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Length: 7:02
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Up and down the block.
I'd ask him what the matter was
But I know that he don't talk.
And the ladies treat me kindly
And furnish me with tape,
But deep inside my heart
I know I can't escape.
Oh, Mama, can this really be the end,
To be stuck inside of Mobile
With the Memphis blues again.
Well, Shakespeare, he's in the alley
With his pointed shoes and his bells,
Speaking to some French girl,
Who says she knows me well.
And I would send a message
To find out if she's talked,
But the post office has been stolen
And the mailbox is locked.
Oh, Mama, can this really be the end,
To be stuck inside of Mobile
With the Memphis blues again.
Mona tried to tell me
To stay away from the train line.
She said that all the railroad men
Just drink up your blood like wine.
An' I said, "Oh, I didn't know that,
But then again, there's only one I've met
An' he just smoked my eyelids
An' punched my cigarette."
Oh, Mama, can this really be the end,
To be stuck inside of Mobile
With the Memphis blues again.
Grandpa died last week
And now he's buried in the rocks,
But everybody still talks about
How badly they were shocked.
But me, I expected it to happen,
I knew he'd lost control
When he built a fire on Main Street
And shot it full of holes.
Oh, Mama, can this really be the end,
To be stuck inside of Mobile
With the Memphis blues again.
Now the senator came down here
Showing ev'ryone his gun,
Handing out free tickets
To the wedding of his son.
An' me, I nearly got busted
An' wouldn't it be my luck
To get caught without a ticket
And be discovered beneath a truck.
Oh, Mama, can this really be the end,
To be stuck inside of Mobile
With the Memphis blues again.
Now the preacher looked so baffled
When I asked him why he dressed
With twenty pounds of headlines
Stapled to his chest.
But he cursed me when I proved it to him,
Then I whispered, "Not even you can hide.
You see, you're just like me,
I hope you're satisfied."
Oh, Mama, can this really be the end,
To be stuck inside of Mobile
With the Memphis blues again.
Now the rainman gave me two cures,
Then he said, "Jump right in."
The one was Texas medicine,
The other was just railroad gin.
An' like a fool I mixed them
An' it strangled up my mind,
An' now people just get uglier
An' I have no sense of time.
Oh, Mama, can this really be the end,
To be stuck inside of Mobile
With the Memphis blues again.
When Ruthie says come see her
In her honky-tonk lagoon,
Where I can watch her waltz for free
'Neath her Panamanian moon.
An' I say, "Aw come on now,
You must know about my debutante."
An' she says, "Your debutante just knows what you need
But I know what you want."
Oh, Mama, can this really be the end,
To be stuck inside of Mobile
With the Memphis blues again.
Now the bricks lay on Grand Street
Where the neon madmen climb.
They all fall there so perfectly,
It all seems so well timed.
An' here I sit so patiently
Waiting to find out what price
You have to pay to get out of
Going through all these things twice.
Oh, Mama, can this really be the end,
To be stuck inside of Mobile
With the Memphis blues again.
I once had a serious relationship with a woman/girl who I think was a debutante; from the north shore Chicago area. Went to one of them private colleges and got a degree in mathematics; which explains alot. Watch out for people with mathematics degrees.
And she didn't know what I wanted or needed.
But god almighty she was fun...in a strange and quantitative sort of way.
Watch out for those quantitative women!
And she didn't know what I wanted or needed.
But god almighty she was fun...in a strange and quantitative sort of way.
Sorry but this is such an annoying song to me. It just sounds repetitive with bad, cliched organ fills. Dylan's voice is boring and totally un-melodic. The lyrics are borderline nonsensical, which is classic "profound" Dylan I guess. Don't get me wrong, I like some Dylan songs and I understand his contribution, but he's honestly completely over-rated in my opinion.
Go listen to some pop music if you want straight forward lyrics that you don't have to think about... Dylan's music is meant to provoke, similar to abstract poetry. It's never about his voice, the melody, etc.
Each verse in this song is mini vignette... it's up to the listener's imagination to create the story in their head. I guess that doesn't appeal to some people.
Always will be.
We should all be so lucky.
An' I say, "Aw come on now,
You must know about my debutante."
An' she says, "Your debutante just knows what you need
But I know what you want."
Ohhhh mama!
You see Bob is actually singing about economic theory of "needs" vs "wants". You know micro theory. Pareto optimality.
This may make him eligible for another Nobel prize in...economics!
Yes that's right.
9 -> 10
Simply horrific.
Go listen to Ted Nugent.
Simply horrific.
Who cares!
Almost as many 1s as 10s. That says it all. I don't have the BD gene. it's a 1 for me.
You're obviously as stupid as your comment, try to think before you make the next one.
yes we all know Dylan is almost a god, but not all of his songs are god-like. . . .
Yeah, but this one is
Never will.
This is a must sojourn.
