Lay Lady Lay

Bob Dylan

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


Lyrics submitted by twitty, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Lay Lady Lay Lyrics as written by Bob Dylan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Lay Lady Lay song meanings
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56 Comments

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  • +4
    General CommentHa! 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!
    buffoniaon July 01, 2009   Link
  • +3
    General Commentthis song is about Dylans dog
    Roll357on June 01, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General CommentHa. This was my wedding song.
    streetgangon August 15, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General CommentDid 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?
    galantlyon August 24, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Commentthere 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'
    dylankidon July 22, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General CommentCome 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.
    cavernon February 03, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General CommentCavern 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)
    farrellon August 16, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis is one of the best songs i've ever heard and Dylan sounds good on it.
    seraphimcomplexon August 27, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti agree, this is one of the best songs that ive ever heard
    correnteon June 11, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General CommentSuch a deep, whiskey-soaked voice he has on this sweet track.
    moe2000on May 21, 2004   Link

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