GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY
“Girl from the North Country” (also known as “Girl of the North Country” is a song
written by Bob Dylan. It was first released in 1963 as the second track on Dylan’s second
studio album, “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan”. The song was written following his first
trip to England in December, 1962, upon what he thought to be the completion of his
second album. The song is a tribute to a former girlfriend, Echo Helstrom who Dylan
knew before leaving for New York. Dylan left England for Italy to search for his then-
girlfriend, Suze Rotolo, whose continuation of studies there had caused a serious rift in
their relationship. Unbeknownst to Dylan, Rotolo had already returned to the United
States, leaving about the same time that Dylan arrived in Italy. It was here that he finished
the song, ostensibly inspired by the apparent end of his relationship with Rotolo. Upon
his return to New York in mid-January, he convinced Rotolo to get back together, and to
move back into his apartment on 4th Street. Suze Rotolo is the woman featured on the
album cover, walking arm in arm with Dylan down Jones Street, not far from their
apartment.
While in London, Dylan met several figures in the local folk scene, including English
folksinger Martin Carthy. “I ran into some people in England who really knew those
[traditional English] songs,” Dylan recalled in 1984. “Martin Carthy, another guy named
[Bob] Davenport. Martin Carthy’s incredible. I learned a lot of stuff from Martin.” Carthy
exposed Dylan to a repertoire of traditional English ballads, including Carthy’s own
arrangement of “Scarborough Fair,” which Dylan drew upon for the melody and lyrics of
“Girl from the North Country,” including the line from the refrain “Remember me to one
who lives there, she once was a true love of mine”. It is of note that musically this song is
nearly identical to his composition Boots of Spanish Leather, composed and recorded one
year later for the ‘The Times They Are A–Changin’ album.
If you’re traveling in the north country fair
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was the true love of mine.
If you go when the snowflakes storm
When the rivers freeze and summer ends
Please see if she’s a coat so warm
To keep her from the howlin’ winds.
Please see if her hair hangs long
If it rolls and flows all down her breast
Please see from me if her hair hangs long
That’s the way I remember her best.
I’m a-wonderin’ if she remember me at all
Many times I’ve often prayed
In the darkness of my night
