“Hand Me Down” was received by critics as being Dylan’s most personal song yet.
Producer Michael Penn said, “I felt like he was starting to put his foot in the pool of not hiding anymore – particularly with ‘Hand Me Down,’ which was not only a brave, but really important song for him to write.”
You won't ever amount to much
You won't be anyone
Now tell me what you were thinking of
How could you think you would be enough?
Now it's not that you have stayed too long
And it's not that you've done something wrong
It's not your fault that you embarrass us all
You're a hand me down
It's better when you're not around
You feel good and you look like you should
But you won't ever make us proud
You've been used by an army of kings
You've been touched by the lips of a queen
Now we've all made good use of you
But you won't be needed again
So why don't you move and let someone else in
And make some room for a new harlequin
'Cause you never know when you'll disappoint us again
You're a hand me down
It's better when you're not around
You feel good and you look like you should
But you won't ever make us proud
Now you're a hand me down
It's better when you're not around
You feel good and you look like you should
But you could never make us proud
You're a hand me down
So look at you with your worn out shoes
Living proof evolution's through
We're stuck with you
This revolution's doomed
'Cause you're a hand me down
It's better when you're not around
You feel good and you look like you should
But you could never make us proud
You're a hand me down
It's better when you're not around
You feel good and you look like you should
But you won't ever make us proud
Hand Me Down was written by Jakob Dylan.
Hand Me Down was produced by Andrew Slater & Michael Penn.
The Wallflowers released Hand Me Down on Tue Oct 10 2000.