I have had a lot of differing feelings about the song over the years and I tend to see it as a "resigned to the fact its over" type of thing and I sing it (badly) as a "sarcastic lament." ......whatever that is.

I think the proof of the greatness of the song lies in the fact that it CAN be sung and interpreted in so many ways and styles. Interesting comment above about Ramblin' Jack....maybe that is what he had in mind. In every case that I read here and have heard in performance, the song DOES hit something true and honest within most of us, even if its not the same thing. Now THAT'S a great song!

I guess because it has also been so overperformed that I had dismissed it as another of those "not again songs," one rendition reawakened my interest in it and brought it back to great song status in my mind. If you have seen/heard the Bob Dylan 30 year thing, you know that Eric Clapton did this one......as a blues. Its possibly my high point in that whole program. Ol' Slow Hand really worked it over.

Spaw