[vc_row][vc_column][vc_message message_box_color=”mulled_wine” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-quote-left”]I will not go down under the ground
‘Cause somebody tells me that death’s coming ’round
And I will not carry myself down to die,
When I go to my grave, my head will be high.
Let me die in my footsteps before I go down under the ground.[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row]

“Let Me Die In My Footsteps” is a song written by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan in February 1962. The song was selected for the original sequence of Dylan’s 1963 album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, but was replaced by “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall”. This version was recorded at Columbia studios on April 25, 1962, during the first Freewheelin’ session, and was subsequently released in March 1991 on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961-1991.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_message message_box_color=”mulled_wine” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-quote-left”]I was going through some town and they were making this bomb shelter right outside of town, one of these sort of Coliseum-type things and there were construction workers and everything. I was there for about an hour, just looking at them build, and I just wrote the song in my head back then, but I carried it with me for two years until I finally wrote it down. As I watched them building, it struck me sort of funny that they would concentrate so much on digging a hole underground when there were so many other things they should do in life. If nothing else, they could look at the sky, and walk around and live a little bit, instead of doing this immoral thing.
–> Bob Dylan (The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan original liner notes – 1963)[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Studio A
Columbia Recording Studios
New York City, New York
25 April 1962

The 2nd Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan session, produced by John Hammond
Bob Dylan (guitar, vocal, harmonica)

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_message message_box_color=”mulled_wine” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-quote-left”]There’s been rumors of war and wars that have been,
The meaning of the life has been lost in the wind,
And some people thinking that the end is close by,
‘Stead of learning to live, they are learning to die.
Let me die in my footsteps before I go down under the ground.[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Finjan Club
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2 July 1962

Bob Dylan (guitar, harmonica & vocal)

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_message message_box_color=”mulled_wine” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-quote-left”]I don’t know if I’m smart, but I think I can see
When someone is pulling the wool over me,
And, if this war comes and death’s all around,
Let me die on this land ‘fore I die underground.
Let me die in my footsteps before I go down under the ground.[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Witmark & Sons Demos
New York City, New York
December 1962

Bob Dylan (guitar, harmonica, vocal).

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_message message_box_color=”mulled_wine” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-quote-left”]There’s always been people that have to cause fear,
They’ve been talking about a war now for a-many long years.
I have read all their statements and I’ve not said a word,
But, now, lord God, let my poor voice be heard.
Let me die in my footsteps before I go down under the ground.[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Folkways Studio
New York City, New York
24 January 1963

Bob Dylan (guitar), Happy Traum (vocal & guitar)

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_message message_box_color=”mulled_wine” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-quote-left”]Let me drink from the waters where the mountain streams flood,
Let the smell of wildflowers flow free through my blood,
Let me sleep in your meadows with the green, grassy leaves,
Let me walk down the highway with my brother in peace,
Let me die in my footsteps before I go down under the ground[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][vc_btn title=”Borntolisten @ Facebook” color=”blue” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-facebook-official” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FJohannasVisions%2F||target:%20_blank|”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_message message_box_style=”outline” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-link” css_animation=”bounceIn”]Check out:

• Bob Dylan posts @ borntolisten.com
• —
• MusicThisDay.com
• Music lists @ MusicThisDay.com
• –
• Karl Erik’s expectingrain.com
• Olof’s “Still On The Road“

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