Jack Johnson was born on May 18, 1975 in Hawaii and still resides there. Johnson is the son of a famous Hawain surfer and himself started surfing at the age of five. When he was seventeen, Johnson competed in the Banzai Pipeline, a professional surfing tournament. Aside from surfing and writing music, Johnson also worked on film production. His surfer film Ticker Than Water was acclaimed best movie of the year by Surfer magazine in 2000. For his musical talent, he is well known for his soft rock and acoustic melodies and released the album Sleep Through The Static on February 5, 2008. This album quickly reached number one on the Billboard 200 charts and held the record for most iTunes downloads in single day until Cold Play's Viva La Vida set a new record with their album.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_Through_the_Static
http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Johnson,_Jack/Biography/
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Legends and Myths
#1 Robert Johnson Sells His Soul to The Devil
It is often claimed that Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil, but is this story a myth or a legend? The rumor started back in the 1930’s after Son House claimed that “the only way that [Robert Johnson] could have become so good in such a short period of time was to have sold his soul to the devil”(Davis). This appears untrue, however, and it is truly due to the fact that Johnson managed to befriend and learn guitar from Ike Zinnerman, an outstanding guitarist. In the end, Robert Johnson’s soul selling habits are only a myth.
#2 Ozzy Ozbourne’s Taste For Doves and Bats
The legend surrounding Ozzy Osbourne’s actually biting off the head of a bat while on stage does indeed ring true. As the legend goes, someone allegedly threw a dead or concussed bat on stage which Ozzy promptly picked up and bit. Ozzy admits that he was a little drunk at the time and that it seemed like a good laugh. When he realized that the bat was real however, he went off stage, threw up, and left for the hospitable to get a tetanus shot.
#3 The Mythology Surrounding the Abbey Road Cover
The myth surrounding the Abbey Road cover involves the belief that Paul McCartney was dead. Supposedly Paul died previous to the making of the album and had been replaced by someone who looked and sounded like him. On the cover John Lennon in white is supposed to represent the clergy, Ringo in black the undertaker, and Paul (dead) the corpse. Paul (the replacement) is the only Beatle on the cover that is barefoot, whose eyes are closed, and the only one dressed in work clothes, supposedly to represent the gravedigger. He (the replacement) is also holding a cigarette in his right hand although the true Paul McCartney is left handed. There is also the fact that cigarettes are sometimes called “coffin nails.” There are also several pictorial elements on the back of the cover that helped start the rumor, including a shadow that looks remarkably like a skull. There is also a crack in the “s” at the end of “Beatles” and also eight dots to the left of “Beatles” that when connected form a 3. This is supposedly symbolic of the fact that there are only three Beatles members left alive. In the end though, this rumor turned out to be just another myth.
#4 Bob Dylan Goes Electric
It’s 1965 at the Newport Folk Festival and all that can be heard is the wail of an electric guitar spiced up with some buffalo wing vocals; It’s 1965 and Bob Dylan is playing a Fender Stratocaster. Few moments have changed the world or rock and roll as much as Dylan’s performance that day. In a shear 15 minutes both rock and roll and folk music were forever changed. Needless to say such a legendary performance came at a price and Dylan was very shook up by the crowds angry yells. It appears that Dylan was so perturbed that he even forgot to bring out the right harmonica for his next song and had to acquire one from the crowd.
It is often claimed that Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil, but is this story a myth or a legend? The rumor started back in the 1930’s after Son House claimed that “the only way that [Robert Johnson] could have become so good in such a short period of time was to have sold his soul to the devil”(Davis). This appears untrue, however, and it is truly due to the fact that Johnson managed to befriend and learn guitar from Ike Zinnerman, an outstanding guitarist. In the end, Robert Johnson’s soul selling habits are only a myth.
#2 Ozzy Ozbourne’s Taste For Doves and Bats
The legend surrounding Ozzy Osbourne’s actually biting off the head of a bat while on stage does indeed ring true. As the legend goes, someone allegedly threw a dead or concussed bat on stage which Ozzy promptly picked up and bit. Ozzy admits that he was a little drunk at the time and that it seemed like a good laugh. When he realized that the bat was real however, he went off stage, threw up, and left for the hospitable to get a tetanus shot.
