"Rita May" (sometimes spelled as "Rita Mae") is a song by Bob Dylan, originally recorded during the sessions for the album ''

Desire Desires are states of mind that are expressed by terms like "wanting", "wishing", "longing" or "craving". A great variety of features is commonly associated with desires. They are seen as propositional attitudes towards conceivable states of aff ...

'', but released only as the B-side of a single and on the compilation album, '' Masterpieces''. The song is based on the 1957 rockabilly song "

Bertha Lou "Bertha Lou" is a rockabilly song, first recorded in 1957 by Johnny Faire. It was written by Johnny Burnette and John Marascalco. It was also recorded by Dorsey Burnette and Clint Miller (rockabilly musician), Clint Miller; Miller's version reache ...

". Some listeners believe that the lyrics of the song refer to writer Rita Mae Brown, who had complained of the lack of opportunities for casual lesbian sex.

Live version

Dylan rehearsed the song in New York City before the first leg of the Rolling Thunder Revue in 1975, a performance that was officially released on the '' Bob Dylan – The Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1975 Live Recordings'' box set released in 2019. The only time Dylan played the song live, however, came on the second leg of the Rolling Thunder Revue in New Orleans, Louisiana on May 3, 1976.

Notable cover

"Rita May" was covered by Jerry Lee Lewis on his 1979 album Jerry Lee Lewis.

Other songs with the same title

Eric Clapton Eric Patrick Clapton (born 1945) is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is often regarded as one of the most successful and influential guitarists in rock music. Clapton ranked second in ''Rolling Stone''s list of ...

wrote a song titled "Rita Mae" which appears on his 1981 album ''

Another Ticket ''Another Ticket'' is the seventh solo studio album by Eric Clapton. Recorded and produced by Tom Dowd at the Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas with Albert Lee, it was Clapton's last studio album for RSO Records before the label shut d ...

'' and was also released as a single, reaching No. 10 on the Mainstream Rock chart.

Personnel

Original Dylan version * Bob Dylan – guitar, vocal, harmonica *

Emmylou Harris Emmylou Harris (born April 2, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. She has released dozens of albums and singles over the course of her career and has won 14 Grammys, the Polar Music Prize, and numerous other honors, including ...

– vocal * Rob Stoner – bass * Howard Wyeth – drums * Scarlet Rivera – violin *Sheena Seidenberg – tambourine, congas * Don DeVito – Producer

References

External links

Lyrics
at Bob Dylan's official site
Chords
at Dylanchords {{Bob Dylan singles Songs written by Bob Dylan Bob Dylan songs 1977 singles Songs written by Jacques Levy Song recordings produced by Don DeVito Jerry Lee Lewis songs Columbia Records singles 1976 songs