FeaturedChartsVideosPromote Your Music
Cover art for Lay Lady Lay [Before the Flood] by Bob Dylan & The Band

Lay Lady Lay [Before the Flood]

Bob Dylan & The Band
Track 2 on Before the Flood 

Producer

Bob Dylan & The Band
Jun. 20, 19741 viewer

Lay Lady Lay [Before the Flood] Lyrics

[Verse 1]
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

[Verse 2]
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 ya' make him smile
His clothes are dirty but his, his hands are clean
And you're the best thing that he’s ever seen

[Verse 3]
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

[Verse 4]
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

How to Format Lyrics:

  • Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus
  • Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines
  • Use section headers above different song parts like [Verse], [Chorus], etc.
  • Use italics (<i>lyric</i>) and bold (<b>lyric</b>) to distinguish between different vocalists in the same song part
  • If you don’t understand a lyric, use [?]

To learn more, check out our transcription guide or visit our transcribers forum

About

Have the inside scoop on this song?
Sign up and drop some knowledge

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

Who produced “Lay Lady Lay [Before the Flood]” by Bob Dylan & The Band?
When did Bob Dylan & The Band release “Lay Lady Lay [Before the Flood]”?
Who wrote “Lay Lady Lay [Before the Flood]” by Bob Dylan & The Band?
Before the Flood (1974)
Bob Dylan & The Band
  1. 1.
    Most Likely You’ll Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine) [Before the Flood]
  2. 2.
    Lay Lady Lay [Before the Flood]
  3. 3.
    Rainy Day Women #12 and 35 [Before the Flood]
  4. 4.
    Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door [Before the Flood]
  5. 5.
    It Ain’t Me, Babe [Before the Flood]
  6. 6.
    Ballad of a Thin Man [Before the Flood]
  7. 7.
    Up on Cripple Creek [Before the Flood]
  8. 8.
    I Shall Be Released [Before the Flood]
  9. 9.
    Endless Highway [Before the Flood]
  10. 10.
    The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down [Before the Flood]
  11. 11.
    Stage Fright [Before the Flood]
  12. 12.
    Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right [Before the Flood]
  13. 13.
    Just Like a Woman [Before the Flood]
  14. 14.
    It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) [Before the Flood]
  15. 15.
    The Shape I’m In [Before the Flood]
  16. 16.
    When You Awake [Before the Flood]
  17. 17.
    The Weight [Before the Flood]
  18. 18.
    All Along the Watchtower [Before the Flood]
  19. 19.
    Highway 61 Revisited [Before the Flood]
  20. 20.
    Like a Rolling Stone [Before the Flood]
  21. 21.
    Blowin’ in the Wind [Before the Flood]
Credits
Producer
Writer
Recorded At
The Forum, Inglewood, California
Release Date
June 20, 1974
Lay Lady Lay [Before the Flood] Interpolations
Lay Lady Lay [Before the Flood] Is A Live Version Of
Tags
Rock
Comments
Sign Up And Drop Knowledge 🤓
Genius is the ultimate source of music knowledge, created by scholars like you who share facts and insight about the songs and artists they love.

Genius is the world’s biggest collection of song lyrics and musical knowledge

About GeniusContributor GuidelinesPressShopAdvertisePrivacy Policy
LicensingJobsDevelopersCopyright PolicyContact UsSign InDo Not Sell My Personal Information
© 2024 ML Genius Holdings, LLC
Terms of Use
Verified Artists
All Artists:
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz#
Hot Songs:
LUNCHCHIHIROWILDFLOWERBLUETHE GREATESTView All