# What's your favorite Bob Dylan cover **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [September 29, 2023, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-bob-dylan-cover/990887 "2023-09-29T22:07:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-bob-dylan-cover/990887/21 "2023-09-30T01:09:14Z")
There’s a thread in the site feedback area about the problem, but until they fix it, you have to: 1. Post a version of the video link that has never appeared on this site before, not even in a preview that was never posted. If the site balks at a particular version of your link, that one will never work again; add a different nonce url parameter. 2. Finish your post and send it before the preview of your link can finish rendering. That means either not adding the link until the last second, or turn off preview entirely. 3. If you have to edit your post, come up with a new nonce parameter each time. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-bob-dylan-cover/990887/22 "2023-09-30T01:20:42Z")
> [@Ponderoid](#): > > Post a version of the video link that has never appeared on this site before, not even in a preview that was never posted. If the site balks at a particular version of your link, that one will never work again; add a different nonce url parameter. The simplest thing to do is to copy the YouTube Share URL to a text editor (I use Word). Append &_number_, where _number_ is some random digits, making the URL unique on this site (some advocate using the date, I just type 3 random digits). Copy or Cut the edited URL and paste it into your post, then quickly hit Reply. Works every time. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-bob-dylan-cover/990887/23 "2023-09-30T01:31:17Z")
If this works I am indebted to you sir peccavi. I have appended some pi to my link - so Eddie Vedder doing Masters of War with fellow bandmate Mike McCready and I want to say that’s GE Smith on something too. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/dwa2jK0xglk/maxresdefault.jpg "Eddie Vedder - Masters of War (Tribute Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwa2jK0xglk) ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-bob-dylan-cover/990887/24 "2023-09-30T01:36:19Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > I always liked the ones where the arrangement is essentially the same but with a a voice that doesn’t make you want to drive a nail through your eardrums. This is why I own four different albums of Leonard Cohen covers. Although I like those when they cut the sickly sweet orchestral arrangements and backup vocals. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-bob-dylan-cover/990887/25 "2023-09-30T05:18:09Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Full disclosure; I’m not a big Dylan fan but I respect his song writing abilities. Still, to me he’s like the Babe Ruth of songwriting… Same here. For me it is an oldie — Peter, Paul and Mary in 1963: _Blowin’ in the Wind_. Love their harmony there. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-bob-dylan-cover/990887/26 "2023-09-30T05:56:17Z")
> [@InternetLegend](#): > > This is why I own four different albums of Leonard Cohen covers Speaking of which, I’d like to take a different tack and nominate a cover by Dylan - his take on Hallelujah, which predates the famous John Cale cover and uses Cohen’s original four-verse arrangement rather than the five-verse version that Cale used and most other covers imitate. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cuLmf7DMPPo/hqdefault.jpg "Bob Dylan - "Hallelujah" LIVE") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuLmf7DMPPo) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-bob-dylan-cover/990887/27 "2023-09-30T06:12:35Z")
I have a strange, enduring love for Bryan Ferry’s cover of “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall”. If just so gloriously _wrong_ - intentionally so, turning Dylan’s portentous stream of consciousness to a cheerful bob. It’s the music you dance to when the world is ending. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/hG2ekQ19adI/maxresdefault.jpg "Bryan Ferry - A Hard Rain's A - Gonna Fall ( Lyrics )") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG2ekQ19adI) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-bob-dylan-cover/990887/28 "2023-09-30T06:21:01Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I have a strange, enduring love for Bryan Ferry’s cover of “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall”. Haven’t heard that one before! Interesting. Ferry also does a great cover of “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright”, which feels more genuine and emotional to me than Dylan’s original. The pianist on this particular version is great as well. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/eTWPQJa1W3g/hqdefault.jpg "Bryan Ferry - Don't Think Twice, It's All Right [2003-11-10 AVO Session]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTWPQJa1W3g) ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-bob-dylan-cover/990887/29 "2023-09-30T11:20:27Z")
Here’s a good’un… > **[Chrissie Hynde - Property of Jesus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUp__usC6xY%2F)** > > Chrissie Hynde - Property of Jesus - Live at Vulcano ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-bob-dylan-cover/990887/30 "2023-09-30T11:39:37Z")
