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Bob Dylan — Highway 61 Revisited
Album: Highway 61 Revisited
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1916









Released: 1965
Length: 3:21
Plays (last 30 days): 2
Oh, God said to Abraham, "Kill me a son"
Abe say, "Man, you must be puttin' me on"
God say, "No," Abe say, "What?"
God say, "You can do what you want Abe, but
The next time you see me comin', you better run"

Well, Abe said, "Where do you want this killin' done?"
God said, "Out on Highway 61"

Well, Georgia Sam, he had a bloody nose
Welfare Department, they wouldn't give him no clothes
He asked poor Howard, "Where can I go?"
Howard said, "There's only one place I know"
Sam said, "Tell me quick, man, I got to run"

Oh, Howard just pointed with his gun
And said, "That way down on Highway 61"

Well, Mack the Finger said to Louie the King
"I got forty red white and blue shoe strings
And a thousand telephones that don't ring
Do you know where I can get rid of these things?"
And Louie the King said, "Let me think for a minute, son"

And he said, "Yes, I think it can be easily done
Just take everything down to Highway 61"

Now the fifth daughter on the twelfth night
Told the first father that things weren't right
"My complexion," she says, "is much too white"
He said, "Come here and step into the light" he says, "Hmm, you're right
Let me tell the second mother this has been done"

But the second mother was with the seventh son
And they were both out on Highway 61

Now the rovin' gambler, he was very bored
Tryin' to create a next world war
He found a promoter who nearly fell off the floor
He said, "I never engaged in this kind of thing before
But yes, I think it can be very easily done

We'll just put some bleachers out in the sun
And have it on Highway 61"
Comments (300)add comment
uh oh...

this sounds like trouble

watch out, for petes sake
This is an awesome playlist tonight! I get it! Really. Thanks so much1 This made my day. I just signed up. Just to post this!

Ahhhh,
I'm pleading with RPP to insert the album cover into the image carousel !!!

Just look at that photo!! 

Also, you should  include photos of Highway 61 in the carousel.  Where are the midwest images of Keokuk?  Or Hannibal? Or  Dubuque?   

What about Muscatine? Don't you all known that city is known for it's melons?   

Is RP anti-melon?  

And Louie the King said, "Let me think for a minute, son"
(skips a verse)
 
I gotta say those are some masterful lyrics, especially the opening conversation. Bob Dylan was really on top of his game.
 Wardleader wrote:

I don't know how young or ironic or if it's a simple case of  tasteless money grubbing Philistines  on this site with anti-Dylan comments.  It's just sad to see such uninformed opinions. ....


I'm not sure how you make a connection between someone's musical opinions (informed or not) and "money-grubbing Philistines".  Is there some amoral financial gain to be derived by denigrating Bob Dylan's music?    Anyhow, I think this is a great song.
thats it

im going

ill get there west of Keokuk

they call it the bootheel area

but it really dont look like a boot heel

go figure
ohhhhhh...

thats why they give nobel prizes
This song makes me think hard about what the "Godlike" rating means. For me, this song is Godlike in the sense of  "and then God said, let there be light, and there was light." It's somehow more than a song, it's a part of the universe. That someone could say it's bad makes as much sense to me as someone could look at the night sky and not agree "that it is good." My dad was the reporter who chased down RZ after the motorcycle crash, and maybe that's part of the reason the music has always taken on mythical proportions for me.
Sorry, I'm That Guy. Too much Dylan. Just way too much. I know he's a legend, he's a poet, blah blah blah. So glad there's the skip button for musical cretins like me. 
 easmann wrote:
If there is an artist who can help us discover the difference between something that has merit and something we like, Bob Dylan is one, perhaps the preeminent one.

I like ice cream, but not strawberry ice cream. Don't like it at ALL. Because it's "bad"? No, it's good ice cream, just not my flavor. 

But let me be clear: I am in no way superior to those who like strawberry ice cream, nor are they superior to me. Sure, strawberry ice cream carries no implicit or explicit social commentary (this analogy is imperfect as most are) which is where I think some of this "you just don't get it!" rhetoric comes from.

Bob has made some very fine "ice cream". Well, okay, actually, he explored and experimented and pushed the boundaries of "ice cream making" with a bunch of new and re-invented existing "flavors". But his flavors do not suit everyone. That I believe was never his intention.
And, to be fair, as his "ice cream" was experimental its "flavors" were, and remain, fairly extreme. Which is why they polarize people. It should come as no surprise that folks react strongly to his "flavors", I believe that was his intention. Whatever way you feel about Bob Dylan is fine, there's no "right" or "wrong" way to feel about him. 

After thinking about this quite a lot, and despite being put off by his "flavors" initially, I realize that his acclaim is well-earned: He is not merely an entertainer (which is another way in which the ice cream analogy fails) aiming to put out music that will appeal to the largest number of people, but a true artist who changed the field of art in which he worked, had probably more impact than any other artist of his generation on the art itself and on other artists, and has provoked more critical discussion than any other. Whether you love, hate, or are indifferent to him, those facts remain.

Peace.

P.S. I like this analogy but am fully aware it doesn't work for the lactose-intolerant, those who don't like any ice cream, and, uh, others.


Totally agree. I don't like his singing style but his lyrics are some of the best I've ever read. The songs themselves are wildly diverse. Some of his stuff is clearly classic... others are experimental and not to my taste. I prefer the work he did in the 90s. Which is odd.. because his best stuff, according to critics, was in the 60s. 
You're a genius, man, you're a poet, but please let someone choose the shirts for you.
 easmann wrote:
Bob has made some very fine "ice cream". Well, okay, actually, he explored and experimented and pushed the boundaries of "ice cream making" with a bunch of new and re-invented existing "flavors". But his flavors do not suit everyone. That I believe was never his intention.

And, to be fair, as his "ice cream" was experimental its "flavors" were, and remain, fairly extreme. Which is why they polarize people. It should come as no surprise that folks react strongly to his "flavors", I believe that was his intention. Whatever way you feel about Bob Dylan is fine, there's no "right" or "wrong" way to feel about him. 

