Simply magnificent lyrics, in my opinion, and pretty magnificent music as well.

Here's an interesting detail: He clearly took the concluding Dylan line from the concluding verse of Dylan's greatest song lyric ever "It's Allright Ma - I'm Only Bleeding"....

And if my thought-dreams could be seen
They'd probably put my head in a guillotine
But it's alright, Ma, it's life, and life only.

...and used it as the central theme and title of this song:

Life and Life Only - by Al Stewart

Mr. Willoughby, whose only luxury is the sugar in his tea
Teaches history at High Worthington School
His clothing has remained unnoticeably plain
His common room technique suitably restrained, though maybe too cool
Work day done in the summery sun, see the cricket ball fly
Intently, like a strange demented bird towards the sun
Considering its flight, he pauses for a while
Ah, but Mr. Willoughby, we've never seen you smile
Tell me how come?
Ah well, sometimes it must get lonely
Ah, but it's life and life only

"Maurice," said Renee, "Why didn't you say that you'd be so late
The supper that I made is ruined again.
Is there anything you'd like?". "No, nothing", he replied
Standing by the stairs, not looking in her eyes, so stupidly male
All dark and lying in bed, "You've been with her again!"
She blurts out, then turning on her side begins to cry.
At first he doesn't stir but then mumbling his words
He reaches for her hand, she shivers, but doesn't take it away
Ah, yes sometimes it does get lonely
Ah, but it's life and life only.

Oh Smithy Smithers-Bell; clerk from Clerkenwell on the beach at
Bournemouth thinks he very well may be next year in France
Inspired for a while, he decides to risk a smile at Mr. Willoughby
Who passes, polishing his glasses, studiously averting his glance
Renee, several deckchairs away, wonders if they would be better
While Maurice is with the kids out in the sea
And I was feeling small, sitting on the wall
Looking at them all and wondering who will I be?
Ah, but sometimes it does get lonely
Ah, but it's life and life only

Ah, but it's life and life only
Ah, but it's life and life only
Ah, but it's life and life ...


It's a great song, and I would regard its use of the phrase from "It's Allright Ma" as Al Stewart tipping his hat, in a way, to Mr Dylan. He clearly was strongly influenced by Dylan's work, although he developed an almost completely different style all his own. Although Al has done very few cover tunes on his recordings, he did do a neat cover of the Dylan song "I Don't Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met)" on one of the early albums, and that one suited his style quite well, fitting right in with some of his other rueful comments about love affairs.

The Dylan song came out in '65. Al's "Life and Life Only" was released 3 years later on the "Love Chronicles" album. No coincidence there.