Bob Dylan Obliquely: Rough And Rowdy

 

by Larry Fyffe

Bob Dylan makes a number of rather oblique tributes to songs on his “Rough And Rowdy Ways” album:

Re: Crossing The Rubicon –

Since she went away, the days grow long
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
But I miss you most of all, my darling
When autumn leaves start to fall
(Nat King Cole: Autumn Leaves ~ Mercer/Prevert/Kosman)

Re: Goodbye Jimmy Reed –

I went out in Virginia, honey, where the green grass grow
My baby told me, honey, stop doing me wrong
My baby told me, honey, stop doing me wrong
Well, I'm telling you, honey, 'cause I'm tired of living alone
(Jimmy Reed: Down In Virginia ~ J&M Reed)

Re: False Prophet –

Only the lonely know the way I feel tonight
Only the lonely know this feeling ain't right
There goes my baby, there goes my heart
They're gone forever, so far apart
(Roy Orbison: Only The Lonely ~ Melson/Orbison)

Re: I’ve Made Up My Mind To Give Myself To You –

Would you go away to another world
Walk a thousand miles through the burning sand
Wipe the blood from my dying hand
If I gave myself to you?
(Johnny Cash: Would You Lay With Me ~ D. Coe)

Re: False Prophet –

Hello Mary Lou, goodbye heart
Sweet Mary Lou, I'm so in love with you
I knew Mary Lou, we'd never part
So hello Mary Lou, goodbye heart
(Ricky Nelson: Hello Mary Lou ~ Olsen/Pitney/Mangiaracina)

Re: I’ve Made Up My Mind To Give Myself To You –

I'm a travelling man, and I've made a lot of stops
All over the world
And in every part, I own the heart
Of at least one lovely girl
(Ricky Nelson: Travelling Man ~ J. Fuller)

Re: Black Rider –

Some enchanted evening, someone may be laughing
You may hear her laughing across a crowded room
And night after night, as strange as it may seem
The sound of her laughter will sing in your dreams
(Frank Sinatra: Some Enchanted Evening ~ Rogers/Hammerstein)

Re: False Prophet –

There's a long goodbye
And it happens every day
When some passer-by
Invites you eye
(Clydie King: Long Goodbye ~ Williams/Mercer)

Re: I Contain Multitudes –

He was long and tall, he had plenty of cash
He had a red Cadillac, and a black moustache
He held your hand, and he sang you a song
Who you been loving since I've been gone?
(Warren Smith: Red Cadillac And Black Moustache ~ May/Thompson)

Re: Murder Most Foul –

Wake up, little Susie
Well, what are we gonna tell your ma ma
What are we gonna tell your pa
What are we gonna tell our friends?
(Everly Brothers: Wake Up Little Susie ~ B&F Bryant)

Re: Murder Most Foul –

Pussycat, Pussycat, I've got lots of flowers
And lots of hours
To spend time with you
So go and powder your cute little pussycat nose
(Tom Jones: What's New Pussycat ~ Bacharach/David)

Re: False Prophet –

And the storybook comes to a close
Gone are the ribbon and bows
Things to remember, places to go
Pretty maids all in a row
(Eagles: Pretty Maids All In A Row ~ Walsh/Vitale)

Re: Murder Most Foul –

You make me dizzy, Miss Lizzy
The way you rocknroll
You make me dizzy, Miss Lizzy
When you do the stroll
(Beatles: Dizzy Miss Lizzy ~ L. Williams)

Re: Murder Most Foul –

Life goes on day after day
Hearts torn in every way
So ferry 'cross the Mersey
'Cause this land's the place I love, and here'll I stay
(Gerry And The Pacemakers: Ferry 'Cross The Mersey ~ Marsden)

Re: Murder Most Foul –

And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius
(Fifth Dimension: Aquarius ~ Rado/Ragni/MacDermot)

Re: Murder Most Foul –

I'm the gypsy, the acid queen
Pay before you start
The gypsy, I'm guaranteed
To tear your soul apart
(The Who: The Acid Queen ~ P. Townshend)

An index to all our articles on Rough and Rowdy Ways can be found here.

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