Zuma's Top 50 - 1 Bob Dylan

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7 - Tangled up in Bluuuueee - Blood On The Tracks - 1975

Dylan's exuberant, euphoric/tragic relationship roller coaster Tangled Up In Blue hits your between the eyes. It has everything that makes Dylan one of the greatest singer/songwriters and was one of his best live performances especially on the Rolling Thunder Revue shows during the mid 70's.



Early one morning the sun was shining
I was laying in bed
Wond'ring if she'd changed it all
If her hair was still red
Her folks they said our lives together
Sure was gonna be rough
They never did like Mama's homemade dress
Papa's bankbook wasn't big enough
And I was standing on the side of the road
Rain falling on my shoes
Heading out for the East Coast
Lord knows I've paid some dues getting through
Tangled up in blue.

She was married when we first meet
Soon to be divorced
I helped her out of a jam I guess
But I used a little too much force
We drove that car as far as we could
Abandoned it out West
Split it up on a dark sad night
Both agreeing it was best
She turned around to look at me
As I was walking away
I heard her say over my shoulder
"We'll meet again someday on the avenue"
Tangled up in blue.

I had a job in the great north woods
Working as a cook for a spell
But I never did like it all that much
And one day the ax just fell
So I drifted down to New Orleans
Where I happened to be employed
Working for a while on a fishing boat
Right outside of Delacroix
But all the while I was alone
The past was close behind
I seen a lot of women
But she never escaped my mind my love just grew
Tangled up in blue.

She was working in a topless place
And I stopped in for a beer
I just kept looking at her side of her face
In the spotlight so clear
And later on as the crowd thinned out
I's just about to do the same
She was standing there in back of my chair
Saying "Jimmy, Don't I know your name ?"
I muttered something underneath my breath
She studied the lines on my face
I must admit I felt a little uneasy
When she bent down to tie the laces of my shoe
Tangled up in blue.

She lit a burner on the stove and offered me a pipe
"I thought you'd never say hello" she said
"You look like the silent type"
Then she opened up a book of poems
And handed it to me
Written by an Italian poet
From the thirteenth century
And every one of them words rang true
And glowed like burning coal
Pouring off of every page
Like it was written in my soul from me to you
Tangled up in blue

I lived with them on Montague Street
In a basement down the stairs
There was music in the caf,s at night
And revolution in the air
Then he started into dealing with slaves
And something inside of him died
She had to sell everything she owned
And froze up inside
And when finally the bottom fell out
I became withdrawn
The only thing I knew how to do
Was to keep on keeping on like a bird that flew
Tangled up in blue.

So now I'm going back again
I got to get her somehow
All the people we used to know
They're an illusion to me now
Some are mathematicians
Some are carpenter's wives
Don't know how it all got started
I don't what they're doing with their lives
But me I'm still on the road
Heading for another joint
We always did feel the same
We just saw it from a different point of view
Tangled up in Blue.
 
6 - Knocking on Heaven's Door - Single - 1973

One of the most recognized melodies in rock, a great three chord song written for the film Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid gave Bob Dylan a #12 hit in the U.S and a song that was covered by each subsequent generation including Guns n Roses. No cover versions hold a candle to the somber original where Bob sings in his best Nashville Skyline deep vocal and featuring a soulful arrangement the perfect song for many occasions.



Mama, take this badge off of me
'cause I can't use it anymore.
It's gettin' dark, too dark to see
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door

Mama, put that gun to the ground
'cause I can't shoot them anymore.
There's a long black cloud comin' on down
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
 
5 - Mr Tambourine Man - Bringing It All Back Home - 1965

This otherworldly song with its surreal lyrics could very well be the most influential song Dylan ever wrote. It launched Californian band The Byrds to superstardom when one Roger McGuinn took Dylan's acoustic guitar and harmonica arrangement and put his own Rickenbaker 12 string stamp which was equally as groundbreaking and influential at the time taking Dylan's song into the stratosphere and embedded his material from the acoustic folk circles into wider popular culture which provided Dylan and his incredible songs even more momentum, a bigger platform, a bigger audience.




