Bob Dylan Wrote That?

Good songwriters can command an audience with just a guitar and a voice. Three such artists known as Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp, and Willie Nelson made a stop in Houston on Sunday (Aug. 2). Hoping to cross some names off my must-finally-see list, I grabbed some excellent tickets for the 11th row in the Woodlands, and an excellent view of some of the greatest American songwriters.

Let me say up front, I am not a Willie Nelson fan, but I do recognize his contribution to popular music. He has a very good rapport with the audience. Pointing out fans, trading bandannas for hats, and high-fiving with the crowd, throughout the whole show. Despite his voice, he is a songwriter, whether it's my preferred style, or not. And he really can play a mean acoustic guitar. Seriously.

Mellencamp is another of those artists I've waited far too long to see. His band was very tight, and the only complaint I have is that the abbreviated set (about 1 hour) didn't comprise enough of his best songs. Still, we were treated with great performances of "Pink Houses," "Check It Out," and "Rain On The Scarecrow," in particular, rocked the house. Fans jumped up for the obligatory "Authority Song" and "Crumblin' Down." A very, very good show, and Lisa's fave artist, that night.

Now, if you don't know who Bob Dylan is, well, you've already stopped reading. Actually, more people know his music, than know him. Many of his hundreds of songs have been covered by so many varied artists. His early successful songs were actually made hits by others, including Peter, Paul and Mary's #2 single of "Blowin' in the Wind" in 1963, The Byrds' "Mr. Tambourine Man" (#1 in 1965), and the Turtles' rendition of"It Ain't Me Babe" (#8, 1965). Most classic rock fans know the Jimi Hendrix cover of "All Along The Watchtower" as the definitive version.
No one really goes to see Bob Dylan because he's a beautiful vocalist. He isn't. What he is, is the "Poet Laureate of Rock and Roll," by his own proclamation, and by anyone who knows anything about rock and roll. Beatle George Harrison used to quote Dylan lyrics like they were Scripture. Visit http://www.bobdylanlyrics.net/, and pore over some of them, and see if you don't agree about this poet. In the last three days, I got two books devoted solely to Bob's lyrics, and listened to a British radio documentary called "The Lyrics of Bob Dylan." I could write many a blog post on Dylan lyrics,and just scratch the surface. (Perhaps I will find the ambition in some future date, to write a comment or two more.)

But check out "All Along The Watchtower", below, because you should, and see if you don't sense the coming apocalypse.

"There must be some way out of here," said the joker to the thief,"
There's too much confusion, I can't get no relief.
Businessmen, they drink my wine, plowmen dig my earth,
None of them along the line know what any of it is worth."

"No reason to get excited," the thief, he kindly spoke,"
There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke.
But you and I, we've been through that, and this is not our fate,
So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late."

All along the watchtower, princes kept the view
While all the women came and went, barefoot servants, too.
Outside in the distance a wildcat did growl,
Two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl.

By the way, the mention of women that came and went is a Bob's way of telling us he's read T.S. Eliot.

The concert? Yeah, you shoulda been there...

Interesting links:

Houston Chronicle Concert Review

50 Best Bob Dylan Songs Covered By Others

RollingStone

Dylan's Album Covers