As brother Bob says: "Oh, Mama, can this really be the end,"
I've always thought part of Bob's brilliance was how his timing and phrasing changes subtlety throughout a song (esp. on this cut) and the use of that technique provides part of the story of the song. Repeating the chorus in this song many times is sort of an expression of the idea of being 'stuck' and yet even when one is stuck things can change, if ever so slightly, and that to me is the beauty of this song. I'm sure my discussion here is not well expressed...and my guess is that 'experts' have written A LOT about this exact idea already. Still....that's how my ears/brain feel it and that's the whole point, right? LONG LIVE RP and Bob Dylan!! 10→11!!
I understand why you're saying. Well put.
The entire Blonde on Blonde album is worthy of a Nobel Prize for Literature all by itself, nevermind his vast body of work which garnered the actual award
'for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition'.
Hang tough warrior, you are much loved.
You are a very smart and enlightened person.
And applying your logic, Dylan is due for four more Nobels for: Blood on the Tracks, Highway 61, Freewheeling, and Bringing it all back home.
And yes...it's an outrage that he's been snubbed for so long! Oh the injustice! Oh the humanity!
Simply horrific.
As Curly of The Stooges would say: "ohhhh, a music lover!"
An' I say, "Aw come on now,
You must know about my debutante."
An' she says, "Your debutante just knows what you need
But I know what you want."
I love Bob Dylan, Talking Heads, and Opera. (but I don't get Neil Diamond or Elvis Costello and to a lesser extent the Beatles -I'm working on my flaws)
Y'all got some catchin' up to do. Happy trails pard, well worth the effort.
'for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition'.
Hang tough warrior, you are much loved.
Too bad is all I can say. I LOVE this song. Maybe you just had to be there.. or actually lived some of this.. hard to explain, but I love that RP plays things like this. But I sort of get it - I don't get Talking Heads.. or Opera..
I love Bob Dylan, Talking Heads, and Opera. (but I don't get Neil Diamond or Elvis Costello and to a lesser extent the Beatles -I'm working on my flaws)
gawd. I feel like b-slapping him until he sings not like a moron. Just. Awful.
Clueless fool. May someone have mercy on your wicked soul.
Almost broke my neck lunging for the PSD button.
Misguided but LOL
gawd. I feel like b-slapping him until he sings not like a moron. Just. Awful.
until he "sings not like a moron". What a "charming" turn of phrase.
People don't like his vocals!
I wonder if he cares? I bet he changes his vocals after knowing that.
Too bad is all I can say. I LOVE this song. Maybe you just had to be there.. or actually lived some of this.. hard to explain, but I love that RP plays things like this. But I sort of get it - I don't get Talking Heads.. or Opera..
he doesn't get you either
Sounds like Mr. Burns singing
Dylan sings like an amputee - can't hold a note, can't carry a tune.
Legendary song.
Eh. Tangled Up In Blue is legendary. Hurricane is legendary. This is bordering on self-caricature.
see you are touring in spring 2022
you need to come back to midwest
tell me its not "hopeless and forlorn"
"So now, less than five years later, you can go up on a steep hill in Las Vegas and look West, and with the right kind of eyes you can almost see the high-water mark—that place where the wave finally broke and rolled back.”
"An' here I sit so patiently
Waiting to find out what price
You have to pay to get out of
Going through all these things twice."
Legendary song.
Absolutely. I’m astonished the average rating is below 7.
Sounds like Mr. Burns singing
Thanks for the compliment
he just smoked my eyelids, and punched my cigarette
saw dylan with the dead in ... 86? don't remember much of the show. well I mean, I remember everything, but nothing I remember actually happened.. you deadheads will understand.
anyway I do remember this song, and the line above. plus the lines
"one was texas medicine, the other was just railroad gin, like a fool I mixed them, and it strangled up my mind".. perfectly apt.
one of the worst dead shows I ever saw though. not gonna lie.
RP more Dylan please!
you see...
the smartest people listen to RP
just give the man another Nobel prize
That's it!
His shows are always special, but for the two I'm gonna see in October, I'm gonna search for debutantes.
I once had a young female chorus sitting behind me, singing "blowin in the wind", while he was singing it on stage.
They sounded and looked like angels. Or maybe...debutantes.
Like this? Helplessly Hoping - SYA
What is he singing about?
power and fortune
It's a mutation
A true classic Dylan song worth a 9 every day.
Well, sure, but whenever someone posts a negative comment, they get shouted down. So looks like a bunch of people (understandably) don't like this, hit 1, and moved on.
This is definitely not one of Dylan's best.
Every time he says it, I get my hopes up that it's almost over.
Yet it goes on and on, interminably so.
Feels like I'm getting trolled simultaneously by both the artist and the DJ.
A true classic Dylan song worth a 9 every day.
I gave it a ten, always a ten.
A true classic Dylan song worth a 9 every day.
I suppose this is how my wife feels about Phish.
Yes... it is.
His shows are always special, but for the two I'm gonna see in October, I'm gonna search for debutantes.
I once had a young female chorus sitting behind me, singing "blowin in the wind", while he was singing it on stage.
They sounded and looked like angels. Or maybe...debutantes.
Get your ass back here for Summer tour!
Geeeez, Summer is almost 1/2 over!
