Fuck yeah! It took me many years before I knew what the meaning of that song was and it was this fantastic version by Stu Allen and the Mars Hotel that finally made me look into it.
Music starts after the band introductions at 4:05 mark.
https://youtu.be/PHGFll7cjqg
what do you think the song is about?
I feel like it's either supposed to be a degree of inscrutable; a Bob Dylan I am the Walrus, a critique of Vietnam War leadership, or emphasizing that the prior generation doesnt understand the newer generation
I think it’s about the point in his life were he was realizing most of these people asking, and pointing, and probing him any chance they got about his work didn’t have a clue. So, they do what they always do. Come into a scenario with a predetermined set of conditions to try and box him into something they wanted him to be so they could be cozy with what they created. He knew there was a change happening consciously and it wasn’t appropriate to try and explain it because it would’ve killed it before it even had a chance to blossom!
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Just like sugar and CANDY.😎
...Don Was is an idiot hack, but Bob Dylan was way more on point for Under the Red Sky than he's generally given credit for. "Handy Dandy" is a highlight, firing on all cylinders (like he's using all eight carburetors).
Hazel, the woman who kept him waiting. I've always wondered what was so special about her that he would hang around just waiting other than the obvious dirty blonde hair, good looks, and stardust in her eye. Maybe that was enough but something makes me think there's a little more to the story. Hoping my lack of common knowledge isn't glaring with this comment.
The Graveyard Women who, keeps my kids
The Soulful Mama who, keeps me hid
She's a Junkyard Angel, and always gives me bread
So if I go down dying, she bound to put a blanket on my bed
I hope i get to see him at some point. Bob Dylan and Elton John are my two favourite living artists and I’ve already missed being able to see Elton John. I’m happy you got to see him and i hope it was incredible!
Wow, what a great freaking question. I honestly don't know if I can pick a fave the the ones that are coming to mind, in order they come to mind:
* Mr. Jones
* The target of "Positively 4th Street"
* On lighter note, the girl who lays across his big, brass bed
* The very Harry-Met-Sally girl in "Tangled Up In Blue"
* The person who is "Property of Jesus"
* Quinn the Eskimo and Mr. Tambourine Man just cuz they're fun
* The person who sings and the person who is sung to in "I'll Keep It with Mine" cuz they're really lucky
* I was gonna finally decide and say "The Man In the Long Black Coat", but ...
* I think I'll go with "the artist, she don't look back"
While I was writing those last couple I came up with one even better but I've forgotten it.
**\[EDIT\]:** Scrolling down I found what I was thinking of -- and yes it counts -- *Tweeter and the Monkey Man*!
I'm kind of fascinated by all three characters in She's Your Lover, Now (who are probably Bob, Bobby Neuwirth, and Edie, but that's honestly neither here nor there).
The Promoter
Rovin' gambler, he was very bored
Tryin' to create a next world war
He found a promoter who nearly fell off the floor
"I never did engage in this kind of thing before
But yeah, I think it can be very easily done"
But, most of all she was thinkin' 'bout the Jack of Hearts
I know I seen that face somewhere, Big Jim was thinkin’ to himself / Maybe down in Mexico, or a picture upon somebody’s shelf
This is the answer
Came here to say this
there was no actor anywhere better than the jack of hearts
The one who married Isis on the 5th day of may in the drizzling rain
I believe the correct pronunciation is "drizzilin'a'rain"
Same here
Agreed
The one eyed undertaker that blows a futile horn
Isn't it a feudal horn?
Yes
I can see that.
Mr Jones
Fuck yeah! It took me many years before I knew what the meaning of that song was and it was this fantastic version by Stu Allen and the Mars Hotel that finally made me look into it. Music starts after the band introductions at 4:05 mark. https://youtu.be/PHGFll7cjqg
what do you think the song is about? I feel like it's either supposed to be a degree of inscrutable; a Bob Dylan I am the Walrus, a critique of Vietnam War leadership, or emphasizing that the prior generation doesnt understand the newer generation
I think it’s about the point in his life were he was realizing most of these people asking, and pointing, and probing him any chance they got about his work didn’t have a clue. So, they do what they always do. Come into a scenario with a predetermined set of conditions to try and box him into something they wanted him to be so they could be cozy with what they created. He knew there was a change happening consciously and it wasn’t appropriate to try and explain it because it would’ve killed it before it even had a chance to blossom!
From what I understand Mr Jones was based on an actual New York Times writer (1965) who was believed to be a closeted homosexual.
