Listening to Bob Dylan on Radio Paradise

Bob Dylan — Not Dark Yet

Album: Time Out Of Mind
Avg rating:

7.3

Your rating:

Total ratings: 941

Released: 1997
Length: 6:25
Plays (last 30 days): 0

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Shadows are falling and I've been here all day
It's too hot to sleep, time is running away
Feel like my soul has turned into steel
I've still got the scars that the sun didn't heal
There's not even room enough to be anywhere
It's not dark yet, but it's getting there

Well my sense of humanity has gone down the drain
Behind every beautiful thing there's been some kind of pain
She wrote me a letter and she wrote it so kind
She put down in writing what was in her mind
I just don't see why I should even care
It's not dark yet, but it's getting there

Well, I've been to London and I've been to gay Paris
I've followed the river and I got to the sea
I've been down on the bottom of a whirlpool of lies
I ain't looking for nothin' in anyone's eyes
Sometimes my burden is more than I can bear
It's not dark yet, but it's getting there

I was born here and I'll die here against my will
I know it looks like I'm moving, but I'm standing still
Every nerve in my body is so vacant and numb
I can't even remember what it was I came here to get away from
Don't even hear a murmur of a prayer
It's not dark yet, but it's getting there

Comments (116)add comment

so its Feb 25, 2023

tonight I start planning out concert road trips

will brother bob be on the road?

there's still light out there, bob

Posted 1 year ago by idiot_wind [ Reply ]

lizardking wrote:

Comment 109:

I'll +1 to 9 for the gem of a line, and the refrain "It's not dark yet, but it's getting there"

Simple and complex at the same time. That's brilliance! Long Live RP. Long Live Bob Dylan who turns 80 soon!!

Tomorrow mostly cloudy, but some sunny intervals.
Also brilliant.

Posted 2 years ago by longliverp [ Reply ]

johnfiva wrote:

Bob Dylan has always seen the future of America.

thats why they give nobel prizes

Posted 2 years ago by idiot_wind [ Reply ]

Bob Dylan has always seen the future of America.

Posted 2 years ago by johnfiva [ Reply ]

lshinkawa wrote:Call me a clueless rube, if you will, but it 's difficult to appreciate the depth, soul and intelligence of Bob Dylan's lyrics and music with that horrendously painful voice.

heyjoe3577 wrote:That's part of his brilliance! How should one sound when pouring their soul?
Peace

It's the voice that gave Hendix permission to sing

Posted 3 years ago by Greyerwrit [ Reply ]

Saw him last month at the beginning of the relaunch of his latest tour. The vessel may be a bit more fragile, but the light is as bright as ever. Hope I'm still keeping the flame alive as well as Bob is when I'm 80.

Posted 3 years ago by fandango57 [ Reply ]

Say what you please about some of Dylan's tracks (the treasures and the torture) but this song is incisive and soulful and simply brilliant.

Posted 3 years ago by kingart [ Reply ]

zedstation wrote:

Comment 100:

'I know it looks like I'm moving, but I'm standing still...'

Posted 3 years ago by lizardking [ Reply ]

Superbly written, genius Dylan✌️

Posted 3 years ago by Easyrider [ Reply ]

Just incredible! I have heard it hundreds of times,,, and I’m moved every single time

Posted 3 years ago by PeterMcClelland [ Reply ]

One of Bob's best for sure, and that's saying a lot.
Glad to see it still gets the occasional spin here at RP.

Posted 4 years ago by On_The_Beach [ Reply ]

3Chords wrote:

The only songwriter who deserves a Nobel Prize in literature.

Along with Leonard Cohen.

Posted 4 years ago by teeyodi [ Reply ]

The only songwriter who deserves a Nobel Prize in literature.

Posted 4 years ago by 3Chords [ Reply ]

Not that he needs more superlatives, but this is one of his finest songs. No word play, no strange characters, no echoes of the Beat or Woody or weed. Just plain, contemplative, sharp lyrics by someone who knows something about wisdom.

