Lay Lady Lay
"Lay Lady Lay" is a song written and recorded by American musician Bob Dylan, released as a single in 1969 from his ninth studio album, Nashville Skyline.[1][2] Featuring a distinctive country rock style with Dylan's smoother, higher-pitched vocals—attributed to his temporary cessation of smoking—the track marked a significant departure from his earlier folk and protest music phases.[3] Originally composed in the summer of 1968, the song was intended for the soundtrack of the film Midnight Cowboy but was submitted too late to be included.[2] In a 1971 interview, Dylan revealed that he had also written it with Barbra Streisand in mind for her to perform.[2] Recorded in Nashville with session musicians including drummer Kenny Buttrey, whose cowbell and bongo rhythms added to its seductive groove, "Lay Lady Lay" faced initial reluctance from Dylan for single release but was promoted by Columbia Records executive Clive Davis.[3] The single, backed with "Peggy Day," achieved commercial success, reaching number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and charting for 14 weeks, his first top 10 single since 1966.[2] Despite some radio bans due to the perceived sexual innuendo in the lyrics, it exemplified Dylan's post-1966 motorcycle accident exploration of country influences and remains one of his most covered songs, with notable versions by artists such as the Everly Brothers and the Isley Brothers.[2]Background and composition
Writing process
Following his 1966 motorcycle accident, Bob Dylan entered a period of seclusion focused on family life with his wife Sara Lownds, whom he had married in 1965. This period influenced a more intimate and straightforward style in his post-accident work. The accident marked a turning point, allowing Dylan to retreat from intense touring and public scrutiny, fostering personal changes that shaped his creative output during this era. "Lay Lady Lay" was written in late 1968, prior to the recording sessions for Dylan's album Nashville Skyline, as he experimented with a smoother vocal delivery and country elements. In a 1971 interview, Dylan stated he wrote the song for Barbra Streisand to perform.[4] Dylan faced initial challenges crafting the chorus melody, spending time refining its lilting, seductive quality amid the album's production. The song emerged from this transitional phase, reflecting Dylan's evolving approach to songwriting post-accident. Dylan offered the track for the soundtrack of the film Midnight Cowboy (1969), but did not complete it in time for inclusion; it was ultimately replaced by Fred Neil's "Everybody's Talkin'."[2] In later reflections, Dylan expressed dissatisfaction with the song and showed initial reluctance to its release as a single, as he was convinced by Columbia Records executive Clive Davis to do so. He showed initial reluctance to perform it live, with his first rendition not occurring until August 1969 at the Isle of Wight Festival.[5]Lyrics and themes
"Lay Lady Lay" employs a simple verse-chorus structure consisting of three verses and a repeating chorus that serves as the song's seductive hook. The chorus centers on the intimate plea "Lay, lady, lay, lay across my big brass bed," evoking a sense of invitation and closeness, while the verses expand on imagery of shared experiences and emotional connection, such as "Whatever colors you have in your mind / I'll show them to you and you'll see them shine."[6] This structure builds a rhythmic repetition that underscores the song's gentle persuasion, differing from the more narrative-driven forms in Dylan's prior work.[7] The lyrics explore themes of seduction, vulnerability, and domestic bliss, presenting a tender invitation to intimacy rather than overt passion. Lines like "Stay, lady, stay, stay with your man awhile / Until the break of day, let me see you make him smile" convey a yearning for prolonged companionship and mutual joy, portraying the narrator in a position of emotional openness.[8] This marks a stark contrast to Dylan's earlier protest songs, such as those on The Times They Are a-Changin', which focused on social injustice and defiance; here, the shift to personal romance reflects his evolving style toward warmer, relational narratives.[3] Interpretations often view the song as a love letter to Dylan's then-wife, Sara Lownds, capturing the domestic harmony of their life together amid the countercultural turbulence of the late 1960s.[9] The avoidance of explicit sexuality aligns with the era's norms, as Dylan chose the ambiguous word "lay"—which can mean to recline or copulate—without delving into graphic detail, a choice he later affirmed by denying any overt sexual intent in the title or lyrics.[2] This subtlety allows for broader commentary on relationships, emphasizing vulnerability over conquest.Musical elements
"Lay Lady Lay" is composed in the key of A major, employing a straightforward verse-chorus structure, set in 4/4 time at a moderate tempo of approximately 78 beats per minute.[10][11][7] A defining feature of the song is the prominent Dobro steel guitar riff, played by Charlie Daniels, which provides a distinctive, sliding country-inflected texture that underscores the melody throughout.[12] Dylan's vocal delivery marks a significant departure from his earlier nasal, raspy style, adopting instead a smooth, crooning approach reminiscent of classic country crooners, achieved partly through quitting smoking prior to recording.[3][13] The track represents a genre shift toward country-rock fusion, drawing on the expertise of Nashville session musicians to blend rock sensibilities with country instrumentation and arrangements, contrasting sharply with the folk-rock complexity of Dylan's preceding album, Blonde on Blonde.[14] This evolution emphasizes a more polished, accessible sound influenced by the Nashville sound. Harmonically, the song relies on simple progressions, primarily revolving around I-IV-V chords in A major with occasional modal mixtures like the bVII chord (G major), which contribute to its romantic, unpretentious feel without intricate modulations.[10][7]Bob Dylan's version
Recording and production
"Lay Lady Lay" was recorded on February 13, 1969, at Columbia Studio A in Nashville, Tennessee, as part of the sessions for Bob Dylan's ninth studio album, Nashville Skyline.[15][16] The track was produced by Bob Johnston, who oversaw the album's production to achieve a polished, country-inflected sound through the use of Nashville's elite session musicians.[17][18] Dylan experimented vocally during the sessions, adopting a smoother, higher-pitched "crooner" style after temporarily quitting smoking, which he credited for the drastic change in his timbre; multiple takes were attempted to refine this delivery.[18] The production emphasized layered guitars and instrumentation in the stereo mix, contributing to the song's lush, intimate texture.[18] As the second single from Nashville Skyline—following "I Threw It All Away" in May 1969—"Lay Lady Lay" was released in July 1969 with "Peggy Day" as the B-side.[17][2]Personnel
The personnel for the original recording of "Lay Lady Lay," from Bob Dylan's 1969 album Nashville Skyline, consisted of the following musicians, who played together during the February 13, 1969, session at Columbia Recording Studios in Nashville:[17]- Bob Dylan: vocals, guitar
- Charlie McCoy: bass
- Kenny Buttrey: drums
- Charlie Daniels: bass[17]
- Bob Wilson: piano
- Pete Drake: pedal steel guitar[17]
- Norman Blake: guitar[17]