# Favourite Bob Dylan song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 5, 2002, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-bob-dylan-song/135322 "2002-11-05T05:09:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Grasshopper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f19dbf/32.png) [@Grasshopper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grasshopper)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2002, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-bob-dylan-song/135322/21 "2002-11-06T04:08:27Z")
I like This Wheels on Fire because I love Absolutely Fabulous 🙂 I’ve never even heard Bob Dylan sing it. Hurricane’s a good one too. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2002, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-bob-dylan-song/135322/22 "2002-11-06T04:36:22Z")
Not my all time Dylan favourite, but I’ve always thought that **Gates of Eden** was way underappreciated. Maybe because it was seldom played, being just a “B side” and all. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2002, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-bob-dylan-song/135322/23 "2002-11-06T07:12:12Z")
Willie McTell is number one for me. As for Dylan not doing his own songs, compare Bob’s version to the Band’s. Not even close. Subterranean Homesick Blues is close, as is Tangled Up in Blue. Talking World War III Blues is the best science fiction song ever done. Every after the war cliche described and skewered, each in one verse. Brilliant. “Look what happen last time they started.” ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2002, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-bob-dylan-song/135322/24 "2002-11-06T15:24:48Z")
**Enola Straight** wrote: > [@](#): > > Johnny’s in the basement > Mixin’ up the medicine… > > AFAIK, this Dylan song is the first example of what we woul today call…RAP! Well, let’s not get carried away in our Dylan worship. 🙂 Long before Dylan came along, this form was known as the “talking blues.” My votes: 1. Tangled Up in Blue 2. Simple Twist of Fate 3. All Along the Watchtower (Hendrix cover) 4. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right 5. Sweetheart Like You And I’ll also admit (with a little embarrassment) that I really like Lay Lady, Lay. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2002, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-bob-dylan-song/135322/25 "2002-11-06T15:32:16Z")
There are a lot of great ones… “Tangled Up In Blue,” a host of songs from the “Desire” (“Isis,” “Sara,” “Black Diamond Bay”)… But if I had to pick a favorite, it would be “Gates of Eden” from “Bringing It All Back Home.” ---
**Author:** ![SuperNelson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@SuperNelson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuperNelson)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2002, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-bob-dylan-song/135322/26 "2002-11-06T17:41:52Z")
Another vote for “Tangled Up In Blue” ---
**Author:** ![Jojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecd19e/32.png) [@Jojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jojo)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2002, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-bob-dylan-song/135322/27 "2002-11-07T03:20:47Z")
1. Tangled Up In Blue 2. Positively Fourth Street 3. Hurricane 4. Subterranean Homesick Blues 5. Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts Close runners up: - Is Your Love In Vain - Mr Tambourine Man - Blowin’ in the Wind - The Times They are a-changing - All Along The Watchtower (but only the Hendrix version) Plus some of his new stuff sounds pretty good too but I’ve not had the chance to really get to know it yet. ---
**Author:** ![chiefhardcrab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@chiefhardcrab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiefhardcrab)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2002, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-bob-dylan-song/135322/28 "2002-11-07T04:32:48Z")
“Absolutely Sweet Marie” The Jason and the Scorchers version. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2002, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-bob-dylan-song/135322/29 "2002-11-07T15:26:36Z")
My current favorite is **Mississippi** from his latest release, **Love and Theft**. People, join the 21st century with me, and check out this CD. It’s got a lot of great songs. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2002, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-bob-dylan-song/135322/30 "2002-11-07T15:53:56Z")
I dunno, man. I’ve kept _Love and Theft_ next to the stereo for a year now, rather than put it away, so I could throw it on every time I can’t decide what ELSE to play, and pretty much NONE of it has stuck in my head. I agree that “Mississippi” is the most memorable tune on the album, but that’s damning it with faint praise. At least _Time Out of Mind_ had two bona fide stunners on it: “Not Dark Yet,” and “Highlands.” Not in the same category as “Desolation Row” or “Stuck Inside of Mobile,” but very very good, even by Dylan standards. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2002, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-bob-dylan-song/135322/31 "2002-11-07T16:00:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chiefhardcrab \* > \*\*“Absolutely Sweet Marie” > The Jason and the Scorchers version. \*\* Good one. I may have to amend my list. ---