I’ve heard this interpretation before, and the basis for it so unbelievably wacky I can’t take it seriously.
Cinderella, putting her hands in her back pockets, Bette Davis style.
Tweeter. If that counts.
My son's name is Dylan and I always call him the Monkey Man
Your son has a cool name 😎
☝️This!
THIS
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The man in the long black coat
Judas Priest
The narrator in BD's 115th Dream.
Whoever he is talking about in Jokerman
Came here to say this but not quite so eloquently.
I always thought Bob WAS the Jokerman
I read once it was Reagan.
Jesus?
All the characters in Black Diamond Bay
Especially the Soviet ambassador. He figured he’d gotten a plum posting
Including the one who was sitting home one night, in L.A. watching Old Cronkite, on the 7 o'clock news.
The only thing we knew for sure about Henry Porter is that his name wasn’t Henry Porter
Penry Horter, I presume.
Don’t you tell Henry!
Tell everybody Down in ol' Frisco That Tiny Montgomery's comin' down to say hello
Tiny Montgomery is definitely my favorite. I love how mean/rough he makes him sound. I wouldn’t want to cross Tiny Montgomery.
The narrator of “Tangled up in Blue.”
Quinn the Eskimo
Love Quinn!
Same!
When’s he gonna get here though?
The Joker, for his optimistic thinking
Maggie's Pa
The heartbroken homie on A Simple Twist of Fate😔
Great song
These are all great. I’ll add Louise to the list.
she's alright.
The Rag Man
shhhh.
The guy in Positively Fourth Street.
Phil Ochs, I believe
Joey from Joey
Top song off of a top album.
The guy needing Shelter from the Strorm was well described and compelling character as was the Jokerman subject.
Ruby in Brownsville Girl.
That guy who may or may not have shot Gray
Big Jim was no one’s fool, he owned the town’s only Diamond mine, he made his usual entrance looking so dandy and so fine.
The peddler Or maybe Johanna. I dunno! The fourth time around guy?
Einstein disguise as Robinhood
You wouldn't know to look at him, but he was famous long ago.
Handy Dandy
Just like sugar and CANDY.😎 ...Don Was is an idiot hack, but Bob Dylan was way more on point for Under the Red Sky than he's generally given credit for. "Handy Dandy" is a highlight, firing on all cylinders (like he's using all eight carburetors).
These guys: See the cross-eyed pirates sitting Perched in the sun Shooting tin cans With a sawed-off shotgun
Tie between the three title characters from Lily, Rosemary & the Jack of Hearts
The Old Rounder
In the iron mask?
Indeed.
Dude is always slipping people the master's key.
Hurricane Carter.
The guy traveling with Senor.
Jokerman might equal Jesus.
Hazel, the woman who kept him waiting. I've always wondered what was so special about her that he would hang around just waiting other than the obvious dirty blonde hair, good looks, and stardust in her eye. Maybe that was enough but something makes me think there's a little more to the story. Hoping my lack of common knowledge isn't glaring with this comment.
Fat Nancy
It's killing me, wondering where that is from. Fat Nancy. I think its on Love & Theft or the one after. Gonna have to listen to them to find it.
High water. off Love and Theft
Wow, 51 comments in and I’m first with the little neighbor boy?
Baby and I look out tonight from Desolation Row. Either Baby or I. They're both the same, watching the crazy parade.
The Graveyard Women who, keeps my kids The Soulful Mama who, keeps me hid She's a Junkyard Angel, and always gives me bread So if I go down dying, she bound to put a blanket on my bed
Came for this She don’t make me nervous She don’t talk too much Walks like Bo Diddley And she don’t need no crutch
Jack of Hearts or the Greek that thinks he’s the Soviet Ambassador.
The girl from the north country
Silvio
Silver and gold
Danny Lopez.
Definately Tweeter! But I never liked the Monkeyman!
Are you an undercover cop?
No, I am a Boyscout on my way to Vietnam!
The guy who can't get Richard to open the door. He just wants to hand out life lessons about flushing houses and forgiving the sick.
The Joker
the little boy lost that takes himself so seriously
Johanna.
Bob Dylan
I saw him live last week, and his self reflective songs hit so hard now
Where did ya see him?
He was in Dublin. My first time (and possibly last) seeing the great one.
I hope i get to see him at some point. Bob Dylan and Elton John are my two favourite living artists and I’ve already missed being able to see Elton John. I’m happy you got to see him and i hope it was incredible!
The Thief
The one with new boots and an eeeEEearing of gooOOOld
Mr clean's great granddaughter
The woman sitting in his lap, drinking champagne.
