I don't think you need to imagine DB in being character to write The Big Country. Looking at DB's life it's pretty clear he's chosen urban over suburban/rural. He's not an old style hippie. At the end of the song he says he wants to be somewhere. I take that to mean a place where thoughts and ideas are important - not eating, drinking, and playing ball or whatever people do out there in the clean air. I tried to live that way in NYC for 15 years, but I opted for the clear air, but I have problem with creative people in the arts who NEED the cities to thrive. Even the Grateful Dead did - Truckin is about going from one city to another. Only picked GD because they're so laid back. For me there would be very little music to listen to if there weren't artists hanging around in the darkest corners of the biggest cities.
I don't think you need to imagine DB in being character to write The Big Country. Looking at DB's life it's pretty clear he's chosen urban over suburban/rural. He's not an old style hippie. At the end of the song he says he wants to be somewhere. I take that to mean a place where thoughts and ideas are important - not eating, drinking, and playing ball or whatever people do out there in the clean air. I tried to live that way in NYC for 15 years, but I opted for the clear air, but I have problem with creative people in the arts who NEED the cities to thrive. Even the Grateful Dead did - Truckin is about going from one city to another. Only picked GD because they're so laid back. For me there would be very little music to listen to if there weren't artists hanging around in the darkest corners of the biggest cities.