I suppose this is how my wife feels about Phish.
By "of the time", do you mean it sounds like it was recorded in 1966? I'm not sure which cadence you mean by "between the refrains". I assume by "refrain" you mean the chorus ("Oh, mama, can this really be the end.......with the Memphis blues again") The parts between them (the verses) sound like the phrasing of a lot of Dylan's stuff and that other folk singers of that time.
I've always thought part of Bob's brilliance was how his timing and phrasing changes subtlety throughout a song (esp. on this cut) and the use of that technique provides part of the story of the song. Repeating the chorus in this song many times is sort of an expression of the idea of being 'stuck' and yet even when one is stuck things can change, if ever so slightly, and that to me is the beauty of this song. I'm sure my discussion here is not well expressed...and my guess is that 'experts' have written A LOT about this exact idea already. Still....that's how my ears/brain feel it and that's the whole point, right? LONG LIVE RP and Bob Dylan!! 10→11!!
By "of the time", do you mean it sounds like it was recorded in 1966? I'm not sure which cadence you you mean by "between the refrains". I assume by "refrain" you mean the chorus ("Oh, mama, can this really be the end.......with the Memphis blues again") The parts between them (the verses) sound like the phrasing of a lot of Dylan's stuff and that other folk singers of that time.
Bill, I played this on my radio show last Friday. Are you listening?
you and I might be the few 10 raters for this track, apparently not so many also like BD; an overall 6.5 rating, seriously?
What I think is amazing about BD the performer, is not just how many freaking songs he knows, but that he can (for the most part) remember the lyrics to all of them. That's some crazy lifelong obsession to music there (or as he has stated, a soul selling deal with the devil allows him all these talents) and I for one appreciate the hell out of his music.
Long Live RP and Bob Dylan!
PS - When BD dies in the next decade or so, I hope to be able to attend his funeral. And no other famous person has ever elicited that sort of reaction from me (since Jim M died before I was born :-( )
Me too on the PS. Always enjoy your comments, and will track you down at the funeral! Have always loved this song, BTW.
Oh yah, Bobby's up all night counting his "likes" on Facebook!
Yes, that title "Blonde on Blonde" probably meant something different then than it does now so he would get lots of click bait on Youtube!
Wow...that's never happen before. I'm sure Bob will change his musical approach as to stay trendy and perhaps get some tweets, and get mentioned on various forms of social media.
Oh yeah, Bobby's up all night counting his "likes" on Facebook!
Wow...that's never happen before. I'm sure Bob will change his musical approach as to stay trendy and perhaps get some tweets, and get mentioned on various forms of social media.
Key words here "no one". The rest of us notice.
However, he did have a grammy showcase on his piano.
Gosh...what an ego!
But how would a person figure out what she wants and not need?
Ahhhhh....the age old insights raised by Bob Dylan.
Perhaps Bob will do more of this at his upcoming Nobel Prize event.
you and I might be the few 10 raters for this track, apparently not so many also like BD; an overall 6.5 rating, seriously?
What I think is amazing about BD the performer, is not just how many freaking songs he knows, but that he can (for the most part) remember the lyrics to all of them. That's some crazy lifelong obsession to music there (or as he has stated, a soul selling deal with the devil allows him all these talents) and I for one appreciate the hell out of his music.
Long Live RP and Bob Dylan!
PS - When BD dies in the next decade or so, I hope to be able to attend his funeral. And no other famous person has ever elicited that sort of reaction from me (since Jim M died before I was born :-( )
Mr. Dylan’s lecture
Super Artist : )
Agreed.
Bob's music is not for the simple-minded.
Neither did I until I was challenged by a writing teacher.
Sometime, go stand on a corner and try to write allegories or metaphors to fit your observations. Afterwards, I expect you'll have a new appreciation.
But how would a person figure out what she wants and not need?
Ahhhhh....the age old insights raised by Bob Dylan.
Perhaps Bob will do more of this at his upcoming Nobel Prize event.
Too bad is all I can say. I LOVE this song. Maybe you just had to be there.. or actually lived some of this.. hard to explain, but I love that RP plays things like this. But I sort of get it - I don't get Talking Heads.. or Opera..
Agreed! Maybe Dylan is the real voice-over for Mr Burns?
Burns giving advice to Homer, playing Golf, when Homer is stuck in a bunker: "Use an open-faced club - a sand wedge" . Homer: "Mmm, open-faced club sandwich!"
. I'm visualising Mr. Burns recording many many songs in a studio and then replaying it over and over again at the nuclear plant to all his beloved workers
Agreed! Maybe Dylan is the real voice-over for Mr Burns?
Burns giving advice to Homer, playing Golf, when Homer is stuck in a bunker: "Use an open-faced club - a sand wedge" . Homer: "Mmm, open-faced club sandwich!"
LMAO! Ugh! My ears. Make it stop.
I want to like this song... I've tried to like this song. For all the reasons the lovers in this thread mention. I get it, I do. But I can't get into the poetry of the lyrics because I fall into the "Dylan's voice is annoying" camp. You say tomayto, I say tomahto.