A Dylan cover a Day: Number 11 – Ballad of Hollis Brown

Previously

• Dylan cover of the day: Number 1. The song with numbers in the title.
• Dylan cover of the day. No 2: Ain’t Talkin
• Bob Dylan cover of the day No3: All I really want to do
• Dylan cover of the day No4: Angelina
• Dylan covers of the day No 5. Apple Suckling and Are you Ready.
• Cover version of the day No 6: As I went out one morning
• Dylan cover of the day No 7: Ballad for a Friend
• Dylan Cover of the Day No 8: Ballad in Plain D
• Dylan Cover of the Day No 9: Ballad of a thin man
• Dylan cover No. 10: The stunning reworking of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest

Of course Hollis Brown itself is a cover – a cover of a traditional song.  But we tend to treat it as a Dylan composition, so it can have a place in my search for a Dylan cover a day.   And you may be noting this edition  of the daily Dylan Covers article is being published much later than usual – which is because (if you are interested) I am a member of the walking group the Ramblers, and it was the AGM of my local branch today.  I doubt that you have the slightest interest in this but in the million to one chance that you do, here’s a link to the web site that I run for the group.  Rambling is rather important in England in the battle to keep ancient footpaths open, and keep the older generation fit.  Quite a few of us in my branch are Dylan fans.  Which just goes to show….

But enough of that.  Hollis Brown is problematic for the cover artist in that it really consists of just one chord and two lines a verse (one of which is repeated.)  What are you to do with that?

Well, here’s an answer.  And what an answer it is.  I do hope you enjoy it.  If the video below shows as a blank in your part of the world, do go for a search of Hollis Brown by Paula Cole.  I don’t think you will be disappointed.

And please play it to the end.