I always had a feeling that this song was partly inspired by Dylan's relationship with his fans. When he (quickly) wrote this, he hadn't been on tour for 7 1/2 years after the chaotic end of the '66 tour, was about to jump in again after a long period out of the public eye. ("I've paid the price of solitude, but at least I'm out of debt") The mixed feelings of performing and being hounded by fanatical fans, journalists and managers looking for the Spokesperson Of The 60s Generation...
"Heard your songs of freedom and man forever stripped
Acting out his folly while his back is being whipped
Like a slave in orbit he's beaten 'til he's tame
All for a moment's glory and it's a dirty, rotten shame"
I always had a feeling that this song was partly inspired by Dylan's relationship with his fans. When he (quickly) wrote this, he hadn't been on tour for 7 1/2 years after the chaotic end of the '66 tour, was about to jump in again after a long period out of the public eye. ("I've paid the price of solitude, but at least I'm out of debt") The mixed feelings of performing and being hounded by fanatical fans, journalists and managers looking for the Spokesperson Of The 60s Generation...
"Heard your songs of freedom and man forever stripped Acting out his folly while his back is being whipped Like a slave in orbit he's beaten 'til he's tame All for a moment's glory and it's a dirty, rotten shame"