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.
 

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4 - Like a Rolling Stone - Highway 61 Revisited - 1965

Ok don't stone me I don't have this song at #1, hugely successful and perhaps his best known song which has topped many a poll including Rolling Stone's greatest rock song of all time. Enough has been written about this legendary composition, analyzed to the nth degree. How does it feel?



Once upon a time you dressed so fine
Threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you?
People call say 'beware doll, you're bound to fall'
You thought they were all kidding you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hanging out
Now you don't talk so loud
Now you don't seem so proud
About having to be scrounging your next meal

How does it feel, how does it feel?
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone

Ahh you've gone to the finest schools, alright Miss Lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
Nobody's ever taught you how to live out on the street
And now you're gonna have to get used to it
You say you never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but now you realize
He's not selling any alibis
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
And say do you want to make a deal?

How does it feel, how does it feel?
To be on your own, with no direction home
A complete unknown, like a rolling stone

Ah you never turned around to see the frowns
On the jugglers and the clowns when they all did tricks for you
You never understood that it ain't no good
You shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you
You used to ride on a chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain't it hard when you discovered that
He really wasn't where it's at
After he took from you everything he could steal

How does it feel, how does it feel?
To have you on your own, with no direction home
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone

Ahh princess on a steeple and all the pretty people
They're all drinking, thinking that they've got it made
Exchanging all precious gifts
But you better take your diamond ring, you better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls you, you can't refuse
When you ain't got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You're invisible now, you've got no secrets to conceal

How does it feel, ah how does it feel?
To be on your own, with no direction home
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone
 
3 - All Along the Watchtower - John Wesley Harding - 1967

There must be some way out of here? said the Joker to the Thief. Another legendary Dylan song taken to another level this time by the mercurial Jimmy Hendrix who's electric guitar arrangement of the Dylan song stands as one of the finest rock recordings of all time. As good as Dylan's acoustic and harmonica based original is, it will be forever associated with and considered one of Hendrix's finest moments. Neil Young picked up the song and took it to another generation at Bob's 30th Concert celebration and often performs the song with emphasis on the "two riders were approaching" line. Dylan will continue to perform his song, too, and probably will continue to do for as long as his boot heels are wonderin


 
2 - Blowin' In The Wind - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan - 1963



How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, ’n’ how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, ’n’ how many times must the cannonballs fly
Before they’re forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind

How many years can a mountain exist
Before it’s washed to the sea?
Yes, ’n’ how many years can some people exist
Before they’re allowed to be free?
Yes, ’n’ how many times can a man turn his head
Pretending he just doesn’t see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, ’n’ how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, ’n’ how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind


 
1 - The Times They are a-Changin' - The Times They are a-Changin' - 1964

Coming in at number one is one of Bob's most enduring anthems about the inevitable change that goes down the passing of time. Nothing lasts forever so keep moving along or get left behind. This song was lauded upon release and elevating Dylan to a spokesperson of his generation in the minds of the press. His lyrics are as relevant today as the were then and have been quoted extensively in literature and popular culture, the song covered by a multitude of artists from generation to generation.

Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.



Thanks for following my 50-1 Bob Dylan, so many songs did not make my list which is testament to one of the greatest back catalogues in music history. Dylan ain't done with and I am sure if I did this list in 10 years time there would be at least 2-3 songs I could add. I'll invite you all to post your honorable mentions and what songs you would have included in a top 50 for further discussion.

Stay tuned for my next 50-1 for the late great David Bowie
 
Good choice for top 2. My favourite Dylan song is The Mighty Quinn but I actually prefer Manfred Mann's cover.
 
