Baby, Let Me Follow You Down

Infobox Standard
title=Baby, Let Me Follow You Down
comment=AKA "Baby, Let Me Lay It On You"


image_size=
caption=
writer=Reverend Gary Davis
composer=
lyricist=
published=
written=
language=English
form=
original_artist=
recorded_by=Bob Dylan, Eric von Schmidt, Bryan Ferry
performed_by=Eric von Schmidt"Baby, Let Me Follow You Down" is a traditional folk song popularised in the late 1950s by blues guitarist Eric Von Schmidt. The song is best known from its appearance on Bob Dylan's debut album "Bob Dylan".

Early years of the song

The song was adapted by Eric Von Schmidt, a blues-guitarist and singer-songwriter of the folk revival in the late 1950s. Von Schmidt was a well-known face in the east coast folk scene and was reasonably well-known across the United States. His chronicles of the Cambridge Folk era, are titled "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down", and describe the evolution of the song. Eric had first heard a song by Blind Boy Fuller called "Baby, Let Me Lay It On You." Eric von Schmidt credits Reverend Gary Davis for writing "three quarters" of this song. [von Schmidt, Eric, with John Kruth: Remembering Reverend Gary Davis. Sing Out! 51(4) 67-73 2008] First known recording by Walter Coleman in 1938 (Yazzoo 1991 B000008I25). It was changed to "Baby, Let Me follow You Down" around 1959 and became a feature in the coffee houses of Greenwich Village in the early 1960s. The song was sung by local heroes such as Dave Van Ronk. The song was later picked up by the young and up-and-coming folk singer Bob Dylan who (after signing a record deal with Columbia Records) made the song famous.

Another famous recording of the song was performed by The Animals in 1964, who changed the title to "Baby Let Me Take You Home".

An alternative history of the song is given on Arnold Ryens site "The Originals" [ [http://www.originals.be/eng/main.cfm?c=t_upd_show&id=336 The Originals] ] . He claims that the earliest version was by the "State Street Boys" (featuring Big Bill Broonzy). It was issued in 1935 under the title "Don't You Tear My Clothes" (Lyrics are given here: [http://www.hoffsten.com/texter/blues/babydontyoutear.html Tear My Clothes] ). Washboard Sam recorded it under the same title in 1936.

Dylan years

Song_infobox
Name = Baby, Let Me Follow You Down
Artist = Bob Dylan
Album = Bob Dylan
Released = March 19, 1962
track_no = 9
Recorded = 1962
Genre = Folk
Length = 2:37
Writer = Reverend Gary Davis, Dave van Ronk, Eric von Schmidt [von Schmidt, Eric, with John Kruth: Remembering Reverend Gary Davis, Sing Out! 51(4) 67-73 2008] ,
Label = Columbia/Capitol (US)
prev = Gospel Plow
prev_no = 8
next = House of the Risin' Sun
next_no = 10The song became very popular amongst Dylan's following and was a regular feature of Dylan's song list. During his 1966 World Tour Bob Dylan electrified the sound of the song, playing the song with electric guitar and a five-piece electric band including drum-kit as backing. Dylan performed the song with a medley of "Forever Young" at The Band's Last Waltz concert.

Additional verses

An early version of the song contained two verses and a main chorus. Bob Dylan added another verse to the song which appeared regularly. The song has also been edited and changed over the last half a century.

Bob Dylan Albums which contain the song

*"Bob Dylan" - by Bob Dylan 1962
*"Biograph" - by Bob Dylan 1985
*"" - by Bob Dylan 1998
*"The Last Waltz" - by Bob Dylan and The Band 1978

Other Recordings

* Eric von Schmidt 1995 as "Baby, Let Me Lay It On You"
* Bryan Ferry has recorded and released a version on his album 'Dylanesque' (March 2007). He has also played this song throughout his 2007 tour.

References