Blog Dylan

Mr. Tambourine Man

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeP4FFr88SQ

*Song starts at 1:10

 

Hey ! Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me
I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to
Hey ! Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning I'll come followin' you.
Though I know that evenin's empire has returned into sand
Vanished from my hand
Left me blindly here to stand but still not sleeping
My weariness amazes me, I'm branded on my feet
I have no one to meet
And the ancient empty street's too dead for dreaming.

Hey ! Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me
I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to
Hey ! Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning I'll come followin' you.

Take me on a trip upon your magic swirlin' ship
My senses have been stripped, my hands can't feel to grip
My toes too numb to step, wait only for my boot heels
To be wanderin'
I'm ready to go anywhere, I'm ready for to fade
Into my own parade, cast your dancing spell my way
I promise to go under it.

Hey ! Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me
I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to
Hey ! Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning I'll come followin' you.

Though you might hear laughin', spinnin' swingin' madly across the sun
It's not aimed at anyone, it's just escapin' on the run
And but for the sky there are no fences facin'
And if you hear vague traces of skippin' reels of rhyme
To your tambourine in time, it's just a ragged clown behind
I wouldn't pay it any mind, it's just a shadow you're
Seein' that he's chasing.

Hey ! Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me
I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to
Hey ! Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning I'll come followin' you.

Then take me disappearin' through the smoke rings of my mind
Down the foggy ruins of time, far past the frozen leaves
The haunted, frightened trees, out to the windy beach
Far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow
Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free
Silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands
With all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves
Let me forget about today until tomorrow.

Hey ! Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me
I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to
Hey ! Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning I'll come followin' you.

 

I really enjoy this song by Bob Dylan in particular due to the fact that this was really the first Dylan song that I ever heard. I liked this song from the moment that I first listened to it a few years ago. First recorded in 1964, this song was put at number 106 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. The song was also made popular by The Byrds, who recorded a very successful recording. That being said, I prefer Bob Dylan's original version of the song. When I first heard Mr. Tambourine Man on a youtube video, I immediately thought that it was very cool that Dylan was playing both the harmonica and the acoustic guitar at the same time during some parts. In addition to these two instruments, a soft electric guitar is playing melodically in the background of the studio version. Together, these three instruments, along with Dylan's vocals, produce a sound that is very peaceful and auditorially pleasing. Furthermore, when I first heard Dylan's voice, I did not find it to be unappealing. Instead, I viewed it as "cool" and "different".  I can definitely appreciate and enjoy Mr. Tambourine Man. It has an excellent sound and is expertly composed by Dylan.

Teens Then and Now

Throughout the generations,  the problems that parents have with their teenagers are basically the same, aside from some cultural aspects that are dependent on the time period. Thus the only major differences are the instances where modern technology and products are concerned. For example, in present times, parents hate how today's youth is always texting. Also, they spend countless hours on the Internet and social-networking sites. Obviously, teens in the 20s did not have this technology, so it wasn't a problem. Besides this major "issue", the other differences are more subtle. For instance, adults of both times do not like the popular music of the time. The subtle difference here is that in the 20s that music was jazz, while today it is rap. In addition, adults did not approve of their children's stylish clothing, which they see as promiscuous. Here the promiscuous clothing of the 20s was not wearing a corset, sporting dresses that revealed the ankles, and rolling stockings below their knees. Moreover, parents in both the 20s and today were against provocative dancing, smoking, drinking, casual sex, and late nights out. These types of things will always be of concern to parents, no matter what the time period is. Thus, teens today are not worse behaved. We (teens of the 20s and teens today) just want to enjoy ourselves and not be limited to what our parents want/think. Freedom is a huge part of growing up, so teens always want to just do whatever they want. The cultures and societies of the two are completely different, so it is hard to compare and then decide which is worse. It is all dependent upon the other factors that are in play during that time period.

Sweet Home Chicago

Covered by Eric Clapton

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moAR4Bb2QHI

 

Come on
Oh baby don't you wanna go
Come on
Oh baby don't you wanna go
Back from the land of California
To my sweet home Chicago

Come on
Baby don't you wanna go
Come on
Baby don't you wanna go
Back from the land of California
To my sweet home Chicago

Two and two is four Baby
Six and two is eight
Come on don't ya, don't ya make me late
Hi-de-hey
Baby don't you wanna go
Back from the land of California
To my sweet home Chicago

One and one is two
Two and two is four
I'm heavy loaded
I'm booked, I gotta go.
Hi-de-hey
Baby don't you wanna go
Back from the land of California
To my sweet home Chicago

Come on
Baby don't you wanna go
Come on
Baby don't you wanna go
Back from the land of California
To my sweet home Chicago

Come on
Baby don't you wanna go
Come on
Baby don't you wanna go
Back from the land of California
To my sweet home Chicago

 

Sweet Home Chicago, as we learned in class, was originally a song by the iconic blues artist Robert Johnson. In 2004, Eric Clapton, who views Johnson as his biggest influence, released an album entitled "Me and Mr. Johnson". All tracks were pieces from Johnson's repertoire that were covered by Clapton. Soon after, a supplementary DVD called "Sessions For Robert J" was released, which included Sweet Home Chicago. In his version, Clapton revamped and electrified the original by including electric guitars, drums, keyboards, and other modern instruments. However, throughout the entire song, classic blues riffs can be heard in the harmony and background.

I enjoy the guitar in this song the most. The guitar riffs and solos are auditorily pleasing and are the first things I notice in any song. Clapton is an amazing guitarist, and his performances are equally impressive. The lyrics in this song are simple and repetitive (but in a good way!). Therefore, it can be difficult to figure out what Johnson was originally trying to say. He may have been pleading for someone to accompany him to Chicago. As we know from history, racial horrors and negativity were highly prevalent in the South during this time. Moving north to a big city provided many opportunities for African-Americans: They could escape racial hatred, get out of back-breaking plantation work, and obtain jobs in factories. Northern migration could have been a message of the song, as moving north would be a possitive change. Johnson is packed and ready to go ("don't ya make me late...I'm booked, I gotta go") and questions why someone wouldn't want to go/escape ("Baby don't you wanna go").