Roll On John

It's clearly a tribute to John Lennon.

The last verse is a reference the William Blake poem, "Tiger, Tiger." Dylan references his work a lot... such as Little Boy Lost in Visions of Johanna

"TIGER, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?"

This is clearly about John Lennon. He went from Liverpool to Hamburg. There are so many references to Lennon lyrics in it as well as the music referencing the styles of some of the tracks on John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band: "My Mummy's Dead", "Well, Well, Well" and "God".

From the Liverpool docks to the red light Hamburg streets biography Down in the quarry with the Quarrymen. first band Playing to the big crowds Playing to the cheap seats referencing John's comment to the Queen at the Royal Variety Concert Another day in your life until your journey’s end. Day in The Life lyric from Sergeant Pepper I heard the news today, oh boy direct quote from Day in the Life Come together right now over me quote from Abbey Road song Come Together I've only just realised all of this having looked at the lyrics. Just liked the song when I first heard it. some of it chimed with me today so had to check it out.

It is without a doubt about John Winston Lennon. It's painfully obvious. Sadly John was shot in the back after signing a few autographs in front of his home at the Dakota building in New York. Buffalo, Dakota the land where they roam and the Dakota apartment block outside which Lennon was ambushed and shot. The last verse is a nod to William Blake.

I can hear this catchy tune again and again. Thanks to EsmonDo for the collection of identifiers for John Lennon. The song is not only a tribute to John Lennon but a wish to have John’s bright light shining on.

Lennon became a victim of various anonymous actors. They made him a “slave”, “tied your hands and they clamped your mouth”, “tore the heart right out and cut it to the core” and finally “shot him in the back”. Still he shone (and still shines) a bright light, which means that he makes things visible that need attention and correction. He was a provoking actor for peace and sharing. “Imagine no possession”, “All we are saying is give peace a chance.” I understand Dylan’s song as a contribution to keeping Lennon’s message alive.

It's clear that Bob wrote it about John Lennon. One of the best songs about the Beatles and the absolute best tribute to Beatle Johnny Rebel. Thanks to Dylan for honoring Lennon in a most respectful way. We need more songs of friendship in rock & roll. From One Friend to Another!! Roll On John!-Rock in Peace!!

It could be about JJ Cale. His last album was called "Roll On". Also, his full name was John Weldon Cale

A series of lives as they are ending. "the sooner you go, the sooner you"ll be back" clearly pertains to re-incarnating from one life as you die to the next life when you come back.

he is singing about John Brown the abolitionist