I Threw It All Away
Encyclopedia
"I Threw It All Away" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan
. The track appeared on Dylan's album Nashville Skyline
in 1969, and was released as its first single later that year, where it reached number 85 on the Billboard Hot 100
, and number 30 on the UK Singles Chart
. It is considered to be one of the best and most popular songs on the album.
" being the other). Dylan played the song for George Harrison
and his wife Patty in November 1968, and Harrison was apparently impressed enough with the song to learn it himself. It was the second song recorded for Nashville Skyline, after "To Be Alone with You
", on February 13, 1969.
"I Threw It All Away" couples a haunting melody and magnificent singing to the hard-won realization that "Love is all we need. It makes the world go round." The song is about how someone is speaking about a love that they have lost by being cruel and angry. There has been some speculation on who Dylan is referring to in the song. Many have speculated that it could be about a number of women including Suze Rotolo
, Joan Baez
, and Edie Sedgwick
.
Unlike many songs Dylan wrote about failed relationships, such as "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
", "It Ain't Me, Babe" and "One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)
", Dylan takes responsibility for the failure in this song. The song has also been interpreted as a portrait of Dylan's muse
.
on June 7, 1969. It was the second song in Dylan's set with The Band at the Isle of Wight Festival
on August 31, 1969. Another song from Nashville Skyline, "Lay Lady Lay
", was also in Dylan's Isle of Wight set. Dylan performed the song on May 16, 1976 during the Rolling Thunder Revue
. The performance would later be included on the live album Hard Rain. The Rolling Thunder rendition of the song was a raging rock song with strident lyrics, in contrast to the original version. Dylan also played the song on his 1978 tour, but did not play it again live under 1998 during his Never Ending Tour
. By 2002, still on the Never Ending Tour, Dylan was playing an acoustic version of the song.
, "I Threw It All Away" was listed as the #55 all time Bob Dylan song. In 2002, Uncut
listed "I Threw It All Away" as the #34 all time Bob Dylan song.
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
. The track appeared on Dylan's album Nashville Skyline
Nashville Skyline
Nashville Skyline is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's ninth studio album, released by Columbia Records in April 1969.The album marked a dramatic departure for Dylan, previously known for his groundbreaking, poetic folk music and rock and roll...
in 1969, and was released as its first single later that year, where it reached number 85 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, and number 30 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. It is considered to be one of the best and most popular songs on the album.
Music and lyrics
"I Threw It All Away" was one of the first songs written for Nashville Skyline and one of only two new songs that were definitely written prior to the recording sessions ("Lay Lady LayLay Lady Lay
"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 recordings...
" being the other). Dylan played the song for George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
and his wife Patty in November 1968, and Harrison was apparently impressed enough with the song to learn it himself. It was the second song recorded for Nashville Skyline, after "To Be Alone with You
To Be Alone with You
"To Be Alone with You" is a song by Bob Dylan from his 1969 album Nashville Skyline."To Be Alone with You" was the first song Dylan recorded for Nashville Skyline, on February 13, 1969. It was one of four songs Dylan had written for the album in advance of the recording sessions, the others being...
", on February 13, 1969.
"I Threw It All Away" couples a haunting melody and magnificent singing to the hard-won realization that "Love is all we need. It makes the world go round." The song is about how someone is speaking about a love that they have lost by being cruel and angry. There has been some speculation on who Dylan is referring to in the song. Many have speculated that it could be about a number of women including Suze Rotolo
Suze Rotolo
Susan Elizabeth Rotolo , known as Suze Rotolo , was an American artist, but is perhaps best known as Bob Dylan's girlfriend between 1961 and 1964 and a strong influence on his music...
, Joan Baez
Joan Baez
Joan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
, and Edie Sedgwick
Edie Sedgwick
Edith Minturn "Edie" Sedgwick was an American actress, socialite, model and heiress. She is best known for being one of Andy Warhol's superstars. Sedgwick became known as "The Girl of the Year" in 1965 after starring in several of Warhol's short films in the 1960s...
.
Unlike many songs Dylan wrote about failed relationships, such as "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
"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.-Context:...
", "It Ain't Me, Babe" and "One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)
One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)
"One of Us Must Know " is a song written and recorded by Bob Dylan. It is the fourth track on his 1966 album Blonde on Blonde, and was released as the album's first single that February. The song is an emotional confession of misconnects and apologies from the singer to a woman who has tragically...
