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Bob Dylan — Day Of The Locusts
Album: New Morning
Avg rating:
5.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 225









Released: 1970
Length: 3:57
Plays (last 30 days): 1
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Oh, the benches were stained with tears and perspiration,
The birdies were flying from tree to tree.
There was little to say, there was no conversation
As I stepped to the stage to pick up my degree.
And the locusts sang off in the distance,
Yeah, the locusts sang such a sweet melody.
Oh, the locusts sang off in the distance,
Yeah, the locusts sang and they were singin' for me.

I glanced into the chamber where the judges were talking,
Darkness was everywhere, it smelled like a tomb.
I was ready to leave, I was already walkin',
But the next time I looked there was light in the room.
And the locusts sang, yeah, it give me a chill,
Oh, the locusts sang such a sweet melody.
Oh, the locusts sang that high whining trill,
Yeah, the locusts sang and they were singin' for me.

Outside of the gates the trucks were unloadin',
The weather was hot, a-nearly 90 degrees.
The man standin' next to me, his head was exploding,
Whoa, I was prayin' the pieces wouldn't fall on me.
Yeah, and the locusts sang off in the distance,
Yeah, the locusts sang such a sweet melody.
Oh, the locusts sang off in the distance,
Now, the locusts sang and they were singin' for me.

I put down my robe, I picked up my diploma,
Took hold of my sweetheart and away we did drive,
Straight for the hills, the black hills of Dakota,
Sure was glad to get out of there alive.
And the locusts sang, whoa, it give me a chill,
Yeah, the locusts sang such a sweet melody.
And the locusts sang with that high whinin' trill,
Yeah, the locusts sang and they was singin' for me,
Singin' for me, whoa, singin' for me.
Comments (51)add comment
I just can’t get past the way he “sings” or whatever the hell it is he does. 
Posted 1 month ago by MrPou    [ Reply ]
Just because someone is considered "great" or "a tremendous contributor to X" does it require me to like him.  Not only that, but composing a great song doesn't imply that one is able to sing it.  I don't care for Philip Glass, either, and he's arguably one of the most influential composers of the 20th century.  Understanding a composer's contributions, as well as style, influences, and cultural sensibilities, are intellectual exercises.  Listening to a good song is enhanced by knowing in depth details about it - try studying Wagner for 6 months and listening to his operas - it's a whole different world - but knowing details doesn't imply liking it, enjoying the listen, or being able to relax and be momentarily distracted - and isn't that the ultimate goal of listening to radio?

That said, there are some Bob songs I actually like (and, contrary to you pro-Bobbers out there, it's his recent work), but they are very rare...and they don't include this one.

Fred

(that Master's in Musicology comes in handy some days)

Posted 13 years ago by fred_b    [ Reply ]
Take a look at Bob Dylan in 1963


Posted 13 years ago by the_real_mccoy    [ Reply ]
The locusts he is referring to are the cicadas that were coming out that year in Princeton.  You can hardly hear yourself think they are so loud.  (I live near Princeton - and I've lived through them.)
Posted 13 years ago by 4coralbells    [ Reply ]
There is no doubt about his lyric writing ability or his musical ability but I find Dylans vocals vary so much across the whole spectrum from Awful to Brilliant. I find with this song that he is down approaching awful and this song is grating.

Posted 14 years ago by siskinbob    [ Reply ]
I've only heard one Dylan cover that exceeded the original (Hendrix's 'Watchtower', which, while singularly brilliant, owes at least half of the credit to Dylan's lyrics). Dylan songs tend to fall flat when coming out of other people's mouths.


 dpjag wrote:
I've never found a Dylan song that couldn't be improved dramatically by someone else arranging and presenting it.
 