Like this kind of experimental ice cream?
COCOA MOCHA MACARONI
TAPIOCA SMOKED BOLONEY
CHECKERBERRY CHEDDAR CHEW
CHICKEN CHERRY HONEYDEW
TUTTI-FRUTTI STEWED TOMATO
TUNA TACO BAKED POTATO
LOBSTER LITCHI LIMA BEAN
MOZZARELLA MANGOSTEEN
ALMOND HAM MERINGUE SALAMI
YAM ANCHOVY PRUNE PASTRAMI
SASSAFRAS SOUVLAKI HASH
SUKIYAKI SUCCOTASH
BUTTER BRICKLE PEPPER PICKLE
POMEGRANATE PUMPERNICKEL
PEACH PIMENTO PIZZA PLUM
PEANUT PUMPKIN BUBBLEGUM
AVOCADO BRUSSELS SPROUT
PERIWINKLE SAUERKRAUT
BROCCOLI BANANA BLUSTER
CHOCOLATE CHOP SUEY CLUSTER
COTTON CANDY CARROT CUSTARD
CAULIFLOWER COLA MUSTARD
ONION DUMPLING DOUBLE DIP
TURNIP TRUFFLE TRIPLE FLIP
GARLIC GUMBO GRAVY GUAVA
LENTIL LEMON LIVER LAVA
ORANGE OLIVE BAGEL BEET
WATERMELON WAFFLE WHEAT

Well, it's fun to hear.

from Jack Prelutsky (via Natalie Merchant)
https://www.nataliemerchant.co...
 gekkosan wrote:
I.. I can't rate this song! I know it's a manifestation of Dylan's immense poetic genious, but I have never been able to tolerate it. :-p
 
Yep. With you. Great album title, but as far as the tracks themselves 'my' Dylan here finds voice in Rolling Stone and Thin Man. I realize this isn't what you could call a bold statement. 
 easmann wrote:
If there is an artist who can help us discover the difference between something that has merit and something we like, Bob Dylan is one, perhaps the preeminent one.

I like ice cream, but not strawberry ice cream. Don't like it at ALL. Because it's "bad"? No, it's good ice cream, just not my flavor. 

But let me be clear: I am in no way superior to those who like strawberry ice cream, nor are they superior to me. Sure, strawberry ice cream carries no implicit or explicit social commentary (this analogy is imperfect as most are) which is where I think some of this "you just don't get it!" rhetoric comes from.

Bob has made some very fine "ice cream". Well, okay, actually, he explored and experimented and pushed the boundaries of "ice cream making" with a bunch of new and re-invented existing "flavors". But his flavors do not suit everyone. That I believe was never his intention.
And, to be fair, as his "ice cream" was experimental its "flavors" were, and remain, fairly extreme. Which is why they polarize people. It should come as no surprise that folks react strongly to his "flavors", I believe that was his intention. Whatever way you feel about Bob Dylan is fine, there's no "right" or "wrong" way to feel about him. 

After thinking about this quite a lot, and despite being put off by his "flavors" initially, I realize that his acclaim is well-earned: He is not merely an entertainer (which is another way in which the ice cream analogy fails) aiming to put out music that will appeal to the largest number of people, but a true artist who changed the field of art in which he worked, had probably more impact than any other artist of his generation on the art itself and on other artists, and  has provoked more critical discussion than any other. Whether you love, hate, or are indifferent to him, those facts remain.

Peace.

P.S. I like this analogy but am fully aware it doesn't work for the lactose-intolerant, those who don't like any ice cream, and, uh, others.
 
Not THAT's a brain burp.
 kingart wrote:
he is a headwater from which so many very different rivers have emerged, merged, diverged. The Band, Dire Straits, the Byrds, Joan Baez, Emmy Lou, Patty Smith, Tom Petty, et al, thousands of covers of his songs, etc. Without him, what and who?
 
I'll never argue against Dylan's immense influence but just FTR Joan Baez was quite well known before Bob came on the scene, and she was the one who helped him get noticed. We might have long forgotten her, I'll give you that, but she's not a river that emerged from his headwater. Not sure I'd put Emmylou in that list either.
This song makes me stop my work, crank up the amp to 11 and just say “F*** it”
 easmann wrote:
If there is an artist who can help us discover the difference between something that has merit and something we like, Bob Dylan is one, perhaps the preeminent one.

I like ice cream, but not strawberry ice cream. Don't like it at ALL. Because it's "bad"? No, it's good ice cream, just not my flavor. 

But let me be clear: I am in no way superior to those who like strawberry ice cream, nor or they superior to me. Sure, strawberry ice cream carries no implicit or explicit social commentary (this analogy is imperfect as most are) which is where I think some of this "you just don't get it!" rhetoric comes from.

Bob has made some very fine "ice cream". Well, okay, actually, he explored and experimented and pushed the boundaries of "ice cream making" with a bunch of new and re-invented existing "flavors". But his flavors do not suit everyone. That I believe was never his intention.
And, to be fair, as his "ice cream" was experimental its "flavors" were, and remain, fairly extreme. Which is why they polarize people. It should come as no surprise that folks react strongly to his "flavors", I believe that was his intention. Whatever way you feel about Bob Dylan is fine, there's no "right" or "wrong" way to feel about him. 

After thinking about this quite a lot, and despite being put off by his "flavors" initially, I realize that his acclaim is well-earned: He is not merely an entertainer (which is another way in which the ice cream analogy fails) aiming to put out music that will appeal to the largest number of people, but a true artist who changed the field of art in which he worked, had probably more impact than any other artist of his generation on the art itself and on other artists, and  has provoked more critical discussion than any other. Whether you love, hate, or are indifferent to him, that fact remains.

Peace.

P.S. I like this analogy but am fully aware it doesn't work for the lactose-intolerant, those who don't like any ice cream, and, uh, others.
 

