her favorite Dylan songs.
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Television Appearance"Restless Farewell" was performed by Bob Dylan for the first time on television, in 1964, on Canada's CBC-TV program "Quest."
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Lyrics OriginThe tune borrows heavily from the traditional folk song "The Parting Glass", an Irish tune often sung at the end of gatherings with friends and family.
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Infrequency of PerformanceDespite being released in 1964, Dylan did not perform Restless Farewell frequently in his concerts. As of today, he has performed it only thrice.
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Presidential TributeOn January 18, 1993, Dylan performed "Restless Farewell" at the 'Presidential Inaugural Celebration for Youth' honoring then-newly elected President Bill Clinton, It was said to be Dylan’s last ever performance of the song.
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Origin of the TitleThe song got its name "Restless Farewell" from the restless feeling of moving on the singer expresses in its lyrics.
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Symbolic SignificanceThe song has been known to symbolically represent Dylan's desire to leave his past behind and his refusal to be defined by it.
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Album Closing"Restless Farewell" is the last track of Dylan’s third studio album, effectively serving as a farewell from the album, thereby living up to its name.
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Citation
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"Restless Farewell Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 8 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/21226103/Bob+Dylan/Restless+Farewell>.
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