#3 The Mythology Surrounding the Abbey Road Cover
The myth surrounding the Abbey Road cover involves the belief that Paul McCartney was dead. Supposedly Paul died previous to the making of the album and had been replaced by someone who looked and sounded like him. On the cover John Lennon in white is supposed to represent the clergy, Ringo in black the undertaker, and Paul (dead) the corpse. Paul (the replacement) is the only Beatle on the cover that is barefoot, whose eyes are closed, and the only one dressed in work clothes, supposedly to represent the gravedigger. He (the replacement) is also holding a cigarette in his right hand although the true Paul McCartney is left handed. There is also the fact that cigarettes are sometimes called “coffin nails.” There are also several pictorial elements on the back of the cover that helped start the rumor, including a shadow that looks remarkably like a skull. There is also a crack in the “s” at the end of “Beatles” and also eight dots to the left of “Beatles” that when connected form a 3. This is supposedly symbolic of the fact that there are only three Beatles members left alive. In the end though, this rumor turned out to be just another myth.
#4 Bob Dylan Goes Electric
It’s 1965 at the Newport Folk Festival and all that can be heard is the wail of an electric guitar spiced up with some buffalo wing vocals; It’s 1965 and Bob Dylan is playing a Fender Stratocaster. Few moments have changed the world or rock and roll as much as Dylan’s performance that day. In a shear 15 minutes both rock and roll and folk music were forever changed. Needless to say such a legendary performance came at a price and Dylan was very shook up by the crowds angry yells. It appears that Dylan was so perturbed that he even forgot to bring out the right harmonica for his next song and had to acquire one from the crowd.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Plagiarism In Song Assignment
The instance involving Joe Satriani's "If I Could Fly" and Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" doesn't strike me as a legitimate case of plagiarism. The notes of the lead singers voice resemble the guitar notes played in Joe Satriani's song, however, the resemblance between the two is merely that and not a complete replica. I beleive that this case is a coincidental relationship between the two songs that may have arisen from the singers subconcious mimicry of the familiar note of Joe Satriani's solo. On that note, the lead singers voice only follows one small segment of the guitar solo and not the entire thing. The song has enough variation in its vocals to make it similar yet different from Joe Satriani's song. The Red Hot Chili Peppers' song "Dani California" does appear to be a legitimate plagiarism of Tom Petty's "Mary Jane's Last Dance," however. The rhythm of both guitar parts in each of these songs is just too similar to possibly be coincidence. Not only are the two parts nearly identical but they both persist throughout a good portion of the song and are nearly trademarks of each. Just hearing the rhythm of the guitars alone brings to mind one and both of these songs at the same time.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Backmasking And Reverse Speech
The Beatles – “I’m So Tired”
This clip is backmasking because, although it is nonsensical when played normally, it makes perfect sense when played backwards. Not only this, but the message is too relevant and specific to John Lennon’s death and the band itself to be a coincidence.
Pink Floyd – “Empty Spaces”
This example, I feel, is also legitimate backmasking. Saying “congratulations. You have just discovered the secret message,” is too coincidental to be unintentional in my mind. Also, “old pink” seems to be a reference to the band.
Weird Al – “Nature Trail to Hell”
This is too much like something that Weird Al would come up with and is way to clear to be unintentional. It was definitely done on purpose, it even has a beat to it backwards.
ELO – “Fire on High”
You don’t get much straighter forward then “the music is reversible…” The message is too concise and seemingly rehearsed to be coincidental. Also, it is indistinguishable nonsense words when played forwards, adding credibility to the hypothesis that it was indeed intentional.
Eagles – “Hotel California”
This is not backmasking or reverse speech. This is a bunch of “hogwash” conceived by someone with way too much time on their hands. The message is barely coherent and has no relevance to the band or the song. This guy was just so caught up in finding satanic messages in backwards music that he created his own farfetched example.
Yoko Ono – “Kiss, Kiss, Kiss”
This clip is “hogwash.” If she’s really saying “I shot John Lennon” backwards, then she did so with a full grown lobster hanging from her tongue.
Led Zeppelin – “Stairway to Heaven”
I believe that this is an example of legitimate backmasking. Led Zeppelin is more of a satanic music oriented band and the message is too elaborate to be a coincidence. The backwards message also refers to the “path” mentioned in the forwards playing lyrics.
Pokemon Rap
I feel that this clip is just unintentional reverse speech. The message is clearly there, but I feel that it was not foreseen by the artist and is merely a coincidence.
Eminem – “My Name Is…”
I believe that this clip is backmasking because it is very clear, includes the name of the artist, and makes sense when looking at the song title.
Michael Jackson – “Beat It”
I feel that this is reverse speech and not backmasking. It seems unintentional to me and may be just a coincidence based on the covert language flow.
This clip is backmasking because, although it is nonsensical when played normally, it makes perfect sense when played backwards. Not only this, but the message is too relevant and specific to John Lennon’s death and the band itself to be a coincidence.
Pink Floyd – “Empty Spaces”
This example, I feel, is also legitimate backmasking. Saying “congratulations. You have just discovered the secret message,” is too coincidental to be unintentional in my mind. Also, “old pink” seems to be a reference to the band.
