By Tony Attwood
Over the years, we have put on this site one or two recordings created by readers who have been performing Dylan songs. Often these have been songs that Dylan himself hasn’t performed, or indeed their own arrangement of a Dylan song.
Then the idea for the “Showcase” came along a couple of months ago, allowing anyone else who wanted to offer a recording to do so. The rule gives is that the items, which can either be audio files or audio+video, can be any of the following:
a) A cover of a Dylan song, which adds something to Dylan’s original
b) A recording of a Dylan song, which Dylan has not recorded.
c) A recording of a song that the performer has composed which emerges in some way from an interaction with Dylan’s music.
The response has been fantastic, and there is a list of the recordings we have published so far at the end of this article. Performances range from amateur performers who are readers of this site, to semi-professionals with all the benefits of a proper set of recording equipment.
It was not my intention that I was going to join in with this, because that makes it look like it was a set-up for me, which really it wasn’t. But I have been persuaded; “One night without you” is below.
This song has relevance here, for when I started the series that traced the themes in Dylan’s writing I did not expect to find that the subjects he had written about most of all were “love” and “lost love”. However (at least up to 1976 which is where the latest article takes us) these subjects have dominated throughout.
My song is not Dylan-esque but the fact that I write songs is entirely because I heard Freewheelin’.
Here is the song, the lyrics are below. It was written in my head while driving back from a dance in Coventry (in England) in the early hours, with a bright half-moon shining down on a deserted M6 motorway while thinking of my partner who was elsewhere.
One night without you, start writing about you First words in a month and of course I sing of you I dance with another keep my thoughts under cover Sing songs as I dance, I imagine my lover Are you dancing are you thinking are you thinking of me? Are you dancing are you watching are you still loving me? Hold me in your thoughts you know I need you here by me Hold me in your eyes as you’ve always held me Are you dancing are you watching are you still loving me? And the landscape is endless, why did I stop singing? Singing of you and the love that you bring me The world is enhanced by you in the sunlight A thousand colours; you drive the music inside me Are you dancing are you thinking are you thinking of me? Are you dancing are you watching are you still loving me? Hold me in your thoughts because I need you here by me Hold me in your eyes as you’ve always held me Are you dancing are you watching are you still loving me? And there’s no wasting time every moment is precious I’ll build a shrine so everyone sees you The moon was half full as I drove home thinking "Always," that one word, captured for ever... Are you dancing are you thinking are you thinking of me? Are you dancing are you watching are you still loving me? Hold me in your thoughts you know I need you here by me Hold me in your eyes as you’ve always held me Are you dancing are you watching are you still loving me? One night without you, start writing about you First words in a month and of course I sing of you I dance with another keep my thoughts under cover Sing songs as I dance I imagine my lover Are you dancing are you thinking are you thinking of me? Are you dancing are you watching are you still loving me? Hold me in your thoughts because I need you here by me Hold me in your eyes as you’ve always held me Are you dancing are you watching are you still loving me?
Rather sadly, six months later the lady to whom the song is directed, ended the relationship. I get the impression, living with a writer can seem quite a novelty for a while, but then ultimately the endless emotional highs and lows becomes a bit much.
Previously in this series…
- Untold Dylan Showcase “Make you feel my love”: Denise Konkal
- The Untold Bob Dylan Showcase: Forever Young, Brian Houston
- Imaginary Future sings Times they are a changin
- Ron Sexsmith: Property of Jesus
- Rev. Kevin Waters: Tomorrow is a long time
- Untold Dylan showcase: Make you feel my love – Jüri Aidas
What else is on the site?
We have a very lively discussion group “Untold Dylan” on Facebook with over 4200 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
You’ll find some notes about our latest posts arranged by themes and subjects on the home page of this site. 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 602 Dylan compositions and co-compositions that we have found on the A to Z page.
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, or indeed have an idea for a series of articles that the regular writers might want to have a go at, please do drop a line with details of your idea, or if you prefer, a whole article to Tony@schools.co.uk
And please do note our friends at 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, plus links back to our reviews (which we do appreciate).
Tony!!!!!!!!!!
Your song is exquisite in every sense of the word! It is so beautiful: the words, the melody, the piano, and your voice and the way you render it so emphatically and emotive. It really just is so breath-taking and I feel my words cannot adequately convey how much I love this song and how I want the world to hear it! Absolutely stunning! Thank you so much for sharing this!
<3 denise
Ditto! 🙂 Yes, a lovely song. Your articulation is impeccable. The piano is wonderful. Good job. I noticed that the third chorus of the lyrics was solo instrumental. Perfect. 🙂 (Sorry to hear the relationship ended. Take heart.)
Tony,
Something I failed to mention! Please do more would love that!
Denise, you are too kind. I have a mountain of songs here, which occasionally I perform to friends (usually sometimes around midnight) but I am not sure that a site to acclaim Bob Dylan should be used by me to promote me. I’ll maybe put another one up but it’s Dylan that is the focus.
However your very kind words are much appreciated.
This is great Tony. Everything that has already been said about by Denise and Juri applies. I wanted to add that it’s also great to hear a song with an English enunciation. Not sure how recently this was written or recorded in relationship to the relationship it relates to but i was struck by the immediacy of it-it feels both delicate and raw as if its the day after yet reflective as if its years later but the feelings haven’t quite dimmed. Works on either level and both at the same time. That’s quite a trick to pull off.
Fantastic stuff Tony. Second everything that all have said before. I know we spoke before about some other Dylan related stuff and i’m going to keep pushing you (in the nicest possible way obviously) as this is great stuff! We all want to hear more!
Great, Tony!
I not ended, I still love you, last days insane from visions…
Thank you.
Nice very nice.
Tony
I sincerely hope you will showcase some more of your music and also you could set up a YouTube channel and put up all your songs and covers what ever. I know you are kept busy with so many other endeavors but don’t ignore your art! I hear you about having loads of originals I feel the same about all of mine. The thing is for me is to just keep plugging away and doing it and before you know there are some up there. So think about your own channel and I will be your first subscriber!