A fine argument.  I may never thought of ice cream as a measure of his spectrum or  inventory; I don't know what it would have been, but not ice cream. However, as has no doubt been discussed in  countless other spaces, we could also say he is like some vast mountain range or high region, a Tibet and the Himalayas.  Gorgeous barren, freezing suffering or sunny high, he is a headwater from which so many very different rivers have emerged, merged, diverged. The Band, Dire Straits, the Byrds, Joan Baez, Emmy Lou, Patty Smith, Tom Petty, et al, thousands of covers of his songs,  etc.  Without him, what and who? 
Uh oh. 

Some listeners don't like the kazoo-whistle in this song. 

Bob: please consider a re-write! 
And it came to pass after these things, that God tested Abraham, and He said to him, "Abraham," and he said, "Here I am." אוַיְהִי אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וְהָאֱלֹהִים נִסָּה אֶת אַבְרָהָם וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אַבְרָהָם וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּנִי:2
 easmann wrote:
If there is an artist who can help us discover the difference between something that has merit and something we like, Bob Dylan is one, perhaps the preeminent one.

I like ice cream, but not strawberry ice cream. Don't like it at ALL. Because it's "bad"? No, it's good ice cream, just not my flavor. 

But let me be clear: I am in no way superior to those who like strawberry ice cream, nor or they superior to me. Sure, strawberry ice cream carries no implicit or explicit social commentary (this analogy is imperfect as most are) which is where I think some of this "you just don't get it!" rhetoric comes from.

Bob has made some very fine "ice cream". Well, okay, actually, he explored and experimented and pushed the boundaries of "ice cream making" with a bunch of new and re-invented existing "flavors". But his flavors do not suit everyone. That I believe was never his intention.
And, to be fair, as his "ice cream" was experimental its "flavors" were, and remain, fairly extreme. Which is why they polarize people. It should come as no surprise that folks react strongly to his "flavors", I believe that was his intention. Whatever way you feel about Bob Dylan is fine, there's no "right" or "wrong" way to feel about him. 

After thinking about this quite a lot, and despite being put off by his "flavors" initially, I realize that his acclaim is well-earned: He is not merely an entertainer (which is another way in which the ice cream analogy fails) aiming to put out music that will appeal to the largest number of people, but a true artist who changed the field of art in which he worked, had probably more impact than any other artist of his generation on the art itself and on other artists, and  has provoked more critical discussion than any other. Whether you love, hate, or are indifferent to him, that fact remains.

Peace.

P.S. I like this analogy but am fully aware it doesn't work for the lactose-intolerant, those who don't like any ice cream, and, uh, others.
 

Dang, now I want ice cream.
I even doubt Dylan knew what he was writing about with this song, but still the lyrics are brilliant and the energy is awesome.  It's no wonder that musically brilliant Beatles wanted to be Dylan in the mid sixties.
God this makes me want to vomit..      The whistle is obnoxius.

Maybe it was that when this was published there was just no other alternative to pop so anything 'different' must be great.    It's not great, it's awful.  Let it go.  
If there is an artist who can help us discover the difference between something that has merit and something we like, Bob Dylan is one, perhaps the preeminent one.

I like ice cream, but not strawberry ice cream. Don't like it at ALL. Because it's "bad"? No, it's good ice cream, just not my flavor. 

But let me be clear: I am in no way superior to those who like strawberry ice cream, nor are they superior to me. Sure, strawberry ice cream carries no implicit or explicit social commentary (this analogy is imperfect as most are) which is where I think some of this "you just don't get it!" rhetoric comes from.

Bob has made some very fine "ice cream". Well, okay, actually, he explored and experimented and pushed the boundaries of "ice cream making" with a bunch of new and re-invented existing "flavors". But his flavors do not suit everyone. That I believe was never his intention.
And, to be fair, as his "ice cream" was experimental its "flavors" were, and remain, fairly extreme. Which is why they polarize people. It should come as no surprise that folks react strongly to his "flavors", I believe that was his intention. Whatever way you feel about Bob Dylan is fine, there's no "right" or "wrong" way to feel about him. 

After thinking about this quite a lot, and despite being put off by his "flavors" initially, I realize that his acclaim is well-earned: He is not merely an entertainer (which is another way in which the ice cream analogy fails) aiming to put out music that will appeal to the largest number of people, but a true artist who changed the field of art in which he worked, had probably more impact than any other artist of his generation on the art itself and on other artists, and has provoked more critical discussion than any other. Whether you love, hate, or are indifferent to him, those facts remain.

Peace.

P.S. I like this analogy but am fully aware it doesn't work for the lactose-intolerant, those who don't like any ice cream, and, uh, others.
Hey bob,

It's summer. Highway 61 pavement is good for traveling.

How about getting on 61 for doing some shows.  Hannibal, MO would be quite a venue for a show.
{#Devil_pimp}zesty ! johnny winter does a great cover of this as well I think on the 30th annv tribute or as neil young clld it " bob fest "
 PeterMC3 wrote:
An incomparable artist at the height of his powers. A one man musical revolution. Nothing like it before or since - except his own work.
 
Amen, brother!
yeah, baby, yeah!

The commander chief answers him while chasing a fly.
Death to  all those who would wimper and cry.  

And dropping a a bar bell he points to the sky, 
and says the sun's not yellow, its chicken!
 Wardleader wrote:
I don't know how young or ironic or if it's a simple case of  tasteless money grubbing Philistines  on this site with anti-Dylan comments.  It's just sad to see such uninformed opinions.   His greatness is not a universal litmus test and bowing out of enjoying his peak era of creative material would best be handled by turning down the sound and not bothering everyone with what you do not like.   You won't be the first that don't like him, don't understand it, don't get it and are even more astonished and mystified at the the Nobel Prize which would be a reality check that an American artist has hit a universal nerve that travels across oceans and time.   Not that would mean art has been revealed of the highest order of the sublime, just that a lot more people get it, understand it and unashamedly enjoy listening to him and nearly all of what he has recorded.  He is just that good.  

 
Down vote. I'm not young (not sure how ironic is used a descriptor here) and I love 90% of what Bill plays here on RP, so I think it's safe to say I'm not tasteless. Money is not a driving factor in my life. Being a professional creative, I'm not a Philistine either. I'm also a musician and have collected all kinds of music for four decades (even being a dj at times), so I'm at least as informed as you.