Posted 14 years ago by alph    [ Reply ]
One of the worse vocalist of the 20th century! Man, what a great song as always from him!{#Notworthy} {#Clap}
Posted 14 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
I was so hoping that Bill was gonna go from Joan Osbourne's cover of "Man in the Long Black Coat" into a Dylan tune. And as per usual you delivered, Bill. {#Clap} One of the most underappreciated Dylan albums IMO. I love New Morning, but not as much as Nashvile Skyline, my hands-down fav. Dylan record.
Posted 14 years ago by Wisecrowe    [ Reply ]
sounds like a plague of locusts... and I like Dylan usually...
Posted 14 years ago by Nuance    [ Reply ]
Not one i would call a hidden gem.  Disappointing for me but only by Bob's own high standards.
Posted 14 years ago by Sloggydog    [ Reply ]

 PLUS

EQUALS


Posted 14 years ago by a_genuine_find    [ Reply ]
And the MOOSE sang...

And he was singin' for me...
Posted 14 years ago by mooseisadick    [ Reply ]
M      {#Angel}    M
  O          O
    O      O
      S  S
        E
Posted 14 years ago by mooseisadick    [ Reply ]
He does sound like he has a worse cold then usual while singing this song but I still like it anyways...
Posted 14 years ago by DaveInSaoMiguel    [ Reply ]
I probably like as many Bob Dylan songs as the average listener, but I gotta say songs like this one sure do fuel the "Dylan can't sing" discussions.
Posted 14 years ago by tg3k    [ Reply ]
Invitations take many forms musical...many forms indeed
Posted 14 years ago by oldviolin    [ Reply ]
 lemmoth wrote:
To all of you Dylan bashers.  Please name your top ten favorite rock musical artists/acts of all time.  Then look up their numbers or email addresses.  Tell them you think Dylan sucks and why.  Ask what they think.  

Many will laugh. Most will silently pity you.  The more thoughtful will take the time to explain the enormous importance and contributions and influence of the man to modern music.  
 

{#Clap} {#Clap} {#Clap}
Posted 14 years ago by SweTex    [ Reply ]
 NickDanger wrote:
Dylan wrote this song in response to the honorary Doctorate he received from Princeton, if I recall correctly.
 
Yep, and David Crosby got him so high before the ceremony he didn't know what the F**k was going on {#Roflol}

Posted 14 years ago by SweTex    [ Reply ]

Oh, its that time again

Morning dose of Dylan torture

give me strength Lord


Posted 15 years ago by a_genuine_find    [ Reply ]
 macs wrote:
Dylan is not a singer. it is a lot more...
 

This is art!
Posted 15 years ago by More_Cowbell    [ Reply ]
Dylan wrote this song in response to the honorary Doctorate he received from Princeton, if I recall correctly.
Posted 15 years ago by NickDanger    [ Reply ]
 oldviolin wrote:
I glanced into the chamber where the judges were talking,
Darkness was everywhere, it smelled like a tomb.
I was ready to leave, I was already walkin',
But the next time I looked there was light in the room.

 

What, no kiss?
Posted 15 years ago by oldviolin    [ Reply ]
Considering it came out during his fantastic 63-75 era, New Morning was (and still is) nothing but a disappointment in comparison
Posted 15 years ago by Pharlap    [ Reply ]

*shrug . . . a label does not a great song make


Posted 15 years ago by wenatchee    [ Reply ]
 fingerpin wrote:
I have never heard this song nor would I have recognized that photo as a pic of Bob!
I been daydreamin' too long? {#Stupid}
 

It's all good. You have arrived at last.
Posted 15 years ago by oldviolin    [ Reply ]
I have never heard this song nor would I have recognized that photo as a pic of Bob!
I been daydreamin' too long? {#Stupid}
Posted 15 years ago by fingerpin    [ Reply ]
To all of you Dylan bashers.  Please name your top ten favorite rock musical artists/acts of all time.  Then look up their numbers or email addresses.  Tell them you think Dylan sucks and why.  Ask what they think.  

Many will laugh. Most will silently pity you.  The more thoughtful will take the time to explain the enormous importance and contributions and influence of the man to modern music.  
Posted 15 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
 chyk5 wrote:


Who would you prefer? Perhaps Barry Manilow, or maybe Clay Aiken?

