Folk Music
The song “Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right: was written by Bob Dylan and first recorded by him in 1962. It was the B-Side to “Blowin’ in the Wind” and on his 1963 album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. The critic and columnist Nat Hentoff said of the song that it’s “a statement that maybe you can say to make yourself feel better…as if you were talking to yourself.” Indeed. Speculation is that Dylan wrote it about his girlfriend Suze Rotolo. Dylan, who knew his folk music very well, based the song on “Who’s Gonna Buy Your Chickens When I’m Gone,” which was taught to him by Paul Clayton.
Anyway, the folk music revival had been going on from the 50s through the early 60s, and many artists covered it. Peter, Paul and Mary were folk singer and songwriter Peter Yarrow, (Noel) Paul Stookey, and Mary Travers. Other artists who had versions include Dick and Dee Dee, Bobby Darin, Dolly Parton, The Seekers, Jackie DeShannon, Odette, Joan Baez, and the list goes on and on. In 1963, the beautiful and touching version by Peter, Paul and Mary went to #9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on Cashbox.
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[…] For other song by and performed by Bob Dylan: “Maggie’s Farm” and “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35.” The trio of Peter, Paul and Mary do a beautiful rendition of Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right.” […]