Favorite Bob Dylan song?

My personal favorite is Tangled up in Blue. Idiot Wind is a close second.

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, 'n' how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head,
Pretending he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind

it is a reflection of the first question that a human asked tens and tens of thousands of years ago when he/she first achieved consciouseness and looked to the heavens.

It's inspirational

Ain't it just like the night to play tricks when you're tryin' to be so quiet?
We sit here stranded, though we're all doin' our best to deny it
And Louise holds a handful of rain, temptin' you to defy it
Lights flicker from the opposite loft
In this room the heat pipes just cough
The country music station plays soft
But there's nothing, really nothing to turn off
Just Louise and her lover so entwined
And these visions of Johanna that conquer my mind

In the empty lot where the ladies play blindman's bluff with the key chain
And the all-night girls they whisper of escapades out on the "D" train
We can hear the night watchman click his flashlight
Ask himself if it's him or them that's really insane
Louise, she's all right, she's just near
She's delicate and seems like the mirror
But she just makes it all too concise and too clear
That Johanna's not here
The ghost of 'lectricity howls in the bones of her face
Where these visions of Johanna have now taken my place

Now, little boy lost, he takes himself so seriously
He brags of his misery, he likes to live dangerously
And when bringing her name up
He speaks of a farewell kiss to me
He's sure got a lotta gall to be so useless and all
Muttering small talk at the wall while I'm in the hall
How can I explain?
Oh, it's so hard to get on
And these visions of Johanna, they kept me up past the dawn

Inside the museums, Infinity goes up on trial
Voices echo this is what salvation must be like after a while
But Mona Lisa musta had the highway blues
You can tell by the way she smiles
See the primitive wallflower freeze
When the jelly-faced women all sneeze
Hear the one with the mustache say, "Jeeze
I can't find my knees"
Oh, jewels and binoculars hang from the head of the mule
But these visions of Johanna, they make it all seem so cruel

The peddler now speaks to the countess who's pretending to care for him
Sayin', "Name me someone that's not a parasite and I'll go out and say a prayer for him"
But like Louise always says
"Ya can't look at much, can ya man?"
As she, herself, prepares for him
And Madonna, she still has not showed
We see this empty cage now corrode
Where her cape of the stage once had flowed
The fiddler, he now steps to the road
He writes ev'rything's been returned which was owed
On the back of the fish truck that loads
While my conscience explodes
The harmonicas play the skeleton keys and the rain
And these visions of Johanna are now all that remain

Who, in pop music today could even come close to that?

Desolation Row is also amazing when it's laid out...

They're selling postcards of the hanging
They're painting the passports brown
The beauty parlor is filled with sailors
The circus is in town
Here comes the blind commissioner
They've got him in a trance
One hand is tied to the tight-rope walker
The other is in his pants
And the riot squad they're restless
They need somewhere to go
As Lady and I look out tonight
From Desolation Row

Cinderella, she seems so easy
"It takes one to know one," she smiles
And puts her hands in her back pockets
Bette Davis style
And in comes Romeo, he's moaning
"You Belong to Me I Believe"
And someone says," You're in the wrong place, my friend
You better leave"
And the only sound that's left
After the ambulances go
Is Cinderella sweeping up
On Desolation Row

Now the moon is almost hidden
The stars are beginning to hide
The fortunetelling lady
Has even taken all her things inside
All except for Cain and Abel
And the hunchback of Notre Dame
Everybody is making love
Or else expecting rain
And the Good Samaritan, he's dressing
He's getting ready for the show
He's going to the carnival tonight
On Desolation Row

Now Ophelia, she's 'neath the window
For her I feel so afraid
On her twenty-second birthday
She already is an old maid

To her, death is quite romantic
She wears an iron vest
Her profession's her religion
Her sin is her lifelessness
And though her eyes are fixed upon
Noah's great rainbow
She spends her time peeking
Into Desolation Row

Einstein, disguised as Robin Hood
With his memories in a trunk
Passed this way an hour ago
With his friend, a jealous monk
He looked so immaculately frightful
As he bummed a cigarette
Then he went off sniffing drainpipes
And reciting the alphabet
Now you would not think to look at him
But he was famous long ago
For playing the electric violin
On Desolation Row

Dr. Filth, he keeps his world
Inside of a leather cup
But all his sexless patients
They're trying to blow it up
Now his nurse, some local loser
She's in charge of the cyanide hole
And she also keeps the cards that read
"Have Mercy on His Soul"
They all play on penny whistles
You can hear them blow
If you lean your head out far enough
From Desolation Row

Across the street they've nailed the curtains
They're getting ready for the feast
The Phantom of the Opera
A perfect image of a priest
They're spoonfeeding Casanova
To get him to feel more assured
Then they'll kill him with self-confidence
After poisoning him with words

And the Phantom's shouting to skinny girls
"Get Outa Here If You Don't Know
Casanova is just being punished for going
To Desolation Row"

Now at midnight all the agents
And the superhuman crew
Come out and round up everyone
That knows more than they do
Then they bring them to the factory
Where the heart-attack machine
Is strapped across their shoulders
And then the kerosene
Is brought down from the castles
By insurance men who go
Check to see that nobody is escaping
To Desolation Row

Praise be to Nero's Neptune
The Titanic sails at dawn
And everybody's shouting
"Which Side Are You On?"
And Ezra Pound and T. S. Eliot
Fighting in the captain's tower
While calypso singers laugh at them
And fishermen hold flowers
Between the windows of the sea
Where lovely mermaids flow
And nobody has to think too much
About Desolation Row

Yes, I received your letter yesterday
(About the time the door knob broke)
When you asked how I was doing
Was that some kind of joke?
All these people that you mention
Yes, I know them, they're quite lame
I had to rearrange their faces
And give them all another name
Right now I can't read too good
Don't send me no more letters no
Not unless you mail them
From Desolation Row

but then Dylan wasn't really "pop" anyway. The only artists I can think of who are in the same league, lyrically, are Tom Waits, Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen.

Oh, and as to favourite Dylan song...that's a tough one. "Masters of War", "Tangled Up In Blue", "Brownsville Girl", "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues", "Desolation Row", "Ballad of a Thin Man", "Positively 4th Street"...and that's about as far as I can narrow it down.

It boggles the mind to know that a commercial artist was given this much freedom, and that he had the genius to use that freedom in an uncanny way.

Great, great song.

i saw the thread title

i thought TANGLED UP IN BLUE

there is SO much else I love, but that was my gut response!

(now i gotta dig THAT vinyl out!)

Was fortunate enough to see the Rolling Thunder Review in '76 in Fl Gator Stadium (The Swamp) and the highlight for me was this song.

You've gotta a lotta nerve
to say you are my friend
When I was down
You just stood there grinning....


I've always loved this song. It sounds great on the piano.

"Dear Landlord, please don't dismiss my case
I'm not about to argue, I'm not about to move to no other place..."

If I had my way, this'd be the Democratic Party theme song for the 2004 campaign!

Bob's most underrated tune. I first heard this song the day after doing acid for the first time..It had a profound effect on me, and continues to give me chills and/or make me tear up like no other song.

My runners-up:

Positively 4th Street
She's Your Lover Now
Changing of the Guard
One of Us Must Know
The entire "New Morning" Album (My fave Dylan album; a great piano rock record, like Ben Folds or Joe Jackson)
Hurricane
Crawl out your Window
Nothing Was Delivered

He put that out to muffle the flak for "Self-Portrait". Great album - love the jazziness of "If Dogs Run Free", the muted hostility and sardonicism of "Day Of The Locusts" (about the honorary degree he received from a major college), the beautiful simplicity of "If Not For You", just damn good.

I love that 'The Big Lebowski' film used "The Man In Me" for its theme. How often does an obscure Dylan song make it to a soundtrack??

Thanks for mentioning "Dear Landlord". I left off songs from 'John Wesley Harding' from my list, but that is the problem with these lists, I can't include them all! "As I Went Out One Morning", "I Pity The Poor Immigrant", "Drifter's Escape", and the original "All Along The Watchtower" - what's not to love about his most quietly understated and beautiful album?

My favorite Dylan period is from 67 (Basement Tapes)- 74 (Planet Waves). I feel that he streamlined his writing to great effect during this period (except Self-Portrait and Pat Garrett) and really entere his golden age...He really grew musically/melodically during that time.JWH is such a deep, mysterious album, so beautifully raw and sparsely textured. There's none of the flowery amphetemine poetics of the earlier stuff, just a cut-to-the-bone honesty and directness. It almost HURTS to hear music that honest.

"Everyone has his own special gift
and you know this was meant to be true
And if you don't underestimate me
I won't underestimate you."

You can't get more honest than that...And the doominess of the arrangement...I've always wondered why Dear Landlord isn't on more best of Dylan lists; it's a goddamn masterpiece. It feels like the hand of God handing down the truth.

And I wish I could convince Ben Folds to cover the entire "New Morning" album. "Went to see the Gypsy" and "Sign on the Window" would be perfect for him.

One of his more "original" melodies. :)

Dylan's great.

I really identify with that one.

I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now.

I loathe his style. Others have recorded his writings quite well tthough.

I can't stand him. UGH!!!

Take me disappearing
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 bench,
Far from the twisted reach
of crazy sorrow.
Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky
With one hand waving free
Silhoutted by the sea
Circled by the circus sands
With all memory of 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 ain't no place I'm going to.
Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man,
play a song for me,
In the jingle jangle morning
I'll come following you.

even though there are way, way too many to have one favorite. These are just a few that popped into my head:

Don't think twice
One more cup of coffee
Masters of War
Subterranean Homesick Blues
Blind Willie McTell

Chad Mitchell Trio version. I would probably have picked "Positively 4th Street" or "Don't Think Twice, it's Alright" if others hadn't beaten me to it.

from the original Traveling Wilburys LP? A DJ friend of mine
likes to play that. Maybe I should give it a spin tonight.

have you heard Cat Power's rendition?

you're already in hhhheeeellllllll
you're already in hhhheeeellllllll
I wish we could go to hhhheeeellllllll

among his best singing ever..........

and tweedledum song on his new album.

Starry-eyed and laughing as I recall when we were caught
Trapped by no track of hours for they hanged suspended
As we listened one last time and we watched with one last look
Spellbound and swallowed 'til the tolling ended
Tolling for the aching ones whose wounds cannot be nursed
For the countless confused, accused, misused, strung-out ones and worse
And for every hung-up person in the whole wide universe
And we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing.

Second choice: "My Back Pages"

Yes, my guard stood hard when abstract threats
Too noble to neglect
Deceived me into thinking
I had something to protect
Good and bad, I define these terms
Quite clear, no doubt, somehow.
Ah, but I was so much older then,
I'm younger than that now.

"Chiming for the warriors / whose strength is not to fight"

but right now i would have to say Masters of War, Ring Them Bells would be a close second...also like all of his humorous songs like Ugliest Girl in the World

Girl From The North Country with Johnny Cash

Masters of War

Man of Peace

arrghhh. i can't pick just one, too many greats.

just as a Man of Peace! :thumbsup:

your list made me think of some more excellent songs

Sarah-- if that is not a love song i don't know what is. beautiful.
When I Paint My Masterpiece

the Man can write!

stuck inside of Mobile

Standing on the waters casting your bread
While the eyes of the idol with the iron head are glowing.
Distant ships sailing into the mist,
You were born with a snake in both of your fists while a hurricane was blowing.
Freedom just around the corner for you
But with the truth so far off, what good will it do?

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.

So swiftly the sun sets in the sky,
You rise up and say goodbye to no one.
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread,
Both of their futures, so full of dread, you don't show one.
Shedding off one more layer of skin,
Keeping one step ahead of the persecutor within.

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.

You're a man of the mountains, you can walk on the clouds,
Manipulator of crowds, you're a dream twister.
You're going to Sodom and Gomorrah
But what do you care? Ain't nobody there would want to marry your sister.
Friend to the martyr, a friend to the woman of shame,
You look into the fiery furnace, see the rich man without any name.

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.

Well, the Book of Leviticus and Deuteronomy,
The law of the jungle and the sea are your only teachers.
In the smoke of the twilight on a milk-white steed,
Michelangelo indeed could've carved out your features.
Resting in the fields, far from the turbulent space,
Half asleep near the stars with a small dog licking your face.

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh. oh. oh. Jokerman.

Well, the rifleman's stalking the sick and the lame,
Preacherman seeks the same, who'll get there first is uncertain.
Nightsticks and water cannons, tear gas, padlocks,
Molotov cocktails and rocks behind every curtain,
False-hearted judges dying in the webs that they spin,
Only a matter of time 'til night comes steppin' in.

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.

It's a shadowy world, skies are slippery gray,
A woman just gave birth to a prince today and dressed him in scarlet.
He'll put the priest in his pocket, put the blade to the heat,
Take the motherless children off the street
And place them at the feet of a harlot.
Oh, Jokerman, you know what he wants,
Oh, Jokerman, you don't show any response.

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.

I Believe In You
You're A Big Girl Now
Lovesick
Series Of Dreams
Delia
New Morning
Wedding Song

Here's some lines from Clothes Line Saga... Some of the time, not all of the time I feel like this, then I get inspired again and go back into the fray.