And I'm not a fan of BD. You're attempt to classify those who disagree with your opinions says more about you than it does them.

I do appreciate Dylan's place in rock history. His timeliness for capturing an era, his song writing ability, and his wide appeal are hard to disagree with. 

And I also appreciate the use of the PSD button. It is way better than whining about how much one doesn't like an artist played here. In fact, I find it similar to just saying what you like about an artist here in the comments rather than insulting those with differing opinions.

So much negativity in the world... stay positive!


 kcar wrote:

Dylan put out many duds. Years ago while being interviewed by Ed Bradley on 60 Minutes, Dylan admitted releasing crappy albums just to get people to dial back on the hero worship...
 
Yeah this song must have been one of the leads on one of the albums
An incomparable artist at the height of his powers. A one man musical revolution. Nothing like it before or since - except his own work.
One of the most boring songs I've ever heard.
Nobel?? Seriously!!! Undeserved as far as I'm concerned.
Hey...we all gotta serve somebody. 
 pinto wrote:

rmmartins and others who think Dylan can do no wrong - were you part of the many Dylan worshipers who abandoned him during his Christian period only to return later and pretend that it never happened?

 


Dylan put out many duds. Years ago while being interviewed by Ed Bradley on 60 Minutes, Dylan admitted releasing crappy albums just to get people to dial back on the hero worship...
 Wardleader wrote:
I don't know how young or ironic or if it's a simple case of  tasteless money grubbing Philistines  on this site with anti-Dylan comments.  It's just sad to see such uninformed opinions.   His greatness is not a universal litmus test and bowing out of enjoying his peak era of creative material would best be handled by turning down the sound and not bothering everyone with what you do not like.   You won't be the first that don't like him, don't understand it, don't get it and are even more astonished and mystified at the the Nobel Prize which would be a reality check that an American artist has hit a universal nerve that travels across oceans and time.   Not that would mean art has been revealed of the highest order of the sublime, just that a lot more people get it, understand it and unashamedly enjoy listening to him and nearly all of what he has recorded.  He is just that good.  

 
Up vote. 

I wouldn't ponder it too long, though.  It's most likely all the things that you listed in the first sentence.
Ha!  I was just on Highway 61 in SE Iowa.  That's a strange place. But its also home to Greg Brown, who sometimes get played on RP. 
..this song brings 'Old brown shoe' the Beatles to my mind...
It was a concert at University of Maryland's Cole Field House, quite a few years ago now, that I attended with about 10 friends.  They were there primarily to see Joni Mitchell.  Me, I was there for Dylan.  And, with a killer band at the time, he did not disappoint.  This song, in particular, was killer.  By this time, when Dylan was into extended play, all of my group had left our row (pretty good seats, too), as they wanted to leave, it being a "school night" and us being middle age.  I was up on my feet, feverishly playing air guitar at one end of the row.  At the other end, with an expanse between us, was a guy unknown to me who was doing the same.  We exchanged gleeful glances and windmill air guitar riffs. This clearly was where Dylan (and, presumably, God) wanted us to be, where he wanted the killing done. So it was. Shortly thereafter, my group dragged me out of there with Dylan singing "Forever Young." Yeah.
So relaxed and chilling with Nada Surf.  Then this comes on.  Yuck.
This is what we all need for a Friday morning!. 

Saw that Bobby Dylan last week in a great venue and he did his usual: complete re-arrangement of this song. His band was hot and Bobby actually was smiling at the crowd. 

 
 rmmartins wrote:
Can he ever get a song wrong?