Weird Al – “Nature Trail to Hell”
This is too much like something that Weird Al would come up with and is way to clear to be unintentional. It was definitely done on purpose, it even has a beat to it backwards.
ELO – “Fire on High”
You don’t get much straighter forward then “the music is reversible…” The message is too concise and seemingly rehearsed to be coincidental. Also, it is indistinguishable nonsense words when played forwards, adding credibility to the hypothesis that it was indeed intentional.
Eagles – “Hotel California”
This is not backmasking or reverse speech. This is a bunch of “hogwash” conceived by someone with way too much time on their hands. The message is barely coherent and has no relevance to the band or the song. This guy was just so caught up in finding satanic messages in backwards music that he created his own farfetched example.
Yoko Ono – “Kiss, Kiss, Kiss”
This clip is “hogwash.” If she’s really saying “I shot John Lennon” backwards, then she did so with a full grown lobster hanging from her tongue.
Led Zeppelin – “Stairway to Heaven”
I believe that this is an example of legitimate backmasking. Led Zeppelin is more of a satanic music oriented band and the message is too elaborate to be a coincidence. The backwards message also refers to the “path” mentioned in the forwards playing lyrics.
Pokemon Rap
I feel that this clip is just unintentional reverse speech. The message is clearly there, but I feel that it was not foreseen by the artist and is merely a coincidence.
Eminem – “My Name Is…”
I believe that this clip is backmasking because it is very clear, includes the name of the artist, and makes sense when looking at the song title.
Michael Jackson – “Beat It”
I feel that this is reverse speech and not backmasking. It seems unintentional to me and may be just a coincidence based on the covert language flow.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Song Analysis #2
Bob Dylan is recognized as one of the greatest songwriters of his time. His songs have been highly praised and intensely studied by aspiring songwriters. All of Bob Dylan’s songs are extremely rich in their abundance of poetic devices, and sometimes they even tell a story. “Hurricane” by Bob Dylan is one such narrative song that focuses on the false imprisonment of a famous black boxer.
This song is clearly a narrative as its lyrics tell a complete story. The story is based on how Rubin Carter, a famous black boxer, was “falsely tried” for the shooting of three men. The lyrics tell how he was “obviously framed” but how “the newspapers…went along for the ride” and Rubin was thrown in prison: “an innocent man in a living hell.” The entire song is a series of events that flow in chronological order and as thus is a narrative.
Bob Dylan also uses irony, which can be seen at several points throughout the song. That Bello claims that he didn’t kill the three men, when he clearly did, and says to Patty that “one of [them] had better call the cops,” is ironic. That Bello, the murderer, is suggesting that they call the cops is the opposite of the expected outcome. The last two lines of the fourth verse, “and although this man could hardly see/ they told him that he could identify the guilty men,” also displays irony. It is ironic in this case that although this man has been mortally wounded and can barely see is to be the witness who identifies the guilty men. It is also ironic when, in the second line of the seventh verse, the “cops said, a poor boy like you could use a break,” to Arthur Dexter Bradley. That the cops are calling the murderer a “poor boy” and are saying that he could “use a break” is not what one would expect given the circumstances.
Bob Dylan also incorporates a fair deal of alliteration into the lyrics. The fourth line of the ninth verse, “to the white folks who watched he was…,” is an example of consonance. In this case the “w” sound is being repeated. The third line of the tenth verse, “Bello and Bradley and they both baldly lied,” is also an example of consonance repeating the “b” sound. The second line of the fourth verse, “...Arthur Dexter Bradley were just out prowlin around,” is a good example of assonance. In this example it is the “r” sound within the words that is being repeated.
Bob Dylan’s use of poetic devices is prominently displayed in his plethora of protest songs, and is one of his major trademarks. Dylan’s use of poetic devices in songs such as “hurricane” lend depth and character to the lyrics, making the songs more complex and interesting. It is this factor which allows Dylan and other protest song writers to convey a powerful message in a way that is effective. When it comes to writing, poetry is power.
This song is clearly a narrative as its lyrics tell a complete story. The story is based on how Rubin Carter, a famous black boxer, was “falsely tried” for the shooting of three men. The lyrics tell how he was “obviously framed” but how “the newspapers…went along for the ride” and Rubin was thrown in prison: “an innocent man in a living hell.” The entire song is a series of events that flow in chronological order and as thus is a narrative.
