Not Dark Yet

Bob Dylan

About Not Dark Yet

"Not Dark Yet" is a song by Bob Dylan, recorded in January 1997 and released in September that year on his album Time Out of Mind. It was the first single from the album. "Not Dark Yet" subsequently featured on the Wonder Boys soundtrack. The song also appeared on the album The Passion of the Christ: Songs Inspired by The Passion of the Christ. Christopher Ricks has remarked on the song's close affinities to John Keats' Ode to a Nightingale. The song, in its entirety, can be heard during the closing credits of the 2017 film Last Flag Flying.  


Year:
1997
6:29
546 
#9

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Shadows are falling and I been here all day
It's too hot to sleep and time is running away
Feel like my soul has turned into steel
I've still got the scars that the sun didn't let me heal

There's not even room enough to be anywhere
It's not dark yet, but it's getting there
Well my sense of humanity is going down the drain
Behind every beautiful thing, there's been some kind of pain

She wrote me a letter and she wrote it so kind
She put down in writin' what was in her mind
I just don't see why I should even care
It's not dark yet, but it's getting there

Well I been to London and I been to gay Paree
I followed the river and I got to the sea
I've been down to the bottom of a whirlpool of lies
I ain't lookin' for nothin' in anyone's eyes

Sometimes my burden is more than I can bear
It's not dark yet, but it's getting there

I was born here and I'll die here, against my will
I know it looks like I'm movin' but I'm standin' still

Every nerve in my body is so naked and numb
I can't even remember what it was I came here to get away from
Don't even hear the murmur of a prayer
It's not dark yet, but it's getting there

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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


13 facts about this song

Album Release
"Not Dark Yet" is one of the standout tracks from Bob Dylan's critically acclaimed 1997 album, "Time Out of Mind."
Grammy Awards
The album "Time Out of Mind" won three Grammy Awards in 1998, including Album of the Year.
Music Genre
The song effortlessly blends different music genres, including folk, rock, and blues.
Lyric Interpretation
Many music critics interpret the lyrics of "Not Dark Yet" as Dylan's introspective reflection on mortality and aging.
First Release after a Long Gap
"Time Out of Mind" was Dylan's first collection of original songs in seven years.
Critical Acclaim
"Not Dark Yet" is often noted by critics as a standout track on the album. It is hailed for its hauntingly beautiful lyrics and melancholic tune.
Video Release
"Not Dark Yet" was the first song from the album to have an official music video.
Song Influence
Many critics and fans perceive the song as a continuation of the darker, more introspective themes prevalent in Dylan's earlier compositions.
Live Performances
Despite its popularity, Dylan rarely performed "Not Dark Yet" live. Consequently, these performances hold special significance for his fans.
Cover Versions
Several artists, including Eric Clapton and Chris Smither, covered "Not Dark Yet." Their versions further attest to the song's wide appeal and enduring popularity.
Bob Dylan's Health
During the recording of "Time Out of Mind," Dylan was hospitalized with a life-threatening heart condition. Some critics believe this medical scare deeply influenced the album's overall darker tone.
Music Production
The album was produced by Daniel Lanois, who also worked on Dylan's 1989 record, "Oh Mercy." The atmospheric quality of "Not Dark Yet" and, indeed, the entire "Time Out of Mind" album owe much to Lanois's distinctive producing style.
On the Charts
Though not released as a single, "Not Dark Yet" received considerable airplay on the radio and made it to many unofficial charts around the world.

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