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"Father of Night" is a song written and originally recorded by American folk artist Bob Dylan as an interpretation of the Jewish prayer Amidah. Dylan included it as the final track of his 1970 album New Morning. The English progressive rock group Manfred Mann's Earth Band, led by South African Manfred Mann, covered it with the title "Father of Day, Father of Night" as the nearly ten minute opening track of their 1973 album Solar Fire.

Bob Dylan version
A producer for Archibald MacLeish's Broadway adaptation of The Devil and Daniel Webster asked Dylan to compose songs for the show. Dylan recorded four demos including "Father of Night". Upon review, the producer favored all the tracks except "Father of Night", which he felt was inappropriate for the play. Dylan disagreed and decided not to participate further in the production.

Recording
Dylan recorded the track during a June 5, 1970 session in Studio E of Columbia Studio Building in New York City. Eleven takes were recorded, three of which were false starts, and four of which were interrupted. Studio musicians involved in this session included Charlie Daniels on bass, David Bromberg on guitar and dobro, Ron Cornelius on guitar, Al Kooper on organ, Russ Kunkel on drums, and Dylan on vocals, guitar, harmonica, and piano.

Release
The final take was first included on the studio album New Morning which was released October 19, 1970.

Live Performances
Dylan has not performed the song at any of his live shows. This is also true of seven other New Morning tracks "Day of the Locusts", "Time Passes Slowly", "Went to See the Gypsy", "Winterlude", "Sign on the Window", "One More Weekend" and "Three Angels".

Reception
https://books.google.com/books?id=IdbgeObYgIkC&pg=PA134&lpg=PA134&dq="+expression+of+faith,+fast+and+direct,+without+a+shred+of+irony+or+distance."&source=bl&ots=hjYt8_uhr2&sig=UMudmneTmB0wlbsb7ABF-kMzQxA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjrkIve-pTOAhXJ5YMKHYicC6sQ6AEICjAA#v=onepage&q=%22%20expression%20of%20faith%2C%20fast%20and%20direct%2C%20without%20a%20shred%20of%20irony%20or%20distance.%22&f=false

Manfred Mann's Earth Band version
Manfred Mann's Earth Band recorded the song under the name "Father of Day, Father of Night" for the 1973 album Solar Fire. This followed the band's trend of including at least one Dylan composition on each of its three preceding albums. Manfred Mann's Earth Band featured "Please Mrs. Henry", Glorified Magnified had "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue", and Messin' included "Get Your Rocks Off". Manfred Mann itself had its biggest hit with Dylan's "The Mighty Quinn" in 1968.