Folk Music
The song was written by Tim Hardin. It was released on Hardin’s 1967 album Tim Hardin 2 as the first track, and it was also released as a single in 1968, backed with “Wonderful Baby.” Hardin performed the song at the Woodstock Music & Art Fair in 1969. There have been numerous covers of the song, including versions by Bobby Darin, Johnny Cash and June Carter, The Four Tops, Leon Russell, Rod Stewart, Joan Baez, Robert Plant, Johnny Rivers, Leonard Nimoy (yes, that Leonard Nimoy), Bob Seger, and oh, so many more.
Tim Hardin was born James Timothy Hardin in Eugene, Oregon, in 1941. He was influential as a singer/songwriter in the folk music movement. He had success with many songs, including “Reason to Believe,” Don’t Make Promises,” and “Misty Roses,” to mention a few. He died at the age of 39 of a heroin overdose.