# Favorite and least favorite Dylan lines **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 4, 2006, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-least-favorite-dylan-lines/382756 "2006-12-04T00:04:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-least-favorite-dylan-lines/382756/1 "2006-12-04T00:04:40Z")
With the release of Dylan’s new album my son and I have been talking about Dylan’s lyrics. I found myself saying that when Dylan was good he was great, and when he was bad, he was very bad. Of course, Plan B Jr. asked for examples. The first examples of great were the opening of _Highway 61_: Oh God said to Abraham, “Kill me a son” Abe says, “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 says, “Where do you want this killin’ done ?” God says. “Out on Highway 61”. And pretty much all of _Forever Young_. Don’t want to post the whole thing but the words are here: [http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/forever.html](http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/forever.html) On the awful side I have to think of\* Sad-eyed Lady of the Lowlands \* and _Dear Landlord_ as settting a new standard for boredom. But OTOH I’m open to the idea that I don’t get either of those songs and maybe if I did I’d feel differently. Also pretty much any of his political stuff was bland and prosaic. Didn’t matter whether I agreed with the message or not. For example _Masters of War_ felt about as poetic as a hammer pounding nails into a board. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-least-favorite-dylan-lines/382756/2 "2006-12-04T00:10:16Z")
I was going to post a thoughtful reply, but I see you beat me to both my choices. I love the “Abraham” verse in “Highway 61,” and loathe “Sad Eyed Lady…” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-least-favorite-dylan-lines/382756/3 "2006-12-04T00:27:02Z")
_You used to ride on the chrome horse with your diplomat Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat Ain’t it hard when you discover that He really wasn’t where it’s at_ I have always hated this. The rhyme actually degenerates as the lyrics go along. The “Cat” with “Diplomat” sounds completely forced as it is, but rhyming “that” with “he really wasn’t where it’s at” really just takes the cake. It’s not clever or interesting, it’s just a desperate rhyme. The rest of the song is pretty good and is really hurt by this inferior verse. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-least-favorite-dylan-lines/382756/4 "2006-12-04T00:28:33Z")
I’ll add that I’m more impressed with, say, Modest Mouse than I am with Bob Dylan’s whole discography. Bob Dylan was the voice of a generation but not mine. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-least-favorite-dylan-lines/382756/5 "2006-12-04T01:42:59Z")
He wrote Quinn the Mighty Eskimo. Pure trash. ---
**Author:** ![Subterraneanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Subterraneanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Subterraneanus)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-least-favorite-dylan-lines/382756/6 "2006-12-04T01:55:20Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] … The rest of the song [“Like A Rolling Stone”] is pretty good … [/QUOTE] Uh, yeah, you could say that. ---
**Author:** ![Subterraneanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Subterraneanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Subterraneanus)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-least-favorite-dylan-lines/382756/7 "2006-12-04T01:57:04Z")
Great Dylan: “Desolation Row” Bad Dylan: “If Dogs Run Free” ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-least-favorite-dylan-lines/382756/8 "2006-12-04T01:58:28Z")
Worst that I can recall without a search? From " **I Want You** > [@](#): > > Now your dancing child with his Chinese suit, > He spoke to me, I took his flute. > No, I wasn’t very cute > To him, was I? Best? From **Mr. Tamourine Man** > [@](#): > > Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free, > Silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands, > With all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves, > Let me forget about today until tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-least-favorite-dylan-lines/382756/9 "2006-12-04T02:00:31Z")
Even Worse Dylan: Man Gave Names to All the Animals A few of my favorites are Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again, Desolation Row, Idiot Wind, and Visions of Johanna. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-least-favorite-dylan-lines/382756/10 "2006-12-04T02:03:48Z")
