Escrita por
Gene Clark, foi gravada em 16 de setembro de 1965, em Hollywood,
California e lançada em dezembro de 1965 no disco Turn, turn, turn!,
dos Byrds. Foi lançada também como compacto em janeiro de 1966, com
It won't be wrong no Lado B.
Clark contou
que a canção foi escrita algumas horas após a turnê britânica
dos Byrds em 1965, depois de uma noite na farra com Paul McCartney na
boate Scoth of St James. Os vocais principais são feitos por Clark,
que também tocou violão e gaita.
A letra fala
de um rompimento de um relacionamento. A inflecção vocal de Clark e
a letra densa sugere uma influencia de Bob Dylan. O compacto só
chegou ao número 79 dos charts pop americanos. Ficaram de gravar um
video clip pra BBC, mas no dia das filmagens, houve uma briga de
murro entre David Crosby e o manager da banda, Jim Dickson e o clip
não foi gravado.
Apesar do
pouco sucesso comercial, a canção foi muito bem aceita pela
crítica. Ringo Starr adorou a gravação. Em março de 1966, Clark
deixou a banda e a música parou de ser tocada ao vivo.
A letra:
The first thing
that I heard you say when you were standing there
Set in your way was that you were not blind
You were sure to make a fool of me cause there was nothing there
That you could see that could go beyond your mind
Now who's standing at the door remembering the days before
And asking please be kind
It isn't how it was set up to be but I've set you free this time
I have never been so far out in front that I could ever ask for what I want
And have it any time
Knowing this you found a thought for me that told you just what I should be
And there I stood behind
With all the ones that went before and memories that always seems to
Tear me from my mind
In front of what it is you seem me to be I've set you free this time
I could never find a chance to choose between a way to win or a
Thing to lose because there was your stand
On top of all the love you took
There was only something you can look at lying in your hand
Now who's wondering what has changed and why it can not be arranged
To have each thing work fine
It isn't how it was set up to be but I'll set you free this time
Set in your way was that you were not blind
You were sure to make a fool of me cause there was nothing there
That you could see that could go beyond your mind
Now who's standing at the door remembering the days before
And asking please be kind
It isn't how it was set up to be but I've set you free this time
I have never been so far out in front that I could ever ask for what I want
And have it any time
Knowing this you found a thought for me that told you just what I should be
And there I stood behind
With all the ones that went before and memories that always seems to
Tear me from my mind
In front of what it is you seem me to be I've set you free this time
I could never find a chance to choose between a way to win or a
Thing to lose because there was your stand
On top of all the love you took
There was only something you can look at lying in your hand
Now who's wondering what has changed and why it can not be arranged
To have each thing work fine
It isn't how it was set up to be but I'll set you free this time
A versão dos
Byrds:
A versão de
Steve Almaas ao vivo:
A versão dos
Improper Bostonians:
