Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
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| “Don't Think Twice, It's All Right” | ||
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| Song by Bob Dylan | ||
| Album | The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan | |
| Released | May 27, 1963 | |
| Recorded | November 14, 1962 | |
| Genre | Folk, country | |
| Length | 3:40 | |
| Label | Columbia Records | |
| Writer | Bob Dylan | |
| The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan track listing | ||
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"Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" is a song written by Bob Dylan in 1962, and released on the 1963 album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.
Dylan once introduced "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" as "a statement that maybe you can say to make yourself feel better... as if you were talking to yourself." Written around the same time Suze Rotolo indefinitely prolonged her stay in Italy, "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" is based on a melody taught to Dylan by folksinger Paul Clayton. NPR's Tim Riley described the song as "the last word in a long, embittered argument, a paper-thin consolation sung with spite."[citation needed]
As well as the melody, a couple of lines were taken from Clayton's "Who's Goin' to Buy You Ribbons When I'm Gone?" which was recorded in 1960, two years before Dylan wrote "Don't Think Twice." Lines taken word-for-word or slightly altered from the Clayton song are, "T'ain't no use to sit and wonder why, darlin'," and, "So I'm walkin' down that long, lonesome road." On the first release of the song, instead of "So I'm walkin' down that long, lonesome road babe, where I'm bound, I can't tell" Dylan sings "So long, honey babe, where I'm bound, I can't tell". The lyrics were changed when Dylan performed live versions of the song and on cover versions recorded by other artists.
The original album version of the song is played in a fast, fingerstyle manner; however, in live performances, Dylan often just strums the chords, or flatpicks, albeit in a similar, fast-paced manner.
[edit] Cover versions
"Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" has been covered by Cher, Johnny Cash, Odetta, Rory Gallagher, Heinz, Elvis Presley, Waylon Jennings, Flatt and Scruggs, Steve Young, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Jerry Reed, Joan Baez (who, in addition to covering it herself, also recorded it as a trio with the Indigo Girls), Doc Watson, Peter, Paul and Mary, The Waifs, Vonda Shepard, John Martyn, Elliott Smith, Billy Bragg, Nick Drake, Susan Tedeschi, Ted Tanner, Emily Haines, Susanna and the Magical Orchestra, Pitbullfarm, Boris Grebenshchikov, Jackie Greene, Bryan Ferry, Wolfgang Ambros, Tristan Prettyman, Bree Sharp, O.A.R. with Matt Nathanson and Mike Ness, Donavon Frankenreiter. The Peter, Paul and Mary cover was the definitive single, reaching #9 pop, #2 easy listening on Billboard's charts.[citation needed]
The Four Seasons released a cover of the song as a single in 1965 (with the title "Don't Think Twice") under the pseudonym The Wonder Who? Their "joke" version reached the #12 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and eventually sold one million copies.
The Seekers recorded a cover on their first album for EMI in 1965.
Eric Clapton performed a very distinct version of the song at the Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration, and this version appears on the live double album of the same name. Clapton has also played the song at a few of his own live shows, sometimes in a duet with Dylan. A similar blues version was recorded by Clapton with Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and Maria Muldaur.
Steel Train covered the song on Listen to Bob Dylan: A Tribute.
Johnny Marr covered the song for an Uncut compilation CD.
The Brazilian musician Jefferson Gonçalves covered the song on his album Conexão Nordeste, released in 2006.
Australian folk band The Waifs recorded a version of "Don't Think Twice..." on their live double-cd A Brief History... and have included the song in live setlists regularly.
Danish singer-songwriter Tina Dico has covered the song in live performances, and a live version appears on the Special Edition of her 2006 album In The Red.
