Was this song originally written by Eric Burdon of the Animals or by Bob Dylan? I am currently in an argument with the guy across the hall in my dorm on this. I say Eric Burdon.
(regardless, the Animals version is much much easier on the ears)
Not Bob Dylan
Neither. It’s an old folk ballad. Cite.
On the original single by the Animals, the song was credited to Alan Price, the band’s organist. But in reality, the song was around long before Alan Price was born, and whoever really DID write it wasn’t around to sue the Animals.
Most of the time, when a contemporary band does a remake of an old folk or blues song, they’ll list the composer as “Anonymous” or simply call the song “Traditional,” and add a line saying “Arranged by So-and-so.” But every now and then, they’ll simply claim credit outright. Sometimes they get away with it, and sometimes they end up getting hit with lawsuits by old blues musicians (ask Jimmy Page and Robert Plant about that!).
Song works a lot better when sung by a female vocalist, it really changes the meaning, and makes much more sense.