I'll Be Your Baby Tonight

Original song written and composed by Bob Dylan

"I'll Be Your Baby Tonight"
Song by Bob Dylan
from the album John Wesley Harding
Released	December 27, 1967 (1967-12-27)
Recorded	November 29, 1967
Genre	Country^[1]
Length	2:34
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Bob Dylan
Producer(s)	Bob Johnston

"I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" is a 1967 song by Bob Dylan^[1] first released on John Wesley Harding. It features Pete Drake on pedal steel guitar, and two other Nashville musicians, Charlie McCoy on bass guitar and Kenneth Buttrey on drums, both of whom had appeared on Dylan's previous album, Blonde on Blonde.^[2]

Dylan first performed the song in concert at the Isle of Wight Festival with the Band on August 31, 1969. Since then, he has included it in more than 400 live performances.^[2] "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" has been covered by many artists, including Robert Palmer with UB40 in 1990.

Robert Palmer and UB40 version

"I'll Be Your Baby Tonight"

Single by Robert Palmer and UB40

from the album Don't Explain

B-side

"Deep End"

Released

October 22, 1990 (1990-10-22)^[3]

Genre

Reggae

Length

3:26

Bob Dylan

Robert Palmer

UB40 singles chronology

"Wear You to the Ball"
(1990)

"I'll Be Your Baby Tonight"
(1990)

"Impossible Love"
(1991)

Robert Palmer singles chronology

"Life in Detail"
(1990)

"I'll Be Your Baby Tonight"
(1990)

"You're Amazing"
(1990)

In 1990, English singer and songwriter Robert Palmer and English reggae band UB40 released a cover version of the song. It was released as a single by EMI in the United Kingdom and throughout Europe. It appears on Robert Palmer's albums Don't Explain and on the 1995 best of The Very Best of. The song reached the top 10 in Australia, Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland, and it also secured a number-six placing in both the United Kingdom and Ireland. In New Zealand, it reached number one for a week in February 1991.

Critical reception

David Giles of Music Week described the Robert Palmer and UB40 cover version as having "a dainty reggae beat", but deemed this "uninspiring pop... never really goes anywhere" and that success would depend on the music video.^[4]

Track listings

7-inch single

"I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" – 3:26
"Deep End" – 4:33

CD single

"I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" – 3:26
"Deep End" – 4:33

CD maxi

"I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" – 3:30
"I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" (extended version) – 7:25
"Deep End" – 4:33

12-inch single

"I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" (extended version) – 7:25
"I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" – 3:30
"Deep End" – 4:33

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1990–1991)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[5]	4
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[6]	5
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[7]	12
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[8]	58
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)^[9]	21
France (SNEP)^[10]	25
Germany (Official German Charts)^[11]	14
Ireland (IRMA)^[12]	6
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[13]	5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[14]	4
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[15]	1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[16]	11
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[17]	5
UK Singles (OCC)^[18]	6
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)^[19]	24

Year-end charts

Chart (1990)	Position
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[20]	87

Chart (1991)	Position
Australia (ARIA)^[21]	69
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[22]	26
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)^[23]	60
Europe (European Hit Radio)^[24]	29
Germany (Official German Charts)^[25]	48
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[26]	40
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[27]	14

References

^ ^a ^b Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 10 - Tennessee Firebird: American country music before and after Elvis. [Part 2]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
^ ^a ^b Margotin, Philippe; Guesdon, Jean-Michel (October 27, 2015). Bob Dylan: All the Songs – the Story Behind Every Track (First ed.). New York, New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers. p. 299. ISBN 9781579129859.
^ "New Singles". Music Week. October 20, 1990. p. 37.
^ Giles, David (27 October 1990). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 25. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
^ "Robert Palmer and UB40 – I'll Be Your Baby Tonight". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
^ "Robert Palmer and UB40 – I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
^ "Robert Palmer and UB40 – I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1455." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 47. November 24, 1990. p. V. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
^ "Robert Palmer and UB40 – I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
^ "Robert Palmer and UB40 – I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I'll Be Your Baby Tonight". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 50, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
^ "Robert Palmer and UB40 – I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
^ "Robert Palmer and UB40 – I'll Be Your Baby Tonight". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
^ "Robert Palmer and UB40 – I'll Be Your Baby Tonight". Singles Top 100. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
^ "Robert Palmer and UB40 – I'll Be Your Baby Tonight". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
^ "Robert Palmer Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1990" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1991" (in German). Retrieved March 18, 2019.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 1991" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 51–52. December 21, 1991. p. 21. Retrieved January 17, 2020 – via World Radio History.
^ "EHR Year-End Top 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 51–52. December 21, 1991. p. 20. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1991" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
^ "End of Year Charts 1991". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 1991" (in German). Retrieved March 18, 2019.

