Bob Dylan + The Band

•→http://genius.com/search?q=bob+dylan⇐

¤→[lyrics]←‘Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right’⇐

¤  Click for clip from D.A. Pennebaker‘s 1965 movie «Don’t Look Back» featuring Mr Zimmerman’s flash cards →

•  ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’

♦  ‘Visions of Johanna’  ↓

Ain’t it just like the night to play tricks when you’re tryin’ to be so quiet ?
We sit here stranded, though we’re all doin’ our best to deny it
And Louise holds a handful of rain, tempting you to defy it
Lights flicker from the opposite loft
In this room the heat pipes just cough
The country music station plays soft
But there’s nothing really nothing to turn of
Just Louise and her lover so entwined
And these visions of Johanna that conquer my mind.

In the empty lot where the ladies play blindman’s bluff with the key chain
And the all-night girls they whisper of escapades out on the D-train
We can hear the night watchman click his flashlight
Ask himself if it’s him or them that’s really insane
Louise, she’s all right she’s just near
She’s delicate and seems like the mirror
But she just makes it all too concise and too clear
That Johanna’s not here
The ghost of electricity howls in the bones of her face
Where these visions of Johanna have now taken my place.

Now, little boy lost, he takes himself so seriously
He brags of his misery, he likes to live dangerously
And when bringing her name up
He speaks of a farewell kiss to me
He’s sure got a lotta gall to be so useless and all
Muttering small talk at the wall while I’m in the hall
Oh, how can I explain?  It’s so hard to get on
And these visions of Johanna they kept me up past the dawn.

Inside the museums, Infinity goes up on trial
Voices echo this is what salvation must be like after a while
But Mona Lisa musta had the highway blues
You can tell by the way she smiles
See the primitive wallflower freeze
When the jelly-faced women all sneeze
Hear the one with the mustache say, «Jeeze
I can’t find my knees»
Oh, jewels and binoculars hang from the head of the mule
But these visions of Johanna, they make it all seem so cruel.

The peddler now speaks to the countess who’s pretending to care for him
Saying, «Name me someone that’s not a parasite and I’ll go out and say a prayer for him»
But like Louise always says
«Ya can’t look at much, can ya man «

As she, herself prepares for him
And Madonna, she still has not showed
We see this empty cage now corrode
Where her cape of the stage once had flowed
The fiddler, he now steps to the road
He writes ev’rything’s been returned which was owed
On the back of the fish truck that loads
While my conscience explodes
The harmonicas play the skeleton keys and the rain
And these visions of Johanna are now all that remain.

♦  ‘Tangled Up in Blue’  ↓

Early one mornin’ the sun was shinin’, he was layin’ in bed
Wond’rin’ if she’d changed at all, if her hair was still red
Her folks they said our lives together sure was gonna be rough
They never did like Mama’s homemade dress – Papa’s bankbook wasn’t big enough
And he was standin’ on the side of the road, rain fallin’ on his shoes
Heading out for the East Coast – Lord knows he’s paid some dues gettin’ through
Tangled up in blue

She was married when they first met – Soon to be divorced
He helped her out of a jam, I guess, but he used a little too much force
We drove that car as far as we could, abandoned it out West
Split up on a dark sad night – Both agreeing it was best
She turned around to look at him as he was walkin’ away
sayin’ over his shoulder, “We’ll meet again someday on the avenue”
Tangled up in blue

He had a job in Santa Fe, working in an old hotel
But he never did like it all that much and one day the ax just fell
So he drifted down to New Orleans, where he happened to be employed
Workin’ for a while on a fishin’ boat, right outside of Delacroix
But all the while he was alone- The past was close behind
he seen a lot of women but she never escaped my mind, and he just grew
Tangled up in blue

She was workin’ in a topless place and I stopped in for a beer
I just kept lookin’ at the side of her face in the spotlight so clear
And later on as the crowd thinned out I was just about to do the same
She was standing there at the side of my chair, said, “Don’t tell me; let me guess your name?”
I muttered somethin’ underneath my breath – She studied the lines on my face
Must admit I felt a little uneasy when she bent down to tie the laces of my shoe
Tangled up in blue

