Why does Dylan like “Somebody touched me”?

By Tony Attwood

The first thing to note is that the song that Dylan played 30 times in concerts between 1999 and 2002 was one of two songs called “Somebody touched me”.  The one Bob got attached to was written by John Reedy, and it is the original version of a song that has turned up in the repetorie of many singers.

The alternative song is also religious piece but is completely different and need not concern us here. I mention it because it can be easier to find the alternative – the one that was written by the Stanley Brothers.

So going back to the original here it is…

John Reedy performed with his sister Frances Reedy, and included the song “Somebody Touched Me” in their performances from the early days.   It was often noted as “traditional” by way of composer, but there seems a general agreement that it was actually a Reedy composition.   Citations of the song prior to Reedy are uncommon, and I am not sure they are valid – I’m staying with Reedy as the composer.

Once they started to make an impact the Reedy’s formed the Stone Mountain Hillbillys, with Glenn and Julian Ramey and recorded “Somebody Touched Me” in the late 1940s although I am not able to give an exact date.

The band played for many years on Kentucky radio stations before starting to perform alongside Chet Atkins and also with the Stanley Brothers, adding gospel music to their country songs.

And along the way lots of other people recorded the piece.   Indeed on one web site I found the comment that the Boxcar Willie version of the song was the worst ever.   I expected something truly awful, but really, is this so bad?

Anyway this is the song that Bob Dylan adopted for three years as an opener…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc-CYc_S_yw

I can’t imagine you need any help with the lyrics but just in case…

Glory, glory, glory, somebody touched me,
Glory, glory, glory, somebody touched me,
Glory, glory, glory, somebody touched me,
Must have been the hand of the lord.
While I was praying, somebody touched me,
While I was praying, somebody touched me,
While I was praying, somebody touched me,
Must have been the hand of the lord.
Glory, glory, glory, somebody touched me,
Glory, glory, glory, somebody touched me,
Glory, glory, glory, somebody touched me,
Must have been the hand of the lord.
Well, it was on a Sunday, somebody touched me,
It was on a Sunday, somebody touched me,
It was on a Sunday, somebody touched me,
Must have been the hand of the lord.
Glory, glory, glory, somebody touched me,
Glory, glory, glory, somebody touched me,
Glory, glory, glory, somebody touched me,
Must have been the hand of the lord.

So why does Bob like this song so much?  Well it’s lively, it’s simple, it’s religious in a celebratory sort of way, and it sort of bounces along in an unpretenious way.  Rolling Stone it ain’t but it is fun.  And above all else it makes for a good opener.

If you think about it, the guys in the band have to come on stage and without any warming up, have to hit the ground with something that is going to get the audience bouncing, and which for them is dead easy to play.   And yes, dead easy to play is important because they are coming in cold.  So in that regard it works.

Here is a list of some of the other songs we’ve included in this series of Why does Dylan like…

• Why does Bob Dylan like “October Song” by the Incredible String Band
• Why does Dylan like “I aint got no home”?
•  “Uncloudy Day”? A bolt straight from the heavens.
•  “The World’s Gone Wrong” – it’s the blues turned upside down.
•  “Spanish is the Loving Tongue”
• Bob Dylan and the untamed sense of control – Roscoe Holcomb
•  “Let it be me”?
• Bill Monroe
•  “Black white and brown”?
• “Mystery Train” by Junior Parker (and Elvis Presley)
• “Me and My chauffeur blues” – the foundations of Obviously 5 Believers

•  “Lucille” by Little Richard, and some Zappa too
•  Johnny Cash’s Train Of Love..,
•  Barbara Allen
•  “Friend of the Devil”?
•  “Not Fade Away”
• “Lonely Avenue” by Ray Charles?
•  “Lonesome Town”
•  “So Cold in China”?
• Why and how did “Cottonfields” change Bob Dylan’s life?