External links

Lyrics at Official Bob Dylan site

Bob Dylan related articles

Bob Dylan

Studio albums

Bob Dylan
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
The Times They Are a-Changin'
Another Side of Bob Dylan
Bringing It All Back Home
Highway 61 Revisited
Blonde on Blonde
John Wesley Harding
Nashville Skyline
Self Portrait
New Morning
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid
Dylan
Planet Waves
Blood on the Tracks
The Basement Tapes
Desire
Street-Legal
Slow Train Coming
Saved
Shot of Love
Infidels
Empire Burlesque
Knocked Out Loaded
Down in the Groove
Oh Mercy
Under the Red Sky
Good as I Been to You
World Gone Wrong
Time Out of Mind
"Love and Theft"
Modern Times
Together Through Life
Christmas in the Heart
Tempest
Shadows in the Night
Fallen Angels
Triplicate
Rough and Rowdy Ways
Shadow Kingdom

Live albums

Contemporary	Before the Flood Hard Rain Bob Dylan at Budokan Real Live Dylan & the Dead The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration MTV Unplugged
Archival	Live 1961–2000: Thirty-Nine Years of Great Concert Performances Live at The Gaslight 1962 Live at Carnegie Hall 1963 In Concert – Brandeis University 1963 The 1966 Live Recordings Bob Dylan – The Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1975 Live Recordings The Complete Budokan 1978

Compilations

Hits	Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol. II Masterpieces Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Volume 3 The Best of Bob Dylan (1997) The Best of Bob Dylan, Vol. 2 The Essential Bob Dylan The Best of Bob Dylan (2005) Dylan
Themed	Dylan The Basement Tapes Blues
Box sets	Biograph Bob Dylan: The Collection The Original Mono Recordings The 50th Anniversary Collection Bob Dylan: The Complete Album Collection Vol. One The 50th Anniversary Collection 1963 The 50th Anniversary Collection 1964 1970

The Bootleg Series

Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991
Vol. 4: The Royal Albert Hall Concert
Vol. 5: Bob Dylan Live 1975, The Rolling Thunder Revue
Vol. 6: Bob Dylan Live 1964, Concert at Philharmonic Hall
Vol. 7: No Direction Home: The Soundtrack
Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs: Rare and Unreleased 1989–2006
Vol. 9: The Witmark Demos: 1962–1964
Vol. 10: Another Self Portrait (1969–1971)
Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes Complete
Vol. 12: The Cutting Edge 1965–1966
Vol. 13: Trouble No More 1979–1981
Vol. 14: More Blood, More Tracks
Vol. 15: Travelin' Thru, 1967–1969
Vol. 16: Springtime in New York 1980–1985
Vol. 17: Fragments – Time Out of Mind Sessions (1996–1997)

Bootlegs

From Newport to the Ancient Empty Street in L.A.
Great White Wonder
List of Basement Tapes songs
- 1967
- 1975

Concert tours

England Tour (1965)
World Tour (1966)
Isle of Wight Festival (1969)
Tour with the Band (1974)
Rolling Thunder Revue (1975–1976)
World Tour (1978)
Gospel Tour (1979–80)
European Tour (1984)
True Confessions Tour (1986)
Tour with the Grateful Dead (1987)
Temples in Flames Tour (1987)
Never Ending Tour
- 1988
- 1989
- 1990
- 1991
- 1992
- 1993
- 1994
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
Rough and Rowdy Ways World Wide Tour (2021–2024)

