--His music was better when he had a message and people waiting.--
i distinctly remember the dylan void of the early 70s. as a budding
activist, i was angry that he quit making songs about 'peace' and
social concern. i felt betrayed and consequently quit listening to his
music. occasionally, one of his hits would play big, like hurricane,
youtube.com
and i would hope that he would 'come back' to the marching days.
not to be, though.
in the late 80s/early 90s a music fan friend told me to listen to
dylan's current stuff...that it was very good. though i was interested
i didn't listen... other things to do, other music to hear.
then, i met a young musician in 2010 who had memorized far more dylan lyrics
than i thought possible. his enthusiasm got me to listen to what dylan had
done over all those decades. and...dylan's work is simply amazing. the various
'roads traveled' is stunning, i think... and always his return to that deep american
theme-- the blues, which many folks would say is entirely political... its
african-american slavery origin, its soul grip, its elevation by guitar.
after reviewing dylan's work, it was easy for me to 'forgive' him for leaving the
movement. cuz he really didn't leave. he just did his artist thing, followed the muse,
which may be the difference between an artist and a commercialist or politician or
someone otherly employed.
why did he leave? in talking with my musician friend and reading a bit, it
seemed that he left because he was afraid of being taken out as a threat
to the u.s. government. makes sense, since he 'left' after jfk, king jr.,
bobby, etc were murdered. so, how many of us, the youth of the 60s/70s,
would put our life on the line for our beliefs? and, like me, i imagine you
can think of a few 'hippies' who found ways to profit off the capitalist
system, once they found god and pragmatism. yes, dylan's rich.
joseph, have you heard this lengthy free release about jfk's murder and
how dylan/our culture coped with it (or whatever):
youtube.com
oh, about the song ggersh posted:
"So apart from everything, what is it that is broken? Well, everything on a social scale.
This is the world gone wrong at the level of social interaction... it’s a sort of hippy plaintive
cry of “Everything is broken man”.
bob-dylan.org.uk
seems like social commentary to me.
-g-
best regards
--m |
