Bob Dylan And The Jitterbug
By Larry Fyffe
Many of Bob Dylan song lyrics comment on the human social predicaments that have existed from time out of mind; for example – sexual, racial, class, and generational antagonisms:
They walk among stately trees They know the secrets of the breeze .... One is a lowdown, sorry old man The other'll stab you where you stand (Bob Dylan: Tweedle Dee And Tweedle Dum)
The singer/songwriter examines America’s present state in the context of its past history, but does so in the manner of an artist in that it leaves songs open, though not wide open, to interpretations on the part of the reader/listener. Based on the music of a John Wright/Jack Anglin song, and the lyrics of an English nursery rhyme of yore, the Dylan piece above could be construed to feature two Romantic Transcendentalist poets – Walt Whitman and Henry Timod. On opposite sides of the American Civil War, both poets believe that they have God, whose Spirit is blowing in the breeze, on their side:
And high and hushed arose the stately trees Yet shut within themselves, like dungeons, where Lay fettered the secrets of the breeze A childish dream is a sacred creed ... A childish dream is now a deathless need Which drives him to far hills, and distant wilds The solemn faith and fervour of his creed
(Henry Timrod: A Vision Of Posey)
Timrod supports the Confederate States during the American Civil War:
Well, a childish dream is a deathless need And a noble truth is a sacred creed
(Bob Dylan: Tweedle Dee And Tweedle Dee)
In more orthodox religious terms:
How do we stand Move by faith By faith, by faith, oh Lord
(Bob Dylan: Stand By Faith)
Mocked, in the following lyrics, are the ‘old bats’ who condemn the ‘voodoo’ dancing and music of the freed descendants of black slaves:
Who's that hiding in the tree tops? It's that rascal, the Jitterbug Should you catch him buzzing 'round you Keep away from the Jitterbug Oh, the birds in the breeze And the bats in the trees Have a terrible, horrible buzz But the birds in the breeze And the bats in the trees Couldn't do what the Jitterbug does So just be careful of that rascal Keep away from the Jitterbug, the Jitterbug
(Judy Garland: The Jitterbug ~ Arlen/Hardburg)
Dylan makes fun of the rigid Puritans guarding the gates of American towns:
This place ain't doing me any good I'm in the wrong town, I should be in Hollywood Just for a second there, I thought I saw something move Gonna take dancing lessons, do the Jitterbug rag
(Bob Dylan: Things Have Changed)
Bob’s grabs a taxi named ‘Desire’, and heads to the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem:
Now here's old Father, a wicked old man Drinks more sauce than other bugs can He drinks jitter sauce every morn That's why jitter sauce was born
(Cab Calloway: The Call Of The Jitterbug)
There’s trouble in River City – ’emergency’ rhymes with ‘brain salad surgery’ (and that stands for fellatio); the rock goup ‘Emerson, Lake, And Palmer’ borrows the term:
I been running, trying to get hung up in my mind Got to give myself a good talking to this time Just need a little brain salad surgery To cure my insecurity
(Dr. John: Right Place, Wrong Time)
https://youtu.be/7qWV1xXjny8
Times are a-changing so fast that things get all mixed up – it’s hard to keep up:
You're gonna make me wonder what I'm doin' Stayin far behind without you You're gonna make me wonder what I'm sayin' You're gonna make me give myself a good talkin' to
(Bob Dylan: You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go)
* correction – (Bob Dylan: Tweedle Dee And Tweedle Dum) In more ……