Zuma said:
19 - Not Dark Yet - Time Out Of Mind - 1997

One of Dylan's most poignant ballads from the great Time Out of Mind album. I love the line Feel like my soul has turned into steel, I've still got the scars that the sun didn't heal and the song title line It's Not Dark Yet But It's Getting There. The song seems to describe the period in a person's life where they are acutely aware where they are heading, they ain't too far gone just yet.

Click to expand...


Always liked this song. Recently though, Make You Feel My Love has been elipsing it for me on Time Out of Mind. I know the radio plays the Adele cover all the time, but Dylan's version captures more of the darkness and emotion that he probably intended it to have when he wrote it.

 
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Zuma said:
35 - Love Minus Zero/No Limit - Bringing it All Back Home - 1965

A tuneful and melodic acoustic love song written for future wife Sara featuring a some nice lyrical rhymes and eloquent imagery my love she laughs like the flowers, descriptive opposites She knows there's no success like failure, and that failure's no success at all the song lent itself well in a live setting also.

Click to expand...


Always loved that look on Donovan's face at 1:47..... struck with the realisation that he would never be able to do anything that good (although Catch the Wind comes close IMHO)
 
Good job bumping this thread, might never have found it otherwise. And of course, great effort in compiling it OP, not an easy task ranking Dylan's output, he's made so much great stuff these past six decades.

My top five.

1. Idiot Wind
2. Lay Down Your Weary Tune
3. Desolation Row
4. Visions Of Johanna
5. Mississippi
 
Zuma, you're a gem. I saw Dylan in concert on two occasions. The first was at the Myer Music Bowl, in 1978. It rained heavily for about twelve hours before and during. We were seated outdoors on the grass (not good for someone who wears spectacles), so we had to scramble to get a vantage point when the gates opened, after queuing for six hours. Despite this, I was gobsmacked to be in the presence of genius. It was during his reggae period, and 'Hurricane' was his current 'hit', so he had with him that wonderful electric violin player. When we left after the concert, we were able to hurtle down what had become a mudslide on the hill behind the Bowl.

The next concert I saw was in 1992, at The Palais, in St Kilda. I've posted this story before on this forum, but not in your beautiful tribute to the great man, so here goes. The first half of the show was his electric set, which was great, and the backing band was awesome. This can hardly be a surprise. Who wouldn't want to play with Bob? Anyway, the second half was his acoustic set. He absolutely floored me by playing and singing solo each song exactly as he had recorded it in the studio, note and intonation perfect. I think he did this because he could, and because he wanted to test himself, just to keep interested, towards the end of a long tour. This, from a man who had a deserved reputation for never playing a song the same way twice. He was playing with the audience and we were the ecstatic beneficiaries.

A lot is made of Dylan's lyrics, and quite rightly so. It is often underestimated what a great writer of music he was. 'All Along the Watchtower' being an example. After hearing the Hendrix version of this, he had the grace to say that, if he'd thought of it, this is the way he would have arranged this song himself. People also comment about the quality, or perceived lack thereof in his voice. I think his quirky style was perfectly suited to his works. Admittedly, his voice seems to have deteriorated over the years, or at least become different. Whatever might be said about this, it is still extremely rare for anyone to do a better version of any of his songs than the master.

My favourite Dylan song is not in your list, which is hardly surprising, given it was not written by him. It is 'Baby Let Me Follow You Down', from his initial, self-titled album, in 1962. It famously also featured on 'The Last Waltz'. The story goes that Dylan refused to tell 'The Band' before the concert which songs he would be singing. Apparently, he reasoned that after playing with him for so long, and being the musical geniuses they were, they'd pick it up as they went along. Only Bob. Anyway, back to 'Baby Let Me follow You Down'. I used this song as a soundtrack to overlay a radio doco I made about blind cricket. I must have listened to it a thousand times while I was recording the doco, and never became sick of it. The opening acoustic guitar riff is a killer and the voice and harmonica had the power they would always have. It must have been a shock for those who first listened to the album back then.

http://dai.ly/xxj6hp

Edit: I'm sorry this link takes a while to load. I'm not very good at this computer thingy.