 
rmmartins and others who think Dylan can do no wrong - were you part of the many Dylan worshipers who abandoned him during his Christian period only to return later and pretend that it never happened?
I don't know how young or ironic or if it's a simple case of  tasteless money grubbing Philistines  on this site with anti-Dylan comments.  It's just sad to see such uninformed opinions.   His greatness is not a universal litmus test and bowing out of enjoying his peak era of creative material would best be handled by turning down the sound and not bothering everyone with what you do not like.   You won't be the first that don't like him, don't understand it, don't get it and are even more astonished and mystified at the the Nobel Prize which would be a reality check that an American artist has hit a universal nerve that travels across oceans and time.   Not that would mean art has been revealed of the highest order of the sublime, just that a lot more people get it, understand it and unashamedly enjoy listening to him and nearly all of what he has recorded.  He is just that good.  
Brilliant song, brilliant lyrics. I don't get the whistle hang-up - who else could pull that off? Another Dylan "10". 
And it came to pass after these things, that God tested Abraham, and He said to him, "Abraham," and he said, "Here I am." אוַיְהִי אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וְהָאֱלֹהִים נִסָּה אֶת אַבְרָהָם וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אַבְרָהָם וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּנִי:2And He said, "Please take your son, your only one, whom you love, yea, Isaac, and go away to the land of Moriah and bring him up there for a burnt offering on one of the mountains, of which I will tell you." בוַיֹּאמֶר קַח נָא אֶת בִּנְךָ אֶת יְחִידְךָ אֲשֶׁר אָהַבְתָּ אֶת יִצְחָק וְלֶךְ לְךָ אֶל אֶרֶץ הַמֹּרִיָּה וְהַעֲלֵהוּ שָׁם לְעֹלָה עַל אַחַד הֶהָרִים אֲשֶׁר אֹמַר אֵלֶיךָ:3And Abraham arose early in the morning, and he saddled his donkey, and he took his two young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for a burnt offering, and he arose and went to the place of which God had told him. גוַיַּשְׁכֵּם אַבְרָהָם בַּבֹּקֶר וַיַּחֲבשׁ אֶת חֲמֹרוֹ וַיִּקַּח אֶת שְׁנֵי נְעָרָיו אִתּוֹ וְאֵת יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ וַיְבַקַּע עֲצֵי עֹלָה וַיָּקָם וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אָמַר לוֹ הָאֱלֹהִים:4On the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. דבַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי וַיִּשָּׂא אַבְרָהָם אֶת עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא אֶת הַמָּקוֹם מֵרָחֹק:5And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go yonder, and we will prostrate ourselves and return to you." הוַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָהָם אֶל נְעָרָיו שְׁבוּ לָכֶם פֹּה עִם הַחֲמוֹר וַאֲנִי וְהַנַּעַר נֵלְכָה עַד כֹּה וְנִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה וְנָשׁוּבָה אֲלֵיכֶם:6And Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering, and he placed upon his son Isaac, and he took into his hand the fire and the knife, and they both went together. ווַיִּקַּח אַבְרָהָם אֶת עֲצֵי הָעֹלָה וַיָּשֶׂם עַל יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ וַיִּקַּח בְּיָדוֹ אֶת הָאֵשׁ וְאֶת הַמַּאֲכֶלֶת וַיֵּלְכוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם יַחְדָּו:7And Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and he said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." And he said, "Here are the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" זוַיֹּאמֶר יִצְחָק אֶל אַבְרָהָם אָבִיו וַיֹּאמֶר אָבִי וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֶּנִּי בְנִי וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה הָאֵשׁ וְהָעֵצִים וְאַיֵּה הַשֶּׂה לְעֹלָה:8And Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And they both went together. חוַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָהָם אֱלֹהִים יִרְאֶה לּוֹ הַשֶּׂה לְעֹלָה בְּנִי וַיֵּלְכוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם יַחְדָּו:9And they came to the place of which God had spoken to him, and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and he bound Isaac his son and placed him on the altar upon the wood. טוַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אָמַר לוֹ הָאֱלֹהִים וַיִּבֶן שָׁם אַבְרָהָם אֶת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וַיַּעֲרֹךְ אֶת הָעֵצִים וַיַּעֲקֹד אֶת יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ וַיָּשֶׂם אֹתוֹ עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ מִמַּעַל לָעֵצִים:10And Abraham stretched forth his hand and took the knife, to slaughter his son. יוַיִּשְׁלַח אַבְרָהָם אֶת יָדוֹ וַיִּקַּח אֶת הַמַּאֲכֶלֶת לִשְׁחֹט אֶת בְּנוֹ:11And an angel of God called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham! Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." יאוַיִּקְרָא אֵלָיו מַלְאַךְ יְהֹוָה מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָהָם | אַבְרָהָם וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּנִי:12And he said, "Do not stretch forth your hand to the lad, nor do the slightest thing to him, for now I know that you are a God fearing man, and you did not withhold your son, your only one, from Me." יבוַיֹּאמֶר אַל תִּשְׁלַח יָדְךָ אֶל הַנַּעַר וְאַל תַּעַשׂ לוֹ מְאוּמָה כִּי | עַתָּה יָדַעְתִּי כִּי יְרֵא אֱלֹהִים אַתָּה וְלֹא חָשַׂכְתָּ אֶת בִּנְךָ אֶת יְחִידְךָ מִמֶּנִּי:13And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and he saw, and lo! there was a ram, after it was caught in a tree by its horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. יגוַיִּשָּׂא אַבְרָהָם אֶת עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה אַיִל אַחַר נֶאֱחַז בַּסְּבַךְ בְּקַרְנָיו וַיֵּלֶךְ אַבְרָהָם וַיִּקַּח אֶת הָאַיִל וַיַּעֲלֵהוּ לְעֹלָה תַּחַת בְּנוֹ:14And Abraham named that place, The Lord will see, as it is said to this day: On the mountain, the Lord will be seen. ידוַיִּקְרָא אַבְרָהָם שֵׁם הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא יְהֹוָה | יִרְאֶה אֲשֶׁר יֵאָמֵר הַיּוֹם בְּהַר יְהֹוָה יֵרָאֶה:15And an angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven. טווַיִּקְרָא מַלְאַךְ יְהֹוָה אֶל אַבְרָהָם שֵׁנִית מִן הַשָּׁמָיִם:16And he said, "By Myself have I sworn, says the Lord, that because you have done this thing and you did not withhold your son, your only one, טזוַיֹּאמֶר בִּי נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי נְאֻם יְהֹוָה כִּי יַעַן אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ אֶת הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה וְלֹא חָשַׂכְתָּ אֶת בִּנְךָ אֶת יְחִידֶךָ:17That I will surely bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand that is on the seashore, and your descendants will inherit the cities of their enemies. יזכִּי בָרֵךְ אֲבָרֶכְךָ וְהַרְבָּה אַרְבֶּה אֶת זַרְעֲךָ כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם וְכַחוֹל אֲשֶׁר עַל שְׂפַת הַיָּם וְיִרַשׁ זַרְעֲךָ אֵת שַׁעַר אֹיְבָיו:18And through your children shall be blessed all the nations of the world, because you hearkened to My voice." יחוְהִתְבָּרֲכוּ בְזַרְעֲךָ כֹּל גּוֹיֵי הָאָרֶץ עֵקֶב אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַעְתָּ בְּקֹלִי:19And Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beer sheba; and Abraham remained in Beer sheba. יטוַיָּשָׁב אַבְרָהָם אֶל נְעָרָיו וַיָּקֻמוּ וַיֵּלְכוּ יַחְדָּו אֶל בְּאֵר שָׁבַע וַיֵּשֶׁב אַבְרָהָם בִּבְאֵר שָׁבַע:20And it came to pass after these matters, that it was told to Abraham saying: "Behold Milcah, she also bore sons to Nahor your brother. כוַיְהִי אַחֲרֵי הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וַיֻּגַּד לְאַבְרָהָם לֵאמֹר הִנֵּה יָלְדָה מִלְכָּה גַם הִוא בָּנִים לְנָחוֹר אָחִיךָ:21Uz, his first born, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel, the father of Aram. כאאֶת עוּץ בְּכֹרוֹ וְאֶת בּוּז אָחִיו וְאֶת קְמוּאֵל אֲבִי אֲרָם:22And Kesed and Hazo and Pildash and Jidlaph, and Bethuel. כבוְאֶת כֶּשֶׂד וְאֶת חֲזוֹ וְאֶת פִּלְדָּשׁ וְאֶת יִדְלָף וְאֵת בְּתוּאֵל:23And Bethuel begot Rebecca." These eight did Milcah bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother. כגוּבְתוּאֵל יָלַד אֶת רִבְקָה שְׁמֹנָה אֵלֶּה יָלְדָה מִלְכָּה לְנָחוֹר אֲחִי אַבְרָהָם:24And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, had also given birth to Tebah and Gaham and Tahash and Maacah. כדוּפִילַגְשׁוֹ וּשְׁמָהּ רְאוּמָה וַתֵּלֶד גַּם הִוא אֶת טֶבַח וְאֶת גַּחַם וְאֶת תַּחַשׁ וְאֶת מַעֲכָה:
{#Bananapiano} You should hear Doug Kershaw do it live.
Worst Dylan song ever!