Bob Dylan also uses irony, which can be seen at several points throughout the song. That Bello claims that he didn’t kill the three men, when he clearly did, and says to Patty that “one of [them] had better call the cops,” is ironic. That Bello, the murderer, is suggesting that they call the cops is the opposite of the expected outcome. The last two lines of the fourth verse, “and although this man could hardly see/ they told him that he could identify the guilty men,” also displays irony. It is ironic in this case that although this man has been mortally wounded and can barely see is to be the witness who identifies the guilty men. It is also ironic when, in the second line of the seventh verse, the “cops said, a poor boy like you could use a break,” to Arthur Dexter Bradley. That the cops are calling the murderer a “poor boy” and are saying that he could “use a break” is not what one would expect given the circumstances.
Bob Dylan also incorporates a fair deal of alliteration into the lyrics. The fourth line of the ninth verse, “to the white folks who watched he was…,” is an example of consonance. In this case the “w” sound is being repeated. The third line of the tenth verse, “Bello and Bradley and they both baldly lied,” is also an example of consonance repeating the “b” sound. The second line of the fourth verse, “...Arthur Dexter Bradley were just out prowlin around,” is a good example of assonance. In this example it is the “r” sound within the words that is being repeated.
Bob Dylan’s use of poetic devices is prominently displayed in his plethora of protest songs, and is one of his major trademarks. Dylan’s use of poetic devices in songs such as “hurricane” lend depth and character to the lyrics, making the songs more complex and interesting. It is this factor which allows Dylan and other protest song writers to convey a powerful message in a way that is effective. When it comes to writing, poetry is power.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Today's Popular Music: A Reflection Of Our Culture
“Down” by Jay Sean may be the number one song in America today because it is a song that a lot of people can relate to. The song talks about getting away from all of the problems in life and just leaving it all behind. This says that American teen society feels too overwhelmed with all of the pressure being thrust upon them to do good in school, go on to college, grow up too fast, and just all of the problems in life that they need to deal with everyday along with just about a million other things. It also shows how teens just want to have fun and not worry about all of the demands that the world is thrusting upon them. The song also includes a successful love story. Love is something that American teenagers are experiencing for the first time, and it often seems very complicated; this song relates to those feelings and confusion and gives the impression that everything will work out in the end.
"Watcha Say" by Jason DeRulo is a song about how a man messed up a good relationship by cheating on his girlfriend. He is trying to get her back by appologizing for all that he did and saying that soon he'll "become a star...be livin so large" that he'll do anything for her. This line really digs at the materialism present in today's society. A lot of teens nowadays are experiencing difficulty with relationships and can relate to this aspect of the song.
"Watcha Say" by Jason DeRulo is a song about how a man messed up a good relationship by cheating on his girlfriend. He is trying to get her back by appologizing for all that he did and saying that soon he'll "become a star...be livin so large" that he'll do anything for her. This line really digs at the materialism present in today's society. A lot of teens nowadays are experiencing difficulty with relationships and can relate to this aspect of the song.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
All Star By Smash Mouth Analysis
Smash Mouth named their band after a term coined by football coach Mike Ditka of the Chicago Bears as a means to describe their hard, straightforward style of playing rock-and-roll. The band has come out with several popular hits so far including All Star, a popular song released in 1999. Although the band might have named themselves after a term meaning hard and straightforward, their hit song All Star is anything but and contains many hidden meanings. All Star by Smash Mouth is a song containing an extremely diverse array of poetic devices including alliteration, allusion, and ambiguity.
All Star definitely contains an abundance of alliteration as can be seen throughout the song. In the third line of the first verse the segment “dumb with her finger and her thumb” is a dual example of this poetic device. First of all, “dumb” and “thumb” are examples of consonance, in which the consonant sound “umb” is repeated. The middle piece of the segment “her finger and her” is also an example of consonance, this time repeating the “er” sound. In the third line of the fourth verse the words “meteor men” is an example of assonance, a type of alliteration in which the vowel sound is repeated, in this case it is the “m” vowel sound. A similar example can be found in the chorus in the line “all that glitters is gold.” In this case it is the “g” vowel sound which is repeated.
The line “all that glitters is gold” is also an allusion to Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin. Stairway to Heaven is a song about a “lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold” but in the end comes to find that under the moonlight “everything…turns to gold.” In All Star, this line has a sarcastic meaning if taken literally and a symbolic meaning if analyzed as an allusion. Essentially it aims to say that it is the simple things in life, not the expensive things, that are the most precious.
All Star also contains its fair share of ambiguity, which also reinforces the message behind the song. In the last verse the songwriter says “somebody once asked could I spare some change for gas.” Then, two lines down, “I could use a little fuel myself and we could all use a little change,” is a play on the word change. When taken in context with the song, “change” in the second line could mean both physical change as in coins and mental change as in changing the way we live and/or think.
Although most songs may sound catchy and stick in your head, that is not all there is to the art of songwriting. Some songs such as All Star can also teach valuable life lessons that have the ability to create change. If everyone took the lessons in this song to heart, for example, we would live in a much less materialistic world and would probably lead better lives. It is important not to view music as just an assortment of rhyming phrases but as a piece of literature that can be as intricate as the most complex of novels.