Films

Dont Look Back
Eat the Document
Renaldo and Clara
Hard to Handle
The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration
MTV Unplugged
Masked and Anonymous
No Direction Home
I'm Not There
- Soundtrack
65 Revisited
The Other Side of the Mirror: Bob Dylan Live at the Newport Folk Festival 1963–1965
Trouble No More – A Musical Film
Rolling Thunder Revue
Shadow Kingdom
A Complete Unknown

Writings

Tarantula
Writings and Drawings
Chronicles: Volume One
The Philosophy of Modern Song

Books about Dylan

The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia
Bob Dylan, Performing Artist
Invisible Republic
The Cambridge Companion to Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan: Mixing Up the Medicine

Family

Sara Dylan (first wife)
Carolyn Dennis (second wife)
Jesse Dylan (son)
Jakob Dylan (son)

Recording Sessions
The Band
Traveling Wilburys
Electric Dylan controversy
Artists who have covered Dylan songs
Joan Baez
Suze Rotolo
Helena Springs
The Telegraph magazine
Festival
The Concert for Bangladesh
Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid
Hearts of Fire
Highway 61 Interactive
Theme Time Radio Hour
Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan
Chimes of Freedom (album)
The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams
Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes
Bob Dylan Center

Category

v t e Bob Dylan songs by album (1960s)
Bob Dylan	"You're No Good" "Talkin' New York" "In My Time of Dyin'" "Man of Constant Sorrow" "Fixin' to Die" "Pretty Peggy-O" "Gospel Plow" "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down" "House of the Risin' Sun" "Freight Train Blues" "Song to Woody" "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" "Highway 51"
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan	"Blowin' in the Wind" "Girl from the North Country" "Masters of War" "Down the Highway" "Bob Dylan's Blues" "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall" "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" "Bob Dylan's Dream" "Oxford Town" "Talkin' World War III Blues" "Corrina, Corrina" "Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance" "I Shall Be Free"
The Times They Are a-Changin'	"The Times They Are a-Changin'" "Ballad of Hollis Brown" "With God on Our Side" "One Too Many Mornings" "North Country Blues" "Only a Pawn in Their Game" "Boots of Spanish Leather" "When the Ship Comes In" "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll" "Restless Farewell"
Another Side of Bob Dylan	"All I Really Want to Do" "Black Crow Blues" "Spanish Harlem Incident" "Chimes of Freedom" "I Shall Be Free No. 10" "To Ramona" "Motorpsycho Nitemare" "My Back Pages" "I Don't Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met)" "Ballad in Plain D" "It Ain't Me Babe"
Bringing It All Back Home	"Subterranean Homesick Blues" "She Belongs to Me" "Maggie's Farm" "Love Minus Zero/No Limit" "Outlaw Blues" "On the Road Again" "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream" "Mr. Tambourine Man" "Gates of Eden" "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)" "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue"
Highway 61 Revisited	"Like a Rolling Stone" "Tombstone Blues" "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" "From a Buick 6" "Ballad of a Thin Man" "Queen Jane Approximately" "Highway 61 Revisited" "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" "Desolation Row"
Blonde on Blonde	"Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" "Pledging My Time" "Visions of Johanna" "One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)" "I Want You" "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again" "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat" "Just Like a Woman" "Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine" "Temporary Like Achilles" "Absolutely Sweet Marie" "4th Time Around" "Obviously 5 Believers" "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands"
John Wesley Harding	"John Wesley Harding" "As I Went Out One Morning" "I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine" "All Along the Watchtower" "The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest" "Drifter's Escape" "Dear Landlord" "I Am a Lonesome Hobo" "I Pity the Poor Immigrant" "The Wicked Messenger" "Down Along the Cove" "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight"
Nashville Skyline	"Girl from the North Country" "To Be Alone with You" "I Threw It All Away" "Lay Lady Lay" "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here with You"
Other	"Talkin' Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues" "Mixed-Up Confusion" "Positively 4th Street" "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?" "If You Gotta Go, Go Now"
Lists	Songs written by Dylan

