I don’t know what it means either: an index to the current series appearing on this website.
The Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour
- The Rough and Rowdy Way Tour: 2021.
- The Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour: part 2 Most likely you go your way and I’ll go mine
- The Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour part 3: I contain multitudes
- The Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour part 4: False Prophet
- The Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour part 5: When I paint my masterpiece.
- The Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour: Part 6 Black Rider and “let’s not get too excited”
I’ll be your baby tonight
The song starts around the 31 minute mark.
Another Dylan long-term favourite on stage with over 600 performances, differentiated this time by the thumping accompaniment: it has become a straightforward rocker. But generally straightforward rock songs have some sort of distinguishing feature for Bob, either in the unusual accompaniment or in the instrumental break, or the way in which Bob himself performs, but there is nothing really here to distinguish this version.
However there is an oddity, for suddenly, without any warning, the song goes down to half speed for the last run-through.
Now I really don’t get this at all; I can’t understand any of the decisions made in the arrangement. So I thought it might be interesting to look at the last recording we have of this song from the Never Ending Tour series – this being in 2015
Now there is not too much that is different in terms of Bob’s approach which is partly declaimed and partly sung, but what made it work back in 2015 was the gentle and almost lilting nature of the accompaniment.
And indeed on hearing this once more, it really leaped out at me that the lyrics are “I’ll be your baby tonight” which is gentle loving phrase, linked to the romantic nature of the lyrics throughout. Take the “middle 8” for example
Well, the mockingbird's gonna sail awayWe're gonna forget it Big old moon's gonna shine like a spoon We're gonna let it - you won't regret it
Close your eyes - close the doorYou don't have to worry any more I'll be your baby tonight Shut the light - shut the shade You don't have to be afraid I'll be your baby tonight
- The Rough and Rowdy Way Tour: 2021.
- The Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour: part 2 Most likely you go your way and I’ll go mine
- The Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour part 3: I contain multitudes
- The Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour part 4: False Prophet
- The Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour part 5: When I paint my masterpiece.
- The Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour part 6: Black Rider