submissions

Neil Young – Cowgirl In The Sand Lyrics	21 years ago
Purple words could be an allusion to purpureus pannus from Horace’s “Ars Poetica” which means excessively elaborate exaggerated writing with too much imagery (Purple Patch.) Purple words could also imply royalty or regality.

submissions

Neil Young – Don't Let It Bring You Down Lyrics	21 years ago
I think the war protest song is a bit of stretch. I don’t think that the answer in the blind man’s hand is a gun. It’s probably a cup with a few coins in the bottom. The imagery in the song seems much more big city than rice patties. My sense is that the song is about not taking life too serious; because it is filled with despair and the weight of the world will you crush you.

submissions

Bob Dylan – Forever Young Lyrics	21 years ago
I doubt it was a peace offering to Jakob, since he was only 5 years old when the Planet Waves was released.

submissions

Bob Dylan – Ballad of a Thin Man Lyrics	21 years ago
The song is a spoof on the media. Mr. Jones is a journalist. Bob was upset about how the paparazzi invaded his privacy and reporters were always asking him what his songs meant. I think Bob jokes that despite their education and their prominent position in society, they really don’t have a clue. You could probably also throw annoying fans wanting autographs into the equation.

submissions

Bob Dylan – Quinn the Eskimo (Mighty Quinn) Lyrics

21 years ago

First part "Ev'rybody's in despair" until a savior comes. Savior could be a messiah or a drug dealer. 2nd part, "All the pigeons gonna run to him" implies all the fools will be drawn to Quinn, which still could mean Jesus or a drug dealer. The 3rd part throws in a bunch of drug references "tell me where it hurts yuh, honey, And I'll tell you who to call" which implies a Dr. Feelgood solution. Also "Nobody can get no sleep" maybe because they're high on coke or speed. I though for sure this song was about acid when I first heard it because "Ev'rybody's gonna wanna doze." I thought it was dose (slang for LCD) and not doze. This may be giving Bob too much credit, but the song does draw a humorous parallel between religious saviors and pushers.

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