Edit 2: Forget about the music and his playing and singing of it (if that can be done), was there a better poet during the twentieth century?
 
Last edited:
skilts said:
Zuma, you're a gem. I saw Dylan in concert on two occasions. The first was at the Myer Music Bowl, in 1978. It rained heavily for about twelve hours before and during. We were seated outdoors on the grass (not good for someone who wears spectacles), so we had to scramble to get a vantage point when the gates opened, after queuing for six hours. Despite this, I was gobsmacked to be in the presence of genius. It was during his reggae period, and 'Hurricane' was his current 'hit', so he had with him that wonderful electric violin player. When we left after the concert, we were able to hurtle down what had become a mudslide on the hill behind the Bowl.

The next concert I saw was in 1992, at The Palais, in St Kilda. I've posted this story before on this forum, but not in your beautiful tribute to the great man, so here goes. The first half of the show was his electric set, which was great, and the backing band was awesome. This can hardly be a surprise. Who wouldn't want to play with Bob? Anyway, the second half was his acoustic set. He absolutely floored me by playing and singing solo each song exactly as he had recorded it in the studio, note and intonation perfect. I think he did this because he could, and because he wanted to test himself, just to keep interested, towards the end of a long tour. This, from a man who had a deserved reputation for never playing a song the same way twice. He was playing with the audience and we were the ecstatic beneficiaries.

A lot is made of Dylan's lyrics, and quite rightly so. It is often underestimated what a great writer of music he was. 'All Along the Watchtower' being an example. After hearing the Hendrix version of this, he had the grace to say that, if he'd thought of it, this is the way he would have arranged this song himself. People also comment about the quality, or perceived lack thereof in his voice. I think his quirky style was perfectly suited to his works. Admittedly, his voice seems to have deteriorated over the years, or at least become different. Whatever might be said about this, it is still extremely rare for anyone to do a better version of any of his songs than the master.

My favourite Dylan song is not in your list, which is hardly surprising, given it was not written by him. It is 'Baby Let Me Follow You Down', from his initial, self-titled album, in 1962. It famously also featured on 'The Last Waltz'. The story goes that Dylan refused to tell 'The Band' before the concert which songs he would be singing. Apparently, he reasoned that after playing with him for so long, and being the musical geniuses they were, they'd pick it up as they went along. Only Bob. Anyway, back to 'Baby Let Me follow You Down'. I used this song as a soundtrack to overlay a radio doco I made about blind cricket. I must have listened to it a thousand times while I was recording the doco, and never became sick of it. The opening acoustic guitar riff is a killer and the voice and harmonica had the power they would always have. It must have been a shock for those who first listened to the album back then.

http://dai.ly/xxj6hp

Edit: I'm sorry this link takes a while to load. I'm not very good at this computer thingy.

Edit 2: Forget about the music and his playing and singing of it (if that can be done), was there a better poet during the twentieth century?
Click to expand...


I love this post. And there's no doubt that when he feels like it he is still capable of singing as well as he ever has or pen a song worthy of his finest hour.

One of my fave Dylan moments was the doco made during the filming of hearts on fire it goes over 4 parts and I think still on you tube you may know it. It has a rare interaction with fans as well as being interviewed in a caravan whilst he sketches a portrait of his interviewer
 
skilts said:
Zuma, you're a gem. I saw Dylan in concert on two occasions. The first was at the Myer Music Bowl, in 1978. It rained heavily for about twelve hours before and during. We were seated outdoors on the grass (not good for someone who wears spectacles), so we had to scramble to get a vantage point when the gates opened, after queuing for six hours. Despite this, I was gobsmacked to be in the presence of genius. It was during his reggae period, and 'Hurricane' was his current 'hit', so he had with him that wonderful electric violin player. When we left after the concert, we were able to hurtle down what had become a mudslide on the hill behind the Bowl.

