Posted on 09/25/2005 3:47:51 AM PDT by dennisw
Edited on 09/25/2005 10:11:40 AM PDT by Lead Moderator. [history]
About an hour into Bob Dylan: No Direction Home, Joan Baez—in an interview that will be edited by your PBS station—recalls an invincible young Dylan imagining what they'll be saying about him in the future: "A bunch of years from now, all these (expletive deleted) are going to be writing about all this (expletive deleted) I write, and I don't know where the (expletive deleted) it comes from and I don't know what the (expletive deleted) it's about, and they're going to write about what it's about." Here we are. This documentary comes complete with a Starbucks tie-in, an Apple logo, and a celebrity director's credit. That director is Martin Scorsese, who has surely coveted access to this footage—donated by D.A. Pennebaker, Murray Lerner, and others—having already shot Dylan as the pièce de résistance to his documentary about The Band, The Last Waltz. But before you get too excited about this crossroads meeting, viewer, beware: This project was co-produced by Dylan's manager Jeff Rosen. Scorsese was brought in well after Rosen had already conducted the interviews and approved the material. What will all these assholes be saying about Dylan? In this "Martin Scorsese Picture," whatever the Dylan people want.
We'll take it gratefully, of course. No Direction Home is framed by footage from a 1966 European tour in which Dylan was hounded by the folkie furies for plugging in with the Hawks, who later became The Band. (This footage is from Pennebaker's never-released and seldom-seen Eat the Document.) As the documentary opens, we see Dylan performing the classic rock warhorse "Like a Rolling Stone." The record had already been a No. 2 single, but it was still a rock 'n' roll Rite of Spring, too raw
Thanks for the link, that was a hilarious read. I love Bob Dylan and Stein.
Thought it was great! Both nights. I really liked the Shots in color in England with the band. No amps or drums mic'd. Blast off Rock and Roll. Wish there was part three tomorrow.
Thought it was great! Both nights. I really liked the Shots in color in England with the band. No amps or drums mic'd. Blast off Rock and Roll. Wish there was part three tomorrow.
And I'll say it again...
I married Isis on the fifth day of May,
But I could not hold on to her very long.
So I cut off my hair and I rode straight away
For the wild unknown country where I could not go wrong.
I came to a high place of darkness and light.
The dividing line ran through the center of town.
I hitched up my pony to a post on the right,
Went in to a laundry to wash my clothes down.
A man in the corner approached me for a match.
I knew right away he was not ordinary.
He said, "Are you lookin' for somethin' easy to catch?"
I said, "I got no money." He said, "That ain't necessary."
We set out that night for the cold in the North.
I gave him my blanket, he gave me his word.
I said, "Where are we goin'?" He said we'd be back by the fourth.
I said, "That's the best news that I've ever heard."
I was thinkin' about turquoise, I was thinkin' about gold,
I was thinkin' about diamonds and the world's biggest necklace.
As we rode through the canyons, through the devilish cold,
I was thinkin' about Isis, how she thought I was so reckless.
How she told me that one day we would meet up again,
And things would be different the next time we wed,
If I only could hang on and just be her friend.
I still can't remember all the best things she said.
We came to the pyramids all embedded in ice.
He said, "There's a body I'm tryin' to find.
If I carry it out it'll bring a good price."
'Twas then that I knew what he had on his mind.
The wind it was howlin' and the snow was outrageous.
We chopped through the night and we chopped through the dawn.
When he died I was hopin' that it wasn't contagious,
But I made up my mind that I had to go on.
I broke into the tomb, but the casket was empty.
There was no jewels, no nothin', I felt I'd been had.
When I saw that my partner was just bein' friendly,
When I took up his offer I must-a been mad.
I picked up his body and I dragged him inside,
Threw him down in the hole and I put back the cover.
I said a quick prayer and I felt satisfied.
Then I rode back to find Isis just to tell her I love her.
She was there in the meadow where the creek used to rise.
Blinded by sleep and in need of a bed,
I came in from the East with the sun in my eyes.
I cursed her one time then I rode on ahead.
She said, "Where ya been?" I said, "No place special."
She said, "You look different." I said, "Well, not quite."
She said, "You been gone." I said, "That's only natural."
She said, "You gonna stay?" I said, "Yeah, I jes might."
Isis, oh, Isis, you mystical child.
What drives me to you is what drives me insane.
I still can remember the way that you smiled
On the fifth day of May in the drizzlin' rain.
Thanks for the clarification. I guess it would be fair then to say Scorsese's character was also a wacko, as was deniro's, as was Harvey Keitels, as was Jody Fosters, as was the guy who got his hand blown off, as was...
Untrue. She had a stunning voice. She was a real hottie in the early days too. Dylan schlonged her in her prime. She was very talented, but her annoying politics deservedly spoils our memory of her. Thankfully Dylan was the only icon of the 60's who never espoused left-wing politics, to the great consternation of his flock. Recently he has revealed a conservative bent which is quite gratifying.
Cool, I love Emmylou (cept I hate her politics) and have been a lifelong Dylan fan. Where is this recording available?
My $.02 on the debate on this thread is that I would separate out Dylan the human being from Dylan the artist.
I have the idea (the idea, not the certainty) that I would not like Dylan the person. I think he's probably not someone you'd want as a friend. I remain convinced, however, that his music is deserving of all the accolades past and present. No use in arguing the point though. Those that can't or won't or don't want to see it are entitled to their wrong opinion LOL.
I normally don't believe in separating the person from the art but in this case I think it's mandatory. For all we know maybe Shakespeare wasn't a prince among men either. But at this point, who cares?
But, but they were hoping so, his words spoke to them....HA!
I once had a room mate who was also a Dylan fan. We argued constantly over that. I always considered "Desire" his best album; my room mate insisted it was "Blood on the Tracks."
We never changed our minds. :0)
Weird.
I was singing that song in the shower last night.
I think this is largely true,as is the case with Joni Mitchell.
The Byrds did an outstanding job on Tambourine Man for sure.Have you ever heard Judy Collins do it? Amazing,IMO.
I will grant that she was awfully cute around 1960-1962.
But, her voice was like fingernails on a chalkboard. Of course, my wife says the same about Dylan.
I had always viewed her as a wannabe who sang mediocre songs (unless she was singing someone else's) with an annoying voice and took herself far too seriously.
About her whacko politics: I always admired her for having the courage to state her views on the Johnnie Carson show in the late '60s even though she knew she was going to get booed. I disagreed with her totally, but she had guts and did not back down.
Blond on Blond is my favorite album
My guess is Bob Dylan is politically right in the middle these days. He's been around a lot and that's where he is today. He's not part of the Hollywood loony left - I never hear him make crazy remarks about George Bush or the Republicans
Currently, my favorite is "Love and Theft," his latest.
It is amazingly good. It ranks with his best.
I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom.
Bob Dylan
I've never written a political song. Songs can't save the world. I've gone through all that.
Bob Dylan
All this talk about equality. The only thing people really have in common is that they are all going to die.
Bob Dylan
Democracy don't rule the world, You'd better get that in your head; This world is ruled by violence, But I guess that's better left unsaid.
Bob Dylan
Jesus tapped me on the shoulder and said, Bob, why are you resisting me? I said, I'm not resisting you! He said, You gonna follow me? I said, I've never thought about that before! He said, When you're not following me, you're resisting me.
Bob Dylan
People seldom do what they believe in. They do what is convenient, then repent.
Bob Dylan
If I wasn't Bob Dylan, I'd probably think that Bob Dylan has a lot of answers myself.
Bob Dylan
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