All Star definitely contains an abundance of alliteration as can be seen throughout the song. In the third line of the first verse the segment “dumb with her finger and her thumb” is a dual example of this poetic device. First of all, “dumb” and “thumb” are examples of consonance, in which the consonant sound “umb” is repeated. The middle piece of the segment “her finger and her” is also an example of consonance, this time repeating the “er” sound. In the third line of the fourth verse the words “meteor men” is an example of assonance, a type of alliteration in which the vowel sound is repeated, in this case it is the “m” vowel sound. A similar example can be found in the chorus in the line “all that glitters is gold.” In this case it is the “g” vowel sound which is repeated.
The line “all that glitters is gold” is also an allusion to Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin. Stairway to Heaven is a song about a “lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold” but in the end comes to find that under the moonlight “everything…turns to gold.” In All Star, this line has a sarcastic meaning if taken literally and a symbolic meaning if analyzed as an allusion. Essentially it aims to say that it is the simple things in life, not the expensive things, that are the most precious.
All Star also contains its fair share of ambiguity, which also reinforces the message behind the song. In the last verse the songwriter says “somebody once asked could I spare some change for gas.” Then, two lines down, “I could use a little fuel myself and we could all use a little change,” is a play on the word change. When taken in context with the song, “change” in the second line could mean both physical change as in coins and mental change as in changing the way we live and/or think.
Although most songs may sound catchy and stick in your head, that is not all there is to the art of songwriting. Some songs such as All Star can also teach valuable life lessons that have the ability to create change. If everyone took the lessons in this song to heart, for example, we would live in a much less materialistic world and would probably lead better lives. It is important not to view music as just an assortment of rhyming phrases but as a piece of literature that can be as intricate as the most complex of novels.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Desolation Row by Bob Dylan
Click Here For Music Video
They're selling postcards of the hanging
They're painting the passports brown
The beauty parlor is filled with sailors
The circus is in town
Here comes the blind commissioner
They've got him in a trance
One hand is tied to the tight-rope walker
The other is in his pants
And the riot squad they're restless
They need somewhere to go
As Lady and I look out tonight
From Desolation Row
Cinderella, she seems so easy
"It takes one to know one," she smiles
And puts her hands in her back pockets
Bette Davis style
And in comes Romeo, he's moaning
"You Belong to Me I Believe"
And someone says," You're in the wrong place, my friend
You better leave"
And the only sound that's left
After the ambulances go
Is Cinderella sweeping up
On Desolation Row
Now the moon is almost hidden
The stars are beginning to hide
The fortunetelling lady
Has even taken all her things inside
All except for Cain and Abel
And the hunchback of Notre Dame
Everybody is making love
Or else expecting rain
And the Good Samaritan, he's dressing
He's getting ready for the show
He's going to the carnival tonight
On Desolation Row
Now Ophelia, she's 'neath the window
For her I feel so afraid
On her twenty-second birthday
She already is an old maid
To her, death is quite romantic
She wears an iron vest
Her profession's her religion
Her sin is her lifelessness
And though her eyes are fixed upon
Noah's great rainbow
She spends her time peeking
Into Desolation Row
Einstein, disguised as Robin Hood
With his memories in a trunk
Passed this way an hour ago
With his friend, a jealous monk
He looked so immaculately frightful
As he bummed a cigarette
Then he went off sniffing drainpipes
And reciting the alphabet
Now you would not think to look at him
But he was famous long ago
For playing the electric violin
On Desolation Row
Dr. Filth, he keeps his world
Inside of a leather cup
But all his sexless patients
They're trying to blow it up
Now his nurse, some local loser
She's in charge of the cyanide hole
And she also keeps the cards that read
"Have Mercy on His Soul"
They all play on penny whistles
You can hear them blow
If you lean your head out far enough
From Desolation Row
Across the street they've nailed the curtains
They're getting ready for the feast
The Phantom of the Opera
A perfect image of a priest
They're spoonfeeding Casanova
To get him to feel more assured
Then they'll kill him with self-confidence
After poisoning him with words
And the Phantom's shouting to skinny girls
"Get Outa Here If You Don't Know
Casanova is just being punished for going
To Desolation Row
"Now at midnight all the agents
And the superhuman crew
Come out and round up everyone
That knows more than they do
Then they bring them to the factory
Where the heart-attack machine
Is strapped across their shoulders
And then the kerosene
Is brought down from the castles
By insurance men who go
Check to see that nobody is escaping
To Desolation Row
Praise be to Nero's Neptune
The Titanic sails at dawn
And everybody's shouting
"Which Side Are You On?"