Posted 4 years ago by kingart [ Reply ]

Moak wrote:

Masterpiece

On_The_Beach wrote:

Well my sense of humanity has gone down the drain
Behind every beautiful thing there's been some kind of pain
She wrote me a letter and she wrote it so kind
She put down in writing what was in her mind
I just don't see why I should even care
It's not dark yet, but it's getting there

Well, I've been to London and I've been to gay Paree
I've followed the river and I got to the sea
I've been down on the bottom of a world full of lies
I ain't looking for nothing in anyone's eyes
Sometimes my burden seems more than I can bear
It's not dark yet, but it's getting there

I was born here and I'll die here, against my will
I know it looks like I'm moving, but I'm standing still
Every nerve in my body is so vacant and numb
I can't even remember what it was I came here to get away from
Don't even hear a murmur of a prayer
It's not dark yet, but it's getting there.

Posted 7 years ago by hayduke2 [ Reply ]

lshinkawa wrote:

Call me a clueless rube, if you will, but it 's difficult to appreciate the depth, soul and intelligence of Bob Dylan's lyrics and music with that horrendously painful voice.

That's part of his brilliance! How should one sound when pouring their soul?
Peace

Posted 8 years ago by heyjoe3577 [ Reply ]

Comment 100:

'I know it looks like I'm moving, but I'm standing still...'

Posted 9 years ago by zedstation [ Reply ]

Dylan is the Church. Dylan is the Hotel Room. Father of Night...

Posted 9 years ago by zedstation [ Reply ]

Bosami wrote:

Ahhhhhhhhh. Sublime. Beautiful.

To romeotuma: This one squeezes the gizzards out of me....

This song is from a brilliant thematic album about time passage— Time Out Of Mind...

hard to believe so much time has passed since Bob Dylan was lamenting his age and mortality in this song...

in classical poetic elemental imagery, the time of day connotes time passage... for example, early morning imagery demonstrates youth, while night imagery implies old age...

for Bob Dylan in 1997, it was not dark yet, but getting there...

time flies when we're having fun... everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches loves this song, and this whole album...

this song squeezes my gizzards, and it is soooo good for the ears...

hope you are having a marvelous time right this minute, Bosami...

Posted 10 years ago by Lazarus [ Reply ]

Stay away from the edge .... There are always better days to come.

Posted 12 years ago by martinc [ Reply ]

My god he's such a great songwriter.

Posted 12 years ago by LizK [ Reply ]

Call me a clueless rube, if you will, but it 's difficult to appreciate the depth, soul and intelligence of Bob Dylan's lyrics and music with that horrendously painful voice.

Posted 12 years ago by lshinkawa [ Reply ]

Much as I like Bob Dylan, his voice does remind me of a 1970 Honda Dream 79cc motorcycle exhaust.

Posted 12 years ago by TerryS [ Reply ]

Boy, I wonder if Afie Jurvanen listened to this a lot before he wrote "Lost In The Light."

Posted 12 years ago by Grammarcop [ Reply ]

I'm not normally a Bob fan but once or twice every decade he comes up with a pearler. Not quite convinced about the "Gay Paree" line though.

Posted 12 years ago by rez [ Reply ]

I love-love-love his poetry; just wish other people would sing them as I am not a fan of his voice. Though he does do well in getting the impression of this words thru.

Posted 12 years ago by Patti [ Reply ]

Moak wrote:

Masterpiece

Posted 12 years ago by On_The_Beach [ Reply ]

i´m a person with no religious inclination, whatever. but this song is one to fall down on your knees in awe.
yeah: this is what "godlike" means...

Posted 13 years ago by tutakea [ Reply ]

Wisecrowe wrote:

Time Out of Mind and Nashville Skyline are the two most timeless sounding Dylan albums for me. I always find myself returning to them and discovering.

Wise, yes.

Posted 13 years ago by colt4x5 [ Reply ]

I was born here and I'll die here. Against my will.
What can you say - Genius

Posted 13 years ago by maxjboxer [ Reply ]

What would music be like without Bobby Zimmerman? Oh no, I'll think about it tomorrow.

Posted 13 years ago by LizK [ Reply ]

Outstanding.

Posted 13 years ago by MojoJojo [ Reply ]

a_genuine_find wrote:

Dulcolax, anyone?

Posted 13 years ago by kcar [ Reply ]

amazing... This song is fifteen years old and has the making of being a Dylan classic!

Posted 13 years ago by pk53 [ Reply ]

The Zimmy will not be televised...

Posted 13 years ago by oldviolin [ Reply ]

very nice !

Posted 13 years ago by Tamster [ Reply ]

ajlept wrote:

Extremely tolerable Dylan.....nice!

Too many knee-jerk 8+ votes I think because it is Dylan, but overall it is not too bad. I'm upping my vote since it is over 6min long and doesn't feel like his typical 20min "I'm such a poet" lullaby.

Posted 13 years ago by Jared [ Reply ]

gortacleva wrote:

Frankly Godlike —> 10!

Posted 13 years ago by Sleepytyme [ Reply ]

I miss listening to this album-fabulous song and album cover to cover....

"I ain't looking for anything in anyone's eyes"

Posted 13 years ago by Shesdifferent [ Reply ]

Extremely tolerable Dylan.....nice!

Posted 14 years ago by ajlept [ Reply ]

sunny_day wrote:

truly a beautiful song. his voice may not be for everybody (i like it this way though) but this is a song that can be sung by other artists with great success. any covers yet? :)

Robyn Hitchcock released a whole CD of Dylan covers a few years ago, including this song. It struck me as a pretty terrible idea. I think it's out of print so others must have felt the same way.

I love the original and have no desire to hear anyone cover it.

Posted 14 years ago by Bat [ Reply ]

I've always appreciated Dylans songwriting genius but had a hard time appreciating his voice. This one has me appreciating both.

Posted 14 years ago by posworld [ Reply ]

Frankly Godlike —> 10!

Posted 14 years ago by gortacleva [ Reply ]

Ahhhhhhhhh. Sublime. Beautiful.

To romeotuma: This one squeezes the gizzards out of me....

Posted 14 years ago by Bosami [ Reply ]

truly a beautiful song. his voice may not be for everybody (i like it this way though) but this is a song that can be sung by other artists with great success. any covers yet? :)

Posted 14 years ago by sunny_day [ Reply ]

No, wait! Its the voice of a troll holding his nose!! :D

Love ya, Bob.

Posted 14 years ago by randerse10 [ Reply ]

Wisecrowe wrote:

The voice of an angel? Teeth? A tongue?

It sounds more like he's chewing on a rat.

Posted 14 years ago by sdn [ Reply ]

Decoy wrote:

One of my favorites from Bob...simple, but huge impact...

always think of myself on a hot summer day, enjoying a cold beer at the point in the day where there are no shadows, wondering how the hell I got to where I am, and where did all the time go?

bravo - well said.

Posted 14 years ago by DigitalJer [ Reply ]

sdn wrote:

Did he have something in his mouth when he sang this?

The voice of an angel? Teeth? A tongue?

Posted 14 years ago by Wisecrowe [ Reply ]

Time Out of Mind and Nashville Skyline are the two most timeless sounding Dylan albums for me. I always find myself returning to them and discovering.

Posted 14 years ago by Wisecrowe [ Reply ]

Did he have something in his mouth when he sang this?

Posted 14 years ago by sdn [ Reply ]

Decoy wrote:

One of my favorites from Bob...simple, but huge impact...

always think of myself on a hot summer day, enjoying a cold beer at the point in the day where there are no shadows, wondering how the hell I got to where I am, and where did all the time go?

Posted 15 years ago by sirdroseph [ Reply ]

Posted 15 years ago by Decoy [ Reply ]

Masterpiece

Posted 15 years ago by Moak [ Reply ]

Posted 15 years ago by Zep [ Reply ]

Posted 15 years ago by a_genuine_find [ Reply ]

megisi wrote:

Christ, 15 votes of "3" or less, including six "1" votes.

Unbelievable.

Probably youngins' that don't know no better!

