Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
From '' Lay Lady Lay ''
Label: Fontana – TF 1034 / 267 951 TF
Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono
Country: UK
Released: May 30, 1969
Tracklist
A Lay Lady Lay
Written-By – Bob Dylan
B Two Minute Silence
Written-By – Paul Korda
Producer – Paul Korda
------------------------
"Lay Lady Lay", sometimes rendered "Lay, Lady, Lay", is a song written by Bob Dylan and originally released in 1969 on his Nashville Skyline album.
Like many of the tracks on the album, Dylan sings the song in a low croon, rather than in the high nasal singing style associated with his earlier (and eventually later) recordings.
The song has become a standard and has been covered by numerous bands and artists over the years.
The song, Dylan's final top 10 hit, peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Bob Dylan's version
"Lay Lady Lay" was originally written for the soundtrack of the film Midnight Cowboy but wasn't submitted in time to be included in the finished film.
Joel Whitburn said instead that the song was "written for his wife Sarah Lowndes".
In a 1971 interview for which transcripts were auctioned in 2020, Dylan said the song was written for Barbra Streisand, with Streisand later adding that Dylan wanted to sing a duet with her.
Dylan's recording was released as a single in July 1969 and quickly became his fourth and last top 10 U.S. hit, peaking at no.7 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the consecutive weeks of September 6 and 13.
The single did even better in the United Kingdom where it reached no.5 on the UK Singles Chart.
Covers
Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers stated in an interview that Dylan offered the song to them backstage after an appearance by the duo in New York.
Everly asked Dylan if he had any new songs that they might record, and answering "Yes," Dylan picked up a guitar and proceeded to sing them the song.
But he sang so softly, the Everlys thought they heard Dylan sing, "Lay lady lay, lay across my big breasts, babe."
Thinking it was a song about lesbians, Don Everly declined the song.
Months later, when they heard Dylan's version on the radio and realized they'd misheard the lyrics, the Everlys felt they'd missed a big opportunity and later recorded the song on their EB 84 album.
The Byrds' recording of "Lay Lady Lay" was released as a single on May 2, 1969 and reached No.132 on the Billboard chart but failed to break into the UK Singles Chart.
The Byrds recorded "Lay Lady Lay" on March 27, 1969 but producer Bob Johnston overdubbed a female choir on to the recording on April 18, 1969 without The Byrds' consent.
The group were incensed, feeling that the choral overdub was incongruous and an embarrassment.
Duran Duran recorded an ethereal wave version of the song, appearing as track five on their 1995 covers album, Thank You.
The American band Ministry released a version of the song as a single and as part of their 1996 album, Filth Pig.
Made in Sweden, on the 1969 album Snakes in a Hole
Mike Melvoin, on the 1969 album The Plastic Cow Goes Moooooog
Cher, on the 1969 album 3614 Jackson Highway
Keith Jarrett, in a 1969 performance in Aarhus, Denmark.
Ben E. King, on the 1970 album Rough Edges
The Isley Brothers, on the 1971 album Givin' it Back
Melanie, on the 1972 album Garden in the City
Della Reese, on the 1973 album Let Me in Your Life
Hoyt Axton, on the 1976 album Fearless
Neil Diamond, on the 1978 album Stages: Performances 1970-2002
David Kitt recorded the song during the sessions for his 2004 covers album The Black And Red Notebook; it eventually surfaced on Misfits Vol 1 (2007).
Kevin Ayers covered the song on his 1983 album Diamond Jack and the Queen of Pain and his 1984 album Deià...Vu.
The Everly Brothers, on the 1984 album EB 84
Richie Havens, on the 1986 album Sings Beatles and Dylan
Booker T. & the MG's, on the 1992 album Time is Tight
Isaac Hayes, on the 1999 album Tangled Up in Blues: Songs of Bob Dylan
Steve Howe, on the 1999 album Portraits of Bob Dylan
Eddie & Ernie
Cassandra Wilson
US Maple
Magnet and Gemma Hayes, on the 2003 album On Your Side, also featured in the 2005 film Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
Buddy Guy (featuring Anthony Hamilton)
The Stands
Maria Muldaur
Jim Ward
Deana Carter
Roch Voisine
📜 [PUBLISHING & PERMISSIONS]
Copyright music and lyrics reproduced by kind permission of Special Rider – for original, exclusive performances by Bob Dylan, check-out the official channel at youtube.com/BobDylan
From '' Lay Lady Lay ''
Label: Fontana – TF 1034 / 267 951 TF
Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono
Country: UK
Released: May 30, 1969
Tracklist
A Lay Lady Lay
Written-By – Bob Dylan
B Two Minute Silence
Written-By – Paul Korda
Producer – Paul Korda
------------------------
"Lay Lady Lay", sometimes rendered "Lay, Lady, Lay", is a song written by Bob Dylan and originally released in 1969 on his Nashville Skyline album.
