JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum Dylan's new 16 minute song

It's about the Kennedy assasination

https://www.stereogum.com/2078297/bob-dylan-murder-most-foul/music/

I cut it off at 2 minutes. I prefer more than one melody note in songs.

John

I've been a Bobfan for many years, but he lost me when he did the Frank Sinatra covers,not that I don't like FS but Bob singing those classics was cringe,I gave up spending a fortune to go see him when he came to the uk because it hurt to see/listen to him.
so when my son said Bob's got a new song out I rushed to you tube and hit play,
but sadly like John I cut it short, later I went back but still only managed half the song,
not my cup of tea.
all the best,john

It's a misnomer to call it a Song. It's a poetic recitation, a personal reminiscence of that time, when a young Bob Dylan was awakened in the world and wrote about things happening then.
Someone cited one of the biographies telling about touring with Dylan and taking a tour through the assassination site, comments, observations, speculations.
The assassination altered all our lives in ways we probably never connected the dots for. Bob's recitation rolls through the context of those times, the musicians and music we heard as our world was loaded into the handbasket and carried swiftly to hell. I appreciate him visiting the subject matter in these times, the world as it is now.
I bought fifteen Dylan albums from a drummer from Chicago, in Louisiana in 1974, and listened to three a night, for five nights, immersed in the depth and breadth of Dylan's poetic Lyricism, his marvelously simple Melodies, his ability to enunciate so you received those words when he sent them, and his ability to pull in musicians to accompany that delivery with eclectic skills.
We've been 'friends' ever since. I'm grateful to him for the good things, and actively tolerant of the less than wonderful explorations he's gone on. I appreciate him living his life in public, to let me see so much through his eyes. I love his women, rainy day and otherwise, his stories, his poetry. I buy hard copy CD's when I can get them, less with confidence I'm going to be thrilled than simply saying, "Thanks" for all that came before, over fifty years of life.
Sometime back I drove 90 miles to Charleston, West By God Virginia to see and hear Bob. I bought a cushion for the hard folding chair I knew I'd sit on. I found a seat in the front row, stage right, and enjoyed his works, aged with his years, still artful. When it was over and they left the stage I stayed seated. No use getting in the slow stampede. Someone inevitably begins to "Moo!" In a while I glanced back and the last of them were at the exits. I rose and went up the aisle. Realizing I'd forgotten my new pillow I turned to go back. There was Bob, alone on the stage, facing away from me.
I thought to call out, "Hey! Bob! Thanks for coming man!" I didn't. I've regretted it often. So I'm saying it now. Hey Bob. Thanks for coming.

hey Gary I understand when you say it;s a misnomer to call it a song, it's more a history lesson to me, much of what I've been drenched in for years,bob is and will always be the master of lyrics imo,I've a decent collection of around two hundred Bob cd;s/albums and some of his live stuff is absolutely incredible.just cause I don't like this track don't mean we're through, when he got religion I thought that's it, but he reeled me in,with Bob you never know what's around the corner.
all the best, john.

I suspect Bob is studious. He's always looking for something to study, the Bible, history, Billy The Kid, Hurricane Rubin Carter, seeking subject matter for inspiration. He's sensitive to language, how people employ words to tell their stories.

Well guess what, I'm back on Bob, I had listened to the new track on my computer, with all the distractions,staring at a screen, the wife rustling up and the mutt barking,
but my son dropped of a copy of the new album and last night I went up to my music room with a dram and played the album a few times on the hi fi, just me, dimmed light and Bob

in my opinion this new Dylan album stands alongside all his great albums,he's being himself (as always) singing his age and reeling out amazing lyrics with some amazing new melodies, I can imaging those mixers putting this together were in wonderland.

at 79 still setting records (topping the charts in the uk)

I better calm doon
all the best,john

Everyone knows Dylan was a big influence on me and his classic lps still hold up. He's even got alot of great recent songs which few of his contemporaries can say. I bought his new cd on the strength of reviews. I turned it off after two songs. Dylan choking out lyrics over really weak musical backings was a bore.

Many claim he did zero research on Hurricane and that most of it is exaggerated, if not an outright lie. It's a tendency of leftists to glorify criminals. Joey Gallo was a vicious murderer. As I recall, the makers of The Hurricane were successfully sued about the portrayal of Rubin Carter's bout with Joey Giardello. I know a little about boxing from that era. The movie's version was left-wing Hollywood BS. I hope Joey enjoyed the $$$ from the settlement.