Like many of the tracks on this particular album, Dylan sings the song in a low croon rather than in the high nasal singing style that he was associated with on his earlier recordings.
The song has become one of established popularity and over the years it has been covered by numerous bands and artists such as The Byrds, The Everly Brothers, Duran Duran, Hoyt Aton and Ministry, amongst others. The song itself was initially written for the soundtrack of the movie ‘Midnight Cowboy’ an 1969 American drama film starring Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman and based on the 1965 novel of the same name by James Leo Herlihy, winning three Academy Awards – Best Picture, best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.
To date, it is the only –rated film ever to win Best Picture. Unfortunately, Dylan’s song was submitted too late to be included in the finished film so instead was released as a single in July 1969 and quickly became one of his top U.S. hits, reaching number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. In the UK, the single did even better, reaching number 5 in the UK Singles Chart. Rumour has it that Dylan originally offered the song to The Everly Brothers after one of their appearances at the music venue, The Bottom Line, in New York when they asked Dylan if he had any new material they could record. Dylan played the song to them, but so quietly, that The Everly Brothers thought the lyrics to be “Lay lady lady, lay across my big breasts, babe “ and thinking the song to be about lesbians, Don Everly declined the song with a “thank you, but I don’t think we could get away with that”.
Dylan accepted this and went on to record the track himself – when The Everly Brothers eventually heard Dylan’s version on the radio they realised their mistake, and, kicking themselves at such a missed opportunity, went on to record the song themselves on their ‘E8 84’ album.
Lay, lady, lay, lay across my big brass bed
Lay, lady, lay, lay across my big brass bed
Whatever colors you have in your mind
I'll show them to you and you'll see them shine.
Lay, lady, lay, lay across my big brass bed
Stay, lady, stay, stay with your man awhile
Until the break of day, let me see you make him smile
His clothes are dirty but his hands are clean
And you're the best thing that he's ever seen.
Stay, lady, stay, stay with your man awhile
Why wait any longer for the world to begin
You can have your cake and eat it too
Why wait any longer for the one you love
When he's standing in front of you.
Lay, lady, lay, lay across my big brass bed
Stay, lady, stay, stay while the night is still ahead
I long to see you in the morning light
I long to reach for you in the night
Stay, lady, stay, stay while the night is still ahead.