Just nasty to listen to. 
 lshinkawa wrote:
I loathe this song.
 



Makes my ears bleed to hear so early in the morning😖
I loathe this song.
Guess you had to be there, kids.
 Dinges,_the_Dude wrote:
please skip this far-overrated artist!
 
Yeah, and while you're at it get rid of those pesky Beatles!

Never saw the appeal to this song.
please skip this far-overrated artist!
10
*mute*
It's just a whistle that pierces my calm and shreds it like a hatchet. I turn this tune off every time it comes on. Permanent "1".
It's just a damn whistle, folks. Lighten up. Jeez. {#Whistle}
What? No everyone in my hotel room be dancin'?
more dylan....what a suprise.
The whistle is like a drill in the temple. Ouch! It's obnoxious. Otherwise I love Bob Dylan...
Funny what gets some people. I am so noise averse and yet I LOVE the whistle. It fits perfectly. 
Funny timing. Just finished reading a friend's paper for graduate school — on Paradise Lost. You know, God, Satan, Adam, Eve.
 siandbeth wrote:
Guess I really don't have to mention that the whistle blows. I'm in a cubicle environment and it's about the only song that makes my coworkers look at me and glare.
 
The whistle "blows". Very (unintentionally?) clever. I agree, with both definitions, but I still love the song/album.

Guess I really don't have to mention that the whistle blows. I'm in a cubicle environment and it's about the only song that makes my coworkers look at me and glare.
 michaelc wrote:
Damn
 I just read a few of the comments

 You all need a drink more then I do.
 

Yea, really.  A flippin whistle ? 

A song is a snap shot in time.  Once upon a time we were happy to just be able to take a black and white picture.  Then we wanted color.  And then, we are still not happy, we have photoshop.  There is a whistle in a picture you don't like ?  Well photoshop it out if you have the time, skill or care enough about it.  Or just be happy and look at the other things in the picture.

Bob Dylan is a black and white picture.  People like Hendrix, the Byrds and others took a new picture of the same scene in color.

The black and white picture still makes me smile.  The color picture works, too.  I'm happy to have both, and appreciate both.  But I would still like the black and white picture if that's all there was, crude as it is.  Or is it ?  The picture still captures a moment in time and a context.

Go ahead, remake Casablanca.  It might work for people who don't believe or never knew that telephones had cords attached to a wall or dials instead of buttons.  Even then, I doubt it.
Damn
 I just read a few of the comments

 You all need a drink more then I do.
 midreaming wrote:
I guess I can just take this comment as your burning desire to use a ten penny word without knowing what you're talking about. Good for you. Feels good dudnit?  ..this is it. No more response to the bubble gummers. You guys have the aesthetic depth and intellectual curiosity of a GAP ad.

My assertion is that from this it follows: as Dylan's changed music history, and he's got the record deal, ..and that you clearly don't, what you consider obnoxious about the work of an artist like Bob Dylan is essentially irrelevant. It's like saying ahh geesh God got it ALLL wrong. Well you're a mortal. So what you think means squat. Babble like a chimp about how unfair it is you don't have opposable thumbs but do it somewhere else cause it's just noise to people who get it.

  Oh and to be clear, my comment was a response to this one.. "rescore" the song? Yea, I think I want to see this idiots gold record collection... I wouldn't mind checkin out yours too..

Patricula wrote:
 This got a 1 from me at the first use of that whistle.  As the song progressed I was thinking that I'd re-score it higher.... but then the whistle returned.   No excuse for it at all.  None. 



 
You're absurd.

I, and many others, find that whistle to be fairly obnoxious.  I'd even bet Bob felt it was obnoxious.  I'm pretty sure that's the point.  And I'm also pretty sure that all of that is irrelevant to the opinions of other people.  If you think the whistle is a lovely sound that gently caresses your ear each time you hear it, then more power to you.  You're as entitled to your absurd opinions as I am to mine.

PS - "rescore" in Patricula's post plainly refers to changing the 1 rating to something higher, not rewriting the song.  Someone as intellectually curious as you should not have missed that!

PPS - I would like to ask you which word that I'd used was the one you thought was a ten penny word that I did not comprehend, but I fear the answer will be much too absurd.  Dare I?

 Catalytic wrote:
If someone were to play that whistle in my presence I'd snatch it out of their mouth, break it into pieces, and ram the shards into their ears with a hammer so they'd know what it feels like to me. Every single time this song comes up I turn radio paradise off. 
    mmm. you're a bright little bulb aren't you? A person of your intellectual potency and obvious enthusiasm should be sweeping mine fields or hunting "bad people" in Iraq. What are you doing sitting down. Go sign up boy! My Gawd, your talents are being WASTED!! thERE ARE WHISTLES to SHATTER and EAR DRUMS to BURST! My God! Daylights a burnin' boy, get a move on!! (unless of course you're locked up, which can't be too far from anybody's guess, and in which case - I'm just curious here... how's the food?)

 ScottFromWyoming wrote:

No, I'm saying (or implying) that your comment was stupid.

  ..oh.. oh yea, i get it, nice one


 pauleywalnuts wrote:

{#Whisper} It is only a song. Have you considered some sort of anger management?
 
