Mama, You’ve Been on My Mind

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Many people feel like this is Johnny’s Cash’s song, but in truth, it was written by Bob Dylan. Dylan made several demo recordings of “Mama,” at least four of which appear… Read More

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Mama, You’ve Been on My Mind Lyrics

[Verse 1: Johnny Cash]
When you wake up in the morning baby look inside your mirror
I won't be next to you, you know I won't be near
I'd be curious to know if your reflection is as clear
As the one that I've got on my mind, mama, you been on my mind

[Verse 2]
Well perhaps it's the wind and the dark dark night that's covering
The crossroads that I'm at
And maybe it's the weather or something like that
But mama, you been on my mind, mama, you been on my mind

[Verse 3]
Well I don't need trouble, please don't put me down
Don't get upset, I am not pleading, I won't say I'll forget
And I won't pace a floor bowed down and bent but yet
Mama, you been on my mind, mama, you been on my mind

[Verse 4]
Even though my mind is hazy and my thoughts are kinda narrow
Where you been don't bother me or bring me down with sorrow
It don't matter to me where you'll be waking up tomorrow
But mama you been on my mind mama you been on my mind

About

Many people feel like this is Johnny’s Cash’s song, but in truth, it was written by Bob Dylan. Dylan made several demo recordings of “Mama,” at least four of which appear on the official Bootleg Series compilations, but Johnny Cash gave it a proper studio release first.

You can view the annotations on Dylan’s original here.

Cash uses the last verse in the Dylan original to open his version of the song, then continues with Dylan’s original verses 1, 2 & 3 as his version’s 2nd, 3rd & 4th verse, respectively. He altogether leaves out Dylan’s original 4th verse,

“I’m not asking you to say words like yes or no
Please, understand me, I have no place I’m calling you to go
I’m just whispering to myself so I can’t pretend that I don’t know
Mama you are on my mind”