Mama, You Been on My Mind

Bob Dylan

About Mama, You Been on My Mind

"Mama, You Been on My Mind" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. Written in 1964 during a trip to Europe, the song dealt with his recent breakup with his girlfriend, Suze Rotolo. Dylan first recorded the song in June of that year during a session for his album Another Side of Bob Dylan. However, the song was not included on the album, and Dylan's version remained unreleased until 1991. In total, in the 1990s and 2000s four versions were put out on Dylan's Bootleg Series of releases, including two live performances with Joan Baez from 1964 and 1975. Many artists have covered the song, including Baez, Jeff Buckley, Judy Collins, Ricky Nelson, Johnny Cash, George Harrison, Bettye LaVette, Dion and the Belmonts, Linda Ronstadt, and Rod Stewart on his 1972 album Never a Dull Moment. Dylan himself has performed the song more than 200 times. 


Year:
2002
3:03
45 

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Maybe it's the color of the sun cut flat
An' coverin' the crossroads I'm standing at
Or maybe it's the weather or something like that
But mama, you are just on my mind.

I don't mean trouble, please don't put me down or get upset
I am not pleadin' or sayin', I can't forget
I do not walk the floor bowed down an' bent, but yet
Mama, you are just on my mind.

Even though my mind is hazy an' my thoughts they might be narrow
Where you been don't bother me nor bring me down in sorrow
It don't even matter to me where you're wakin' up tomorrow
But mama, you're just on my mind

When you wake up in the mornin', baby, look inside your mirror
You know I won't be next to you, you know I won't be near
I'd just be curious to know if you can see yourself as clear
As someone who has had you on his mind

Maybe it's the color of the sun cut flat
An' coverin' the crossroads I'm standing at
Or maybe it's the weather or something like that
But mama, you are just on my mind
Mama, you are just on my mind

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Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan ( /ˈdɪlən/; born Robert Allen Zimmerman; May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, poet and artist. He has been an influential figure in popular music and culture for more than five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly reluctant figurehead of social unrest. A number of Dylan's early songs, such as "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are a-Changin'", became anthems for the US civil rights and anti-war movements. Leaving his initial base in the culture of folk music behind, Dylan's six-minute single "Like a Rolling Stone" has been described as radically altering the parameters of popular music in … more »

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Written by: Bob Dylan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Composer
"Mama, You Been on My Mind" was written and composed by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. It was first recorded during the studio sessions for his third album "The Times They Are a-Changin'" in 1964.
Unreleased origin
Despite it being one of Dylan's most covered songs, the original studio version was not officially released until 1991, where it appeared in "The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991".
Joan Baez's Performance
Once Dylan’s romantic partner, Joan Baez was the first to perform "Mama, You Been on My Mind" at the Newport Folk Festival in 1964. Her rendition of the song brought it to the notice of the public for the first time.
Johnny Cash's version
Johnny Cash, a legendary country singer, also covered Dylan's "Mama, You Been on My Mind". This version of the song appeared on Cash's posthumous album "Bootleg Vol. II: From Memphis to Hollywood" in 2011.
Recorded with George Harrison
In 1970, Dylan recorded a version of the song with former Beatle George Harrison during the sessions for Dylan's "New Morning" album; however, this rendition of the song was not officially released.
Rod Stewart's Cover
British rock singer-songwriter Rod Stewart covered "Mama, You Been on My Mind" in his ninth studio album "Never a Dull Moment" in 1972, introducing the song to a wider audience.
Jeff Buckley's influence
The song is among the Dylan songs that Jeff Buckley, known for his cover of "Hallelujah", played regularly in his concerts, furthering widening the popularity of the song.
Speculations on theme
Although Dylan's lyrics often defy a straightforward interpretation, 'Mama, You Been on My Mind' is generally considered a poignant expression of lingering affection and nostalgia for a past lover. Some fans speculate it was inspired by his relationship with Suze Rotolo.
Prolific covers
"Mama, You Been on My Mind" has become one of Bob Dylan's most covered songs with versions by many well-known artists including Cat Power, Dolly Parton, Jack Johnson, and Lea Michele.
In the Rolling Stone's list
In 2013, the Rolling Stone magazine listed "Mama, You Been on My Mind" at number 86 on their list of the 100 Greatest Bob Dylan songs.

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