I think the 'Duquesne Whistle' of which Dylan sings is the Joplin, Missouri tornado of May 2011 which nearly leveled Joplin and the small neighboring town of Duquesne, Missouri, but no one ever heard about Duquesne in the news.
"Blowing like it's gonna sweep my world away..."
"Blowing like the sky's gonna blow apart..."
"Wonder if that old oak tree's still standing..."
Great lyrics about a terrible tragedy. You're still the voice of America Bob.
Based on the video, I think the song is about Dylan vs. music. In the video a young man tries to attract a lovely young woman (=music). In the beginning he fails and gets pepper spray in his eyes, gets beaten up (=negative reactions to starting to play electric/religious music). Finally, he succeeds and enters into his present iconic role, with people following him. He must have a complex relation to music. On the negative side all demands and impositions from his world wide audience, on the positive side his love for music, particularly american "root" music, american symbols like...
Based on the video, I think the song is about Dylan vs. music. In the video a young man tries to attract a lovely young woman (=music). In the beginning he fails and gets pepper spray in his eyes, gets beaten up (=negative reactions to starting to play electric/religious music). Finally, he succeeds and enters into his present iconic role, with people following him. He must have a complex relation to music. On the negative side all demands and impositions from his world wide audience, on the positive side his love for music, particularly american "root" music, american symbols like the train, the oak tree, the whistle. There may also be some allusions to death and transience.
Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing
Blowing like it's gonna sweep my world away
I'm gonna stop in Carbondale and keep on going
That Duquesne train gonna ride me night and day
If one mentions "Duquesne" (read Du Quoin, Illinois) and Carbondale, then this song is historically talking about Amtrak's City of New Orleans (although the train runs are called the Illini and the Saluki today).The train still brings the kids from the city to the woods(Chicago- Du Quoin- Carbondale on to New Orleans). Blues men riding the train in the 20's creating songs on the way....
Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing
Blowing like it's gonna sweep my world away
I'm gonna stop in Carbondale and keep on going
That Duquesne train gonna ride me night and day
If one mentions "Duquesne" (read Du Quoin, Illinois) and Carbondale, then this song is historically talking about Amtrak's City of New Orleans (although the train runs are called the Illini and the Saluki today).The train still brings the kids from the city to the woods(Chicago- Du Quoin- Carbondale on to New Orleans). Blues men riding the train in the 20's creating songs on the way.
I think the 'Duquesne Whistle' of which Dylan sings is the Joplin, Missouri tornado of May 2011 which nearly leveled Joplin and the small neighboring town of Duquesne, Missouri, but no one ever heard about Duquesne in the news.
"Blowing like it's gonna sweep my world away..." "Blowing like the sky's gonna blow apart..." "Wonder if that old oak tree's still standing..."
Great lyrics about a terrible tragedy. You're still the voice of America Bob.
Based on the video, I think the song is about Dylan vs. music. In the video a young man tries to attract a lovely young woman (=music). In the beginning he fails and gets pepper spray in his eyes, gets beaten up (=negative reactions to starting to play electric/religious music). Finally, he succeeds and enters into his present iconic role, with people following him. He must have a complex relation to music. On the negative side all demands and impositions from his world wide audience, on the positive side his love for music, particularly american "root" music, american symbols like...
Based on the video, I think the song is about Dylan vs. music. In the video a young man tries to attract a lovely young woman (=music). In the beginning he fails and gets pepper spray in his eyes, gets beaten up (=negative reactions to starting to play electric/religious music). Finally, he succeeds and enters into his present iconic role, with people following him. He must have a complex relation to music. On the negative side all demands and impositions from his world wide audience, on the positive side his love for music, particularly american "root" music, american symbols like the train, the oak tree, the whistle. There may also be some allusions to death and transience.
Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing Blowing like it's gonna sweep my world away I'm gonna stop in Carbondale and keep on going That Duquesne train gonna ride me night and day If one mentions "Duquesne" (read Du Quoin, Illinois) and Carbondale, then this song is historically talking about Amtrak's City of New Orleans (although the train runs are called the Illini and the Saluki today).The train still brings the kids from the city to the woods(Chicago- Du Quoin- Carbondale on to New Orleans). Blues men riding the train in the 20's creating songs on the way....
Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing Blowing like it's gonna sweep my world away I'm gonna stop in Carbondale and keep on going That Duquesne train gonna ride me night and day If one mentions "Duquesne" (read Du Quoin, Illinois) and Carbondale, then this song is historically talking about Amtrak's City of New Orleans (although the train runs are called the Illini and the Saluki today).The train still brings the kids from the city to the woods(Chicago- Du Quoin- Carbondale on to New Orleans). Blues men riding the train in the 20's creating songs on the way.