“Tomorrow Is a Long Time” is a song written and recorded by Bob Dylan. Dylan’s version first appeared on the album Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits Vol. IIcompilation, released in 1971.

Dylan’s officially released version of the song is a live recording from his April 12, 1963, concert at New York’s Town Hall. Dylan had recorded the song in December 1962 as a demo for M. Witmark & Sons, his publishing company. This particular recording, long available as a bootleg, was released by Columbia in 2010 on The Bootleg Series Vol. 9: The Witmark Demos: 1962-1964. A studio version of the song, an outtake from the June 1970 sessions for New Morning, has also been bootlegged.

It is one of Bob Dylan’s most covered songs.

This is my favorite cover, Thåström – Bara Om Min Älskade Väntar (audio in Swedish):

And 10 more very good versions:

According to Ernst Jorgensen’s’ book Elvis Presley: A Life In Music – The Complete Recording Sessions, Presley first heard the song via Charlie McCoy, who had previously participated in the Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde on Blonde sessions. McCoy played the 1965 Odetta album Odetta Sings Dylan before an Elvis session and Presley “had become taken with ‘Tomorrow Is A Long Time.'”

Dylan has said that this was his favorite cover of any of his songs. He once said that Presley’s cover of the song was “the one recording I treasure the most.”

Elvis Presley – Tomorrow is a long time (audio):

If today was not an endless highway
If tonight was not a crooked trail
If tomorrow wasn’t such a long time
Then lonesome would mean nothing to you at all
Yes, and only if my own true love was waitin’
Yes, and if I could hear her heart a-softly poundin’
Only if she was lyin’ by me
Then I’d lie in my bed once again

Nick Drake – Tomorrow is a long time (audio):

I can’t see my reflection in the waters
I can’t speak the sounds that show no pain
I can’t hear the echo of my footsteps
Or can’t remember the sound of my own name
Yes, and only if my own true love was waitin’
Yes, and if I could hear her heart a-softly poundin’
Only if she was lyin’ by me
Then I’d lie in my bed once again

Phosphorecent – Tomorrow is a long time (Live in Copenhagen, September 20th, 2010):

There’s beauty in the silver, singin’ river
There’s beauty in the sunrise in the sky
But none of these and nothing else can touch the beauty
That I remember in my true love’s eyes
Yes, and only if my own true love was waitin’
Yes, and if I could hear her heart a-softly poundin’
Only if she was lyin’ by me
Then I’d lie in my bed once again

Matthew Houck/Phosphorecent – Tomorrow is a long time (live at radio station WNRN):

Nickel Creek – Tomorrow Is a Long Time (live @ House of Blues, Boston on 5/1/14):

Rod Stewart – Tomorrow is a long time (audio):

Odetta Holmes – Tomorrow Is A Long Time(audio):

Ben Harper and his mother, Ellen, perform Dylan’s “Tomorrow Is A Long Time” as their final number at the 28th Annual Claremont Folk Music Festival on May 3rd 2008:

Pete Molinari – Tomorrow Is A Long Time (Kink live, Bing Lounge):

Chris Hillman – Tomorrow Is A Long Time (audio,1982):

– Hallgeir