", Dylan takes responsibility for the failure in this song. The song has also been interpreted as a portrait of Dylan's muse
Muse
The Muses in Greek mythology, poetry, and literature, are the goddesses who inspire the creation of literature and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge, related orally for centuries in the ancient culture, that was contained in poetic lyrics and myths...
.
Personnel
- Bob DylanBob DylanBob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
- GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, Vocals - Kenneth A. Buttrey - DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Charlie DanielsCharlie DanielsCharles Edward "Charlie" Daniels is an American musician known for his contributions to country and southern rock music. He is known primarily for his number one country hit "The Devil Went Down to Georgia", and multiple other songs he has performed and written. Daniels has been active as a singer...
- Bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Bob Wilson - OrganOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
Live performances
Dylan performed "I Threw It All Away" live for the first time on The Johnny Cash ShowThe Johnny Cash Show (TV series)
The Johnny Cash Show was an American television music variety show hosted by Johnny Cash. The Screen Gems 58-episode series ran from June 7, 1969 to March 31, 1971 on ABC; it was taped at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The show reached No...
on June 7, 1969. It was the second song in Dylan's set with The Band at the Isle of Wight Festival
Isle of Wight Festival
The Isle of Wight Festival is a music festival which takes place every year on the Isle of Wight in England. It was originally held from 1968 to 1970. These original events were promoted and organised by the Foulk brothers under the banner of their company Fiery Creations Limited...
on August 31, 1969. Another song from Nashville Skyline, "Lay Lady Lay
Lay Lady Lay
"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 recordings...
", was also in Dylan's Isle of Wight set. Dylan performed the song on May 16, 1976 during the Rolling Thunder Revue
Rolling Thunder Revue
The Rolling Thunder Revue was a famed U.S. concert tour consisting of a traveling caravan of musicians, headed by Bob Dylan, that took place in late 1975 and early 1976; the prevailing theory was that the tour was named after the Native American shaman Rolling Thunder. Others maintained that tour...
. The performance would later be included on the live album Hard Rain. The Rolling Thunder rendition of the song was a raging rock song with strident lyrics, in contrast to the original version. Dylan also played the song on his 1978 tour, but did not play it again live under 1998 during his Never Ending Tour
Never Ending Tour
The Never Ending Tour is the popular name for Bob Dylan’s endless touring schedule since June 7, 1988. During the past 23+ years, musicians have come and gone and the band has continued to evolve...
. By 2002, still on the Never Ending Tour, Dylan was playing an acoustic version of the song.
Critical Acclaim
In a 2005 poll reported in MojoMojo (magazine)
MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
, "I Threw It All Away" was listed as the #55 all time Bob Dylan song. In 2002, Uncut
UNCUT (magazine)
Uncut magazine, trademarked as UNCUT, is a monthly publication based in London. It is available across the English-speaking world, and focuses on music, but also includes film and books sections...
listed "I Threw It All Away" as the #34 all time Bob Dylan song.
Notable Covers
- CherCherCher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
, on the 1969 album 3614 Jackson Highway3614 Jackson Highway-Credits:Personnel*Cher – lead vocalsProduction*Jerry Wexler – record producer*Tom Dowd – record producer*Arif Mardin – record producer*Stan Vincent – record producer*Greg Poree – arrangement assistance... - The BeatlesThe BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
(George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
), during the Let It Be sessions. Harrison also recorded a version of "Mama, You Been On My Mind" in the same medley. - Elvis CostelloElvis CostelloElvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
, on the 1995 album Kojak Variety - Prairie OysterPrairie OysterPrairie Oyster is an award-winning Canadian country music group from Ontario. They were named Country Group or Duo of the year six times by both the Canadian Country Music Association and the Juno Awards. The band also won the Bud Country Fans' Choice Award from the CCMA in 1994...
, on the 2006 album One KissOne KissOne Kiss is the seventh studio album by Canadian country music group Prairie Oyster. It was released by Open Road Recordings on August 22, 2006... - Yo La TengoYo La TengoYo La Tengo, sometimes abbreviated as YLT, is an American alternative rock band formed in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1984. Since 1992, the lineup has consisted of Ira Kaplan , Georgia Hubley , and James McNew .Despite achieving limited mainstream success, Yo La Tengo has been called "the quintessential...
, on the 1987 album President Yo La TengoPresident Yo La TengoPresident Yo La Tengo was the third album of the Hoboken-based alternative rock band Yo La Tengo. It was released on Coyote/Twin Tone Records along with New Wave Hot Dogs and the "Asparagus Song" single on one record, and later re-released by Matador Records in 1996.The lineup includes Georgia...