If You See Her, Say Hello

Gravity dwarf I really don't think you could be more wrong on this one. Dylan really isn't contradicting himself at all in the places you pointed out.

The reason he says he's alright in some parts and then in others that he's not is because he wants her to think he's alright even though he's not because he knows she's not coming back and wants her to be happy.

He says he won't stand in her way any longer, even though it hurts him. He tried to make her stay at one point but he's given up on it because he knows she wasn't happy there. He's not contradicting himself because he's talking about two different moments in time.

And again when he says their seperation pierced him to the heart though they've never been apart, he's talking about his mindset at two different times. The realisation that a part of her was still with him didn't come until later, and even though a part of her is with him and they're not completely apart, he can still be upset that she is not physically there. It's a little like the way some people think about death. The person may be gone, but their memory and a part of them can live on inside of you. That doesn't mean it's irrational to be upset that they are gone.

And he doesn't want her to know that he still misses her and thinks of her because he doesn't want to make himself vulnerable or feel like he is being a burden to her after she has 'freed' herself, but of course in reality he does still think of her and want to be with her.

I don't think he thinks he's being ridiculous at all. He simply knows that she won't come back and that she is happier without him even though he still longs for her.

This is a truly heartbreaking song. Perhaps the best break-up song that there is.

"Whatever makes her happy, I won't stand in the way..."

Anyone who's ever lost a love can relate to this song. It's an amazing song...

Any time I get in a fight with my spouse I put this song on and cry and cry and cry. It's gut-wrenching. Just amazing how his words can make a person feel.

Pain and loss, the true pain felt when he realised just what he'd lost and the very real loss of a loved one. The yearning and almost calling to her is hopeful she will indeed look him up some day although he recognises just how vulnerable that will make him. And the almost trivial 'we had a falling out, like lovers often will', an almost throw away comment typifies the thrown away emotion of lost love. Things done and said in the heat of the moment that leave one too vulnerable to hope the lover may just be brave enough to look him up one day. It's beautiful and bittersweet; love lost and yearned for

So kudos to Beer good, I was going to post these alternate lyrics I just discovered. He beat me to it four and a half years ago.

At any rate this is a spectacular song. I love the meanings in all the different lyrics. All the lyrics are constantly changing with time and situations. This one takes my breathe away...

"If you see her say hello, she might be in North Saigon She left here in a hurry, I don't know what she was on You might say that I'm in disarray and for me time's standing still Oh I've never gotten over her, I don't think I ever will

A bright light from me I saw, a scattering of souls Just one of them reckless situations, which nobody controls Well, the menagerie of life rolls by, right before my eyes And we all do the best we can, which should come as no surprise

If you're making love to her, watch it from the rear You'll never know when I'll be back, or liable to reappear For it's natural to dream of peace as it is for rules to break And right now I've got not much to lose, so you'd better stay away

Sundown, silver moon, hitting on the days My head can't understand no more, what my heart don't tolerate Well I know she'll be back someday, of that there is no doubt And when that moment comes Lord, give me the strength to keep her out"

I've lost someone very close to me that I was estranged from for months. She had an addiction problem and it took her life. This song and all it's manifestations (especially), speak to my soul. I loved her with all my heart but we could never be. It wasn't all her fault and it wasn't all my fault. It's just the way things were. I really wanted her to be happy in life.

Bob Dylan has pulled me through some real tough times. But, without the heartache, I wouldn't hang with Bob like I do.

'Sundown, yellow moon, I replay the past I know every scene by heart, they all went by so fast'

This is such a typical reaction to lost love, I'm surprised more people don't mention it in their songs more often. So typical, but like "Time is a jetplane, it moves too fast," it comes off as incredibly sincere and beautiful. Perfection in verse.

Beautiful song...from a perfect album.

The most intimate and personal line: "She might think that I've forgotten her, don't tell her it isn't so." The line still gives me chills. You can hear the quiver in Bob's voice saying that he is still upset. The music tries to keep it light-hearted...but his voice and lyrics cut right through the charade!

Gravity dwarf I really don't think you could be more wrong on this one. Dylan really isn't contradicting himself at all in the places you pointed out.

The reason he says he's alright in some parts and then in others that he's not is because he wants her to think he's alright even though he's not because he knows she's not coming back and wants her to be happy.

He says he won't stand in her way any longer, even though it hurts him. He tried to make her stay at one point but he's given up on it because he knows she wasn't happy there. He's not contradicting himself because he's talking about two different moments in time.

And again when he says their seperation pierced him to the heart though they've never been apart, he's talking about his mindset at two different times. The realisation that a part of her was still with him didn't come until later, and even though a part of her is with him and they're not completely apart, he can still be upset that she is not physically there. It's a little like the way some people think about death. The person may be gone, but their memory and a part of them can live on inside of you. That doesn't mean it's irrational to be upset that they are gone.

And he doesn't want her to know that he still misses her and thinks of her because he doesn't want to make himself vulnerable or feel like he is being a burden to her after she has 'freed' herself, but of course in reality he does still think of her and want to be with her.

I don't think he thinks he's being ridiculous at all. He simply knows that she won't come back and that she is happier without him even though he still longs for her.

This is one of those songs whose lyrics have changed around a lot as Dylan has re-examined his life. The above is the released version. The original demo (available on The Bootleg Series) had the much rawer (and less poetic) verse:

If you're making love to her, kiss her for the kid who always has respected her for doin' what she did Oh, I know it had to be that way, it was written in the cards. But the bitter taste still lingers on, it all came down so hard.

Then in 1976, as the divorce was becoming unavoidable, the song turned real vicious:

If you see her say hello, she might be in North Saigon She left here in a hurry; I don't know what she was on You might say that I'm in disarray and for me time's standing still Oh I've never gotten over her, I don't think I ever will

A bright light from me I saw, a shattering of souls Just one of them reckless situations, which nobody controls Well, the menagerie of life rolls by, right before my eyes And we all do the best we can, which should come as no surprise

If you're making love to her, watch it from the rear You'll never know when I'll be back, or liable to appear For it's natural to dream of peace as it is for rules to break And right now I've got not much to lose, so you'd better stay awake

Sundown, silver moon, hitting on the days My head can't understand no more, what my heart don't tolerate Well I know she'll be back someday, of that there is no doubt And when that moment comes - Lord, give me the strength to keep her out

In more recent versions the "either I'm too sensitive" line has become "Her hair was blue, her eyes were too, her voice was so sweet and soft" (which has GOT to be some sort of joke, unless Bob is dating the Golden Girls) and the final line "If she's passing back this way, and you know I hope she don't/Tell her she can look me up, I'll either be here or I won't".

One of my favorite lyrical songs ever. Unfortunately, many people can relate to the feelings he is conveying.