I love Bob Dylan, most of the time, but I always hated this line from “Sara”: Now the beach is deserted except for some kelp And a piece of an old ship that lies on the shore. You always responded when I needed your help, You gimme a map and a key to your door. Putting in the word “kelp” to rhyme with “help” causes me physical pain. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-least-favorite-dylan-lines/382756/11 "2006-12-04T02:10:13Z")
This is a hijack, but I feel like I need to say this because of **Subterreneanus** ’s surprise that I’d describe _Like A Rolling Stone_ as “pretty good.” I’m a fan of Bob Dylan as a musical luminary, but not as a musician. I’ve read _Chronicles, Volume One_ and loved it, and I watched _No Direction Home_ and was fascinated by Dylan’s stories and his insights about music and celebrity and everything else. If I had an opportunity to talk to him, I’d jump at it. But his music doesn’t do it for me. And it’s not just his voice, it’s everything about the music. Throughout my life I’ve had various people - friends, my girlfriend, my sister - try to explain Dylan to me and tell me why I should like him, but I haven’t taken, I guess. His songs don’t ring that bell in my head that other music does. It just doesn’t feel like my world. I can’t relate to it. I can’t explain it any further than that. So I respect Dylan, but I can’t pretend to like his songs more than I do. Different strokes, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-least-favorite-dylan-lines/382756/12 "2006-12-04T02:16:50Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] This is a hijack, but I feel like I need to say this because of **Subterreneanus** ’s surprise that I’d describe _Like A Rolling Stone_ as “pretty good.” I’m a fan of Bob Dylan as a musical luminary, but not as a musician. I’ve read _Chronicles, Volume One_ and loved it, and I watched _No Direction Home_ and was fascinated by Dylan’s stories and his insights about music and celebrity and everything else. If I had an opportunity to talk to him, I’d jump at it. But his music doesn’t do it for me. And it’s not just his voice, it’s everything about the music. Throughout my life I’ve had various people - friends, my girlfriend, my sister - try to explain Dylan to me and tell me why I should like him, but I haven’t taken, I guess. His songs don’t ring that bell in my head that other music does. It just doesn’t feel like my world. I can’t relate to it. I can’t explain it any further than that. So I respect Dylan, but I can’t pretend to like his songs more than I do. Different strokes, I guess. [/QUOTE] You know, that brings up the whole question about his music vs. his lyrics. I was thinking about starting out with questions about the music but I thought that might be too much for one OP. But as long as you mention it I don’t thinkk he wrote a whole lot of creative music. Maybe none IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-least-favorite-dylan-lines/382756/13 "2006-12-04T03:07:03Z")
Worst? No contest, it’s got to be “Ballad in Plain D”: > [@](#): > > All is gone, all is gone, admit it, take flight, > I gagged in contradition, tears blinding my sight. > My mind it was mangled, I ran into the night > Leaving all of love’s ashes behind me. Runner-up: “Joey” It was a lot harder to decide on the best, but I’d nominate this bit from “Tangled Up in Blue”: > [@](#): > > And she took out a book of poems and handed them to me, > Written by an Italian poet from the thirteenth century; > And every one of them words rang true and glowed like burning coal, > Pourin’ off of every page like it was written in my soul > From me to you… _Close_ runner-up: “Chimes of Freedom”: > [@](#): > > Through the mad mystic hammering of the wild ripping hail > The sky cracked its poems in naked wonder > And the clinging of the church bells blew far into the breeze, > Leaving only bells of lightning and its thunder. > Striking for the gentle, striking for the kind, > Striking for the guardians and protectors of the mind, > And the poet and the painter far behind his rightful time, > And we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-least-favorite-dylan-lines/382756/14 "2006-12-04T03:17:52Z")
I always thought “Blowin’ in the Wind” was rather trite. “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” has some striking imagery. I don’t care much for the tune, but the lyrics put me in mind of Eliot and Yeats with their evocativeness. > [@](#): > > I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it > I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it, > I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin’, > I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin’, > I saw a white ladder all covered with water, > I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken, > I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children, ---