 

Céline Dion + Michael Bolton DUET!
Posted 15 years ago by ThePoose    [ Reply ]
what a terrible bullshit-song of Mister Zimmermann!
actually can´t stand-it - return in 5 minutes
Posted 15 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
dpjag wrote:
I've never found a Dylan song that couldn't be improved dramatically by someone else arranging and presenting it.
Who would you prefer? Perhaps Barry Manilow, or maybe Clay Aiken?
Posted 15 years ago by chyk5    [ Reply ]
I've never found a Dylan song that couldn't be improved dramatically by someone else arranging and presenting it.
Posted 16 years ago by dpjag    [ Reply ]
...sing it Bobby Yeah!
Posted 16 years ago by Painted_Turtle    [ Reply ]
What absolute f*cking CRAP!
Posted 16 years ago by aronson    [ Reply ]
"Why am I listening to this?", I ask myself. If it was a demo recording of a great song it might have some sort of historical importance. But it isn't, so it doesn't.
Posted 16 years ago by Shimmer    [ Reply ]
Dylan is not a singer. it is a lot more...
Posted 16 years ago by macs    [ Reply ]
I'll never understand it when people don't feel like they can give Dylan's music a chance because he's not a "talented singer." Do you think that Jackson Pollack's paintings are not to be enjoyed because all he did was splatter paint on the canvas? Surely it's your own bag if you don't want to listen to the "whining." I would never take anyone to task for their musical preferences. But to dismiss Dylan's work because his voice is not as technically sound as, say, Barry Manilow, is to miss the point completely.
Posted 16 years ago by alph    [ Reply ]
Posted 16 years ago by macs    [ Reply ]
I glanced into the chamber where the judges were talking, Darkness was everywhere, it smelled like a tomb. I was ready to leave, I was already walkin', But the next time I looked there was light in the room.
Posted 16 years ago by oldviolin    [ Reply ]
Make the locust plague stop!
Posted 16 years ago by a_genuine_find    [ Reply ]
fredriley wrote:
Dylan on, mute on. Great songsmith, crap voice, IMHO - never been able to stand his whining drone, and have always preferred people who could actually sing covering his work, as then it's actually a pleasure to listen to his words, rather than earache.
Thank you. Those are my sentiments exactly.
Posted 16 years ago by Rotterdam    [ Reply ]
fretman wrote:
Always liked this story he sang. Was on the "contract fulfillment" album, of course. Beats the stuff that was on the "since you've signed with another label you won't mind if we release these cutting-room rejects" album called "Dylan" that came out a couple years past after the Bob went to Asylum. Decidedly not his best stuff, but compelling, nonetheless.
Oh, tell me more, I thought he was always with Columbia?
Posted 16 years ago by Augustus    [ Reply ]
MyAuthor wrote:
Believe it or not, this is from one of my very favorite dylan albums.. now that i'm not so down in the groove :)
I agree.
Posted 16 years ago by AlienRelic    [ Reply ]
Always liked this story he sang. Was on the "contract fulfillment" album, of course. Beats the stuff that was on the "since you've signed with another label you won't mind if we release these cutting-room rejects" album called "Dylan" that came out a couple years past after the Bob went to Asylum. Decidedly not his best stuff, but compelling, nonetheless.
Posted 16 years ago by fretman    [ Reply ]
Believe it or not, this is from one of my very favorite dylan albums.. now that i'm not so down in the groove :)
Posted 16 years ago by MyAuthor    [ Reply ]
Dylan on, mute on. Great songsmith, crap voice, IMHO - never been able to stand his whining drone, and have always preferred people who could actually sing covering his work, as then it's actually a pleasure to listen to his words, rather than earache.
Posted 16 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
Perhaps Dylan took signing lessons from the Locusts? I think that Bobby's telling stories...
Posted 16 years ago by LPCity    [ Reply ]
I'm liking this one and don't think I've noticed it before. Same album as Man in Me?
Posted 16 years ago by ArbiterOfGoodTaste    [ Reply ]
Not a Dylan song I've heard before! Thanks!
Posted 16 years ago by chuck_flacks    [ Reply ]
Lots of comments about Joan Osborne's version of a Dylan cover song, but no comments about Dylan singing a Dylan song? Both artists sounded good to me today
Posted 16 years ago by siandbeth    [ Reply ]