Great song. Lyrically it is pretty straightforward and probably relates to stories Mr. Dylan had heard before. Women dressing as men and joining the military have happened many times before. Often they were discovered only when injured or killed in battle. Where I live in Arkansas there is a mountain called Petit Jean (little John) that has this same legend. Here the woman followed her love to sea dressed as a man, died, and was buried on the mountain.
Great song. Lyrically it is pretty straightforward and probably relates to stories Mr. Dylan had heard before. Women dressing as men and joining the military have happened many times before. Often they were discovered only when injured or killed in battle. Where I live in Arkansas there is a mountain called Petit Jean (little John) that has this same legend. Here the woman followed her love to sea dressed as a man, died, and was buried on the mountain.