Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
Lay, lady, lay
Lay across my big brass bed
Lay, lady, lay
Lay across my big brass bed
Whatever colors you have in your mind
I show them to you and you'll see them shine
Lay, lady, lay
Lay across my big brass bed
Stay, lady, stay
Stay with your man a while
Until the break of day
Let me see you make him smile
His clothes are dirty but his, his hands are clean
And you're the best thing that he's ever seen
Stay, lady, stay
Stay with your man a while
Why wait any longer for the world to begin
You can have your cake and eat it too
Why wait any longer for the one you love
When he's standing in front of you
Lay, lady, lay
Lay across my big brass bed
Stay, lady, stay
Stay while the night is still ahead
I long to see you in the morning light
I long to reach for you in the night
Stay, lady, stay
Stay while the night is still ahead
Lay across my big brass bed
Lay, lady, lay
Lay across my big brass bed
Whatever colors you have in your mind
I show them to you and you'll see them shine
Lay, lady, lay
Lay across my big brass bed
Stay, lady, stay
Stay with your man a while
Until the break of day
Let me see you make him smile
His clothes are dirty but his, his hands are clean
And you're the best thing that he's ever seen
Stay, lady, stay
Stay with your man a while
Why wait any longer for the world to begin
You can have your cake and eat it too
Why wait any longer for the one you love
When he's standing in front of you
Lay, lady, lay
Lay across my big brass bed
Stay, lady, stay
Stay while the night is still ahead
I long to see you in the morning light
I long to reach for you in the night
Stay, lady, stay
Stay while the night is still ahead
Lyrics submitted by twitty, edited by Mellow_Harsher
Lay Lady Lay Lyrics as written by Bob Dylan
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Ha! This song is most definitely not about a dog - Bob was pulling your leg with that comment! And neither is it about Bob being a voyeur or drugging someone — where on earth do you people get these crazy ideas?!??!
It’s a love song, pure and simple. I think the woman in question might have a husband or boyfriend who isn’t Bob, hence the line ‘you can have your cake and eat it too’(When someone is cheating on their boyfriend/girlfriend, people will often make the comment that they want to have their cake and eat it too!) But I certainly don’t think there’s any dark or mysterious meaning behind this song; it’s just a beautiful song!
Did anyone ever notice who when he sayd 'you can have your cake and eat it too.' it sounds like he's saying 'you can't have your cake and Edie too." which is a quote from the film Factory Girl in which Hayden Christensen and Sienna Miller portray Bob Dylan and Edie Sedgwick and their quick but passionate romance?
this song is about Dylans dog
Ha. This was my wedding song.
there are two things i love most about this song (besides how soft and smoothing it is). his use of alliteration (lay lady lay, big brass bed) and rhetoric. how inspiring is it when he says 'why wait any longer for the one you love, when he's standing in front of you'
Come on! That's his country phase, he's a working man now. In love with his wife and children. And he comes home to her and seduces her tenderly. That's why he uses the third person, because it's sweet-talk.
Cavern is right and it part of it is written in 3rd person for politeness. As for the whole clothes dirty hands clean thing, that means that he works hard (thats why his clothes are dirty) but is honarable and does honest good work and would never sheat on her (thus the clean hands are symbolic)
This is one of the best songs i've ever heard and Dylan sounds good on it.
i agree, this is one of the best songs that ive ever heard
Such a deep, whiskey-soaked voice he has on this sweet track.