Don't Think Twice, It's All Right

"Don't Think Twice, It's All Right"
Song

"Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" is a song written by Bob Dylan, written in 1962 and released on the album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.

Dylan once introduced "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" as "a statement that maybe you can say to make yourself feel better...as if you were talking to yourself." Written around the same time Suze Rotolo indefinitely prolonged her stay in Italy, "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" is actually based on a melody taught to Dylan by folksinger Paul Clayton. NPR's Tim Riley described the song as "the last word in a long, embittered argument, a paper-thin consolation sung with spite."

As well as the melody, a couple of lines were taken from Paul Clayton's "Who's Goin' To Buy You Ribbons When I'm Gone?" which was recorded in 1960, two years before Bob Dylan wrote Don't Think Twice. Lines taken word-for-word or slightly altered from the Clayton song are, "T'ain't no use to sit and wonder why, darlin," and, "So I'm walkin' down that long, lonesome road". However, on the first release of the song he doesn't sing "So I'm walkin' down that long, lonesome road" instead he sings "I'm a-thinkin' and a-wonderin' walking down the road" the lyrics were changed on later releases and covers.

The original album version of the song is played in a very fast, fingerpicked style, however in live performances, Dylan often just strums the chords, albeit in a similar, fast paced manner.

This song has been covered by Johnny Cash, Rory Gallagher, Elvis Presley, Waylon Jennings, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Jerry Reed, Joan Baez, folk group Peter, Paul, and Mary, Australian band The Waifs, Mike Ness of Social Distortion, Vonda Shepard, Elliott Smith, Nick Drake, Susan Tedeschi,Ted Tanner, Susanna and the Magical Orchestra, Pitbullfarm, and russian rock musician Boris Grebenshchikov. The Four Seasons released a version as a single in 1965 under the pseudonym The Wonder Who?. Steel Train also covered this song on Listen to Bob Dylan: A Tribute.

Eric Clapton performed a very distinct version of "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" at The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration, and this version appears on the live double album with the same name. Clapton has also played the song in a few of his own live shows, sometimes in a duet with Dylan. A similar blues version was made by Clapton with Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and Maria Muldur.