Roger McGuinn

Songwriter: Bob Dylan

Producer: Don DeVito Jeff Rosen

Hey! Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to
Hey! Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning I'll come followin' you

Though I know that evenin's empire has returned into sand
Vanished from my hand
Left me blindly here to stand but still not sleeping
My weariness amazes me, I'm branded on my feet
I have no one to meet
And the ancient empty street's too dead for dreaming

Take me on a trip upon your magic swirlin' ship
My senses have been stripped, my hands can't feel to grip
My toes too numb to step, wait only for my boot heels
To be wanderin'
I'm ready to go anywhere, I'm ready for to fade
Into my own parade, cast your dancing spell my way
I promise to go under it

Though you might hear laughin', spinnin', swingin' madly across the sun
It's not aimed at anyone, it's just escapin' on the run
And but for the sky there are no fences facin'
And if you hear vague traces of skippin' reels of rhyme
To your tambourine in time, it's just a ragged clown behind
I wouldn't pay it any mind, it's just a shadow you're
Seein' that he's chasing

Then take me disappearin' through the smoke rings of my mind
Down the foggy ruins of time, far past the frozen leaves
The haunted, frightened trees, out to the windy beach
Far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow
Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free
Silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands
With all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves
Let me forget about today until tomorrow

Roger McGuinn (1942- ) is a folk songwriter best known as the bandleader of The Byrds.

Born and raised in Chicago, McGuinn came of age performing in the burgeoning folk club circuit, working with popular acts like The Limeliters. Having grown tired of the Greenwich Village scene he was cutting his teeth in, McGuinn moved to L.A. and began playing the Troubadour. There, he met Gene Clark and the seeds of The Byrds were planted.

McGuinn was the only one of the original members to stay with the band through their original run (1964-1973). He’s since enjoyed a rather successful solo career, working often with Bob Dylan and Tom Petty. McGuinn continues to record, frequently releasing new recordings through his blog, Roger McGuinn’s Folk Den.

more tracks from the album

Bob Dylan - The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration

From the album

Bob Dylan - The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration (1993)

Roger McGuinn popular songs

Mr. Tambourine ManRoger McGuinn

Roger McGuinn

Bob Dylan - The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration