This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Meet me in the morning
56th and Wabasha
Meet me in the morning
56th and Wabasha
Honey, we could be in Kansas
By time the snow begins to thaw
They say the darkest hous
Is right before the dawn
They say the darkest hour
Is right before the dawn
But you wouldn't know it by me
Every day's been darkness since you been gone
Little rooster crowin'
There must be something on his mind
Little rooster crowin'
There must be something on his mind
Well, I feel just like that rooster
Honey, ya treat me so unkind
Well, I struggled through barbed wire
Felt the hail fall from above
Well, I struggled through barbed wire
Felt the hail fall from above
Well, you know I even outran the hound dogs
Honey, you know I've earned your love
Look at the sun
Sinkin' like a ship
Look at the sun
Sinkin' like a ship
Ain't that just like my heart, babe
When you kissed my lips?
56th and Wabasha
Meet me in the morning
56th and Wabasha
Honey, we could be in Kansas
By time the snow begins to thaw
They say the darkest hous
Is right before the dawn
They say the darkest hour
Is right before the dawn
But you wouldn't know it by me
Every day's been darkness since you been gone
Little rooster crowin'
There must be something on his mind
Little rooster crowin'
There must be something on his mind
Well, I feel just like that rooster
Honey, ya treat me so unkind
Well, I struggled through barbed wire
Felt the hail fall from above
Well, I struggled through barbed wire
Felt the hail fall from above
Well, you know I even outran the hound dogs
Honey, you know I've earned your love
Look at the sun
Sinkin' like a ship
Look at the sun
Sinkin' like a ship
Ain't that just like my heart, babe
When you kissed my lips?
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There is apparently no such intersection as 56th and Wabasha, but there is a town and a county in Minnesota by the name of Wabasha, and the movie Grumpy Old Men was set there! I lived in Minnesota as a kid, as did Dylan. The song makes me think of Minnesota and the traveling Dylan did by train in his early days. Blood on the Tracks is his best album, but a lot of people aren't familiar with it. Listen to it and it will haunt you forever.
Very interesting. I've heard Blood on the Tracks (unfortunately). No, don't tell people to listen to it. Dylan was born to be a great songwriter, but never a singer. The man's voice is horrible. I give him Kudos for his songwriting and other music talents, but you couldn't pay me enough to give up even one evening to listen to him sing.
@kleopatraseven I would not be surprised that it was Bob's intention to write about an intersection that didn't exist. Perhaps it was his way of saying that the relationship had no chance of reconciliation. Blood On The Tracks is also my favorite album of Bob's.
@kleopatraseven 56 was the highway intersection crossing wabasha right by st pauls capitol building prior to the interstate 94 project that used rondo street neighborhood as the main thourough fare eminent domain was used to force buy outs and was heavily protested.... the song is a mix of ideas really perhaps involving the protest at the time and his former lover whom he spent time with meeting her there at the capitol grounds to support protest or observe it ...food for thought ?