And Ezra Pound and T. S. Eliot
Fighting in the captain's tower
While calypso singers laugh at them
And fishermen hold flowers
Between the windows of the sea
Where lovely mermaids flow
And nobody has to think too much
About Desolation Row
Yes, I received your letter yesterday
(About the time the door knob broke)
When you asked how I was doing
Was that some kind of joke?
All these people that you mention
Yes, I know them, they're quite lame
I had to rearrange their faces
And give them all another name
Right now I can't read too good
Don't send me no more letters no
Not unless you mail them
From Desolation Row
They're selling postcards of the hanging
They're painting the passports brown
The beauty parlor is filled with sailors
The circus is in town
Here comes the blind commissioner
They've got him in a trance
One hand is tied to the tight-rope walker
The other is in his pants
And the riot squad they're restless
They need somewhere to go
As Lady and I look out tonight
From Desolation Row
Cinderella, she seems so easy
"It takes one to know one," she smiles
And puts her hands in her back pockets
Bette Davis style
And in comes Romeo, he's moaning
"You Belong to Me I Believe"
And someone says," You're in the wrong place, my friend
You better leave"
And the only sound that's left
After the ambulances go
Is Cinderella sweeping up
On Desolation Row
Now the moon is almost hidden
The stars are beginning to hide
The fortunetelling lady
Has even taken all her things inside
All except for Cain and Abel
And the hunchback of Notre Dame
Everybody is making love
Or else expecting rain
And the Good Samaritan, he's dressing
He's getting ready for the show
He's going to the carnival tonight
On Desolation Row
Now Ophelia, she's 'neath the window
For her I feel so afraid
On her twenty-second birthday
She already is an old maid
To her, death is quite romantic
She wears an iron vest
Her profession's her religion
Her sin is her lifelessness
And though her eyes are fixed upon
Noah's great rainbow
She spends her time peeking
Into Desolation Row
Einstein, disguised as Robin Hood
With his memories in a trunk
Passed this way an hour ago
With his friend, a jealous monk
He looked so immaculately frightful
As he bummed a cigarette
Then he went off sniffing drainpipes
And reciting the alphabet
Now you would not think to look at him
But he was famous long ago
For playing the electric violin
On Desolation Row
Dr. Filth, he keeps his world
Inside of a leather cup
But all his sexless patients
They're trying to blow it up
Now his nurse, some local loser
She's in charge of the cyanide hole
And she also keeps the cards that read
"Have Mercy on His Soul"
They all play on penny whistles
You can hear them blow
If you lean your head out far enough
From Desolation Row
Across the street they've nailed the curtains
They're getting ready for the feast
The Phantom of the Opera
A perfect image of a priest
They're spoonfeeding Casanova
To get him to feel more assured
Then they'll kill him with self-confidence
After poisoning him with words
And the Phantom's shouting to skinny girls
"Get Outa Here If You Don't Know
Casanova is just being punished for going
To Desolation Row
"Now at midnight all the agents
And the superhuman crew
Come out and round up everyone
That knows more than they do
Then they bring them to the factory
Where the heart-attack machine
Is strapped across their shoulders
And then the kerosene
Is brought down from the castles
By insurance men who go
Check to see that nobody is escaping
To Desolation Row
Praise be to Nero's Neptune
The Titanic sails at dawn
And everybody's shouting
"Which Side Are You On?"
And Ezra Pound and T. S. Eliot
Fighting in the captain's tower
While calypso singers laugh at them
And fishermen hold flowers
Between the windows of the sea
Where lovely mermaids flow
And nobody has to think too much
About Desolation Row
Yes, I received your letter yesterday
(About the time the door knob broke)
When you asked how I was doing
Was that some kind of joke?
All these people that you mention
Yes, I know them, they're quite lame
I had to rearrange their faces
And give them all another name
Right now I can't read too good
Don't send me no more letters no
Not unless you mail them
From Desolation Row
Desolation Row Analysis
Robert Allen Zimmerman, more commonly known as Bob Dylan, is one of the most influential figures in popular music dating all the way back to 1962, when he wrote his first piece “Song To Woody.” Zimmerman is known foremost as a protest song writer whose music greatly inspired the actions of fans in a time of revolution during the 60’s and 70’s. His music is still highly regarded today and he continues to tour and put out new albums even to the present date. Bob Dylan’s songs incorporate a vast amount of poetic devices and often get across points of protest, as can be seen in “Desolation Row.”