I lived with them on Montague Street, in a basement down the stairs
There was music in the cafés at night and revolution in the air
Then he started into dealing with slaves and something inside of him died
She had to sell everything she owned and froze up inside
And when finally the bottom fell out – I became withdrawn
The only thing I knew how to do was keep on keepin’ on like a bird that flew
Tangled up in blue

So now I’m goin’ back again – I got to get to her somehow
All the places we used to know – They’re an illusion to me now
Some are mathematicians – Some are truck drivers’ wives
Don’t know how it all got started – I don’t know what they’re doin’ with their lives
But me, I’m still on the road, headin’ for another joint
We always did feel the same – We just saw it from a different point of view
Tangled up in blue

◊  ‘Not Dark Yet’  ↓

♦  ‘Emotionally Yours’  ↓

 ♦  ‘Thunder On The Mountain’  ↓

Thunder on the mountain, and there’s fires on the moon
A ruckus in the alley and the sun will be here soon
Today’s the day, where I’m gonna grab my trombone and blow
Well, there’s hot stuff here and it’s everywhere I go

I was thinking about Alicia Keys, couldn’t keep from crying
When she was born in Hell’s Kitchen, I was living down the line
I’m wondering where in the world Alicia Keys could be
I been looking for her even clear through Tennessee

Feel like my soul is beginning to expand
Look into my heart and you will sort of understand
You brought me here, now you’re trying to turn me away
The writing on the wall, come read it, come see what it does say

Thunder on the mountain, rolling like a drum
Going to sleep over there, that’s where the music is coming from
I don’t need any guide, I already know the way
Remember this, I’m your servant both night and day

The pistols are popping and the power is down
I’d like to try something but I’m so far from town
The sun keeps shining and the North Wind keeps picking up speed
Gonna forget about myself for a while, gonna go out and see what others need

I’ve been sitting down studying the art of love
I think it will fit me like a glove
I want some real good woman to do just what I say
Everybody got to wonder what’s the matter with this cruel world today

Thunder on the mountain rolling to the ground
Gonna get up in the morning walk the hard road down
Some sweet day I’ll stand beside my King
I wouldn’t betray your love or any other thing

Gonna raise me an army, some tough sons of bitches
I’ll recruit my army from the orphanages
I been to St. Herman’s church, said my religious vows
As I’ve sucked the milk out of a thousand cows

I’ve got the pork chops, she’s got the pie
She ain’t no angel and neither am I
Shame on your greed, shame on your wicked schemes
I’ll say this, I don’t give a damn about your dreams

Thunder on the mountain heavy as can be
Mean old twister bearing down on me
All the ladies in Washington scrambling to get out of town
Looks like something bad is going to happen, better roll your airplane down

Everybody going and I want to go too
Don’t wanna take a chance with somebody new
I did all I could, I did it right there and then
I’ve already confessed, no need to confess again

Gonna make a lot of money, gonna go up North
I’ll plant and I’ll harvest what the earth brings forth
The hammer’s on the table, the pitchfork’s on the shelf
For the love of God, you ought to take pity on yourself.

¤  The Life and Career of Bob Dylan  ⇐

This singer-songwriter brought folk to the masses.Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re  taking a look at the life and career of Bob Dylan.

• An Interest in Folk Music

Robert Allen Zimmerman was born on May 24th, 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota. His interest in folk music began in university, when he performed in coffeehouses under the name Bob Dylan.

•  Early Records

After a move to New York City in 1961, Dylan’s harmonica skills caught the attention of Columbia Records. His self-titled debut consisted mainly of folk and blues standards, and sold poorly. However, Dylan’s politically-inspired sophomore effort, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, highlighted his singing and song-writing abilities.