No kidding. Somebody get this guy some medication.
 Catalytic wrote:
If someone were to play that whistle in my presence I'd snatch it out of their mouth, break it into pieces, and ram the shards into their ears with a hammer so they'd know what it feels like to me. Every single time this song comes up I turn radio paradise off. 
 
{#Whisper} It is only a song. Have you considered some sort of anger management?

 midreaming wrote:
   Wait, you're saying (or implying) you have a record deal?
 
No, I'm saying (or implying) that your comment was stupid.

If someone were to play that whistle in my presence I'd snatch it out of their mouth, break it into pieces, and ram the shards into their ears with a hammer so they'd know what it feels like to me. Every single time this song comes up I turn radio paradise off. 
If only the slide whistle could be digitally removed. I'm sure it seemed like a good idea at the time.
 ziggytrix wrote:

His opinion is irrelevant because Dylan made the record. 

You should get an Absurd Non Sequitur award for that logic!

The identity of the person paid to make the record has nothing to do whatsoever with certain other people describing that obnoxious whistle as, well... obnoxious.

 I guess I can just take this comment as your burning desire to use a ten penny word without knowing what you're talking about. Good for you. Feels good dudnit?  ..this is it. No more response to the bubble gummers. You guys have the aesthetic depth and intellectual curiosity of a GAP ad.

My assertion is that from this it follows: as Dylan's changed music history, and he's got the record deal, ..and that you clearly don't, what you consider obnoxious about the work of an artist like Bob Dylan is essentially irrelevant. It's like saying ahh geesh God got it ALLL wrong. Well you're a mortal. So what you think means squat. Babble like a chimp about how unfair it is you don't have opposable thumbs but do it somewhere else cause it's just noise to people who get it.

  Oh and to be clear, my comment was a response to this one.. "rescore" the song? Yea, I think I want to see this idiots gold record collection... I wouldn't mind checkin out yours too..

Patricula wrote:
 This got a 1 from me at the first use of that whistle.  As the song progressed I was thinking that I'd re-score it higher.... but then the whistle returned.   No excuse for it at all.  None. 



 midreaming wrote:
The brilliance of your idea to leave the whistle out would have been as irrelevant then as it is today mostly because, I believe, Dylan has the record deal, you don't.
 
His opinion is irrelevant because Dylan made the record. 

You should get an Absurd Non Sequitur award for that logic!

The identity of the person paid to make the record has nothing to do whatsoever with certain other people describing that obnoxious whistle as, well... obnoxious.

 johnjconn wrote:
God said to Abraham , SHUT UP Bob
 

Now, johnjconn, that was really rude. And funny. Thank you. From my heart.
 johnjconn wrote:
God said to Abraham , SHUT UP Bob
 

Pretty damn funny! {#Roflol}
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:

Ha ha ha ha good point! Wait a minute: no it isn't.

    Wait, you're saying (or implying) you have a record deal? Duckie for you, really. Hat's off.. but wait a sec, if that's the case, you've got a record deal and you spend your days online listening to this? Wow, pretty safe to say you're on your way up... can I get your autograph?

  I'm just kiddin, of course you knew that. I have a record deal too and I'm on here all the time. In fact I bet most of us here probably do..


Umm, I'm with the other folks - the whistle is like a cold icepick in the ear. . .  could do without that part. . .

{#Shifty}

 midreaming wrote:
  We'll pretend for a second you're an expert on every kind of music and have the essence of rock and roll on the tip of every taste bud and follicle on your head. The brilliance of your idea to leave the whistle out would have been as irrelevant then as it is today mostly because, I believe, Dylan has the record deal, you don't.
 
Ha ha ha ha good point! Wait a minute: no it isn't.

rmmartins wrote:
Can he ever get a song wrong?
 
Yes every time he tries to sing. One octave tessiture and a whining nasal tone. What else ?

I prefer the rockier live version featuring Mick Taylor on guitar, from the (little loved) 'Real Live' album

 
Can he ever get a song wrong?
Great, but for a giddy up Dylan, I would really like to hear Rainy Day Women 12&35.  Not played since 2003.

Nice segue though.

Bob on guitar. by ~RockNRoll-Suicide
Irene  ©2008-2010 ~RockNRoll-Suicide

Mi devi insegnare a far diventare i colori così belli!
~LilyanWilbury

.

 Patricula wrote:
This got a 1 from me at the first use of that whistle.  As the song progressed I was thinking that I'd re-score it higher.... but then the whistle returned.   No excuse for it at all.  None. 
   We'll pretend for a second you're an expert on every kind of music and have the essence of rock and roll on the tip of every taste bud and follicle on your head. The brilliance of your idea to leave the whistle out would have been as irrelevant then as it is today mostly because, I believe, Dylan has the record deal, you don't.
What kind of satist blows that hellish zippy noisemaker that dylan does at the end of this song?  It's the kind of thing a four-year old does to annoy the adults for attention.
I could do without the siren whistle.. otherwise, great song!
This got a 1 from me at the first use of that whistle.  As the song progressed I was thinking that I'd re-score it higher.... but then the whistle returned.   No excuse for it at all.  None. 
I guess we have to take the good with the bad. I do like the ending of this song...it leads to another RP track. Too bad it's not Highway 86!

I'm getting really tired of my daily dose of Bob Dylan, Cold Play, and Neil Young! It would be good to let these wonderful artists have a rest, lest they become unlistenable through overplay! PLEASE!!!!
 a_genuine_find wrote:

 

{#Roflol}Thats some funny shi'te!   I give this song a 10 of course.{#Notworthy}
God said to abraham kill me a son,
so he did it, of course (he always did what he'd been told...)
and so in return God put BOB DYLAN on earth, as a gift
that's another example of God's good tast...
 {#Dance}


Not only is this brilliant lyrically, but listen to the smokin' band he has behind him. This is when the Beatles were doing "Help", which was pretty great and all, but not nearly as grand as this.  What a comet at this period. A "10" if there was one!
coming to Tokyo in March and got my ticket! yay!
One of our very best songwriters. I'd just usually rather hear someone else do the performing.
Look on the bright side, and be glad it isn't the wretched Dave Alvin cover that's playing.
Will be one sad day when Dylan goes.

