Thursday, October 13, 2016

Congratulations Bob Dylan ... And you say, "What does this mean?"


"Who is that man?"

Singer and songwriter Bob Dylan, 
one of the world’s most influential musicians, 
for “having created new poetic expressions 
within the great American song tradition,” 
in the words of the Swedish Academy. - NYT


YES!

Because something is happening here
But you don't know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones? - Ballad of a Thin Man

Highway 61 Revisited - here.


All my dreams have come true.  Who would ever thought this could happen back then?


You have many contacts
Among the lumberjacks
To get you facts
When someone attacks your imagination
But nobody has any respect
Anyway they already expect you
To all give a check
To tax-deductible charity organizations
You've been with the professors
And they've all liked your looks
With great lawyers you have
Discussed lepers and crooks
You've been through all of
F. Scott Fitzgerald's books
You're very well read
It's well known
But something is happening here
And you don't know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?

8 comments:

  1. Well, if Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama deserve a Noble Peace Prize then I guess Dylan deserves the Nobel Prize in Literature.

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    Replies
    1. I know. Reminds me of my experience at a rock concert around 1971 or so. Everyone was high, including me. Looking around I said, "What if life was really like this?!" A little later I asked one of my friends, "Do you think everyone here is high?" I was assured that they were. Then I asked if I was still high, and I was assured I was. Then I said, "I wish life could be like this."

      Long story short - my wish came true - except I'm not high.

      Everything I imagined was just a trip back then has become a reality. And it's a disaster. Obama's in the White House. Black Lives Matter. Terrorism. Trump and Clinton. Russia/US Cold War redux. Gender politics. The Entertainment Industry and celebrities this country's biggest export.

      Yeah. Dylan the Nobel Laureate does make sense.

      Do you think everyone else is high? Or am I just having a 'flash-back'?

      Delete
    2. http://sorryalltheclevernamesaretaken.blogspot.com/2016/10/trump-inducted-into-rock-n-roll-hall-of.html

      Delete
  2. It was no Idiot Wind that blew around the deciders. At last, a Nobel prize I agree with. The record for the Nobel in literature is not admirable. Jorge Luis Borges never got one.

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  3. ...wonder what 'Bob' is thinking about all of this, this being what is happening in the world. are we rolling Bob ?
    I remember going to "The Wild Rice Fesitval" north of Madison, oh, around...mid '70's I guess: I was with a man (..when Wasn't I with some man or other in those days...) who was heading fast toward 40, while I was 22 or so: and we over-heard some girls talking about Bob Dylan, there was a rumour He Might Be There !!!!! and then they said, yeah, but man, HE'S LIKE 40, so Who Cares ? hee hee.
    I shortly after that I stopped smoking 'weed' as I discovered that drawing was a much, much better high - with time stopping and all that:
    but now, dear Terry: I have some pot around here somewhere that I got as a 60th birthday gift: Years Ago ! :)
    *sigh*. Surely this is all a bad, bad trip. What unites us now great unease.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's funny!

      In high school Dylan was a sort of hero for me. His songs resonated with me.

      Delete
    2. yes, I too listened to him all along, and of course can still recite the lyrics. With such an artist, over so many years, your life itself is framed by the music.
      I am so very grateful for the times in which I lived my 'youth'. I went to actual, real 'coffee houses', late at night, where one never knew who would be playing; no phones/cells/screens/on & on. We could all smoke our Marlboro's in peace. Just...people. Not afraid to sing along a bit, or show their thoughts on their faces.
      (um...like Mass...)
      I saw Charlie Rose tonight, interviewing a musician I've never heard, or heard of: Sturgill Simpson. I really liked his voice, the lyrics, the hard twang of the guitar.
      These days...I only have a little plug-in radio: the only way I can listen to cd's is in the car.
      The summer of '69 I lived with my grandmother in the south side of Chicago, where I was born: 16, my first job: babysitting...and listening to Lay, Lady Lay and all of that great album...
      I am really happy he got this award: and happy we share at least One hero.

      Delete
  4. To me, he's a great poet. And I loved his singing-voice when in his thirties and early 40's. Afterwards, his voice really 'deteriorated'.

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