Simple Twist of Fate

Bob Dylan

About Simple Twist of Fate

"Simple Twist of Fate", a song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, was recorded on September 19, 1974, and was released in 1975 on his 15th studio album Blood on the Tracks. The complete recording sessions of "Simple Twist of Fate" were released on the deluxe edition of The Bootleg Series Vol. 14: More Blood, More Tracks in 2018. The first take of the song was recorded on September 16, 1974, and was also included on the single-CD and 2-LP versions of the album. Dylan's November 20, 1975 live performance of the song from the Rolling Thunder Revue tour was released on The Bootleg Series Vol. 5: Bob Dylan Live 1975, The Rolling Thunder Revue (2002) and on the box set The Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1975 Live Recordings (2019). An unorthodox rendition at a mahjong parlor on October 28, 1975 was also included in the box set, as well as in the film Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese (2019). A live performance recorded on February 28, 1978 appeared on Bob Dylan at Budokan (1979). 


Year:
2002
4:26
77 
#2

 Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons!

They sat together in the park
As the evening sky grew dark
She looked at him and he felt a spark
Tingle to his bones
'Twas then he felt alone
And wished that he'd gone straight
And watched out for a simple twist of fate

They walked along by the old canal
A little confused, I remember well
And stopped into a strange hotel
With a neon burnin' bright
He felt the heat of the night
Hit him like a freight train
Moving with a simple twist of fate

A saxophone someplace far-off played
As she was walkin' on by the arcade
As the light bust through a beat-up shade
Where he was waking up
She dropped a coin into the cup
Of a blind man at the gate
And forgot about a simple twist of fate

He woke up, the room was bare
He didn't see her anywhere
He told himself he didn't care
Pushed the window open wide
Felt an emptiness inside
To which he just could not relate
Brought on by a simple twist of fate

He hears the ticking of the clocks
And walks along with a parrot that talks
Hunts her down by the waterfront docks
Where the sailors all come in
Maybe she'll pick him out again
How long must he wait?
One more time, for a simple twist of fate

People tell me it's a sin
To know and feel too much within
I still believe she was my twin
But I lost the ring
She was born in spring
But I was born too late
Blame it on a simple twist of fate

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer


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 »

32 fans

Written by: Bob Dylan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Background
"Simple Twist of Fate" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, first released on his 15th studio album "Blood on the Tracks" in 1975.
Bob Dylan's Influence
Bob Dylan recorded this song in 1974 at the A&R recording studio in New York City. - The song was initially written by Dylan after his divorce from Sara Lowndes, with whom he had four children. The lyrics reflect the pain of separation.
Cover Performance by Bryan Ferry
British singer Bryan Ferry, best known as the lead vocalist of Roxy Music, covered "Simple Twist of Fate" for his 2007 Dylan cover album, "Dylanesque."
Features in Movies and TV shows
The song has been extensively covered by other artists and featured in numerous films and television shows. It appeared in the Coen Brothers' 1993 film "Inside Llewyn Davis."
Jerry Garcia Band's Cover
The Jerry Garcia Band, a San Francisco Bay-area rock band led by Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia, regularly included a cover version of "Simple Twist of Fate" in their live shows. - Live recordings of the Jerry Garcia Band performing the song are included on the albums "Jerry Garcia Band" (1991) and "Garcia Live Volume 11" (2019).
Jerry Garcia’s Influence in the Song
Jerry Garcia was a notable fan of Dylan's work, and his cover renderings often added an improvisational jam band feel to the original songs.
Music Structure and Composition
Dylan's original recording is known for its understated production, with a simple arrangement of acoustic guitar, bass, and harmonica, letting the gripping lyrics take center stage. - In contrast, Bryan Ferry's version includes a full band arrangement with piano, electric guitar, and backup singers, giving it a more polished rock feel.
National Archives’ Recognition
"Simple Twist of Fate" is considered one of Dylan's best songs, and its hand-written lyrics are held in the collection of the Morgan Library & Museum in New York.
Song’s Theme
"Simple Twist of Fate" is a story about a brief romantic encounter that ends unexpectedly, a theme believed to reflect the dissolution of Dylan's own marriage.
Other Covers
Beyond Bryan Ferry and the Jerry Garcia Band, "Simple Twist of Fate" has been covered by artists like Joan Baez, Jeff Tweedy, and Sarah Jarosz, demonstrating its lasting influence and appeal.

Discuss the Simple Twist of Fate Lyrics with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Simple Twist of Fate Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/18406322/Bob+Dylan/Simple+Twist+of+Fate>.

    Missing lyrics by Bob Dylan?

    Know any other songs by Bob Dylan? Don't keep it to yourself!

    Watch the song video

    Simple Twist of Fate

    1.3M
    10,143     0

    Browse Lyrics.com

    Quiz

    Are you a music master?

    »
    Which member of the girl group Little Mix left the group?
    A Perrie Edwards
    B Leigh-Anne Pinnock
    C Jesy Nelson
    D Jade Thirlawall

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant explanation for any acronym or abbreviation that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Don't miss Bob Dylan's

    Upcoming Events

    »
    Bob Dylan tracks

    On Radio Right Now

    Loading...

    Powered by OnRad.io


    Think you know music? Test your MusicIQ here!

    Movies soundtrack

    Simple Twist of Fate

    »