I agree that generally Dylan is the best singer for his own songs. However, I’m a huge fan of Peter, Paul & Mary, so I love all their covers, including their Dylan covers. I don’t think they do “Blowin’ in the Wind” better than Dylan, but I think their cover is better than any other cover (and it may be the most covered song ever) --albeit, I vaguely remember some story that Peter, Paul & Mary technically recorded the original version, and Dylan released his later, which doesn’t make the PP&M version a cover. Or something. And it was all kosher-- they had bought the right to do that, as Dylan wasn’t even sure he wanted to record a version of it at all. I also really like PP&M’s “Don’t Think Twice; It’s All Right,” and I think their version of “The Times They Are A-Changin’” is pretty good as well-- again, not as good as Dylan’s, but better than anyone else’s. Dylan’s songs have a deceptive simplicity, and I think that there are many of them that only Dylan himself really understands. Just compare the Byrds possibly better known “Mr. Tambourine Man” to Dylan’s own version. I’d heard the Byrds sing it dozens of times before I heard Dylan sing it, and it just seemed like a cute, pleasantly melodic song-- but when I heard Dylan sing it-- \>click\< ! ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-bob-dylan-cover/990887/31 "2023-09-30T11:47:29Z")
First, thanks to **Ponderoid** and **peccavi** for advice on embedding. Second, to bring that little tangent around to being on topic, I’ll use that advice to present Hot Tuna, featuring Bob Weir and Maria Muldaur, performing “Maggie’s Farm.” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/2G0UGY4a3Bc/maxresdefault.jpg "Maggie's Farm (Live)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G0UGY4a3Bc) ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-bob-dylan-cover/990887/32 "2023-09-30T13:01:37Z")
Derek Trucks Band - “Down In The Flood” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/dt-_5Nct5HY/maxresdefault.jpg "The Derek Trucks Band - Down In The Flood (Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt-_5Nct5HY) ---
**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:** [September 30, 2023, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-bob-dylan-cover/990887/33 "2023-09-30T13:59:20Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Just compare the Byrds possibly better known “Mr. Tambourine Man” to Dylan’s own version. I’d heard the Byrds sing it dozens of times before I heard Dylan sing it, and it just seemed like a cute, pleasantly melodic song-- but when I heard Dylan sing it-- \>click\< ! This is true for me also. A lot of Dylan covers never resonated for me, but when I heard him do them, then the song never escapes my mind. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-bob-dylan-cover/990887/34 "2023-09-30T14:23:38Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I have a strange, enduring love for Bryan Ferry’s cover of “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall”. If just so gloriously _wrong_ - intentionally so, turning Dylan’s portentous stream of consciousness to a cheerful bob. It’s the music you dance to when the world is ending. Bravo! That’s what I was going to offer too, but I could never match your explanation. However, as fun as it is, I have to say this threads was essentially sorted with the first response - it has to be Hendrix. j ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-bob-dylan-cover/990887/35 "2023-09-30T14:25:19Z")
_Really_ obscure; Thunderclap Neman’s cover of “Open the Door, Homer” on their album “Hollywood Dream.’ A personal favorite: Faces’ cover of “Wicked Messenger” on their debut album “Firsr Step.” ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-bob-dylan-cover/990887/36 "2023-09-30T16:04:30Z")
This is literally an impossible question to answer. When my wife and I were dating I did a tape for her of Dylan songs covered by other artists. I tried to avoid the better known covers and go with some obscure ones. For instance, I used Spirit’s “Watchtower” rather than Hendrix. But I did put on Hendrix “Rolling Stone”. So I read the songs that people have listed here and find myself saying: Oh, X covered that better. Or: That’s not even the best Dylan cover that person ever did. Etc. But just to contribute here’s Elvis’ version of “Tomorrow is a Long Time.” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MaQG2f-Vd98/hqdefault.jpg "Elvis - Tomorrow Is a Long Time (Bob Dylan)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaQG2f-Vd98) ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-bob-dylan-cover/990887/37 "2023-09-30T16:17:27Z")
It may not be the _best_ cover of “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”, but Warren Zevon’s version on _The Wind_ (the album he released while he knew he was dying) gets me every time. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-bob-dylan-cover/990887/38 "2023-09-30T16:17:53Z")
I probably don’t know enough to have a favorite, but here’s an interesting list: > **[50 Best Bob Dylan Covers of All Time](https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/bob-dylan/50-best-bob-dylan-covers-of-all-time)** > > Paste Magazine is your source for the best music, movies, TV, comedy, videogames, books, comics, craft beer, politics and more. Discover your favorite albums and films. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-bob-dylan-cover/990887/39 "2023-09-30T18:28:23Z")
Not really answering the question, but Steve Howe teamed up with a Train-load of Luminaries and put out a whole album of Dylan covers. Some very interesting outcomes. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-bob-dylan-cover/990887/40 "2023-09-30T18:35:51Z")
I like Warren Zevon’s version of _Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door._ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-bob-dylan-cover/990887.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-bob-dylan-cover/990887.md?page=3)