If today was not a crooked highway
If tonight was not a crooked trail
If tomorrow wasn't such a long time
Then lonesome would mean nothin' to you at all
Yes, and only if my own true love was waitin'
If I could hear her heart a-softly poundin'
Yes, and only if she was lyin' by me
And I'd lie in my bed once again

I can't see my reflection in the water
I can't speak the sounds to show no pain
I can't hear the echo of my footsteps
Or remember the sounds of my own name

Yes and only if my own true love was waitin'
And if i could only hear her heart a-softly poundin'
Yes and only if she was layin' by me
And I'd lie in my bed once again

There's beauty in that silver singin' river
There's beauty in that rainbow in the sky
But none of these and nothin' else can touch the beauty
That I remember in my true loves eyes

Yes and only if my own true love was waitin'
If I could only hear her heart a-softly poundin'
Yes and only if she was layin' by me
And I'd lie in my bed once again




Lyrics submitted by SexieSadie, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Track duration: 03:45


Tomorrow Is a Long Time song meanings
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12 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:What can I say after tomorrowisalongtime's comment? (S)he not only expressed everything I carried in my mind about this song, but still did with such a beauty that is only matched by the song itself. That's easily the best thing I've read on this website. Dylan is indeed a genius, but it takes another genius to recognise one in such rich detail.

    This is one of my all-time favourites, Dylan's or otherwise, but to me the greatest version is by long time country rocker Chris Hillman, on his 1982 album Morning Sky.
    Flag Tiger Kingon March 23, 2012   Link
  • -1
    Song Meaning:I agree with "wantobeready". For some reason I hadn't heard it until recently - after my husband died. And that's how I felt about it. We were separated for over 40 years and found each other again. He died 6 months after we married. To find each other, to have that chance to be together was extraordinary, but there was never a moment of doubt all those years. I know how lucky I am to have known that kind of love. "Tomorrow is a Long Time" tells that story. She was the world to him and now she's gone. In the end, he will "lie" in his bed "if only" she's lying with him once again. He will not lie with another.
    To me the song is profoundly sad.
    Flag hiwahiwaon September 13, 2011   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:This song basically says that sometimes it feels like a long day (i.e. life may be tough), but you can still make it through to bed (i.e. life is still doable and worth living) if someone you love is lying there waiting for you.

    In my opinion, this is the most beautiful song ever written. I don't think it's only about love lost necesserily (such an interpretation seems to be "the easy way out" in a sense, if you ask me), rather about love as such and its crucial meaning in ife's hardships in general.
    Flag Andy82on July 01, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love this song. I sang it for my love while I was away in the army.
    Flag stratblues88on March 23, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:This song is about the meaning of life and love to me. What do you love about life? I love nature, mountains, rivers. I love the sun, the moon and the stars. I love music. I love people who remind me that life is fragile and that we are all imperfect and broken. And that we must, simply MUST enjoy ourselves and love one another. We are all going to be gone before we know it.

    "Tomorrow is a Long Time" reminds me of these things. It breaks my heart every time I hear it. (And, the man who turned me on to it broke my heart. How ironic.) It is about the beauty in nature and in people. And LOVE. How love is so rare and beautiful. It happens once in a lifetime if we are lucky. And I was lucky.

    Even if it feels like "blood on the tracks", it is love, and as long as I am alive I will feel grateful for the feelings I have experienced.
    I will always and forever treasure the man who brought me true love. I will always wish I could be with him. This song makes me remember just how much I wish things could be different. And remind me of the feelings that he gave me when I looked into his eyes.

    Life is beautiful. Music is amazing. In my opinion, you can't have life without music. And, "Tomorrow is a Long Time" is a true gem. Bob Dylan is a genius.

    If your heart is broken, consider yourself lucky. Life is so sad, but it is beautiful. And so is this song.
    Flag tomorrowisalongtimeon October 22, 2008   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:This was not the only Dylan song Elvis ever covered. Elvis also covered "Don't Think Twice It's Alright." I think Rod Stewart did the best cover of this song.

    It's a beautiful song that should have been officially released.
    Flag Rubber_Soul1012on August 03, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I have always taken this song as a song about missing a true love who has passed on. This is probably my favorite Dylan song. Mason Jennings also does a great version of this song.
    Flag wantobereadyon May 08, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love this song. You should check out the Nickel Creek cover, Sara Watkins does an excellent job on it.
    Flag azmuzikon September 27, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Completely agree with farrell, it all makes sense to me.
    Flag bobdylaniscoolon December 27, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i love this song, it reminds me of my dad, its his favorite dylan song, mine too i think.
    Flag greengirl27on October 11, 2005   Link

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