By Tony Attwood. Lyrics transcribed by Larry Fyffe
“Patty gone to Larado” has always annoyed me in the sense that there is no recording of it on the internet which is readily – or at least easily – available. I’m sure there are other Dylan songs that are likewise not available, but this one always sticks in my mind largely because I rather like the piece.
There is a recording that is part of the Rolling Thunder Review 1975 Live Recordings package, and that is still available on Amazon at £50 in the UK, so I guess about $60 in the US, which is quite a lot if you are just after one track.
But quite some time ago, I found a recording of Dylan (I think) performing it, and that is still on this site here. You need to go to around the five minute mark on the video.
And that is the recording you need to listen to if you are interested in the song unless you want to buy the complete album, but… there is a danger of course that it might be removed at some time. And given there is only one…
Therefore a while back I made a recording myself, just to keep one available.
Then Larry did a new transcription of the lyrics recently…
Patty gone to Larado Everything in the blue Patty gone to Larado Bring on that tune Gonna think in a bar room Have to figure it soon I don't drink alone Within the hollow And don't anything in a wedding By an old eye happen tonight But the door is still locked And it's so Patty gone to Laredo But she be back soon Left Jamaica this morning On a boat Bonnie Lou Born in 'Liz Texas timber Up where the eagles fly Then makes him tell it never But she don't cry And Laurel's playing for money On your ribbon wide, get on his side Yes, the doorway, the door is locked But the key's inside
And so following on from that I thought I would have another bash at singing it. Now you’ll probably only want to listen to this after a few stiff ones, but given the paucity of copies that are available (what with no artists wanting to have a go themselves, probably because it is near impossible to make any sense of the lyrics) I thought I would try again.
Please don’t take this to mean I am offering this as a recording you need to listen to, but rather just to try and make sure that at least one version remains available.
Recordings of other Dylan songs by readers of Untold, plus our efforts at using an artificial intelligence program to create new Dylan songs, can be found at the foot of the most recent episode of Bob Dylan Showcase
And just in case you are a real glutton for punishment, and in case it vanishes, here is a copy of the first recording that appeared on this site some years ago.
You might also like to note that we have an active Facebook site which you can find by typing Untold Dylan Facebook into your search engine (or words to that effect). It has over 11,000 members and very interesting discussions too – which do stay on track.
Well done…
I refrained from making a recording of my own as I didn’t what to upstage you …,not to mention that I couldn’t find a piano player that was willing to accompany me!
With regard to the second verse:
Gonna think in a bar room
Have to figure it soon
I don’t drink alone
Within the hollow
For those who are not familiar with American culture, in the mountainous area of the Appalachians, a “hollow” was a small valley surrounded by mountains. People would say they lived in the hollow, and in the local dialect that was sometimes pronounced as “holler”.
In the verse, the protagonist is saying that when he’s in his home valley he doesn’t drink alone.
See: https://artsandsciences.sc.edu/appalachianenglish/node/492
Sure …
But a ‘hollow/holler’ could also refer to a small shaded spot therein where an illegal whiskey-still is hidden ….can it not?
There, you have to be careful not to make too much smoke that’ll give the still away.
Making the line ambiguous.
Here’s my take on the song sketch:
http://reclinernotes.com/2021/11/28/pattys-gone-to-laredo/
ie Copper Kettle: Bob Dylan
But you’re right in that I live in the hilly northern “Applachian Region” near Anagance “Ridge”, but there are no place names called “Hollows”.
In New Brunswick, there’s Anderson Hollow, England’s Hollow, Frosty Hollow, Nelson Hollow, and Sheepy Hollow, but these are likely relatively recent names?
Anagance Ridge in New Brunswick, right? Not really Appalachian.
I’m from Montreal, but have lived in Tampa for 25 years. But I know some people that call themselves Appalachian Americans. They’ve had some of the liquor from a still in a holler. Myself, I’d prefer CC 12-year-old small batch.
Not really ‘Appalachian’ in so far as the southern part is stereotyped to be but there are overlapping characteristic cultural features due to isolation; the history of the northern and southern parts are quite different, the latter a source of exploitation by the American entertainment industry.
Uncle Jed and Dukes of Hazzard.
I was born and grew up in the Canadian ‘Appalachian Highlands’ so I know.
But I realize what you’re getting at …..we all claim to be ‘hillbillies’ today (lol).
Have to settle it soon
Patty gone to Laredo
Everything in the blue
Patty gone to Laredo
Bring on that tune
Gonna think in a bar room
Have to settle it soon
I don’t drink alone
Within the hollow
And don’t anything in a wedding
By an old eye happen tonight
But the door is still locked
And it’s so
Patty gone to Laredo
But she be back soon
Left Jamaica this morning
On a boat Bonnie Lou
Born in Liz Texas timber
Up where the eagles fly
Then makes him tell’im never
But she don’t cry
And Laurel’s playing for money
On your ribbon wide
Get on his side
Yes the doorway, the door is locked
But the key’s inside
Joe Strummer a Dylan imitator, sings:
Crawl up the mountain
To reach where the eagles fly
(Long Shadow)