Album: Another Side Of Bob Dylan (1964)

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• I ain't lookin' to compete with you
  Beat or cheat or mistreat you
  Simplify you, classify you
  Deny, defy or crucify you
  All I really want to do
  Is, baby, be friends with you
  
  No, and I ain't lookin' to fight with you
  Frighten you or uptighten you
  Drag you down or drain you down
  Chain you down or bring you down
  All I really want to do
  Is, baby, be friends with you
  
  I ain't lookin' to block you up
  Shock or knock or lock you up
  Analyze you, categorize you
  Finalize you or advertise you
  All I really want to do
  Is, baby, be friends with you
  
  I don't want to straight-face you
  Race or chase you, track or trace you
  Or disgrace you or displace you
  Or define you or confine you
  All I really want to do
  Is, baby, be friends with you
  
  I don't want to meet your kin
  Make you spin or do you in
  Or select you or dissect you
  Or inspect you or reject you
  All I really want to do
  Is, baby, be friends with you
  
  I don't want to fake you out
  Take or shake or forsake you out
  I ain't lookin' for you to feel like me
  See like me or be like me
  All I really want to do
  Is, baby, be friends with you Writer/s: Bob Dylan
  Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 8

• Arthur Malkin from New JerseyCher's version sounds like a Sonny and Cher song, but Cher actually is imitating Sonny! She sings her own parts, and what would be his, so well that the listener can be easily fooled.
• Chelie from UsaAwww...Jerry! That was such a cute little story, and your reaction shows what a cool, laid-back sort of guy you are! My classic rock station that is fading in and out at the moment (geez what is this, 197O??) just played the Byrds' version of this song, and I had to look up the lyrics. I didn't know that Sonny and Cher had also recorded it (at the same time, no less)... guess I'm outta the loop! Peace and love everybody :D
• Seth from New YorkThe song is NOT about whether Dylan wants to be only Platonic friends or lovers or spouses with the woman.
  In the post-feminist age readers should realize that.
  It is about the conditions for the relationship Dylan wants to have--regardless of whether the relationship becomes physical.
  Dylan is offering a relationship based on respect--a friendship.(He probably does want to become lovers but that is irrelevant to the song.)
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 27th 1965, two versions of "All I Really Want To Do" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; the Byrd's version at #86 and Cher's version charted three position lower at #86...
  And both versions also peaked on the same week; on August 15th, 1965 Cher peaked at #15 (for 2 weeks); while the Byrds reached #40 (for 1 week)...
  The Byrd's version was sandwiched between two #1 records by the group; "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Turn! Turn! Turn!".
• Fred from Laurel, MdAs with many of the early Dylan songs, the better-known recording (at the time) was by someone else. In this case, both Cher and the Byrds put out singles of this song, and Cher's version won the battle of the charts. (Personally, I prefer the Byrds' version.) The Byrds also put it on their first album, "Mr. Tambourine Man" -- the title song of which is another Dylan tune.
• Allen from Brooklyn, NyI think this song could be about his fans at the time. He was huge at the time and couldn't get away from the protest/folk scene and was just about done with it all.
• David from Boston, MaI never thought this song was to be taken literally. The narrator is actually saying that he does not want to be "just friend". He is using BS lines to try to trick the prey into falling for him.
• Jerry from Brooklyn, NyRight around the time this song came out, my sister tried to fix me up with one of her girl friends. This girl, me, my sister and her boyfriend and a few others went to Coney Island and went on some of the rides, I tried to put my arm around this girl when we were on the Wonder Wheel (an elaborate ferris wheel). She ducked out from under my arm and sang "All i really wnat to do..". Oh, well! I still think about that whenever I hear this song.

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