Bob Dylan Showcase: Don’t Let anyone write your story (fourth edition)

 

By Tony Attwood

A while back we had the idea of asking readers who also wrote songs if they fancied taking any of Dylan’s unfinished works and completing them by adding the music.  We called the series “Bob Dylan Showcase” and among the songs we came up with was “Don’t let anyone write your story”

We had a version sent in, and then yours truly had a bash at making up a version, which was recorded on my phone without studio whatnot – all pretty basic as the Untold office doesn’t actually have its own recording studio.  Those versions are here 

After that Rob Berretta showed us what could be done with the piece.  So that made it three versions.

Now we have a fourth from Paul Robert Thomas.   Here it is, with the lyrics underneath.

We’ve all got a story to tell
But only you can write it well
For you’ve lived through it for real
Only you could know how you feel

You’ve lived through the pain and the glory
Don’t let anyone write your story
You’ve lived through the pain and the glory
Don’t let anyone write your story

When I come home from work when the day is done
I wanna spend the night with my loved one
For it’s lovin’ that makes the world go ‘round
You’re my Angel with both feet on the ground

You might live in a palace or in a dormitory
But don’t let anyone write your story

They try to tempt me with gold and jewels
But I won’t talk to these slithering fools
When I’m ready I’ll start to recall
And I’ll write about this man’s rise and fall

They might talk in rhymes or in allegories
But don’t let anyone write your story

They’ll appear so sincere but it’s just a front
They will twist your words and write what they want
No-one will listen when you try to deny
They will look blindly at truths fading eye

They chased and pursued her till she died
It wasn’t enough their paper chains of lies
It’s a crying shame no less
That she was killed by an overdose of press

You’ve lived through the pain and the glory
Don’t let anyone write your story

Trust yourself to tell what’s true
The only one that knows what’s true is you
So write your story before it’s too late
Before you arrive outside those pearly gates

Bob Dylan/Gerry Goffin/Carole King/Paul Robert Thomas

It turns out these Untold readers are a rather talented bunch!

Bob Dylan Showcase

• Bob Dylan Showcase: Señor, as never before. Listen, be amazed.
• Your chance to write the music to Dylan’s unfinished song
• Untold Dylan Showcase: the publisher’s turn
• Dylan PL – Arlekin and Blind Wille
• Make you feel my love – Denise Konkal
• Rev Kevin Waters, “Tomorrow is a long time”
• Property of Jesus, Ron Sexsmith
• Imaginary Future: Times they are a changing
• Untold Dylan showcase: Make you feel my love – Jüri Aidas

Untold Dylan: who we are what we do

Untold Dylan is written by people who want to write for Untold Dylan.  It is simply a forum for those interested in the work of the most famous, influential and recognised popular musician and poet of our era, to read about, listen to and express their thoughts on, his lyrics and music.

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But what is complete is our index to all the 604 Dylan compositions and co-compositions that we have found, on the A to Z page.  I’m proud of that; no one else has found that many songs with that much information.  Elsewhere the songs are indexed by theme and by the date of composition. See for example Bob Dylan year by year.