It Ain't Me, Babe

Words & Music:

Bob Dylan

Tabber: Eyolf ¯strem

 

Like so many of Dylan's songs, there are multiple versions.  According to the seminal "DylanChords" site, it can be found on the following albums: "Another Side Of Bob Dylan (1964), Greatest Hits (1967) and Biograph (1985), and in different live versions on Before the Flood (1974), Real Live (1984), Live 1975 (2002) and Live 1964 (2004)

 

D' = x 5 4 0 3 0           Bm7' = x x 4 0 3 0            Am7 = x 0 2 0 1 0

 

INTRO:  G  C/G  G

 

       D'       C        D'                       G

Go 'way from my window.  Leave at your own chosen speed.

D'              C                D'              G

I'm not the one you want, babe.  I'm not the one you need.

Bm7'               Am7                         Bm7'            Am7

You say you're lookin' for someone who's never weak but always strong,

Bm7'           Am                     Bm7'             Am

To protect you an' defend you whether you are right or wrong,

C                          D

Someone to open each and every door.

 

CHORUS:

              G          C       D            G

But, it ain't me, babe.  No, no, no, it ain't me babe

C         D       G

It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe.

 

Go lightly from the ledge, babe, go lightly on the ground.

I'm not the one you want, babe, I will only let your down.

You say you're lookin' for someone who will promise never to part,

Someone to close his eyes for you, someone to close his heart,

Someone who will die for you an' more.

 

CHORUS:

 

Go melt back in the night; everything inside is made of stone.

There's nothing in here moving an' anyway I'm not alone.

You say you're looking for someone who'll pick you up each time you fall,

To gather flowers constantly an' to come each time you call,

A lover for you life an' nothing more.

 

CHORUS:

 


Version from Before The Flood with The Band (1974)

 

    G           D        D7                       G

Go 'way from my window.  Leave at your own chosen speed.

D                               D7                  G

I'm not the one you want, babe, I'm not the one you need.

Bm                     Am          Bm                    Am

You say you're lookin' for someone never weak, but always strong.

Bm                   Am       Bm                       Am

To protect you an' defend you whether you are right or wrong;

C                          D

Someone to open each and every door.

 

CHORUS:

             G          C       D/A          G

But it ain't me, babe.  No, no, no, it ain't me, babe.

C         D/A     G

It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe.

 

Version from Real Live (1984)

 

       D'       C        D'            C          G       C/G   G

Go 'way from my window.  Leave at your own chosen speed.

D'              C                   D'      C       G      C/G   G

I'm not the one you want, babe, I'm not the one you need.

Bm7'               Am7                         Bm7'            Am7

You say you're lookin' for someone who's never weak but always strong,

Bm7'           Am7                    Bm7'             Am7

To protect you an' defend you whether you are right or wrong.

C                          D

Someone to open each and every door.

 

CHORUS:

             G          C   C/B Am           G

But it ain't me, babe.  No, no, no, it ain't me, babe.

C  C/B    Am      G

It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe.

 

Live version from the Rolling Thunder Revue 1975

Intro: C

 

Em              Dm       Em            Dm         C

Go 'way from my window.  Leave at your own chosen speed.

Em                  Dm           Em  Dm              C

I'm not the one you want, babe.  I'm not the one you need.

Em                     Dm                      Em              Dm

You say you're lookin' for someone who's never weak but always strong;

Em                   Dm       Em                       Dm

To protect you an' defend you whether you are right or wrong;

F                          G

Someone to open each and every door.

 

CHORUS:

             C          F           G            C

But it ain't me, babe.  No, no, no, no, it ain't me, babe.

F         G       Am   F                        C         G       C

It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe.  It ain't me you're lookin' for.

 

[final instrumental verse ends on Am instead of C]

 

Live version, 2004

Based on the version from March 6, 2004.  Capo 1st fret (sounding key Db major)

Chord suggestions:

Em = 0 2 2 0 0 3     C = x 3 2 0 1 3      F6 = 1 3 x 2 3 1       G11 = 3 x 3 2 1 1

Fadd9 = x x 3 2 1 3  OR:  x 3 3 5 6 3     G7add11 = x x 0 0 1 3  OR:  x 5 5 5 0 3

These are merely suggestions how to reproduce the full band sound on one guitar. All the chords in the chorus part could be played differently.

 

Em              C

Go 'way from my window [Or, as Dylan sings it: You must leave now take what you need]

Em                       C           

Leave at your own chosen speed. [(mumble mumble)  Leave at your own chosen speed.]

Em                        C         Em                  C

I'm not the one you want, babe; I'm not the one you need.

Em                         C             Em              C

You say you're lookin' for someone never weak but always strong.

Em             C                     Em                    C

To protect you an' defend you whether you---- are right or wrong.

Fadd9       G7add11  Fadd9 G7/d

Someone to open each and every door.

 

CHORUS:

             C

But it ain't me, babe.

F       F6           C

No, no, no, it ain't me, babe.

         F                 C

It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe.

         G11       G       C

It ain't me you're lookin' for.

 





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