Abandoned Love

Bob Dylan

About Abandoned Love

"Abandoned Love" is a song written by Bob Dylan, recorded on July 31, 1975, but not released until 1985, on his compilation album Biograph. It was originally recorded for inclusion on his 1976 album Desire, but was dropped in favor of "Joey". "Abandoned Love" was written during Dylan's breakup with his then-wife Sara Lownds. Only one live performance of this song is known of, at The Bitter End cafe on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village on July 3, 1975, during a show with Ramblin' Jack Elliott. Paul Cable, in his book Bob Dylan: His Unreleased Recordings (New York: Schirmer Books, 1980), described this live version of the song as "Beautiful, eerie, easily as good as Blonde on Blonde lyrics and a tune that is unusual and perfect." 


Year:
1996
113 
#3

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I can see the turning of the key
I've been deceived by the clown inside of me
I thought that he was righteous but he's vain
Oh, something's a-telling me I wear the ball and chain

My patron saint is a-fighting with a ghost
He's always off somewhere when I need him most
The Spanish moon is rising on the hill
But my heart is a-tellin' me I love you still

I come back to the town from the flaming moon
I see you in the streets, I begin to swoon
I love to see you dress before the mirror
Won't you let me in your room one time before I finally disappear?

Everybody's wearing a disguise
To hide what they've got left behind their eyes
But me, I can't cover what I am
Wherever the children go I'll follow them

I march in the parade of liberty
But as long as I love you I'm not free
How long must I suffer such abuse?
Won't you let me see your smile before I turn you loose?

I've given up the game, I've got to leave
The pot of gold is only make-believe
The treasure can't be found by men who search
Whose gods are dead and whose queens are in the church

We sat in an empty theater and we kissed
I asked ya please to cross me off your list
My head tells me it's time to make a change
But my heart is telling me I love ya but you're strange

So one more time at midnight, near the wall
Take off your heavy make-up and your shawl
Won't you descend from the throne, from where you sit?
Let me feel your love one more time before I abandon it

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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


10 facts about this song

Song Identification
"Abandoned Love" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan.
Album Details
The song was initially recorded for his 1975 album "Desire" but was not included in the final release.
Recording Session
Dylan recorded the song at Columbia Recording Studio, New York on July 31, 1975.
First Public Performance
Surprisingly, Dylan first performed the song at New York’s Bitter End café, later renamed The Other End, on July 3, 1975.
Album Release
It was ultimately released in 1981 on "Biograph," a compilation album.
Lyrics Content
The song is known for its emotional lyrics that convey themes of love, abandonment, and longing.
Song Inspiration
While Dylan himself has never spoken about the inspiration behind "Abandoned Love", fans speculate it's about his crumbling relationship with his then-wife Sara Dylan.
Live Version Availability
The only known live version of "Abandoned Love" was circulated via bootleg recordings among Dylan’s fans for many years before its official release.
Critical Reception
Music critics consider "Abandoned Love" one of Dylan's hidden gems due to its deep emotional holding and powerful lyrics. Rolling Stone magazine described it as "a devastatingly blunt song about the end of a relationship."
Cover Versions
Several musicians and bands like George Harrison, Paul Rodgers, and Everly Brothers have covered this song in their respective styles.

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