Posted 15 years ago by countyman [ Reply ]

gjeeg wrote:

Sorry, but Bob sounds like someone has their hand around his throat.

Trying to stop Kermit's voice.. unsuccessfully. LOL

Personally, I'd rather listen to older Bob.. What happened on/after Lay Lady Lay?

Posted 15 years ago by OHMish [ Reply ]

Nice tune, but have to agree he spoils it when he opens his mouth!

Posted 15 years ago by Narg [ Reply ]

Christ, 15 votes of "3" or less, including six "1" votes.

Unbelievable.

Posted 15 years ago by megisi [ Reply ]

I have never heard this before but I have to say that this is one of the best songs I've ever heard him sing.
I get sick of people trashing his voice all the time. Get over it.

Posted 15 years ago by bronorb [ Reply ]

sunny_day wrote:

Why We Fight by Eugene Jarecki (click here).

I think it was in "Wonder boys"..Great movie, btw.

Posted 15 years ago by SweTex [ Reply ]

As I recently posted regarding David Byrne, "I can understand why his voice bothers some, but I can't explain why I like it!"

Posted 15 years ago by MojoJojo [ Reply ]

One of Dylans finer moments...and there's many..10.

Posted 15 years ago by SweTex [ Reply ]

I had completely lost sight of this beautiful song. Thanks for the reminder.

Posted 15 years ago by BGGA [ Reply ]

Sorry, but Bob sounds like someone has their hand around his throat.

Posted 15 years ago by gjeeg [ Reply ]

Following on the heels of And Your Bird Can Sing, I want to say thanks, Bob, for helping the Fabs become appreciaters of fine horticulture; that is, for persuading them to become herbivores.

Posted 15 years ago by jagdriver [ Reply ]

toterola wrote:

Me and ol' Bobby have been through a lot together. Triumph, tragedy, birth, death, high and low. Definitely the light of my musical life.

I could not agree with you more...if there was a soundtrack to my life, Dylan would dominate!

Posted 15 years ago by ploba [ Reply ]

Me and ol' Bobby have been through a lot together. Triumph, tragedy, birth, death, high and low. Definitely the light of my musical life.

Posted 15 years ago by toterola [ Reply ]

Beautiful

Posted 15 years ago by h_in_bristol [ Reply ]

burdell wrote:

I really, really want to dislike Bob Dylan, then I hears this. Oh well.

Ditto. One of the few Dylan songs I can stand.

Posted 16 years ago by Verpeiler [ Reply ]

This is me smiling . . .

. . .1 . . sorry Bob, don't like it.

Posted 16 years ago by a_genuine_find [ Reply ]

I really, really want to dislike Bob Dylan, then I hears this. Oh well.

Posted 16 years ago by burdell [ Reply ]

Admittedly, I'm not in the same room as the music, but this sounds like a goat bleating.

Posted 16 years ago by BlueHeronDruid [ Reply ]

ulibcn wrote:

BTW I could swear I heard this song together with the final credits of a great movie. Could anybody help?

Why We Fight by Eugene Jarecki (click here).

Posted 16 years ago by sunny_day [ Reply ]

Perfect.

Posted 16 years ago by tinybubbles [ Reply ]

ulibcn wrote:

BTW I could swear I heard this song together with the final credits of a great movie. Could anybody help?

I've never seen the movie, but it is on the Wonder Boys soundtrack.

Posted 17 years ago by SmilinJimmy [ Reply ]

A man down my town centre who lives in the bank doorway sounds like this? Does Bob Dylan like white lightning cider? PS he is still a god but not for this track.......

Posted 17 years ago by lordgeezer [ Reply ]

Paul_in_Australia wrote:

Only believers get to heaven, and of course Bob IS God, so looks like you may be condemned to listen to Falco on permanent rotation

If Bob is God & permanently stays in heaven, I'd rather retire and go to hell than try to reach heaven too.... Falco is a bad thing, no question. But Bob's always been boooooooring to my ears.

Posted 17 years ago by prickelpit96 [ Reply ]

milehighYinzer wrote:

I like the Dylan right after Waits. Annoy the people who only think music is about having the American Idol perfect voices.