• Politics

As other performers recorded his songs, Dylan’s international fame grew. His political beliefs developed as he joined the civil rights movement, and this was reflected on the top-twenty album The Times They are a-Changin’.

•  With A Rock and Roll Band

On both Bringing it All Back Home and Highway 61 Revisited, Dylan coupled poetic lyrics with a rock and roll backing band. The latter featured the pop culture milestone “Like a Rolling Stone,” and is now considered one of the most influential albums of all-time.

•  An Accident

The European tour that followed the blues-rock double album, Blonde on Blonde, was his last for several years. A motorcycle accident led him to reclusiveness.

•  Back to the Roots and Experimenting with Country

1967’s John Wesley Harding was notable for Dylan’s return to traditional roots and acoustic music. Two years later, he found success with the country record, Nashville Skyline, which introduced the world to his softer singing style.

•  Acting and Touring

Dylan then starred in the 1973 film, “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid.” Its score featured several of his compositions, including the often-covered “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.” Dylan’s next effort, 1974’s Planet Waves, was his first number-one album. He resumed touring that year, and this resulted in the live album, Before the Flood.

•  «Blood on the Tracks» and The Rolling Thunder Revue

Though it initially received mixed reviews, 1975’s Blood on the Tracks is now considered one of his greatest albums. The Rolling Thunder Revue came next, and this was a concert tour that featured numerous performers. Dylan then released the best-selling record, Desire, which comprised lengthy, narrative-style songs.

•  Movies and Music

In 1978, Dylan directed and starred in the poorly-reviewed film, “Renaldo and Clara,” embarked on a worldwide tour and released Street-Legal. The album was a departure for Dylan, as it included a pop-rock band and female backup singers.

•  Born-Again Christian

Despite Jewish roots, Dylan embraced born-again Christianity at the end of the decade. His evangelical beliefs were reflected in his next three records, including the Grammy-winning Slow Train Coming. He returned to recording non-religious material with 1983’s Infidels.

•  Traveling Wilburys and More Touring

During the 1980s, several of Dylan’s albums received mixed reviews. However, he found some success with the super-group the Traveling Wilburys, and was critically praised for the 1989 record, Oh Mercy. He also toured with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and The Grateful Dead. In 1988, he began The Never Ending Tour, which continues to this day.

•  More Music

The 1990 record Under the Red Sky was criticized for being overproduced. But, he received more favorable reviews with the folk and blues sounds of the albums, Good as I Been to You and World Gone Wrong. He also achieved commercial success with the live compilation, MTV Unplugged.

•  Grammy and Oscar Awards

After recovering from serious health problems, Dylan came out with the Grammy-winning record, Time Out of Mind in 1997. He won his first Oscar in 2001 with the song, “Things Have Changed,” which he wrote for the film soundtrack of “Wonder Boys.”

•  More Music and More Movies

That same year, Dylan experimented with jazz, swing and rockabilly on the well-received disc Love and Theft. In 2003, Dylan contributed to the tribute album Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan and co-wrote and starred in the film, “Masked & Anonymous.”

•  A Documentary and Another Number-One Album

His well-received 2004 autobiography, “Chronicles: Volume One,” was followed by the biographical documentary, “No Direction Home” in 2005. After making his DJ debut in 2006, Dylan had another number-one record with the Grammy-winning Modern Times.

•  A Number-One Debut at 67 Years of Age

The 2007 film biography, “I’m Not There,” featured numerous Dylan-inspired characters. Two years later, the album, Together Through Life, made the sixty-seven-year old Dylan the oldest artist to premiere at the top of the Billboard chart. This was followed by the holiday charity effort, Christmas in the Heart.

•  A Musical Icon

Bob Dylan is a musical icon who revolutionized pop music and became a spokesperson for the counterculture generation along the way. Thanks to his lyrics, music and art; he is one of the twentieth century’s most influential personalities.

◊  ‘Forever Young’  ⇓  [with The Band]

¤  The Band 

⇑  . . . as featured in Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Last Waltz’

Levon Helm, The Band‘s drummer and chronicler, recollects . . .

