r/bobdylan

Im Turkish, recently I bought the book tarantula... it was 300 lira which is almost half of my daily salary, but I thought its worth it because I am wondering this book for years ! But my struggle is vain ! Even I speak fluent english (which Im not) I think its still impossible to read and understand this book. Its not a story but some form of adhd orgy of words. after reading two pages... I decided there is no way Im finishing this shit. And I am stubborn when it comes to finishing books, I recently finished thomas pynchon's vineland. But Tarantula as alien as Sumerian Literature. Im sure bob was on on methamphetamine/weed whole time and let his fingers wrote whatever the fuck they want. I find a way to read this book though. I can just open random pages and read it while I am at bus to work or in toilet to shit without the need of full concentration. Its liberating not forcing yourself to finish the whole thing. Bob if you are reading this. I want my money back.

I posted my general review in another thread (I loved it) but a couple of other things occurred to me:

1. We’ve discussed before that in some shows it seems like Bob turns and looks at one particular band member more than the others. Last night it appeared to me that it was Anton Fig. Did anyone else notice this? I couldn’t tell what, if anything, he was communicating.

2. We were sitting pretty far back (orchestra row KK). It was fine sound-wise. Visually, I had to sit on my jackets to get a good view (I’m short 😀, that’s fine, it’s just the way it is in some venues). The people around us were for the most part* respectful and appreciative, but it sounded to me like most of the big fans were sitting a lot closer. If I’m lucky enough to go see him again, if I can get closer seats, will I have a better chance of being near some of you guys? Would love to be around others who are as thrilled as I was to be there.

*directly behind us were a group of five or so ladies who all worked for the theater, got in for free, and didn’t know much of anything about Bob. They talked a LOT, got up & down frequently, and then at the end one of them apparently had put her phone in the Yondr while it was on, so of course it started ringing incessantly during Every Grain of Sand. And they kept discussing it LOUDLY, but not actually doing anything about it, like leaving. I shushed them a couple of times - not so much for the phone as for the talking. That of course did nothing but result in one of them calling me a b—ch as we were leaving 🙄

1. Romantic rejection - the singer is rejecting a suitor.
2. Autobiographical - Dylan is rejecting the "prophet" image people put on him.
3. Protest - the "babe" is the US government at the beginning of the Vietnam War, or in general any government wanting its people to fight: "Someone to close his eyes for you /Someone to close his heart /Someone who will die for you an’ more" - he doesn't want to close his eyes to atrocities and kill and die.

**

What's so clever is 2 and 3 are opposites, it can be read as Dylan telling us he's unable to live up to our projections of him and him being a protest leader.

Still have much to learn about music theory but I'd like to know how he managed to make Dylan sound almost shoegazey.

Just wondering

Anybody have intel or even a hunch that Bob will tour more up the east coast after the Vienna Shows? I'm in Philadelphia and would drive if it's truly gonna be the last but I'm holding out he'll come a little closer?

When I listen to CUTTING EDGE, it seems every time I hear Bob acknowledge Tom Wilson, Bob is being really impatient and kind of a jerk to him. There's a cut early on where apparently Tom starts rolling when Bob isn't ready; and Bob says, "You have to LOOK at me, Tom, if you would LOOK at me you'd know" and Tom says in a very calm matter "I have to look down to write the numbers, Bob."

Moreso, during all the takes of "Like a Rolling Stone" - at one point Tom says "Roll Take 6" and Bob just SPITS out, "NO! Don't 'roll take 6!!!'" in a totally bitchy way.

I just finished reading THAT THIN, WILD MERCURY SOUND where Bob Johnston tells Tom that he's out, saying that Grossman hates him. "Aw, hell, I knew that" Tom says. Maybe Bob hated him too.

Maybe recording was just stressful and he took it out on everyone.

1. Romantic rejection - the singer is rejecting a suitor.

2. Autobiographical - Dylan is rejecting the "prophet" image people put on him.

3. Protest - the "babe" is the US government at the beginning of the Vietnam War, or in general any government wanting its people to fight: "Someone to close his eyes for you /Someone to close his heart /Someone who will die for you an’ more" - he doesn't want to close his eyes to atrocities and kill and die.

**

What's so clever is 2 and 3 are opposites, it can be read as Dylan telling us he's unable to live up to our projections of him and him being a protest leader.

What are people’s views on the following books?

Time Out of Mind: The Lives of Bob Dylan - Ian Bell

Together Through Life - Matthew Ingell

Aside from Chronicles and Clinton Heylins The Double Life of Bob Dylan Vol 1 that I’m currently reading are there any other must read Dylan Books?

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DW9jq3rERDk/?igsh=MXJpcHlxbXNvbHp3dg==

You told me that you loved me

And that would never change

Now I'm looking in the mirror

And I know that I'm to blame

'Cause it's all gone, babe, like the song says

Fallen from her curls

Here stands a woman

Where there once was a girl

Come a long way from Danville

Where they wear that Danville curl

The mother and the father

Who kept me in their care

They're both gone like the ribbons

That I used to wear

But it's alright, Ma, things got tight, Pa

So I went and pawned the pearls

Here stands a woman

Where there once was a girl

I come a long way from Danville

Where they wear that Danville curl

You told me that you loved me

And that would never change

But I'm looking in the mirror

I know I'm not the same

'Cause it's all gone, babe, like the song says

I been all around this world

I’m just starting a vinyl collection and currently have four Dylan albums:

Blood on the Tracks

Street Legal

Oh Mercy

Rough and Rowdy Ways

Because I’m not made of money, expanding the collection is going to take time. I was wondering from those of you who have listened to Dylan’s stuff on vinyl, what would you prioritise - which albums do you think work particularly well in this medium?

For example, Blood on the Tracks sounds amazing on vinyl, whereas Street Legal (which I love) sounds a bit flat.

Dylan has been paying tribute to his favorite artists in concert by covering Van Morrison, Chuck Berry, and the Grateful Dead in concert. Considering he has written his own epics like Key West, Tempest, and Highlands, should he cover Jungleland by the boss?