Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Positively 4th Street

Album: Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hitsgreatesthits

Release Date: September, 1965

Although this song was released in September of 1965, it did not appear on an album until the following year, when the first greatest hits compilation was released. The song was recorded during the Highway 61 Revisited sessions, but was left off that album. It was released as a single, and as such, reached the “Top Ten” lists both in the US and Europe. The list of people the song may be about is rather long. You can read the possibilities on the song’s wiki page.

This is one of my favorite Dylan songs. I love the dichotomy between the song’s lyrics and the arrangement. The instrument that is most noticeable is the organ, which gives the song a really upbeat sound. The lyrics are certainly among the most acerbic the he ever wrote. It’s very Jekyll and Hyde.

Best Lyric: I could go with the whole song, because I just love it so much, but I’ll just go with this.

“I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
You'd know what a drag it is
To see you”

Here’s a more subdued version. Enjoy.

like a complete unknown

ziggy

2 comments:

Peter said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAmVvF3T2ag
Even better :-)

ziggy martin said...

I considered that one, but ultimately I went with the other because I couldn't take that person constantly standing and blocking my view.

But I do agree that musically your suggestion is better.