Like many of the tracks on the album, Dylan sings the song in a low croon, rather than in the high nasal singing style associated with his earlier (and eventually later) recordings.
The song has become a standard and has been covered by numerous bands and artists over the years.
The song, Dylan's final top 10 hit, peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Bob Dylan's version
"Lay Lady Lay" was originally written for the soundtrack of the film Midnight Cowboy but wasn't submitted in time to be included in the finished film.
Joel Whitburn said instead that the song was "written for his wife Sarah Lowndes".
In a 1971 interview for which transcripts were auctioned in 2020, Dylan said the song was written for Barbra Streisand, with Streisand later adding that Dylan wanted to sing a duet with her.
Dylan's recording was released as a single in July 1969 and quickly became his fourth and last top 10 U.S. hit, peaking at no.7 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the consecutive weeks of September 6 and 13.
The single did even better in the United Kingdom where it reached no.5 on the UK Singles Chart.
Covers
Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers stated in an interview that Dylan offered the song to them backstage after an appearance by the duo in New York.
Everly asked Dylan if he had any new songs that they might record, and answering "Yes," Dylan picked up a guitar and proceeded to sing them the song.
But he sang so softly, the Everlys thought they heard Dylan sing, "Lay lady lay, lay across my big breasts, babe."
Thinking it was a song about lesbians, Don Everly declined the song.
Months later, when they heard Dylan's version on the radio and realized they'd misheard the lyrics, the Everlys felt they'd missed a big opportunity and later recorded the song on their EB 84 album.
The Byrds' recording of "Lay Lady Lay" was released as a single on May 2, 1969 and reached No.132 on the Billboard chart but failed to break into the UK Singles Chart.
The Byrds recorded "Lay Lady Lay" on March 27, 1969 but producer Bob Johnston overdubbed a female choir on to the recording on April 18, 1969 without The Byrds' consent.
The group were incensed, feeling that the choral overdub was incongruous and an embarrassment.
Duran Duran recorded an ethereal wave version of the song, appearing as track five on their 1995 covers album, Thank You.
The American band Ministry released a version of the song as a single and as part of their 1996 album, Filth Pig.
Made in Sweden, on the 1969 album Snakes in a Hole
Mike Melvoin, on the 1969 album The Plastic Cow Goes Moooooog
Cher, on the 1969 album 3614 Jackson Highway
Keith Jarrett, in a 1969 performance in Aarhus, Denmark.
Ben E. King, on the 1970 album Rough Edges
The Isley Brothers, on the 1971 album Givin' it Back
Melanie, on the 1972 album Garden in the City
Della Reese, on the 1973 album Let Me in Your Life
Hoyt Axton, on the 1976 album Fearless
Neil Diamond, on the 1978 album Stages: Performances 1970-2002
David Kitt recorded the song during the sessions for his 2004 covers album The Black And Red Notebook; it eventually surfaced on Misfits Vol 1 (2007).
Kevin Ayers covered the song on his 1983 album Diamond Jack and the Queen of Pain and his 1984 album Deià...Vu.
The Everly Brothers, on the 1984 album EB 84
Richie Havens, on the 1986 album Sings Beatles and Dylan
Booker T. & the MG's, on the 1992 album Time is Tight
Isaac Hayes, on the 1999 album Tangled Up in Blues: Songs of Bob Dylan
Steve Howe, on the 1999 album Portraits of Bob Dylan
Eddie & Ernie
Cassandra Wilson
US Maple
Magnet and Gemma Hayes, on the 2003 album On Your Side, also featured in the 2005 film Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
Buddy Guy (featuring Anthony Hamilton)
The Stands
Maria Muldaur
Jim Ward
Deana Carter
Roch Voisine
📜 [PUBLISHING & PERMISSIONS]
Copyright music and lyrics reproduced by kind permission of Special Rider – for original, exclusive performances by Bob Dylan, check-out the official channel at youtube.com/BobDylan
