Subject: Dylan's Blind Willie McTell From: Bluesy Date: 05 Dec 99 - 09:01 PM I'm looking for Dylan's 'Blind Willie McTell', does anyone know what album it's from? |
Subject: RE: Dylan's Blind Willie McTell From: catspaw49 Date: 05 Dec 99 - 09:32 PM Hi Bluesy....For all of your "One Stop Shopping" Dylan stuff CLICK NASALLY HERE. Spaw |
Subject: RE: Dylan's Blind Willie McTell From: Rick Fielding Date: 05 Dec 99 - 10:30 PM I think it's one of Dylan's best. My guess is that he listened to the album Blind Willie MacTell's last Sessions, probably when he was in his late teens. He uses the tune to St. James Infirmary, with a little bit of Hotel California (I'm not kiddin') thrown in. Fine song. Rick |
Subject: RE: Dylan's Blind Willie McTell From: Peter T. Date: 06 Dec 99 - 11:32 AM It is on the Columbia "official" 3 volume bootleg (first released in 1992 I think). You can hear a recent discussion of it whenever Rick's CIUT radio program of Nov 29 gets on the Mudcat lines (I was privileged to be in the audience for that program)! yours, Peter T. |
Subject: RE: Dylan's Blind Willie McTell From: Matt_R Date: 10 Nov 00 - 11:11 PM I just learned heard this song this afternoon, and now I'm playing it. O My God what a powerful song! I have one question, and I may seem pretty stupid, but what WAS the story behind Blind Willie that the song seems to tell? Or is there a thread about him anywhere? All I could seem to find where just about songs, and not his life. --Matt |
Subject: RE: Dylan's Blind Willie McTell From: Rick Fielding Date: 11 Nov 00 - 12:11 PM "The story" in Dylan's fine song is fanciful rather than based on any factual accuracy. My guess is that Bob was moved (as many of of us were) by the liner notes to the "Mctell's Last Sessions" album. I first bought that album when I was about 16, and it remains fascinating to this day. |
Subject: RE: Dylan's Blind Willie McTell From: Little Hawk Date: 11 Nov 00 - 03:41 PM Bob is fond of using various historical figures as archetypes in his songs. Blind Willie McTell becomes a symbolic figure in this song, representing a time of honesty and legitimacy in America that Dylan feels is long gone. His liner notes for the album "World Gone Wrong" also expound on that same them of social and cultural disintegration very strongly. Take a look at them. Blind Willie McTell is an incredible song that might better be seen as a parable, a lament for a whole nation, than as a literal take on the blues singer himself. As Bob said in another great song: "Eden is burning...either get ready for elimination or else your hearts must have the courage of the Changing of the Guards". It's Valley Forge out there, people...for the homeless, the disenfranchised and the forgotten, the "countless, confused, misused, accused, strung-out ones and worse". Either help the ones in need or you might "go down in the Flood" yourself. - LH |
Subject: RE: Dylan's Blind Willie McTell From: LDave Date: 12 Nov 00 - 01:18 PM Well said. |
Subject: RE: Dylan's Blind Willie McTell From: Gern Date: 12 Nov 00 - 02:11 PM Little Hawk, that was the best Dylan encapsulation/social commentary I've come across at this location. Even a "Slow Train Coming" will eventually arrive. |
Subject: Lyr Add: BLIND WILLIE McTELL (Bob Dylan) From: Amos Date: 31 Jul 09 - 07:13 PM Songwriters: Dylan, Bob BLIND WILLIE McTELL Seen the arrow on the doorpost Saying, "This land is condemned All the way from New Orleans To Jerusalem." I traveled through East Texas Where many martyrs fell And I know no one can sing the blues Like Blind Willie McTell Well, I heard the hoot owl singing As they were taking down the tents The stars above the barren trees Were his only audience Them charcoal gypsy maidens Can strut their feathers well But nobody can sing the blues Like Blind Willie McTell See them big plantations burning Hear the cracking of the whips Smell that sweet magnolia blooming ( And) see the ghosts of slavery ships I can hear them tribes a-moaning (I can) hear the undertaker's bell ( Yeah), nobody can sing the blues Like Blind Willie McTell There's a woman by the river With some fine young handsome man He's dressed up like a squire Bootlegged whiskey in his hand There's a chain gang on the highway I can hear them rebels yell And I know no one can sing the blues Like Blind Willie McTell Well, God is in heaven And we all want what's his But power and greed and corruptible seed Seem to be all that there is I'm gazing out the window Of the St. James Hotel And I know no one can sing the blues Like Blind Willie McTell Copyright ©1983 Special Rider Music |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blind Willie McTell (Bob Dylan) From: Little Hawk Date: 01 Aug 09 - 06:52 PM This is a song I often perform. I think it numbers among the 10 or 20 best Dylan songs ever. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blind Willie McTell (Bob Dylan) From: GUEST,Calum Date: 02 Aug 09 - 12:29 PM For all your Dylan lyrics and chords, you need dylanchords.info - just about every bit of tape in the wild has been transcribed on there, and very well, too. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blind Willie McTell (Bob Dylan) From: Mick Woods Date: 02 Aug 09 - 02:28 PM Yes thanks Calum, great site. Here's the clicky link Dylan Chords |
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