Happy birthday to the Jokerman! I'm hoping that Covid goes away soon enough for at least one more leg to the "never ending tour"!
CNN slideshow: https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/24/entertainment/gallery/bob-dylan/index.html
Nobody writes 'em like this anymore:
I’m not sleepy and there is no place I’m going to
Hey! Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning I’ll come followin’ you
Though I know that evenin’s empire has returned into sand
Vanished from my hand
Left me blindly here to stand but still not sleeping
My weariness amazes me, I’m branded on my feet
I have no one to meet
And the ancient empty street’s too dead for dreaming
Hey! Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
I’m not sleepy and there is no place I’m going to
Hey! Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning I’ll come followin’ you
Take me on a trip upon your magic swirlin’ ship
My senses have been stripped, my hands can’t feel to grip
My toes too numb to step
Wait only for my boot heels to be wanderin’
I’m ready to go anywhere, I’m ready for to fade
Into my own parade, cast your dancing spell my way
I promise to go under it
Hey! Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
I’m not sleepy and there is no place I’m going to
Hey! Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning I’ll come followin’ you
Though you might hear laughin’, spinnin’, swingin’ madly across the sun
It’s not aimed at anyone, it’s just escapin’ on the run
And but for the sky there are no fences facin’
And if you hear vague traces of skippin’ reels of rhyme
To your tambourine in time, it’s just a ragged clown behind
I wouldn’t pay it any mind
It’s just a shadow you’re seein’ that he’s chasing
Hey! Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
I’m not sleepy and there is no place I’m going to
Hey! Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning I’ll come followin’ you
Then take me disappearin’ through the smoke rings of my mind
Down the foggy ruins of time, far past the frozen leaves
The haunted, frightened trees, out to the windy beach
Far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow
Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free
Silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands
With all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves
Let me forget about today until tomorrow
Hey! Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
I’m not sleepy and there is no place I’m going to
Hey! Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning I’ll come followin’ you
Can’t help but think of Howard Cosell’s commentary during the last 2 rounds of the Ali-Holmes boxing match - deeply upset, he recalls the greatness that once was, “but now, his hands are no longer busy, his feet no longer swift, and Ali is finding out that even he, cannot stay, forever young”
it’s brilliant commentary, & many years later, ABC Wide World of Sports played the song in full during a tribute to Ali - which ended w/a brief live appearance by the champ w/show host Jim McKay - his speech was garbled by then & McKay kept it short
Happy birthday Mr. Zimmerman
The Byrd's had the hit on Mr. Tambourine Man. I remember it being played a lot on the radio but I didn't know it was by Bob until I hear his version.
All Along The Watchtower is another where a cover version was the big hit. I remember reading about Bob being asked what he thought of what Hendrix did to that song and Dylan answered " Oh it was fine. That is his song anyway. I only wrote it". Here is another good cover of it.
Let's see who had the hit of Where Have All The Flowers Gone? Peter, Paul and Mary??
Knocking On Heaven's Door.
This is how it was used in the movie with Bob doing it. The sheriff played by Slim Pickens takes two bullets to the stomach. His wife played by Katy Jurado sees him head to the river and follows. "Mama take this badge off of me I can't use it anymore."
The two actors shooting on the roof are James Coburn and L. Q. Jones. Last I checked L. Q. is still living and is in his 90's now. The others have passed on to the other side. Katy was married to Ernest Borgnine.
John Wesley Harding is my favorite Dylan album, and not sure why. Just perfect. To be honest, have spent the years tracking down all the pre 1980 Dylan stuff (original vinyls). Even the crummy ones have at least one great song. Even the outtakes "Dylan" album which is an outtake of an outtakes album (Self Portrait). Even the semi original sorta messed with Basement Tapes is great in it's imperfect way. Blood On The Tracks is my go to angst album. We're just watchin' the river flow, Bob. And Knockin' on Heavens Door was the only good song on THAT album too, ha. And the movie was bizarre. God Bless Bob.
