I Shall Be Released

Lyrics

They say ev'rything can be replaced,

Yet ev'ry distance is not near.

So I remember ev'ry face

Of ev'ry man who put me here.

I see my light come shining

From the west unto the east.

Any day now, any day now,

I shall be released.

They say ev'ry man needs protection,

They say ev'ry man must fall.

Yet I swear I see my reflection

Some place so high above this wall.

I see my light come shining

From the west unto the east.

Any day now, any day now,

I shall be released.

Standing next to me in this lonely crowd,

Is a man who swears he's not to blame.

All day long I hear him shout so loud,

Crying out that he was framed.

I see my light come shining

From the west unto the east.

Any day now, any day now,

I shall be released.

Credits

• Written by: Bob Dylan

Performances

This song is unreleased by Elvis Costello, but he has performed it in concert with Bob Dylan (1995-03-30, 1995-03-31, 1995-04-11, 1999-07-26, and 2007-10-29) and Robbie Robertson (1995-05-01).

Recordings

• The Band, on Music From Big Pink, 1968
• Joan Baez, 1968
• Peter, Paul and Mary, 1968
• Joe Cocker, 1969
• The Hollies, 1969
• Nina Simone, 1969
• Bob Dylan, on Greatest Hits Vol. II, 1971
• Bette Midler, 1973
• Tom Robinson Band, 1977
• The Flying Burrito Brothers, 1988 (recorded ca. 1970)
• Jerry Garcia, 1991
• Chrissie Hynde, 1993
• Paul Weller, 1996
• Aaron Neville, 2000

Bootlegs

• This section is incomplete.