Dylan’s “John Brown”: not just the song it is the staggering performance
by Tony Attwood It is not the song “John Brown” that works so perfectly within its own context – the[…]
Read moreCategory: The Songs
Foot of Pride: Bob Dylan’s rambling masterpiece which tears us limb from limb
By Tony Attwood Writing the second version of this review it struck me what a curious mixture of songs Bob[…]
Read moreStanding in the doorway: a work of solemn genius from Bob Dylan
Review by Tony Attwood. Updated May 2018 with addition of this extraordinary live version of the song, and the opening[…]
Read more“When the ship comes in.” Bob Dylan as a prophet of vengeance and a better life to come.
By Tony Attwood This review updated July 2018, with the addition of one of Dylan’s rare outings for the song,[…]
Read moreBob Dylan’s “Highlands”; its origins in Burns poetry, and a beautiful rare reworking in concert
By Tony Attwood This review updated 26 June 2018, with addition of this live version – I really would recommend[…]
Read moreLay Lady Lay: Three Bob Dylan transformations of his song & a look at the meanings.
By Tony Attwood In returning to this song I didn’t really feel I wanted to change any of the original[…]
Read moreBob Dylan’s Maggie’s Farm. 3 very different versions; but why play it so often?
By Tony Attwood (revised March 2013 and again June 2018) Between 1965 and 2009 Bob Dylan performed Maggie’s Farm 1051[…]
Read moreDon’t think twice by Bob Dylan. Looking back to 1962 and a beautiful live version
This article was updated in May 2018. This song is based on the folk song “Who’s gonna buy you ribbons”[…]
Read moreLenny Bruce is Dead: Dylan’s eulogy to the man who man fun of religion
by Tony Attwood This article updated 22 June 2018, with the addition of two superb live versions at the end[…]
Read moreLove Sick. Bob Dylan’s unexpected brilliant masterpiece of decline that surpasses all lost love songs before or since
Revised 14 May 2018. by Tony Attwood You want a masterpiece from the old boy – here it is. Unexpected,[…]
Read moreDesolation Row by Bob Dylan. It doesn’t get more frightening than this.
By Tony Attwood with help from Pat Sludden. This review was one of the first ones I wrote in 2008 not[…]
Read moreSubterranean Homesick Blues: the meaning of the music and the lyrics
By Tony Attwood Revised 13 October 2017 This was Dylan’s first successful attempt to integrate the emotions of the Beat[…]
Read moreLove minus Zero / No Limit. Bob Dylan takes a Zen approach to the perfect relationship
By Tony Attwood This review revised May 2017 The second of the two love songs from the first side of[…]
Read moreGates of Eden: two revised renditions & the meanings behind Bob Dylan’s masterpiece
At times I think there are no words but these to tell what’s true. If you have never heard this[…]
Read moreBob Dylan’s “Idiot Wind”: the meaning of the music and the lyrics
By Tony Attwood There can be few opening chord sequences as distinctive as Dylan’s minor-4th, 5th, Tonic sequence which opens[…]
Read moreJokerman: the meaning of the lyrics and the music
By Tony Attwood Numerous reference books suggest that Jokerman is one of Dylan’s masterpieces. A great poetic adventure that encapsulates[…]
Read moreDon’t Take Everybody to be your Friend: part of Dylan’s inspiration
The Theme Time radio programmes resulted in at least one album: a double sided affair which includes “Don’t Take Everybody[…]
Read moreBob Dylan’s “Isis”: the meaning of the music and the song
By Tony Attwood Isis. A song so revered that the longest running Dylan magazine is named after the song. But[…]
Read moreChanging of the Guards: The meanings behind Bob Dylan’s song
By Tony Attwood The original review was written in 2008, and then updated in 2013. Coming back to it in[…]
Read moreThings have changed: the meanings behind Bob Dylan’s song
By Tony Attwood Dylan’s commentary on being dislocated from the world, while being within it – here but not here[…]
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