The song Desolation Row is extremely rich in allusions that can be found in just about every stanza. In the first stanza “as Lady and I look out tonight” is a reference to Lady and the Tramp in which Dylan refers to himself as Tramp. In the second stanza “Cinderella sweeping up on Desolation Row” is obviously an allusion to the fairytale Cinderella based upon both name and action. In stanza nine, when “the Phantom’s shouting to skinny girls” to go away because Casanova is being punished, Dylan may be alluding to Casanova Giacomo. Giacomo is a famous womanizer who lived during the 18th century and whose name is associated with the seduction of women. In this context, that the Phantom is chasing away the skinny girls supports this thesis. In the last stanza Dylan acknowledges some people mentioned in a letter who were “quite lame” and says that he “had to rearrange their faces and give them all another name.” These words support the idea that all of the people alluded to above as well as the many others alluded to in the lyrics were not only references to fictional characters but also to real people whom Dylan knows.
In stanza seven when Dylan talks about “Dr. Filth,” he may be playing off of the name Dr. Phil, a well known psychiatrist, to show distaste for psychiatry. The following lines “he keeps his world inside of a leather cup but all his sexless patients they’re trying to blow it up,” supports this. The leather cup could be symbolic of psychiatric wards as it is a small container made of a firm material. That the patients are described as sexless could show Dylan’s inferred contempt for how such people aren’t seen by doctors as men and women but rather just as crazy people or even cases. That the patients are described as also trying to blow up the leather cup represents how psychiatric patients often fight the system and try to escape the ward.
“Desolation Row” by Bob Dylan is a powerful piece of music that can be related to many applications of life. This song depicts how life is just like one big metaphor and how all things are related in some way or another. The way that the song flows from one story to the next and yet pieces together to make one long narrative is symbolic of how life is made up of many little stories itself that together define who we are.
The song Desolation Row is extremely rich in allusions that can be found in just about every stanza. In the first stanza “as Lady and I look out tonight” is a reference to Lady and the Tramp in which Dylan refers to himself as Tramp. In the second stanza “Cinderella sweeping up on Desolation Row” is obviously an allusion to the fairytale Cinderella based upon both name and action. In stanza nine, when “the Phantom’s shouting to skinny girls” to go away because Casanova is being punished, Dylan may be alluding to Casanova Giacomo. Giacomo is a famous womanizer who lived during the 18th century and whose name is associated with the seduction of women. In this context, that the Phantom is chasing away the skinny girls supports this thesis. In the last stanza Dylan acknowledges some people mentioned in a letter who were “quite lame” and says that he “had to rearrange their faces and give them all another name.” These words support the idea that all of the people alluded to above as well as the many others alluded to in the lyrics were not only references to fictional characters but also to real people whom Dylan knows.
In stanza seven when Dylan talks about “Dr. Filth,” he may be playing off of the name Dr. Phil, a well known psychiatrist, to show distaste for psychiatry. The following lines “he keeps his world inside of a leather cup but all his sexless patients they’re trying to blow it up,” supports this. The leather cup could be symbolic of psychiatric wards as it is a small container made of a firm material. That the patients are described as sexless could show Dylan’s inferred contempt for how such people aren’t seen by doctors as men and women but rather just as crazy people or even cases. That the patients are described as also trying to blow up the leather cup represents how psychiatric patients often fight the system and try to escape the ward.
“Desolation Row” by Bob Dylan is a powerful piece of music that can be related to many applications of life. This song depicts how life is just like one big metaphor and how all things are related in some way or another. The way that the song flows from one story to the next and yet pieces together to make one long narrative is symbolic of how life is made up of many little stories itself that together define who we are.
The Shifting Sands of Songwriting
Bob Dylan not only contributed to but revolutionized the practice of songwriting. It all began when Dylan, as a young artist, fell in love with Woody Guthrie songs and began learning as many as possible and playing them at coffee houses. When someone tipped Dylan off that there was another artist who did the same thing, Dylan tried to find ways to set himself apart from this other Guthrie fan and found his solution in the form of songwriting. Since then Dylan's music has inspired a nation of fans and protest movements with its poetic devices and hidden messages. One of his songs in particular Girl of the North Country transformed pop music from a form of entertainment to a form of art. Many aspiring songwriters of today study Dylans works and try to emulate his techniques in their own songs. Bob Dylan has been an inspiration to many great songwriters including Jimmy Hendrix among others, who with their own music revolutionized the world of songwriting.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
A Timeline
1961-Dylan plays first paid gig and signs 5-year contract with Columbia Records
1962-Bob Dylan is released yet sells poorly, as a response Dylan focuses on original songs
instead of covers. Writes "Blowin' In The Wind."
1963-Second album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan is released
1964-album The Times They Are A-Changin' is released. Fourth album Another Side of Bob Dylan.
1965-albums Bring It All Back Home and Highway 61 Revisited are released. Dylan starts touring with The Hawks.
