Go 'way from my window,
Leave at your own chosen speed.
I'm not the one you want, babe,
I'm not the one you need.
You say you're lookin' for someone
Never weak but always strong,
To protect you an' defend you
Whether you are right or wrong,
Someone to open each and every door,
But it ain't me, babe,
No, no, no, it ain't me, babe,
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe.

Go lightly from the ledge, babe,
Go lightly on the ground.
I'm not the one you want, babe,
I will only let you down.
You say you're lookin' for someone
Who will promise never to part,
Someone to close his eyes for you,
Someone to close his heart,
Someone who will die for you an' more,
But it ain't me, babe,
No, no, no, it ain't me, babe,
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe.

Go melt back into the night, babe,
Everything inside is made of stone.
There's nothing in here moving
An' anyway I'm not alone.
You say you're looking for someone
Who'll pick you up each time you fall,
To gather flowers constantly
An' to come each time you call,
A lover for your life an' nothing more,
But it ain't me, babe,
No, no, no, it ain't me, babe,
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe.



Lyrics submitted by Kitten_61, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Track duration: 03:34


It Ain't Me Babe song meanings
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51 Comments

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  • 0
    My Interpretation:This song isn't about love or about war. He was talking to all the people who were trying to make him the leader of a movement he wanted no part of. It was popular to be a rebel then, and they made him out to be their leader, but Bob wasn't all that "'rebellious" if anything he was rebelling against the rebels see the song "my back pages" where he talks about about pointing at the mongrel dogs who teach, fearing not id become my enemy at the moment that I preached" Bob wanted people to think for themselves and not judge others
    Flag cja75on September 21, 2012   Link
  • +1
    My Opinion:This is by far my favorite Dylan song - and definitely one of my all-time favorites.

    I'm not sold on the anti-war interpretation. Some of those examples seem to be a bit of a stretch. Sometimes the simplest explanation is best.. Not saying that all of the simplest meanings are the best, but in this case, I think it's true.

    At first when I heard this song I thought it was about turning someone down. The singer was saying that they're just not the one.. This came up in conversation with a friend of mine and he said no - it's about not being good enough. After listening over and over, it seems to me that this is the best, least complicated meaning. I think it's sweet and endearing and I'd like to think that the meaning of this song is romantic.

    According to this book:
    Bob Dylan: The Stories Behind the Songs 1962–1969 by Andy Gill
    The song was inspired by Dylan's trip to Italy where he was searching for his former girlfriend Suze Rotolo in 1963. Apparently this is generally believed by most biographers.
    Flag kbingon June 16, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:pure
    Flag amanokalon June 13, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:This is such a great song. Only Bob Dylan, could break up with someone while she is standing at his window as he has another female inside, yet so eloquently, convinces the jolted forlorn woman that he is doing her a favor. She left his house thanking him, I bet.
    I love Bob Dylan.
    Flag PeaceLoveHazmaton March 09, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:its a straightforward, brilliantly written, (anti) love song !!! ie, just change the negatives to positive "it aint" to "it's" and "go away" to "come over"...."I AM the one..." "I won't let ..." etc etc ....now the spirit of the song is the polar opposite to the one we all know so well
    Flag GypsyDavyon September 10, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I think in this song Bob's saying how he's searching for an eternal comfortable committed love and not just a relationship for his time on earth. I feel like the girl he's singing about is someone who wants all the things that come along with love except for the freedom of love, she might want to settle down and stop hoping for anything down the track. Perhaps their relationship is built on indifference and he just has to say: "it ain't me, babe". Anyway, that's what i get outta these lyrics, peace.
    Flag Katonitrainon August 28, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:While it's true that Dylan was having problems with the Power Structure at the time, I disagree with the anti-war business simply because the song was recorded in 1964 - before anybody had heard of Vietnam. To me this song is about a guy who's done with a woman - she wants/needs more that he can give - and who has moved on to someone else (and anyway I'm not alone). She has come back to his place to plead her case and he's telling her "Get away from here; I tried to, but I'm not able to give you what you want" and "I don't care for you anymore" (everything inside is made of stone/there's nothing in here moving). I also think the "babe" reference is sarcastic, as in "yeah babe", "sure babe", "whatever babe".
    Flag wel51xon August 19, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Guys, Dylan is talking about Jesus.

    "Someone who will die for you an' more,
    But it ain't me, babe,
    No, no, no, it ain't me, babe,
    It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe"
    Flag username1138on August 17, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:Just because Dylan denied the mantle of "Spokesman for a Generation" doesn't mean he wasn't. I always took the song literally
    'til the other day I was examining my current relationship and the words came to mind. 60 years later it hits me like a ton of bricks.I think I decided it was an anti-draft message. Protect, defend, right or wrong. Folk music's not an impossibility, I don't think Dylan did folk, he is folk, everything he does. And I'm not sure he does everything he does. I think there's some streaming and channeling going on. He even said, "I don't even know what they (the songs) mean". Anyway 60 years later that's my 2 cents.
    Flag dylansghoston July 11, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:According to "Bob Dylan Chronicles Volume 1", this song is actually about the Vietnam War and how dylan feels that he is not ready to support or be in that war. its not disrespecting soldiers at all, in fact its dylan saying that he could never make the sacrifices that the men and women in the services make. If you read it again with this in mind, it changes the entire meaning! Bob Dylans the greatest poet of all time.
    Flag dunnezoon May 04, 2011   Link

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