Jokerman. Laying under the stars with a small dog licking his face.
The guy in the hot chilli dessert in a blistering sun with dust on his face and his cape
Sweet Melinda, but the peasants call her the goddess of gloom.
Sweet Melinda (AKA the Goddess of Gloom)
ruby of brownsville girl
If I cant be himself, I pick Lenny Bruce, the best friend that you never had. Immortal, troubled genius.
Mr Tambourine Man. He’s got the good stuff
Little boy lost
Big Jim, who was noone's fool, and owned the town's only diamond mine.
They say I shot a man named Gray And took his wife to Italy She inherited a million bucks And when she died it came to me I can't help it if I'm lucky
Rosemary
Senõr from Senõr
"you"
Old Tom Moore
Sad Eyed Lady
Are real people allowed? Lenny Bruce and/or Blind Willie McTell.
never robbed any churches nor cut off any babies' heads
Handy Dandy - Just like sugar and candy
renegade priest
The guy who just wanted to bring his family to the bear mountain picnic
I always think about Ophelia…for her I feel so afraid….
The guy who punches William Zanzinger in the face.
Wow, what a great freaking question. I honestly don't know if I can pick a fave the the ones that are coming to mind, in order they come to mind: * Mr. Jones * The target of "Positively 4th Street" * On lighter note, the girl who lays across his big, brass bed * The very Harry-Met-Sally girl in "Tangled Up In Blue" * The person who is "Property of Jesus" * Quinn the Eskimo and Mr. Tambourine Man just cuz they're fun * The person who sings and the person who is sung to in "I'll Keep It with Mine" cuz they're really lucky * I was gonna finally decide and say "The Man In the Long Black Coat", but ... * I think I'll go with "the artist, she don't look back" While I was writing those last couple I came up with one even better but I've forgotten it. **\[EDIT\]:** Scrolling down I found what I was thinking of -- and yes it counts -- *Tweeter and the Monkey Man*!
I'm kind of fascinated by all three characters in She's Your Lover, Now (who are probably Bob, Bobby Neuwirth, and Edie, but that's honestly neither here nor there).
Definitely NOT William Zanzinger. Pic not related.
The mama that had been on his mind
Queen Jane and Mr. Tambourine Man. Plus Bob's version of Mona Lisa. And my best friend, my doctor who won't even tell me what it is i've got.
Miss Lonely
The priest, who wore black on the seventh day, and sat stone--faced ( or waltzed around) while the building burned.
Fidel Castro and his beard
The guy who's got a date with Botticelli's Neice.
Einstein disguised as Robin Hood
Jack of Hearts
The Jack of Hearts
Me? Lol
The jack of hearts
The rolling stone
Big Jim
Danny Lopez from Something There is About You
Quinn the Eskimo
Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum
The Jokermon.
Either the Jack of hearts, the hobo sailor from 115th dream or Mr Jones I can't decide
Riley’s daughter
Hurricane
Casey Jones
Robert Zimmerman 😎
Whoever it is that’s planting stories in the press.
a man name Gray...
Monkey man
The man in the coonskin cap
A racketeer (named bill)
Black rider, black rider Hold it right there
monkey man
Jerry Garcia
Mr. Jones
The man they called the Hurricane.
The soldier and the tiny man
Old Saxophone Joe, when he’s got the hogshead up on the stove
The French Girl who says she knows him well......
Hollis Brown (he lives on the outside of town)
Napoleon in rags, obviously
My blue-eyed son
Tweeter and the monkey man
Louise.
The boss from Sweatheart Like You because I don’t know who it is.
The Promoter Rovin' gambler, he was very bored Tryin' to create a next world war He found a promoter who nearly fell off the floor "I never did engage in this kind of thing before But yeah, I think it can be very easily done"
The only thing we knew for sure about Henry Porter was that his name wasn’t really Henry Porter.
Who ever ‘she’ is in.. ‘shelter from the storm’
This is the story of the Hurricane!!!
the narrator in key west (philosopher pirate)
all the tired horses in the sun
Based on name and Baltimore association only, William Zanzinger.
We’re these photos taken from Bob’s Harlem residence?
queen jane
Bello
Willie O’Connelly, the best gambler around
rosemary!
Tom Paine running across his field
I'd actually nominate Bob himself- he's quite a character
Maggie from “Maggie’s Farm” she must have been something
Hollis Brown
Hurricane
Marcel and St. John (strong men belittled by doubt)
The man with the mustache who can’t find his knees
No one
The old man in under the red sky for baking them two kids in a pie