A common man marvels at uncommon things. A wise man marvels at the commonplace. CONFUCIUS

Thursday 25 August 2016

Ten Of The Best: Bob Dylan (10)



I got the pork chops, she got the pie
She ain't no angel and neither am I

Two of my favourite Dylan lines ever — apart from all the numerous others. 

This is a great video montage to a soundtrack of Thunder on the Mountain, the first song on Dylan's thirty-second studio album, Modern Times, released in 2006.

What can I say about Dylan that hasn't been said a million times and in a million ways before? What I will say is that whatever you or the world are going through (emotionally, spiritually, politically, economically, physically, existentially) he's nailed that experience somewhere in one of his songs — perhaps in the whole song, perhaps in just a few words or lines. Where else can you find that except in the Tao Te Ching, the Holy Bible, Shakespeare or Winnie-the-Pooh?

Thunder on the mountain, fires on the moon
There's a ruckus in the alley and the sun will be here soon
Today's the day, gonna grab my trombone and blow
Well, there's hot stuff here and it's everywhere I go

For the complete lyrics to this song click here.

7 comments:

Derek Faulkner said...

A great song, went potty over it when I first heard it. How about a few favourites - several that I return to the most are: Desolation Row - Ballad in Plain D (yes really) - Love Minus Zero, No Limit - Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands - Highlands - Boots of Spanish Leather - Every Grain of Sand. And the best collection of his songs by another person, by far, is Joan Baez's album "Any Day Now"

Derek Faulkner said...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTFTBFFxDug

Slightly in the wrong place I know but are you familiar with this guy.

Gwil W said...

Great video. Thanks!

am said...

Great video for "Thunder on the Mountain". I'm partial to "Spirit on the Water, "from "Modern Times," especially after hearing it in concert in Seattle in October 2014. Bob's a treasure, that's for sure.

Among my favorite lines, also from "Modern Times":

Beyond the horizon, in the Springtime or Fall
Love waits forever for one and for all

and then there's this from "Mississippi":

But my heart is not weary, it’s light and it’s free
I’ve got nothin’ but affection for all those who’ve sailed with me

The Solitary Walker said...

Love all those songs, Derek — and the Baez covers. Didn't know the guy in the clip — shades of Django Reinhardt there. Excellent stuff!

The Solitary Walker said...

Glad you enjoyed following the series, Gwil.

The Solitary Walker said...

Yes, it's a well assembled video, isn't It, Amanda? Mississippi — I really like that song. I had the good fortune to see him perform it (he's rarely sung this live) at the Brixton Academy some years back.