Great to hear the great man talk about his influences.
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Thank you John - fascinating. Listening to Bob talking about these three books, you begin to understand the alchemic process from which his songs emerge.
I'd love to know if the Oxford Professor of Poetry has come to a more considered opinion
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This is good JC - bring back The Radio Hour! (and I'm not even a big fan)Originally posted by johncorrigan View PostComment
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Thanks, JC, and so he did it. I am listening to it now. A few things. One, Leadbelly. Mentioned by Bob at the outset here and also by Van Morrison early on in his interview on the cassette I found this week. Secondly, the huge impact of radio on each of them "In the Days Before Rock n Roll". Thirdly, an emphasis on grammar school. That can be defined in different ways especially from one country to another but it seems timely and might just be deliberate. Fourthly, religion still, broadly, and "The Shaker God". And fifthly, the sea.Originally posted by johncorrigan View Post
The sweep of literature into music and the later distinctions between the two convince. He has, typically, taken his time and done it in his way rather than providing as expected a modern rapid response. A lot on war. Just as one assumes that an overly romantic position on nature is strength or weakness he counters it. The song is, I guess, to some extent lifespan. What I feel is there is a complexity in what he says with which many can identify while most present as - and are - principally like the couple in "When The Wind Blows".
No real comment on politicians - those who, I observe these days, go through their lives believing that their own open top car is right for all weathers. The mother figure appears to worry more about a son ending up with the wrong girl than having limbs blown off. But, as always, one can't tell quite what he believes for he is also merging with the books.
(A couple of alternative versions from Blood on the Tracks which have only an oblique connection with the comment - almost as glorious in my opinion as the known versions)
He is such a natural broadcaster that he would if a different person have surely missed his vocation.Originally posted by Globaltruth View Post
Is there anything much of it before "The Radio Hour" or did the need for ongoing enigma prohibit it?Last edited by Lat-Literal; 07-06-17, 01:00.Comment
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- The TimesHe ended his lecture with what sounded like a teasing jab at the academy. 'Songs are unlike literature', he said. 'They're meant to be sung, not read... I hope some of you get the chance to listen to these lyrics in they way they were intended to be heard: in concert or on record or however people are listening to songs these days. I return once again to Homer, who says: "Sing in me, oh Muse, and through me tell the story" 'Comment
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He does not include the song texts with albums. "Another Side" included the text of some of his poetry not put to music on the album. Before the internet and even books containing the texts appeared I can remember noting the lyrics down longhand by listening to the LP. As quoted above, he has always maintained that the songs only really exist when performed live - hence his commitment to touring (75 -100 live concerts per annum with "All Along The Watchtower topping the list having been performed 2252 times - ref). We saw him recently in Bournemouth and he was in great voice.Originally posted by Richard Tarleton View Post
Re the comment above: 'Songs are unlike literature': I remember being told when doing French A Level that Flaubert would perhaps spend hours on one sentence, using chalk and a blackboard to fine-tune it. Dylan has never aimed at this kind of carefully honed literary perfection in his lyrics. Exquisite turns of phrase jostle with banality and clumsiness of expression in most songs. As with his Nobel lecture, it is just great to listen to what he does with the language and his voice.Comment
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Bob Dylan's Nobel Prize lecture
For any Bobcats on the bored:
JRComment
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I was wondering what to do: perhaps merge and move to Talking About Music rather than have separate threads for World and Jazz?Originally posted by gurnemanz View PostIt isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.Comment
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Dylan threads all over the place, looking back - World Music, Platform 3, Talking about Music - I vote for General Arts
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Now moved to General Arts.Originally posted by Richard Tarleton View PostDylan threads all over the place, looking back - World Music, Platform 3, Talking about Music - I vote for General ArtsIt isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.Comment
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Well, he does! Weaves his lyrics into our lives and our psyches. But it's all right Richard, he's only singing, I mean how would you feel to be all alone, you might just as well jump down a manhole and light yourself a candle, there must be some way out of here, but you ain't going nowhere, even though you may think any day now you will be released to revisit Highway 61!Originally posted by Richard Tarleton View PostComment
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Right now, I can't read too good, don't send me no more letters noOriginally posted by cloughie View Post
Not unless you mail them from Desolation Row
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Well, I try my bestOriginally posted by Richard Tarleton View PostRight now, I can't read too good, don't send me no more letters no
Not unless you mail them from Desolation Row
To be just like I am
But everybody wants you
To be just like them
They sing while you slave and I just get bored
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I have no view on Bob Dylan, for the simple reason that I have never been able to listen to him. Am I the only one who thinks his voice is just painful and unpleasant to listen to as well as totally unmusical?My life, each morning when I dress, is four and twenty hours less. (J Richardson)Comment
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