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-least-favorite-dylan-lines/382756/15 "2006-12-04T03:39:39Z")
[QUOTE=Ogre] I was going to post a thoughtful reply, but I see you beat me to both my choices. I love the “Abraham” verse in “Highway 61,” and loathe “Sad Eyed Lady…” :)[/QUOTE Hey, come on…you must have a second best and second worst. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-least-favorite-dylan-lines/382756/16 "2006-12-04T05:00:09Z")
Pretty much all of “Idiot Wind”. It’s hard to pick just one quote, so here’s a few. \*I can’t feel you anymore, I can’t even touch the books you’ve read Every time I crawl past your door, I been wishin’ I was somebody else instead. Down the highway, down the tracks, down the road to ecstasy, I followed you beneath the stars, hounded by your memory And all your ragin’ glory. It was gravity which pulled us down and destiny which broke us apart You tamed the lion in my cage but it just wasn’t enough to change my heart. Now everything’s a little upside down, as a matter of fact the wheels have stopped, What’s good is bad, what’s bad is good, you’ll find out when you reach the top You’re on the bottom.\* The thing I like most about the song, is that after 7 minutes of vitriol directed at an unnamed woman, he doesn’t let himself off the hook at the end: _Idiot wind, blowing through the buttons of our coats, Blowing through the letters that we wrote. Idiot wind, blowing through the dust upon our shelves, We’re idiots, babe. It’s a wonder we can even feed ourselves._ Least favorite? Well, there’s this groaner from “Sweetheart Like You”: _You know, a woman like you should be at home, That’s where you belong._ ---
**Author:** ![Jplacer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85f322/32.png) [@Jplacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jplacer)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-least-favorite-dylan-lines/382756/17 "2006-12-04T05:37:17Z")
Some of my favorites … “The only thing we knew for sure about Henry Porter is that his name wasn’t Henry Porter.” – Brownsville Girl “I give her my heart but she wanted my soul” – Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright “Yea! Heavy and a bottle of bread” – Yea! Heavy and a Bottle of Bread “But even the president of the United States sometimes must have to stand naked” – It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) "I had to say something To strike him very weird, So I yelled out, ‘I like Fidel Castro and his beard.’ " Motorpsycho Nitemare (My favorite song title) “Yes, I wish that for just one time You could stand inside my shoes You’d know what a drag it is to see you” – Positively 4th Street “Hot chili peppers in the blistering sun” – Romance in Durango “The pump don’t work cause the vandals took the handles” – Sub. Homesick Blues “And I drove 42nd Street In my Cadillac. Good car to drive after a war.” Talkin’ World War III Blues “I must admit I felt a little uneasy When she bent down to tie the laces of my shoe,” – Tangles Up in Blue "Man says, ‘Freddy!’ I say, “Freddy who?” He says, “Freddy or not here I come.” – Po Boy ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-least-favorite-dylan-lines/382756/18 "2006-12-04T05:59:48Z")
How good how good does it feel to be free I answer quite mysteriously are the birds free from the chains of the skyway? Is it easy to forget its easily done just pick anyone and pretend that you never have met ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-least-favorite-dylan-lines/382756/19 "2006-12-04T09:13:22Z")
[QUOTE=Fretful Porpentine] _Close_ runner-up: “Chimes of Freedom”: [/QUOTE] I was going to nominate “Chimes of Freedom” not just as the best Dylan lyric but the best song lyric ever, period. To me, it is magnificent. Worst - pick anything from “Union Sundown” or “Neighborhood Bully” And to think they made that album in place of “Blind Willie McTell”! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-least-favorite-dylan-lines/382756/20 "2006-12-04T14:19:24Z")
I’m not a huge Bob Dylan fan. I have only one Dylan song on my iPod, his Oscar-winning “Things Have Changed.” Its lyrics are so cryptic and world-weary, and such an intriguing mix of non sequiturs, they make me smile. Of them all, my favorite is, “I used to care, but… things have changed.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-least-favorite-dylan-lines/382756.md?page=2)