Lay Lady Lay
Lay Lady Lay is a country song written by Bob Dylan that he first released on his 1969 album Nashville Skyline . Although musically untypical for Dylan, the single with the B-side Peggy Day reached number 7 on the US pop charts.
Emergence
Originally, Dylan is said to have written the piece for the film Asphalt Cowboy , but then did not finish in time. The recordings took place on February 14, 1969 in Nashville under producer Bob Johnston . As with all songs on the Nashville Skyline album , Dylan sings a rather atypical vocal line for him. His voice sounds different from previous recordings, namely deep and clean. Dylan later explained the changed voice by saying that he quit smoking shortly before the recording began.
Musically, Dylan was on the lookout at the time. After turning away from the folk scene and becoming a rock musician, he experimented with country music after a serious motorcycle accident in 1966 . His work John Wesley Harding , published in 1967, contained first influences from this genre, especially in the songs Down Along the Cove and I'll Be Your Baby Tonight, in which Dylan also used a steel guitarist with Pete Drake .
content
The poetic text describes a man who asks his loved one to spend the night with him and not to leave right away. He tells her that he will grant her all wishes (Whatever colors you have in your mind / I'll show them to you and you'll see them shine) . He also tries to make it clear to her that he is the right man for her and that she doesn't have to look any further for true love, because she has already found it in him (Why wait you any longer for the one you love / When he's standing in front of you) .
reception
In the US, the single reached number 7 on the US Billboard pop charts, making it one of Dylan's greatest chart successes. In England the song reached number 5. Although the country style can be heard clearly on the album, neither the album nor the single were listed in the country charts in Billboard magazine. Dylan later played Lay Lady Lay often live. A well-known live recording was released on Hard Rain in 1976 .
Cover versions
The Byrds released a cover version of the song back in May 1969, but it was far less successful in the charts than the original. In previous years they had had great success with Dylan songs; her greatest hits (Mr. Tambourine Man and My Back Pages) were penned by him.
The Everly Brothers released the track on their album EB 84 . Other versions published by Duran Duran , Ministry , Ben E. King , Neil Diamond , Dick Hyman , Cher , Magnet & Gemma Hayes , The Isley Brothers , Eddie & Ernie , Ramblin 'Jack Elliott and Malaria! . Keith Jarrett already played a jazzy instrumental version in April 1969 ; David T. Walker followed a year later . In the area of soul Isaac Hayes interpreted Lay Lady Lay .