☝️ Key Points
- The song is about a past relationship and the breakup between the singer and his ex-girlfriend.
- The singer asks someone who sees his ex-girlfriend to tell her that he is doing well, even though things are moving slowly.
- Although they are separated, she still lives within him and they were never really apart.
- The singer travels a lot and keeps hearing her name in different cities, which makes him reflect.
- The lyrics end with the wish that she might come by and visit him again when she has time.
Interpretation
The song lyrics "If You See Her, Say Hello" by
Bob Dylan is about a past relationship that ended in a breakup. The singer asks someone who sees his ex-girlfriend to tell her that he is doing well, even though things are moving a bit slowly. He doesn't want her to think he has forgotten her, even though that's not the case.
It is mentioned that she moved to Tangier in the spring and the singer still thinks about her. They had a fight, as often happens in love relationships, and the singer still remembers with a shudder the night she left. Despite the separation, she still lives within him and they were never truly apart.
The singer also asks that if someone gets close to her, they kiss her once for him. He respects her for breaking free and finding her own happiness, and he won't stand in her way. Although the bitter taste of the night he tried to make her stay still lingers within him.
The singer travels a lot and keeps hearing her name in different cities. He has never gotten used to it, but he has learned to tune it out. He wonders if he's too sensitive or if he's becoming soft.
The lyrics end with the singer clinging to memories of the past and imagining that she might come around again. He's not hard to find and if she has time, she's welcome to visit him.