**Author:** ![poohpah\_chalupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/91b2a8/32.png) [@poohpah\_chalupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poohpah_chalupa)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2002, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-bob-dylan-song/135322/32 "2002-11-07T16:57:20Z")
**If You see Her Say Hello** and, I hate to admit it, but **Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door** ---
**Author:** ![Stentor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Stentor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stentor)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2002, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-bob-dylan-song/135322/33 "2002-11-07T19:00:47Z")
When I first moved out of my parent’s house (under bad circumstances) I played “Like A Rolling Stone” almost nonstop. He is without a doubt one of the best I’ve ever heard. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2002, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-bob-dylan-song/135322/34 "2002-11-07T19:52:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ukulele Ike \* > **At least _Time Out of Mind_ had two bona fide stunners on it: “Not Dark Yet,” and "Highlands."** For me, the true stunner from _Time Out of Mind_ will always be “Trying’ to Get to Heaven”. I’d say that “Not Dark Yet” is perhaps its equal, but, c’mon, “Highlands”? But let me suggest, and perhaps you will agree, that it’s really not possible to compare songs from the different periods in Dylan’s career and truly come up with an all-time favorite. I too, love “Desolation Row”, have ever since I first heard it some 25 year ago. I think of the amazing imagery of that song, and remember how it affected me in those days. But then, I compare it to “Mississippi” and “Sugar Baby”, and there’s no question as to which has more meaning to me today. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2002, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-bob-dylan-song/135322/35 "2002-11-07T20:57:57Z")
Okay, now you’ve done it. You made me take off Vladimir Ashkenazy’s _Complete Scriabin Piano Sonatas_ and put on _Time Out of Mind_ again. Yes, I agree. “Tryin’ to Get to Heaven” IS another high point. I’ll defend “Highlands” because a) I’m a sucker for his long story-songs; b) I love the allegory of the midnight story of the waitress (relationship of the Artist to the Consumer); c) the joke about “You don’t read women authors, do you?” “I read Erica Jong.” tickles me, as I’m a book publisher, and it’s one of his most overtly funny lines since, oh, “Talking Bear Mountain Blues;” and d) the lines “I step outside back to the busy street, but nobody’s going anywhere” and “All the young men with their young women looking so good/Well, I’d trade places with any of them in a minute, if I could,” which is MOST unexpected! ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2002, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-bob-dylan-song/135322/36 "2002-11-07T21:48:55Z")
Can I add one more? “Crawl out Your Window” - the Highway 61 band version, not the Band version available on Biograph. I only have this on a bootleg, does anyone know if it ever got released on an official album? I love Highlands too - I think of Boylston Street in Boston whenever I hear it. ---
**Author:** ![Roadwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@Roadwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadwalker)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2002, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-bob-dylan-song/135322/37 "2002-11-07T23:56:45Z")
Hard Rain’s gonna Fall Watchtower is describing my workplace. ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2002, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-bob-dylan-song/135322/38 "2002-11-08T00:10:16Z")
His best songs are the finger-pointing ones like Rolling Stone and Idiot Wind… but Visions of Johanna is my favorite. It still gives me goosebumps. Top Five : Visions of Johanna Rolling Stone Hard Rain All Along the Watchtower Slow Train Coming Watchtower is the only song where I actually like a cover version. There is so much hidden meaning in all his songs, that I think only Dylan himself can do them justice. Most underappreciated - Billy from Billy the Kid in all its variations. ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2002, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-bob-dylan-song/135322/39 "2002-11-08T04:59:10Z")
Wow, so many! But, using the unconscious, impulse method of judging, I’d have to say The entire _Highway 61 Revisited_ album. Love Minus Zero Idiot Wind Watchtower Rainy day Women This is bringing it all back home…Goshers, I need to listen to some Bobby Z! ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2002, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-bob-dylan-song/135322/40 "2002-11-08T05:07:04Z")
And Maggie’s Farm. And Forever Young And Gotta Serve Somebody And Shelter from the Storm Unfortunately, about 3/4 of my Dylan is on 8-track. I still have 'em all, but it’s tough to listen to 'em these days. My MP3 player doesn’t have a PROGRAM button on it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-bob-dylan-song/135322.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-bob-dylan-song/135322.md?page=3)