Paul upsets me.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Fri May 11, 2007 4:09 pm

I don't know how Dylan could remember any of his songs, try Desolation Row.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Fri May 11, 2007 5:13 pm

That has always astonished me too, Bob.

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Fri May 11, 2007 5:16 pm

<i>Einstein, disguised as Robin Hood
With his memories in a trunk
Passed this way an hour ago
With his friend, a jealous monk
He looked so immaculately frightful
As he bummed a cigarette
Then he went off sniffing drainpipes
And reciting the alphabet
Now you would not think to look at him
But he was famous long ago
For playing the electric violin
On Desolation Row
</i>

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Fri May 11, 2007 5:17 pm

Yeah, and there's about twelve verses like that in the song!

congerz83 · Post by **congerz83** » Fri May 11, 2007 6:02 pm

That sounds a little "Greetings From Asbury Park"-ish.

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Fri May 11, 2007 6:19 pm

There are certain verses in songs that just draw me. That is the verse in Desolation Row. I call it the money verse cuz it's the one I quote a lot!

Here's a money verse from another of Bob's.

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

Because something is happening here
But you don't know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?

Oops forgot the topic. sorry.

lyle_from_minneapolis · Fri May 11, 2007 6:29 pm

Dudes, I can do it! I feel so pleased!

I've been playing "Desolation Row" for many a year now, along with a lot of other long Dylan tunes like "Gates of Eden" and "Percy's Song" and a whole lot more. Solo acoustic was my gig for years, usually opening for bands at gigs in the city, and Dylan, Bowie, Beatles, Lou Reed, 60's & 70's songwriters were the covers I liked to do. But the truth is, remembering a long Dylan song isn't as hard as it would appear if you haven't committed to learning one. Each line just leads to the next one, and they simply flow once you've learned them.

But I STILL defend anyone who needs the words available...just in case the mind drifts too far into the music, and you suddenly can barely remember your name.

That's funny about Dylan. Play the opening chords, and he's thinking, "Now which one is this one...? Oh, yeah, that's right.."

stubby · Post by **stubby** » Fri May 11, 2007 6:43 pm

I'm with you on this Mark - I do, and have done, tons of Dylan for many years, including many of his marathon tunes. I agree - with both you and Dylan it seems- you get the first line and the next 36 verses just tumble out, almost automatically. They're so hypnotic and well-structured that the next line has to follow the one before - it just all makes sense, even if sometimes the actual words he/you are singing might not at a given moment. The first line really is the major hurdle - if there is any.

I too agree that whatever you need to get you through musically is okay. Everybody has their props for different things.

lyle_from_minneapolis · Fri May 11, 2007 6:56 pm

That's great, Bill. You know "how it feels". Dylan's always been great to play. Still, I'm sort of waiting for the inevitable "God I Just Hate Dylan" post, but once you've played him, just you're own voice and guitar and harmonica and a bunch of people staring you down, you really become grateful that there is a Bob Dylan still walking the planet.

wj350 · Post by **wj350** » Sat May 12, 2007 1:09 am

Upsets me too. No one should have that much talent...when there are so many like me who are starving for some (best Sally Struthers impersonation).

tennis_nick · Post by **tennis_nick** » Sat May 12, 2007 2:22 am

Seems kinda ridiculous to expect a 64 year man to remember all the words to all the songs he's written since he was 16... I think we'd me outraged if every concert featured Paul going "mhhhmmhm hmamaaananana aa aaa... cried for no one"

Here's another shocker, news anchors haven othing written on their pages, and use teleprompters as well!

At his age, his teleprompter dosen't embarass him, his physicals do.

congerz83 · Post by **congerz83** » Sat May 12, 2007 3:21 am

....... as I crawl under a rock

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Sat May 12, 2007 3:43 am

Yeah, well Sinatra didn't have the words written out, and he was doing it for longer than Paul (too long, many said. Paul will probably follow in his footsteps.)

More than anything else, it's modern day show biz. People singing along with their record on Saturday Night Live, people like Cher and Madonna doing "live" shows without singing a lick.

I found a few years ago it was a lot cheaper and more interesting to see a decent band in a club for $8, a band that was just playing for glory. Pay more than that and it's not rock 'n roll.

hozy · Post by **hozy** » Sat May 12, 2007 12:56 pm

No big deal now, He couldn't remember the words to I'm down in 1966

revolver323 · Post by **revolver323** » Sat May 12, 2007 4:28 pm

Anybody remember Lennon completely forgetting the second verse of "Help" on the Ed Sullivan show?