The next day, everybody got up
Seein' if the clothes were dry
The dogs were barking, a neighbor passed
Mama, of course, she said, Hi"
"Have you heard the news?" he said with a grin
"The Vice President's gone mad"
"Where?" "Downtown." "When?" "Last night"
"Hmm, say, that's too bad"
"Well, there's nothing we can do about it," said the neighbor
"It's just something we're gonna have to forget"
"Yes, I guess so" said Ma
Then she asked me if the clothes was still wet.

Possibly his best singing ever.

Honorable mentions to the Hard Rain live versions of "Stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again" and "Maggie's Farm." Also, any number of his versions of traditional songs from his eponymous LPs ("Bob Dylan," his debut; and "Dylan," the covers record he didn't want released that nonetheless features an incredible take on "Lily of the West").

Like I have just one. Nor is this list definitive...

1. Visions Of Johanna
2. It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
3. Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
4. One More Cup of Coffee
5. I Shall Be Released
6. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna-Fall
7. Blind Willie McTell
8. Simple Twist Of Fate
9. Not Dark Yet
10. Hurricane
11. Song To Woody

The first is for when I have insomnia, and the second is how I feel almost every work day.

of Hattie Carroll

& when he got to these words

"William Zanzinger who at twenty-four years
Owns a tobacco farm of six hundred acres
With rich wealthy parents who provide and protect him
And high office relations in the politics of Maryland
Reacted to his deed with a shrug of his shoulders
And swear words and sneering and his tongue it was snarling
In a matter of minutes on bail was out walking"

it certainly resonated. I thought of Bush and Cheney, wonder who Bob was thinking of?

It's great that he's still out on tour, at his age, still important, still rockin',......I really cherish every concert that I attend, every performance i'm able to see......there is no one like him......

yep, I was at the Hammerstein show (third one) that got rescheduled for after the blackout. Beautiful hall, isn't it?
So you saw him do Lonesome Death also, right?
Man, that gave me chills.

Actually, the whole show did. It seemed kind of pointedly political (as overtly political as Dylan ever gets these days)

right from the start---

Maggie's Farm
Señor (Tales Of Yankee Power)
Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum
Watching The River Flow
Things Have Changed
Highway 61 Revisited
This Wheel's On Fire
You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
Cold Irons Bound
The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll
Honest With Me
Mr. Tambourine Man
Summer Days

Like A Rolling Stone (Bob on piano)
All Along The Watchtower
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35

but I thought the first night was the best out of all 3 shows.....Nils Lofgren played with the band all night and he put on an amazing performance....however i'll remember the 3rd show the most as I sat right on stage in the first row, right across from where Dylan was, about 5 feet from him..... I don't want to sound like a groupie but it was kinda exciting watching him perform from such a close distance........and the encore was 3 songs instead of 2 like the first 2 nights and Elvis Costello was in the house too for the 3rd show, too bad he just hung out and watched, it would've been cool if he joined in on a song or two....

with a clear view of Dylan leaning into the piano and singing with conviction.

I Do Not want to hear about that first show with Nils!
Just kidding! and jealous.

the funny thing is that alot of people didn't even realize it was him at first but he was just jammin' out right from the start and everyone was like, Damn who is that? and like around the 3rd or 4th song people figured out it was Nils Lofgren from the E Street band !!!!!!! There were many great moments but I think the "Summer Days" performances from the first and third show were just unforgettable......they rocked the house !!!!!!!!!!

as being the guitarist who took Danny Whitten's place in Crazy Horse and recorded Tonight's the Night with Neil Young, which is why I really would have liked to see that show.

alot of people forget (including me) about his Crazy Horse days.....he really is a very gifted guitar player.......I can't wait to see Dylan and his band again in 2004, hopefully with a guitar in his hands next time around........

Political World
Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar
Tears Of Rage
Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You
The Man In Me

love Dylan. love him!
Serve Someone is a close second.

i almost typed "shelter from the strom"

hee-hee

Consider that added to my list!
The Professor

Tangled Up in Blue
All Along The Watchtower
Maggie's Farm (The Live Version from Hard Rain)
Like A Rolling Stone
Mr. Tambourine Man
The Professor

ooo weeee ride me high tomorrows the day my bride's gonna come ooo weee are we gonna fly down in the easy chair...etc etc etc etc

Tangled up in Blue is my second choice though! :thumbsup:

still waiting 4 someone 2 make a movie of that one!
and
Shelter from the Storm
and
everything else on 'Blood on the Tracks'
and
Lay Lady, Lay

i love this thread...

But it changes daily.