v t e Robert Palmer
Studio albums	Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley (1974) Pressure Drop (1975) Some People Can Do What They Like (1976) Double Fun (1978) Secrets (1979) Clues (1980) Pride (1983) Riptide (1985) Heavy Nova (1988) Don't Explain (1990) Ridin' High (1992) Honey (1994) Rhythm & Blues (1999) Drive (2003)
Live albums	Maybe It's Live (1982) Live at the Apollo (2001) At the BBC (2010)
Compilations	Addictions: Volume 1 (1989) Addictions: Volume 2 (1992) The Very Best of Robert Palmer (1995) Woke Up Laughing (1998) 20th Century Masters (1999)
Singles	"Give Me an Inch" "Man Smart, Woman Smarter" "Every Kinda People" "Best of Both Worlds" "Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)" "Can We Still Be Friends" "Not a Second Time" "Johnny and Mary" "Looking for Clues" "Some Guys Have All the Luck" "You Are in My System" "You Can Have It (Take My Heart)" "Discipline of Love" "Addicted to Love" "Hyperactive" "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On" "Sweet Lies" "Simply Irresistible" "Early in the Morning" "She Makes My Day" "Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin' (Too Good to Be True)" "Change His Ways" "It Could Happen to You" "Life in Detail" "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" "You're Amazing" "Mercy Mercy Me" / "I Want You" "Happiness" "Witchcraft" "Girl U Want" "Know by Now" "You Blow Me Away" "Respect Yourself" "True Love"
Related articles	Discography Vinegar Joe The Power Station

v t e UB40
Jimmy Brown Robin Campbell Earl Falconer Norman Hassan Matt Doyle Ali Campbell Yomi Babayemi Jimmy Lynn Brian Travers Mickey Virtue Astro Duncan Campbell
Studio albums	Signing Off Present Arms UB44 Labour of Love Geffery Morgan Baggariddim Rat in the Kitchen UB40 Labour of Love II Promises and Lies Guns in the Ghetto Labour of Love III Cover Up Homegrown Who You Fighting For? TwentyFourSeven Labour of Love IV Getting Over the Storm A Real Labour of Love For the Many Bigga Baggariddim
Compilation albums	The Singles Album More UB40 Music The UB40 File The Best of UB40 – Volume One The Best of UB40 – Volume Two The Very Best of UB40 1980–2000 Greatest Hits Love Songs
Live albums	UB40 Live
Remix albums	Present Arms in Dub
Singles	"King" / "Food for Thought" "My Way of Thinking" / "I Think It's Going to Rain Today" "The Earth Dies Screaming" "Don't Let It Pass You By" / "Don't Slow Down" "One in Ten" "Red Red Wine" "Please Don't Make Me Cry" "Many Rivers to Cross" "If It Happens Again" "Sing Our Own Song" "Rat in Mi Kitchen" "I Got You Babe" "Breakfast in Bed" "Homely Girl" "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)" "Kingston Town" "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" "The Way You Do the Things You Do" "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You" "Higher Ground" "The Train Is Coming" "Swing Low"
See also	UB40 discography DEP International Big Love

v t e Norah Jones
Discography Awards and nominations
Studio albums	Come Away with Me Feels Like Home Not Too Late The Fall Little Broken Hearts Day Breaks Pick Me Up Off the Floor I Dream of Christmas Visions
Compilation albums	... Featuring Norah Jones Begin Again
Extended plays	First Sessions
Collaborative albums	New York City El Madmo Here We Go Again: Celebrating the Genius of Ray Charles Rome Foreverly
Singles	"Don't Know Why" "Feelin' the Same Way" "Come Away with Me" "Turn Me On" "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" "Sunrise" "What Am I to You?" "Here We Go Again" "Thinking About You" "Not Too Late" "Sinkin' Soon" "Chasing Pirates" "Young Blood" "It's Gonna Be" "Happy Pills"
Concert tours	Little Broken Hearts Tour
Related articles	Wax Poetic The Little Willies (The Little Willies For the Good Times) Puss n Boots (No Fools, No Fun) Ravi Shankar (father) Anoushka Shankar (half-sister) Lee Alexander "Everybody Needs a Best Friend"
Category