Yeah, me too, and agree with your comment also! What a wonderful piece of music this is!

Posted 17 years ago by nigelr [ Reply ]

farbenblinde wrote:

The best thing about death - other than going to heaven - is no more Bob Dylan to listen to (unless he is also in heaven)

Only believers get to heaven, and of course Bob IS God, so looks like you may be condemned to listen to Falco on permanent rotation

Posted 17 years ago by Paul_in_Australia [ Reply ]

Channeling Marlon Brando...?

Posted 17 years ago by lmic [ Reply ]

Yawn

Posted 17 years ago by hunthunthunt [ Reply ]

It\'s easy to dislike much from Bob . . . but I find that his most recent stuff is far less objectionable than his old stuff. This song is quite nice.

Posted 17 years ago by meydele [ Reply ]

The best thing about death - other than going to heaven - is no more Bob Dylan to listen to (unless he is also in heaven)

Posted 17 years ago by farbenblinde [ Reply ]

Hard to dislike much from Bob...He is a soul toucher...

Posted 17 years ago by barbaraperi [ Reply ]

milehighYinzer wrote:

I like the Dylan right after Waits. Annoy the people who only think music is about having the American Idol perfect voices.

Huh. I thought it was perfect for an altogether different reason: two very spooky songs in a row.

Posted 17 years ago by kazuma [ Reply ]

GChevy410 wrote:

I agree, and it cracks me up too. I just don't think too many of those people listen to RP.

You'd be surprised.

Posted 17 years ago by RobK [ Reply ]

Hurray!! This is the first time I've been blown away by Dylan in the last 30 years. I've spent quite a few years secretly wanting to like him again.

Posted 17 years ago by Isobel [ Reply ]

On_The_Beach wrote:

Love this song. One of Dylan's finest "recent" moments. The production from Lanois is perfect (although Dylan was rumoured to say he felt the production sounded too much like Daniel Lanois - go figger).

Posted 17 years ago by Pyro [ Reply ]

I just think this is a superb song.

Posted 17 years ago by Wizzuvvoz [ Reply ]

Great production by Daniel Lanois, who was born a fews streets away from where I work here in Hull--now Gatineau--Quebec. RP should play DL songs--they are great too.

Posted 17 years ago by ThePoose [ Reply ]

The Bard Lanois + Dylan, a short but magical relationship...

Posted 17 years ago by Moak [ Reply ]

BTW I could swear I heard this song together with the final credits of a great movie. Could anybody help?

Posted 17 years ago by ulibcn [ Reply ]

Talking Heads Tom Waits Talking Heads... Life ist beautiful! Thanks Bill

Posted 17 years ago by ulibcn [ Reply ]

"Good. Recent. Dylan." Only Dylan could make this not an oxymoron. Such is genius.

Posted 17 years ago by ChardRemains [ Reply ]

Great military-style drumbeat--evoking a regimented, grim funeral.

Posted 17 years ago by ThePoose [ Reply ]

This is a F@*&king BRILLIANT album!One of his best! and this song says it all!

Posted 17 years ago by Shesdifferent [ Reply ]

Posted 17 years ago by On_The_Beach [ Reply ]

milehighYinzer wrote:

I like the Dylan right after Waits. Annoy the people who only think music is about having the American Idol perfect voices.

I agree, and it cracks me up too. I just don't think too many of those people listen to RP.

Posted 17 years ago by GChevy410 [ Reply ]

Amazing - a Dylan song I didn't loathe on contact. Actually, this is quite good.

Posted 17 years ago by meydele [ Reply ]

I like the Dylan right after Waits. Annoy the people who only think music is about having the American Idol perfect voices.

Posted 17 years ago by milehighYinzer [ Reply ]

Lkw wrote:

Now, at March 6th 2004, this song is never played on Radio Paradise. I think that's a pity and shame etc., because in my opinion the song is a beauty. It gives me the sensation of an old and wise man singin' to me, it makes me feel safe... Hm :)