Comments on: Swamps and passports: what it all means

By: 5-Track

5-Track — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:25:35 +0000

I assume the “only person it could matter to” means his wife, as in “Hell’s My Wife’s Hometown” … dunno about the off-road shows, tho, I wondered about that, too

By: PaulB

PaulB — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 19:34:45 +0000

The question of Dylan and ‘images’ is interesting. I agree there was a “monkey to get off his back.” Can any sane person live with the expectation of being a ‘prophet’? Of course Dylan is right to fend this off – a person assuming the role of ‘voice’ stirs a terrible ghost from the twentieth century.

That said!! – there is an artistic ambivalence here I think. Blake wrote ‘prophecies’. And Shelley once famously asserted that a nation’s real legislators are it’s poets! Without all the personified clutter of ‘prophecy’ – actively created, or dream inspired, images do deserve to be taken seriously.

Jung’s famous assertion – of ‘the blonde beast stirring’ – is a case in point. Based purely upon the dreams of his German patients (PRE the unfolding of hitler’s horrors) – he made this tragic ‘prophecy’. Of course Jung too has been the subject of many claims of his being a mystic/cult figure. And naturally he fought hard to refute this. As Dylan is a musician – Jung was a scientist. – regular guys(!) – neither claiming to part seas (leave that to the megalomaniacs).

But as regards the OBJECTIVE importance of an artist’s images, Dylan might just be being a little coy; rightly so – sanely so! But I wonder if he sometimes smiles to himself – why THIS image at THIS time?

Just a thought!! – long winded at that!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 22 May 2009 13:17:16 +0000

Just found your site – I decided to Google your name after benefiting so much from your guitar chords over the years. I think that there should be a special monument to the great transcribers of the internet. Now I will also be able to enjoy your writing and analysis.

Thanks!

By: Steve Knowlton

Steve Knowlton — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:02:22 +0000

Hi, Mr. Ostrem:

I wanted to write to you and express my gratitude for your “Dylanchords” site. I play in a band that performs Dylan compositions exclusively, and we have relied on your site for guidance in our arrangement. In fact, we gave you a special thanks in our recent CD. If you’d like a copy, I’d be happy to mail one to you.

By: Oisin O'Faghain

Oisin O'Faghain — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:45:04 +0000

Speaking of shows, I was at the Dublin one (6 May) and there was a very nice lyrical variation (along with Bob playing a wonderful solo on his seldom-seen guitar). In verse 2 the refrain goes “She’s gone to the mill, blood of the moon along the road/ she went with the man in the long black coat”

By: christopher f.

christopher f. — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:02:41 +0000

ps. funny it would be dylan himself to best sum up what why we’re all nuts about him

By: christopher f.

christopher f. — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:00:54 +0000

i also thought of your brown passports point when i read that part of the interview. what surprised me was this bit:

I see that my audience now doesn’t particular care what period the songs are from. They feel style and substance in a more visceral way and let it go at that.

21 years into the never-ending tour he’s only now realizing that?! however, i feel privileged to be able to have been part of that audience that he refers to, that audience that feels his style and substance in a visceral way.

By: Ralph

Ralph — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:43:54 +0000

The interview is indeed great. Some great insights into his song-writing process – the answer to the question about the girl dragging a statue of Buddha in a wagon, for example, and the following remark.

“Hopes and fears go together like a comedy team. But I know what you are talking about. Like in the Everly Brothers song, ALL I HAVE TO DO IS DREAM. If they said, ‘All I have to do is hope’, it wouldn’t be saying the same thing. It wouldn’t be as strong. ”

There’s a couple of points in the interview so far that I found rather mysterious – I was wondering if anyone could shed any light on them?

Firstly there’s this:

“Q: I suspect that a lot of men will identify with MY WIFE’S HOME TOWN. Do you ever get in hot water with your in-laws over your songs?
A: No not really. The only person it could matter to gets a kick out of it. That song is meant as a compliment anyhow.”

Any suggestions as to who “the only person it could matter to” could be?!

Then there’s this:

“Q: Did you write any of these songs with the accordion in mind or did it come up during the sessions?
A: I use an accordion player when I play off-road shows.”

What does he mean by an ‘off-road show’?! Well obviously it means a show outside the usual concert halls, but has anyone ever heard whispers of these shows before? Who does he play to, for example?!