Listen to me, baby
There's something you must see
I want to be with you, gal
If you want to be with me

But if you got to go
It's all right
But if you got to go, go now
Or else you gotta stay all night

It ain't that I'm questionin' you
To take part in any quiz
It's just that I ain't got no watch
An' you keep askin' me what time it is

But if you got to go
It's all right
But if you got to go, go now
Or else you gotta stay all night

I am just a poor boy, baby
Lookin' to connect
But I certainly don't want you thinkin'
That I ain't got any respect

But if you got to go
It's all right
But if you got to go, go now
Or else you gotta stay all night

You know I'd have nightmares
And a guilty conscience, too
If I kept you from anything
That you really wanted to do

But if you got to go
It's all right
But if you got to go, go now
Or else you gotta stay all night

It ain't that I'm wantin'
Anything you never gave before
It's just that I'll be sleepin' soon
It'll be too dark for you to find the door

But if you got to go
It's all right
But if you got to go, go now
Or else you gotta stay all night


Lyrics submitted by SexieSadie, edited by Mellow_Harsher

If You Gotta Go, Go Now (Or Else You Got to Stay All Night) Lyrics as written by Bob Dylan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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If You Gotta Go, Go Now song meanings
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    General Comment

    I heard from a Bard College alumnus who attended the college in the 60's that Bob Dylan wrote it when he was hanging out on campus. Just as the lyric "the pump don't work 'cause the vandals stole the handle" (from Subterranean Homesick Blues) was inspired by Bard, this song was inspired by the curfew rules in place there at the time. Tewksbury, a dorm built in 1958, was a women's only dorm, and if the women did not manage to get in by midnight, the doors would be locked (for security reasons I presume) and the women would have to find somewhere else to spend the night.

    ... and there you have it! :)

    easilyconfusedon October 24, 2010   Link

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