Standing In The Doorway¹

Bob Dylan © 1997

(Official lyrics @ www.bobdylan.com)

Time Out of Mind sessions, Criteria studios, Miami FL - 13.jan.1997, album version  

I'm walkin' through the summer nights
The jukebox playing low
Yesterday everything was goin' too fast
Today it's movin' too slow
I got no place left to turn
I got nothin' left to burn
Don't know if i saw you if i would kiss you or kill you
It probably wouldn't matter to you anyhow
You left me standin' in the doorway cryin'
I got nothin' to go back to now.

The light in this place is so bad
Makin' me sick in the head
All the laughter is just makin' me sad
The stars have turned cherry red
I'm strummin' on my gay guitar
Smokin' a cheap cigar
The ghost of our old love has not gone away
Don't look like it will anytime soon
You left me standin' in the doorway cryin'
Under the midnight moon.

Maybe they'll get me an' maybe they won't
But not tonight an' it won't be here
There are things i could say, but i don't
I know the mercy of God must be near
I been ridin' a midnight train
Got ice water in my veins
I would be crazy if i took you back
It would go up against every rule
You left me standin' in the doorway cryin'
Sufferin' like a fool.

When the last rays of daylight go down
Buddy, you'll roll no more
I can hear the church bells ringin' in the yard
I wonder who they're ringin' for
I know i can't win
But my heart just won't give in
Last night i danced with a stranger
But she just reminded me you were the one
You left me standin' in the doorway cryin'
In the dark land of the sun.

I eat when i'm hungry, drink when i'm dry
An' live my life on the square
An' even if the flesh falls off of my face
I know someone will be there to care
It always means so much
Even the softest touch
I see nothin' to be gained by any explanation
There's no words that need to be said
You left me standin' in the doorway cryin'
Blues wrapped around my head. 
    

Standing In The Doorway²

<Time Out of Mind sessions, Criteria studios, Miami FL - 13.jan.1997, BS17 #2 v.1 (f.1) 
Time Out of Mind sessions, Criteria studios, Miami FL - 13.jan.1997, BS17 #3 v.2 (f.2) 

[Well,] I'm walkin' through the summer nights
[The] jukebox [is] playing low
Yesterday everythin' was goin' too fast
Today it's movin' too slow
Too many silver spoons
Too much salt in my wounds
[I] don't know if i saw you if i would kiss you or kill you
Probably [would make no difference(f.1)/wouldn't matter(f.2)] to you anyhow
You left me standin' in the doorway cryin'
Nothin' to go back to now.

The light in this place is really bad
Makin' me sick in the head
All the laughter is [just gettin'(f.1)/makin'(f.2)] me sad
Even the stars have turned cherry red
[I been(f.1)/I'm(f.2)] strummin' on [this/my] gay guitar
[Well,] I'm smokin' a cheap cigar
Well, the ghost of our old love has not gone away
It don't look like it will anytime soon
You left me standin' in the doorway cryin'
Under the midnight moon.

Well, maybe they'll get me and maybe they won't
But not tonight an' it won't be here
[I know this horse(f.1) / The horse(f.2)] that i'm ridin' [on] could throw me but it don't
[I know(f.1)] the mercy of God must be near
It always means so much
Even the softest touch
I'd be crazy if i took you back again
It would go up against every rule
You left me standin' in the doorway cryin'
Sufferin' like a fool.

When the last rays of daylight go down
Buddy, you'll roll no more
I can hear [them silent bells my head(f.1) / the church bells in the yard(f.2)]
[But/An'] i wonder who they're ringin' for
Don't pass me by
Give me liberty or let me die
Last night i was dancin' with a stranger
But she just reminded me that you were the one
You left me standin' in the doorway cryin'
In the dark land of the sun.

I'll eat when i'm hungry [an' i'll] drink when i'm dry
An' [i] live my life on the square
An' even if the flesh falls off of my face
I know someone will be there to care
[I] been ridin' on [that/the] midnight train
Got ice water in my vein
I see nothin' to be gained by any explanation
There's no words that need to be said
[Well,] you left me standin' in the doorway cryin'
[With/An'] the blues wrapped around my head.