1966-Dylan breaks his neck in a motorcycle crash on July 26 and doesn't go on tour for 8 years.
1971-Bob Dylan beats up his stalker, A.J. Weberman, after repeatedly telling him to leave himself and his family alone.
1972-Bob Dylan plays a role in the film Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid and also agrees to write a soundtrack for the film.
1974-Dylan starts touring again but is drunk durring first performance.
1975-Blood On The Tracks is released.
1976-Dylan releases hit song Desire, which is placed #1 on the charts for 35 weeks
1979-Releases first gospel album and becomes deeply immersed in Christianity.
1980-Dylan recieves a Grammy for Best Male Vocalist.
1983-First music video released, "Sweetheart Like You"
1991-Dylan recieves the Lifetime Acheivement Award at the Grammy's.
1993-Bob Dylan performs at Bill Clinton's first inaugeration.
1998-Dylan receives 3 Grammy awards including Best Album, for Time Out Of Mind.
1962-Bob Dylan is released yet sells poorly, as a response Dylan focuses on original songs
instead of covers. Writes "Blowin' In The Wind."
1963-Second album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan is released
1964-album The Times They Are A-Changin' is released. Fourth album Another Side of Bob Dylan.
1965-albums Bring It All Back Home and Highway 61 Revisited are released. Dylan starts touring with The Hawks.
1966-Dylan breaks his neck in a motorcycle crash on July 26 and doesn't go on tour for 8 years.
1971-Bob Dylan beats up his stalker, A.J. Weberman, after repeatedly telling him to leave himself and his family alone.
1972-Bob Dylan plays a role in the film Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid and also agrees to write a soundtrack for the film.
1974-Dylan starts touring again but is drunk durring first performance.
1975-Blood On The Tracks is released.
1976-Dylan releases hit song Desire, which is placed #1 on the charts for 35 weeks
1979-Releases first gospel album and becomes deeply immersed in Christianity.
1980-Dylan recieves a Grammy for Best Male Vocalist.
1983-First music video released, "Sweetheart Like You"
1991-Dylan recieves the Lifetime Acheivement Award at the Grammy's.
1993-Bob Dylan performs at Bill Clinton's first inaugeration.
1998-Dylan receives 3 Grammy awards including Best Album, for Time Out Of Mind.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
10 Dylan Facts
1. Robert Zimmerman (A.K.A Bob Dylan) got a D+ in music-appreciation class at the University of Minnesota.
2. Besides Bob Dylan, Zimmerman has also used Blind Boy Grunt, Tedham Porterhouse, Robert Milkwood Thomas, Roosevelt Gook and Bob Landy as pseudonyms when performing with other artists.
3. Zimmerman once wrote that he wanted "to join Little Richard" under his high school picture in the year book.
4. In 1959 Zimmerman played piano during two gigs for Bobby Vee's band.
5. Dylan's contraversial song "Talkin' John Birch Paranoid Blues" was supposed to be released with his second album, "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan," but Columbia Records got paranoid and removed the song.
6. Bob Dylan first appeared on television on "The Steve Allen Show" in 1964.
7. Bob Dylan once broke his neck in a motorcyle accident on July 26, 1966
8. "Early in the mornin'. . . ." is the beggining line for two of Bob Dylan's songs including "Obviously Five Believers" and "Pledging My Time."
9. It was Bob Dylan who first introduced the Beatles to marijuana in August of the year 1964.
10. Bob Dylan and John Lennon once wrote a song together and recorded it on a tape recorder; however, Dylan doesn't know what ever became of the tape recorder and can't remember anything about the song.
2. Besides Bob Dylan, Zimmerman has also used Blind Boy Grunt, Tedham Porterhouse, Robert Milkwood Thomas, Roosevelt Gook and Bob Landy as pseudonyms when performing with other artists.
3. Zimmerman once wrote that he wanted "to join Little Richard" under his high school picture in the year book.
4. In 1959 Zimmerman played piano during two gigs for Bobby Vee's band.
5. Dylan's contraversial song "Talkin' John Birch Paranoid Blues" was supposed to be released with his second album, "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan," but Columbia Records got paranoid and removed the song.
6. Bob Dylan first appeared on television on "The Steve Allen Show" in 1964.
7. Bob Dylan once broke his neck in a motorcyle accident on July 26, 1966
8. "Early in the mornin'. . . ." is the beggining line for two of Bob Dylan's songs including "Obviously Five Believers" and "Pledging My Time."
9. It was Bob Dylan who first introduced the Beatles to marijuana in August of the year 1964.
10. Bob Dylan and John Lennon once wrote a song together and recorded it on a tape recorder; however, Dylan doesn't know what ever became of the tape recorder and can't remember anything about the song.
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