| Bob Dylan – Brownsville Girl Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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The narrator had this vision of how his life would go, (probably with a girl, considering the "lost love" theme mixed in with it,) and has found that what he got was something totally different- and he's still not sure whether its good or bad. Either way, he knows that whether he got what he thought he would get (the Gregory Peck movie he saw) or another life totally different, life is an adventure and you're still you, whether or not you're who you intended to be. "I'll see him in anything so I'll stand in line." Now looking back at his past, his regrets, his loves, his ideals; he's revealing everything he's learned. No, his life isn't perfect, but he's stronger, wiser and tougher. On the Road shares some similar themes (by the way- if you haven't read it, read it. If you like Bob I guarantee you'll love it!!) I always thought his life post- Sara might've played a role in the theme of this song. For some reason, hearing this song on iTunes radio made me feel like a "complete" Dylan fan. Like FootofPride said, most folks think of Bob and think of "Highway 61," and I always thought he sorta tucked this one away for his "real fans." Definitely see the Leonard Cohen influence too, on how they did the music- emphasis on lyrics without losing the power of the music. |
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| Bob Dylan – It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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"This is an autobiographical song" Considering when Dylan wrote this song- 1965- weed, fame, electric transition, and settling down to marriage with Sara- becomes a bit clearer. "If I die on top of the heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeel-" Maybe, the narrator is so high he feels he might lose control of everything. Dylan, at the time, wasn't only regularly stoned, but also high in fame, expectations from fans and the media, criticism, etc. Have you seen those dumbasses asking him the questions in the San Francisco conference? It probably drove him crazy, yet I'm sure it still felt nice to have such a great buzz as a rock n roll star "on top of the hill." But- no matter what happened- he's finally found stability with Sara. "If I don' make it. YaknowmyBAbyWEEEl." Not what I'd call his BEST lyrics- but the music is amazing, the lyrics are cool and it goes PERFECTLY on the album after Tombstone Blues. |
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| Bob Dylan – I Shall Be Released Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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This song is about a man who's ending some burden- whether its prison, guilt, or rejection- one of those things- and now is free. The last verse is the one that really gets me. He's recalling others who are the way he was before he was "released." |
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| The Band – The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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No doubt it's a southern pride song, but a mere praise of the Confederate army? In the late 60s/early 70s, the south was mostly a George Wallace-y, impoverished, To Kill a Mockingbird-ish place living in pre-sixties conformity except for the few rebels who established rock n roll into the "southern culture," hence "driving old Dixie down." In the winter of 1965- like 1865- the south was poor, most people working the land, chopping wood. The southern rockers didn't care if the money was no good, but they knew their music was an escape. I think it could be about a careless, rebellious rock band in the south during the 60s who died young, didn't make money, but had fun and had pride. So yeah, the Band is glorifying the south- but as a land romanticized and lifted through Rock n Roll. Kinda what Skynard did with Sweet Home Alabama: rejecting the Northern stereotype that the Southerners were all racist and anti-60s. Then again, the whole metaphor- and a somewhat ironic metaphor- was through the Civil War. |
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| Blind Melon – Paper Scratcher Lyrics | 10 years ago |
| Shannon wrote this tune about a homeless guy he knew. He's relating his own life- his abnormality, his unideal yet free lifestyle- to the homeless guy's. From a lot of Blind Melon's other songs, Tones of Home, Change, and Galaxie, you can tell Shannon knew he was misunderstood. He was a little wild in his life, which caused him to feel separated from the average world like a homeless man would feel. | |
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