By Tony Attwood
This is a rather obscure Dylan song about which different people have written different things (not for the first time!) For example it is stated in some quarters that the first and last performance was at the Parc de Sceaux in Paris on 1 July 1984, but I suspect that is not right.
We do however have a live recording of the song…
But there were various other versions performed and during the various versions of the lyrics. changes were made. A number of versions of the lyrics have appeared on line, but mostly vanished again, although I’ve found one here.
This version comes from Rome in June 1984, and the whole series of versions were put together while Bob was busy re-writing Simple Twist of Fate and Tangled up in Blue. The intention was to have the song released on the “Real Live” album but it was subsequently omitted and the song forgotten.
This is the transcription from Barcelona, June 28, 1984. The chord sequence is unusual, alternating much of the time between G7 and Cm6, before running into the second half of the standard 12 bar blues sequence (C, G, D, C, G)
Hands off your feet, baby,
listen to this
This is what I can't be
Often it hurt me honey, I'm
looking at you but
You're looking at me too.
Because a dollar is a dollar
And the downtown boys play rough
Go all the way back, baby
Tell 'em enough is enough
Face on the gutter baby
which is which but I'd
rather be lucky than be rich
Off with the money honey
that is true, but I'm
Satisfied with you.
'cause a dollar is a dollar
And the downtown boys play rough
Go all the way back, baby
Tell 'em enough is enough.
All cities, honey, hard, is
soakin' wet, but there's
no more gold you can get
[...] I'm
facin' the wall, but
baby you took it all.
Because a dollar is a dollar
And the downtown boys play rough
You tell 'em baby,
That enough is enough.
Got a gold mining fever baby, which is which but
I'd rather be lucky than be rich
Go off with the money honey, that is true, but I'm
Satisfied with you.
I’m not too sure that we can get too much more out of this song – although if you can please do write in…, but what is interesting is to see the song as part of Bob’s evolution in musical terms through the year of 1984:
- I once knew a man
- Who loves you more
- Almost done
- I see you around and around
- Dirty lie
- Enough is Enough.
- Go way little boy
- Drifting too far from shore
- New Danville Girl / Brownsville Girl
Bob is clearly experimenting, trying to find his new approach, and this is something we find time and again. A list of songs out of which suddenly comes something really different, new and memorable.
So it was here. The journey between the superb “I once new a man” and the ground breaking “New Danville Girl” is indeed curious in the extreme.
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The Wembley version is also available…jump to 51 minutes.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FAeLDRi_7II&t=3345s
While you are at it you might as well listen to the whole of the Barcelona concert because it is pretty special!
I can totally hear this song gracing one of those mid 80s albums and it being a stand out in its studio incarnation!
And I should have said that it was Aaron G who pointed me in the direction of this song. Thanks Aaron – I’ll try and acknowledge you properly next time.
Haha…no worries Tony, I love finding the obscure ones!
Hello there, Thank you for posting this analysis of a song from Bob Dylan’s Music Box: http://thebobdylanproject.com/Song/id/3524/Enough-Is-Enough Come and join us inside and listen to every song composed, recorded or performed by Bob Dylan, plus all the great covers streaming on YouTube, Spotify, Deezer and SoundCloud plus so much more… including this link.
Just listening to the Slane Castle live recording and to me it has hints of the Grooms Still Waiting at the Altar.