It's All Over Now, Baby Blue

What is my favorite song?  Out of every song that ever existed in the world?  My answer to that question has always been, and most likely always will be, "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue", by Bob Dylan.  Joan Baez's version of this song is the one I love the most.  Joan Baez was Bob Dylan's girlfriend back in the day and sang a cover of many of his early songs.  I am a fan of Bob Dylan's music, but honestly, it's not his singing that made him a well known musician.  Of course his rough down to earth voice is famous and recognizable to many people, but what he is most talented at is writing songs.  He's known for his meaningful and poetic songwriting, and he's been an influential musician for over five decades.  I loved to listen to his songs when I was little, but it always seemed to me that he talked-sang and was more of a songwriter than a singer.  The reason I love Joan Baez's version of It's All Over Now, Baby Blue is because I grew up with it.  I have very early memories of listening to Joan Baez sing this song on the record from 1965 that my mom had.  I recall thinking it was about a baby wrapped in a blue blanket.  I imagine I must have muddled the lyrics quite a lot.

You must leave now, take what you need, you think will last

But whatever you wish to keep, you better grab it fast

Yonder stands your orphan with his gun

Crying like a fire in the sun

Look out the saints are comin' through

And it's all over now, Baby Blue.

The highway is for gamblers, better use your sense

Take what you have gathered from coincidence

The empty handed painter from your streets

Is drawing crazy patterns on your sheets

This sky, too, is folding under you

And it's all over now, Baby Blue.

All your seasick sailors, they are rowing home

Your empty handed armies, are all going home

Your lover who just walked out the door

Has taken all his blankets from the floor

The carpet, too, is moving under you

And it's all over now, Baby Blue.

Leave your stepping stones behind, something calls for you

Forget the dead you've left, they will not follow you

The vagabond who's rapping at your door

Is standing in the clothes that you once wore

Strike another match, go start anew

And it's all over now, Baby Blue.

Because I associate my early childhood with this song, it's very nostalgic for me.  Of course nostalgia is a key reason as to why this is my most favorite song of all time, but it isn't the only reason.  It's All Over Now, Baby Blue is such a beautiful-sounding and meaningful song.  And what I find to be so cool is that the meaning of this song has changed for me as I've grown older.