"Walkin' Down the Line" is a song written by

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan; born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Described as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture over his nearly 70-year ...

and first recorded by him in November 1962 for '' Broadside'' magazine. Dylan recorded the song again in March 1963 for his music publisher Witmark and this version was released in 1991 on ''

The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991 ''The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3'' is a box set by Bob Dylan issued on Columbia Records. It is the first installment in Dylan's Bootleg Series, comprising material spanning the first three decades of his career, from 1961 to 1989. It has been ...

''. The lyrics recount the troubles of a hobo walking down the railroad tracks. It was sung by

Arlo Guthrie Arlo Davy Guthrie (born July 10, 1947) is an American folk music, folk singer-songwriter. He is known for singing protest song, songs of protest against social injustice, and storytelling while performing songs, following the tradition of his fa ...

Woodstock The Woodstock Music and Art Fair, commonly referred to as Woodstock, was a music festival held from August 15 to 18, 1969, on Max Yasgur's dairy farm in Bethel, New York, southwest of the town of Woodstock, New York, Woodstock. Billed as "a ...

and his performance appears on the 1994 Woodstock 25th anniversary box set.

Covers

*1963 -

Jackie DeShannon Jackie DeShannon (born Sharon Lee Myers; August 21, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter and radio broadcaster who has had many hit song credits beginning in the 1960s, as both a singer and composer. She was one of the first female singer-son ...

on her debut album, ''Jackie DeShannon'' *1964 -

Hamilton Camp Hamilton Camp (born Robin S. Camp; 30 October 1934 – 2 October 2005) was a British-born actor and singer, who relocated to the United States with his family when he was a young child. He is known for his work as a folk singer during the 1960s ...

on his album ''Paths of Victory'' *1964 -

Glen Campbell Glen Travis Campbell (April 22, 1936 – August 8, 2017) was an American country musician and actor. He was best known for a series of hit songs in the 1960s and 1970s, and for hosting ''The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour'' on CBS television from ...

on his album ''

The Astounding 12-String Guitar of Glen Campbell ''The Astounding 12-String Guitar of Glen Campbell'' is the third album by American singer-guitarist Glen Campbell, recorded in stereo and released in 1964 by Capitol Records. The album is instrumental, with the exception of one cut: "Walkin' D ...

'' *1964 -

The Dillards The Dillards are an American bluegrass music, bluegrass and country rock band from Salem, Missouri. They are notable for being among the first bluegrass groups to have electrified their instruments, and they are considered to be pioneers of cou ...

on their album '' Live!!!! Almost!!!'' *1964 -

The Goldebriars The Goldebriars were an American folk quartet in the early 1960s, most notable for including a young Curt Boettcher as a guitarist and vocalist. The group also included two sisters, Dotti and Sheri Holmberg, with Ron Neilson as lead guitarist an ...

on their album ''Straight Ahead!'' *1965 - Joe & Eddie on their album ''Walkin' Down the Line'' *1965 - The Gene Norman Group on its album '' Dylan Jazz'' *1965 -

Odetta Odetta Holmes (December 31, 1930 – December 2, 2008), known as Odetta, was an American singer, often referred to as "The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement". Her musical repertoire consisted largely of American folk music, blues, jazz, and s ...

on her album '' Odetta Sings Dylan'' *1967 - Rick Nelson on his album '' Country Fever'' *1968 -

Joan Baez Joan Chandos Baez (, ; born January 9, 1941) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and activist. Her contemporary folk music often includes songs of protest and social justice. Baez has performed publicly for over 60 years, releasing mo ...

on her album of Dylan covers '' Any Day Now'' *1969 - Glenn Yarbrough on his album ''Yarbrough Country'' *1971 - Oliver on his album ''Prism'' *1972 -

Guy Carawan Guy Hughes Carawan Jr. (July 28, 1927 – May 2, 2015) was an American folk musician and musicologist. He served as music director and song leader for the Highlander Research and Education Center in New Market, Tennessee. Carawan is be ...

on his album ''The Telling Takes Me Home'' *1972 -

The Country Gentlemen The Country Gentlemen was a progressive bluegrass band that originated during the 1950s in the area of Washington, D.C., United States, and recorded and toured with various members until the death in 2004 of Charlie Waller, one of the group's ...

on their album ''The Award Winning Country Gentlemen'' *1975 -

and

Pete Seeger Peter Seeger (May 3, 1919 – January 27, 2014) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and social activist. He was a fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s and had a string of hit records in the early 1950s as a member of The Weav ...

on the album ''Together in Concert'' *1979 -

Hannes Wader Hannes Wader (born Hans Eckard Wader on 23 June 1942) is a German singer-songwriter ("Liedermacher"). He has been an important figure in German leftist circles since the 1970s, with his songs covering such themes as socialist, communist resistanc ...

Werner Lämmerhirt Werner Lämmerhirt (17 March 1949 – 14 October 2016) was one of the most important German singer-songwriters and guitarists in the contemporary folk music style. He sang and wrote in both German and English, in a recording career that spanned m ...

e.a. on ''Folk Friends'' *1992 - Rising Sons on their album ''Rising Sons Featuring Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder'' (recorded in the mid-1960s) *1997 - Rick Robbins on his album ''Walkin' Down The Line''http://www.rick-robbins.com/record.htm (released 1997 #RR00197CD) *2003 - Sean Hayes on his album '' Alabama Chicken'' *2004 -

The Flatlanders The Flatlanders are an American country band from Lubbock, Texas, founded in 1972 by Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely and Butch Hancock. The group garnered little success during their brief original incarnation from 1972 to 1973, but when the in ...

on their album ''Live '72'' (recorded in 1972) *2007 - Eilen Jewell on ''Letters From Sinners & Strangers'' *2011 - Robin and Linda Williams on the Dylan tribute album ''A Nod to Bob 2''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Walkin' Down the Line 1963 songs Songs written by Bob Dylan Bob Dylan songs Jackie DeShannon songs Ricky Nelson songs Oliver (singer) songs Glen Campbell songs