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...or couldn't find the lyrics page on their own! Well, reposting here anyway, my favorite song in the whole wide world of all music everywhere, anytime, all told, all times (and with my mercurial nature that is saying a lot):
Lay Down Your Weary Tune
Lay down your weary tune, lay down,
Lay down the song you strum,
And rest yourself 'neath the strength of strings
No voice can hope to hum.
Struck by the sounds before the sun,
I knew the night had gone.
The morning breeze like a bugle blew
Against the drums of dawn.
Lay down your weary tune, lay down,
Lay down the song you strum,
And rest yourself 'neath the strength of strings
No voice can hope to hum.
The ocean wild like an organ played,
The seaweed's wove its strands.
The crashin' waves like cymbals clashed
Against the rocks and sands.
Lay down your weary tune, lay down,
Lay down the song you strum,
And rest yourself 'neath the strength of strings
No voice can hope to hum.
I stood unwound beneath the skies
And clouds unbound by laws.
The cryin' rain like a trumpet sang
And asked for no applause.
Lay down your weary tune, lay down,
Lay down the song you strum,
And rest yourself 'neath the strength of strings
No voice can hope to hum.
The last of leaves fell from the trees
And clung to a new love's breast.
The branches bare like a banjo played
To the winds that listened best.
I gazed down in the river's mirror
And watched its winding strum.
The water smooth ran like a hymn
And like a harp did hum.
Lay down your weary tune, lay down,
Lay down the song you strum,
And rest yourself 'neath the strength of strings
No voice can hope to hum.
Copyright ©1964; renewed 1992 Special Rider Music
If I ever die, as unlikely as that is (^_^) I hope this song gets played, and I hope it makes everyone in earshot feel better about things.
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Comments
The ocean coast is beautiful...
--back in the sixties though, you could still camp on the beach--make a fire and everything. Not as much development as there is today, either. Just you and whoever you were with and that great big ocean, then come night, a sea of bright stars, rhythmic waves, sand sifting between toes... Everywhere you turn, the sense of being part of something eternal, infinite, lovely, safe. I imagine they had a wonderful trip! Thank you for this background information, Gilly!
Lay Down Your Weary Tune...............
Written on a trip to California with Joan Baez, Mimi Farrina ( Joan's Sister), and Richard Farrina, this song, along with "Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carrol," was the only other reported song on this trip. It's first live performance was with Joan Baez struggling to sing harmony.
This song was recorded as a demo for "Times They Are A-Changin," Dylan's 1964 release, but was cut from the album.
The song's melody closely resembles the Folk standard "The Water is Wide."
Dylan performed this both nights at his famous Carnegie Hall concert in 1963. (thanks, Zach - Sanbornville, NH, for all above)