This is another Bob Dylan that we have not covered so far: “Running” from 1969. It is said that this was only released on the very rare 50th Anniversary Copyright Extension set in 1969 which itself was limited to a 1000 copy pressing. It is the 595th Dylan song we have found.
One thing to note is that this is not the same as “Two Trains Running” which turned up on the 1962 Copyright Extension album.
So let’s start with copyright extensions.
Recently the copyright act changed in the European Union extending the protection of sound recording copyright to 70 years from the previous 50 years. As a result a collection of Dylan recordings would under the new law enter the public domain if they were not released by a commercial company and distributed – so they were released and 1000 copies were printed in various formats and released in Europe.
So now we come to this song “Running” apparently recorded in 1969.
The song has no mention in Heylin’s compilation of Dylan recordings (Revolution in the air), and nothing is coming up that I can see on a google search, and thus we can conclude it was very seriously buried in the vaults until the cleaning up process of registering all Dylan’s compositions was started.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=87XZ6-zMlzU
And just to be clear, here is the Two Trains Running recording
https://youtu.be/WxP1rMicK1Q
There is reputedly another song that we have not yet heard taken from this time – probably “Western Road” from the Travellin Thru Bootleg series.
But back to “Running” This is a simple 12 bar blues with the chorus, the lyrics of which are interpreted by Aaron as
Love fine living Down high and low She’s dreaming That we must grow You got me running I just can’t stay Sorry little girl But this poor boy’s going away Well standing on the levy And looking at the ship I can’t stay I believe I’ll make a trip I’m running I just can’t stay Well I’m sorry little girl But this poor boy’s going away Well, let’s go away now! Well on the corner Looking down on my watch Poor feet, and just can’t touch I’m running I just can’t stay Well I’m sorry little girl But this poor boy’s running away Oh lets go out!
What else is on the site
You’ll find some notes about our latest posts arranged by themes and subjects on the home page. You can also see details of our main sections on this site at the top of this page under the picture.
The index to all the 608 Dylan compositions and co-compositions that we have found on the A to Z page.
We also have a very lively discussion group “Untold Dylan” on Facebook with over 2000 active members. (Try imagining a place where it is always safe and warm). Just type the phrase “Untold Dylan” in, on your Facebook page or follow this link
If you are interested in Dylan’s work from a particular year or era, your best place to start is Bob Dylan year by year.
On the other hand if you would like to write for this website, please do drop me a line with details of your idea, or if you prefer, a whole article. Email Tony@schools.co.uk
And please do note The Bob Dylan Project, which lists every Dylan song in alphabetical order, and has links to licensed recordings and performances by Dylan and by other artists, links back to our reviews