“…They’d shot 160,000 feet of film, but problems began to mount as soon as they started to screen this material. The sound track was poorly recorded and had to be overdubbed and remixed for the movie and the album. Then it was decided that the whole thing was too lily-white and missing something crucial, so the Staple Singers were recruited to join us on an MGM soundstage in Culver City to record another version of “The Weight”. The San Francisco version had come too late in the show, and my performance was, to say the least, less than magical.

Levon Helm & Stephen Davis:  This Wheel’s On Fire  [1993]

I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin’ about half past dead;
I just need some place where I can lay my head.
“Hey, mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?”
He just grinned and shook my hand, and “No!”, was all he said.
Take a load off Anny, take a load for free;
Take a load off Anny, And (and) (and) you can put the load right on me.

I picked up my bag, I went lookin’ for a place to hide;
When I saw Carmen and the Devil walkin’ side by side.
I said, “Hey, Carmen, come on, let’s go downtown.”
She said, “I gotta go, but m’ friend can stick around.”
Take a load off Anny, take a load for free;
Take a load off Anny, And (and) (and) you can put the load right on me.

Go down, Miss Moses, there’s nothin’ you can say
It’s just ol’ Luke, and Luke’s waitin’ on the Judgement Day.

“Well, Luke, my friend, what about young Anna Lee?”
He said, “Do me a favor, son, woncha stay an’ keep Anna Lee company?”
Take a load off Anny, take a load for free;
Take a load off Anny, And (and) (and) you can put the load right on me.

Crazy Chester followed me, and he caught me in the fog.
He said, “I will fix your rack, if you’ll take Jack, my dog.”
I said, “Wait a minute, Chester, you know I’m a peaceful man.”
He said, “That’s okay, boy, won’t you feed him when you can.”
Take a load off Anny, take a load for free;
Take a load off Anny, And (and) (and) you can put the load right on me.

Catch a cannon ball now, t’take me down the line
My bag is sinkin’ low and I do believe it’s time.
To get back to Miss Fanny, you know she’s the only one.
Who sent me here with her regards for everyone.

⇓  ‘Willy And The Hand Jive’

Gonna tell you all about Way-out Willie and his sweet little girl named Rocking’ Lily
Yeah, rock’n’rolling Suzie Q and they know how to do the hand jive, too
They can hand jive, hand jive, hand jive – Do that crazy hand jive … 

Willie and Lily got married last fall – They had a little Willie Junior, and that ain’t all
Well, the baby got famous in his crib, you see, when he did that hand jive on MTV
Hand jive, hand jive, hand jive – Do that crazy hand jive . . .

Mama told Willie, «You’ll ruin my home – You and that hand jive have got to go»
Now hand jive – You better hand jive
Hand jive … Do that crazy hand jive…

♦ → Levon Helm  ⇓  ‘Anna Lee’  [2011]

Listen now children, a story I’ll tell of a woman they called Anna Lee
She had a fine son and she raised him up well and a daughter as lovely as she

I’ll return to you dear in the dimming of day as the sparrow returns to her nest
I’ll return to you dreaming with each lullaby – Hold your sweet weary head to my breast

She sang to her darlings a sweet lullaby as the evening shadows grow long
Angels and nightingales gathering nigh to hear mother Anna Lee’s song

I’ll return to you dear in the dimming of day as the sparrow returns to her nest
I’ll return to you dreaming with each lullaby – Hold your sweet weary head to my breast

Early one morning she rode into town to tend to her dear sister there
She kissed her two babies on cheek and on brow and left them with nary a care

The wind, it did rise and the rain, it did fall – The river a shadowy wave
Anna Lee never heard danger’s dark call and was swept to her watery grave

I’ll return to you dear in the dimming of day as the sparrow returns to her nest
I’ll return to you dreaming with each lullaby – Hold your sweet weary head to my breast