 Baby_M wrote:
Maybe you had to be there (I wasn't), maybe you had to be there and stoned on the right drugs, maybe it's one of those things you can't explain, like jazz is said to be (though I do sort of "get" jazz)—but I have never been able to grasp the attraction of Dylan from this era.

 
I'd say it "would help" if you were there and thus understood not only what Dylan represented at that particular time, but also his contextual beat-poet hipoisie...........
If just one more person says Bob Dylan is way overrated, he'll officially reach the status of underrated, which will only embolden his champions, like myself.  Genius is as genius does.
Maybe you had to be there (I wasn't), maybe you had to be there and stoned on the right drugs, maybe it's one of those things you can't explain, like jazz is said to be (though I do sort of "get" jazz)—but I have never been able to grasp the attraction of Dylan from this era.

 . . time to check out slacker radio . . .

SO VERY  BAD IT SHOULD COME WITH A WARNING LABEL!

member of the enterprise writhing in pain with bob dylan on the intercom



 Xeric wrote:
Yup.  I am a Dylan fan, at least as concerns the poetry if not the voice, but man, that whistle is stoopit.
 
Shudda left it on Highway 61. {#Headache}
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Cheers to that! {#Cheers}
For what it's worth, this was never my favourite Dylan song. Somewhere deep in this thread I complained about that annoying whistle sound.  ; )
 
Yup.  I am a Dylan fan, at least as concerns the poetry if not the voice, but man, that whistle is stoopit.

 tiggers wrote:
Thing is Dylan is so way overrated in my book that yes I do feel the need to balance the obvious and way over the top sycophancy with some well deserved negataivity towards the 'great' man.
Truly couldn't care less whether I get noticed or not as long as the comments do
Anyway yes agree to disagree on Dylan and the positive it is!
 
Cheers to that! {#Cheers}
For what it's worth, this was never my favourite Dylan song. Somewhere deep in this thread I complained about that annoying whistle sound.  ; )
 On_The_Beach wrote:

No, that's not it. Lots of people don't like Dylan, but they don't feel the need to make frequent inflammatory non-constructive comments, clearly intended only to illicit angry responses. I realize the word "troll" is a bit nebulous, but when it reaches the point that you're commenting on your own comments (previously I gave it a 2 and no one responded so now I'm giving it a 1 . . . please somebody notice me) then I think it's safe to use it, if only in reference to your Dylan comments, not in general. But hey, I took the bait, so I guess your post "worked". Now that I think about it, given some of my comments on Tori Amos, I guess I could be called a troll too! On a positive note, I see from your profile that you don't have a disproportionate amount of 1 ratings and that we have lots of common ground in the "highest rated" category, so I suggest we agree to disagree on old Bob, and concentrate on the positive; Gabriel, Bowie, Kate Bush, U2, Pink Floyd, Beatles etc.
 
Thing is Dylan is so way overrated in my book that yes I do feel the need to balance the obvious and way over the top sycophancy with some well deserved negataivity towards the 'great' man.

Truly couldn't care less whether I get noticed or not as long as the comments do

Anyway yes agree to disagree on Dylan and the positive it is!
 tiggers wrote:
Aha, people who judge someone to be a troll and sad just by fact they don't like a certain artist.
 
No, that's not it. Lots of people don't like Dylan, but they don't feel the need to make frequent inflammatory non-constructive comments, clearly intended only to illicit angry responses. I realize the word "troll" is a bit nebulous, but when it reaches the point that you're commenting on your own comments (previously I gave it a 2 and no one responded so now I'm giving it a 1 . . . please somebody notice me) then I think it's safe to use it, if only in reference to your Dylan comments, not in general. But hey, I took the bait, so I guess your post "worked". Now that I think about it, given some of my comments on Tori Amos, I guess I could be called a troll too! On a positive note, I see from your profile that you don't have a disproportionate amount of 1 ratings and that we have lots of common ground in the "highest rated" category, so I suggest we agree to disagree on old Bob, and concentrate on the positive; Gabriel, Bowie, Kate Bush, U2, Pink Floyd, Beatles etc.


 Smoove_D wrote:

Or maybe just a person with good taste, desperate to hear better music.

Why does insulting a Bob Dylan song automatically make someone a troll?

 

Fanboys my friend, don't worry about them
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Ah, another sad little troll, desperate for attention.

 
Aha, people who judge someone to be a troll and sad just by fact they don't like a certain artist. I have a word for people like that. Fanboys! So a Dylan fanboy is what you are and maybe when you try growing up a little assuming you are capable you will realise that people not liking Bob Dylan is actually not the end of the world and your life will not be any the worse for people like me existing. I have another word for people like you, but this is a public forum so I will keep that one to myself. Now run along and get your fix of the tuneless droner as I am sure you can't survive another minute without your 'hit'

 bjrubble wrote:
Not a Dylan hater at all, and I do like some of the lyrics here, but musically this is just awful.
 
My only complaint about this song is that dam whistle! I hate that whistle!! {#Arghhh}
Dylan is NOT my thing.  the weird whistle thing does nothin for me either.

I was at a local coffeehouse last week, and a dear friend did a Dylan cover and I loved it!  It's just Dylan himself makes me queasy.
Great tune.  Brings back memories of my older brother reciting this tune.  We had lots of fun with it.
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Ah, another sad little troll, desperate for attention.

 
Or maybe just a person with good taste, desperate to hear better music.

Why does insulting a Bob Dylan song automatically make someone a troll?

Having grown up on Hwy 61 in Minnesota, I've always felt fondly connected to this song.  {#Dancingbanana}
 tiggers wrote:
In a remarkable moment of clarity I have seen this for what it is and it now has a well deserved 1.
 
Ah, another sad little troll, desperate for attention.

Dylan is arguably the best songwriter of the last four decades.

This is another one of his tunes better interpreted by others, though.  A lot of people seem to think Johnny Winter's version is the definitive one.  For me, it's Dave Alvin.

And for all the griping, this still has a 7+ rating.
Dylan in studio

{#Sealed}All you haters, take a standby. The Maestro is here.{#Hand}