The next concert I saw was in 1992, at The Palais, in St Kilda. I've posted this story before on this forum, but not in your beautiful tribute to the great man, so here goes. The first half of the show was his electric set, which was great, and the backing band was awesome. This can hardly be a surprise. Who wouldn't want to play with Bob? Anyway, the second half was his acoustic set. He absolutely floored me by playing and singing solo each song exactly as he had recorded it in the studio, note and intonation perfect. I think he did this because he could, and because he wanted to test himself, just to keep interested, towards the end of a long tour. This, from a man who had a deserved reputation for never playing a song the same way twice. He was playing with the audience and we were the ecstatic beneficiaries.

A lot is made of Dylan's lyrics, and quite rightly so. It is often underestimated what a great writer of music he was. 'All Along the Watchtower' being an example. After hearing the Hendrix version of this, he had the grace to say that, if he'd thought of it, this is the way he would have arranged this song himself. People also comment about the quality, or perceived lack thereof in his voice. I think his quirky style was perfectly suited to his works. Admittedly, his voice seems to have deteriorated over the years, or at least become different. Whatever might be said about this, it is still extremely rare for anyone to do a better version of any of his songs than the master.

My favourite Dylan song is not in your list, which is hardly surprising, given it was not written by him. It is 'Baby Let Me Follow You Down', from his initial, self-titled album, in 1962. It famously also featured on 'The Last Waltz'. The story goes that Dylan refused to tell 'The Band' before the concert which songs he would be singing. Apparently, he reasoned that after playing with him for so long, and being the musical geniuses they were, they'd pick it up as they went along. Only Bob. Anyway, back to 'Baby Let Me follow You Down'. I used this song as a soundtrack to overlay a radio doco I made about blind cricket. I must have listened to it a thousand times while I was recording the doco, and never became sick of it. The opening acoustic guitar riff is a killer and the voice and harmonica had the power they would always have. It must have been a shock for those who first listened to the album back then.

http://dai.ly/xxj6hp

Edit: I'm sorry this link takes a while to load. I'm not very good at this computer thingy.

Edit 2: Forget about the music and his playing and singing of it (if that can be done), was there a better poet during the twentieth century?
Click to expand...

Interesting that both Bowie and Dylan played Melbourne in 78 and both occasions it Bucketed with rain
 
Zuma said:
I love this post. And there's no doubt that when he feels like it he is still capable of singing as well as he ever has or pen a song worthy of his finest hour.

One of my fave Dylan moments was the doco made during the filming of hearts on fire it goes over 4 parts and I think still on you tube you may know it. It has a rare interaction with fans as well as being interviewed in a caravan whilst he sketches a portrait of his interviewer
Click to expand...
I enjoyed writing it, and I'm pleased that you enjoyed reading it. I was unaware of the doco you mention. I'll check it out. Thanks for the heads up.

I forgot to mention that I also saw 'The Band', also at The Palais, during the 90s. They were in their reconstituted version, without Robbie Robertson, and they were still brilliant.
 
Zuma said:
Interesting that both Bowie and Dylan played Melbourne in 78 and both occasions it Bucketed with rain
Click to expand...
You vicious bastard, you had to bring this up, didn't you? :) Yes, of course I was at the Bowie concert as well. I was a glutton for punishment back then. I learnt from my folly though. I have never attended an outdoor concert since. The concert itself was a joyful experience, despite the rain. The stack of speakers and amps looked like a twelve-storey building. As a result, the sound was excellent, quite an achievement at the G. I think it might also have been the first concert I attended where they had a video screen on stage for the audience to view. I think Bowie enjoyed himself as much as the crowd did, which is saying something.
 
Last edited:
skilts said:
I enjoyed writing it, and I'm pleased that you enjoyed reading it. I was unaware of the doco you mention. I'll check it out. Thanks for the heads up.

I forgot to mention that I also saw 'The Band', also at The Palais, during the 90s. They were in their reconstituted version, without Robbie Robertson, and they were still brilliant.
Click to expand...

It's called getting to Dylan from 1986
 
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