In theory, I'm less interested in the way too easy songs ripped from the headlines idea, where he hunted down specific case of (supposed) racial injustice. Still, I'll buy the easy sentiments of "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll." This just has one of his most compelling, memorable and moving melodies ever. On the other hand, he runs this schtick into the wall at 100 mph with "Hurricane." Besides being a defense of a colored person who happened to in fact be a dangerous thug as originally billed, this song just doesn't have the tune. Yet he decides that it's so important to give minutaie of his murder case that he manages to stretch that mediocre tune out for most of half an hour. Eeek!
He built up his best heads of sanctimonious steam, though, with the political broadsides. He made his name with "Blowin' in the Wind." This is a gently stated folk song. He emphasizes more the sense of his side's sweet superiority rather than the judgement aspect. But it's the opposition to the evil status quo oppressors that defines that intoxicating feeling of superiority.
Much better for my money, though, is the pure, straight on righteous judgement of "Masters of War." Those basic acoustic guitar chords are simply stated, but beautifully strident in themselves before you even get to the words or the tune of it. He gets a particularly good lyrical payoff watching his enemies put into the ground, and making good and sure they're not coming back. "And I'll stand o'er your grave till I'm sure that you're dead."
That may be his very best political judgemental song, but the full rock and roll attack on the entire family down on "Maggie's Farm" would make a good choice as well. Personally, I much prefer the 1981 late model rock assault on critics of the "Neighborhood Bully." Besides that I approve wholeheartedly of the specific message, the attack on the hypocrisy and ill will of the enemies of Israel ie nearly the entire frickin' world, it's a satisfyingly challenging sentiment. This album is also the best career work for guitarist Mark Knopfler.
Tom Lehrer classically skewered the whole "Folk Song Army" whose representative sang, "We all hate poverty, war and injustice- unlike the rest of you squares." "Blowin' in the Wind" is easy like that, but the staunch defense of that "Neighborhood Bully" is something of a conscious slap in the face to many of Bob's core audience.
Article comments
1 - Barry Stoller
I'm not sure a "finger of judgement" is really "a Jewish thing" - consider Phil Ochs if you will. First, the basic protest tunes ("Here's To The State of Mississippi") then the refined protest tunes ("Bracero") then the personal putdowns ("I've Had Her"), not to mention the greatest protest song of ALL time ("Outside A Small Circle of Friends"). Of course, poor Phil never made the big time and then turned his back against the left, which is one reason Dylan has fared so well in these neocon times, the fraud.
2 - Mark Saleski
peace pukes? hmmmm, allow me to quote some text i stumbled upon recently:
"Even if you're right, shut up with the implicit proclamations of superiority."
3 - Al Barger
Barry, it's not that being judgmental is uniquely a Jewish thing, but it's the particular flavor of Dylan, how he plays prophet and quotes the Old Testament and such.
Monsieur Saleski, re: "peace pukes." This usage is a mild joke. I'm teasing you. I'm sure you could find much better examples in my writing of me up on a moral high horse.
4 - Temple Stark
This was chosen as an Editor's Pick this week by your humble Music Editor Matt. Go HERE to find out why and grab a nifty graphic button to put on your own site.
5 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
Al, this may be my favourite slab of Bergerism yet etched in the 1'an 0's. plenty for to get me riled up, if i didn't assume you were sniggerin away there at the thought. That Hurricane malarky... but i agree that the song is way too long and worse, the lyrics are horrible.
but yes, enjoyed every inch of this, an reminded me why i dig the hell outta Infidels. also, he looks like Shane MacGowan circa-1990 on the front cover. Or does Shane MacGowan circa-1990 look like Bob Dylan on the cover of Infidels? maybe some scholars should look into it.
6 - El Bicho
Good piece. I'm curious as to your take on "George Jackson".
While I know you don't care for Rage Against the Machine, I suggest you try their version of Maggie's Farm, one of my all-time classic covers. They do a much better job of capturing the narrator's anger, slowly building in intensity at each family member.
7 - Rodney Welch
First of all, you forgot "A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall." Second, how could you possibly find such a hypnotic song as "Hurricane" to be tuneless? That's just plain wrong. Is there a listener of oldies radio anywhere who has any trouble recalling the melody, reciting the chorus or, lacking that, recognizing the song within seconds? And it's not "most of a half-hour," it's 8 minutes and 32 seconds -- and while Dylan's facts are wobbly, the lyrics tell a fascinating crime story, each verse building in detail. And if you want a much better example of Dylan's occasional naivete where real life crime is concerned, try "Joey," the oh-so-poignant tale of a the mobster Joey Gallo, who had the decency not to use guns around children.
8 - Al Barger
Rodney, Hard Rain didn't really seem to fit. In theory, it could be considered to be in judgement against the masters of war what would be causing the hard rain, but it seems to me more like existential terror than any finger of judgement.
You might have me though on the length of "Hurricane." I confess to not having looked it up again while writing. Maybe it only SEEMS like it goes on for 20 something minutes.
Bicho, I'll have to listen to "George Jackson" again. It's never made a big impression on me.
Duke, perhaps that "Hurricane" song might sound good to you while you're doing the humpty dance with Bin Laden, but I can't fathom why anyone not similarly engaged would like it.
However, I doubt UBL would appreciate if you played that "Neighborhood Bully" for him. Might ruin the mood for your romantic interlude there.
9 - Rodney Welch
Al, "Hard Rain" and "Times They Are a-Changin'" are on seperate albums, but they are I think very much of a piece, and both have that sense of an Old Testament prophet declaring impending doom -- more so, I think, than most of the others on your list: "I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains/I've walked and I've crawled on six crooked highways/ I've stepped in the meadow of sevenm sad forests," etc., etc. It is not, as are most of the others on your list, directed to a single person or thing or image, but neither is "Maggie's Farm," which doesn't really live up to your criteria, either, but it's your list.
I'd love to hear "George Jackson" again. Anyone know why he never put it on an album?