The Mighty Quinn (Bob Dylan)

Subject: The Mighty Quinn
From: Captain Swing
Date: 23 Jan 00 - 12:28 PM

I'm currently learning The Mighty Quinn. Does anyone have any idea what it's about

Subject: RE: The Mighty Quinn
From: GUEST,_gargoyle
Date: 23 Jan 00 - 01:50 PM

In an interview Bob Dylan once explained in relation to this song.

"Some songs come on a stream of consciousness. They just come out because the words sound good, and then later on you can find meaning behind them, but I'm not one to explain the songs I write."

Subject: RE: The Mighty Quinn
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 23 Jan 00 - 01:56 PM

This came up on one of the folkmusic newsgroups a few months back; from what I remember, Dylan is supposed to have seen a film in which Anthony Quinn played an eskimo!  (There really was one -or possibly two).  I'm afraid I don't recall the title, but someone round here is bound to know.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: The Mighty Quinn
From: fulurum
Date: 23 Jan 00 - 01:57 PM

from his Biograph box set liner notes. "I don't know what it's about. I guess it was some kind of nursery rhyme."

Subject: RE: The Mighty Quinn
From: fulurum
Date: 23 Jan 00 - 01:59 PM

from his Biograph box set liner notes. "I don't know what it's about. I guess it was some kind of nursery rhyme."

Subject: RE: The Mighty Quinn
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Jan 00 - 02:30 PM

"The Savage Innocents" 1959. Sometimes known as "Zorba the Eskimo". For a review, click here

Whether it's got anything to do with the song, God alone knows. There certainly aren't any pigeons in it.

Subject: RE: The Mighty Quinn
From: GUEST,_gargoyle
Date: 23 Jan 00 - 02:34 PM

Quinn, was in over 300 films....one role could easily have been as an Eskimo....There is a film from the 1980's which has this for a title....however, the song is credited to Dylan in 1970.

Subject: RE: The Mighty Quinn
From: GUEST,_gargoyle
Date: 23 Jan 00 - 02:53 PM

PARODY - Bill Gates
"The MIGHTY QUINN"

Ev'rybody's building spreadsheets, games, and remotes,
Some are codin' in C++,
Others, workin' in Notes.
Ev'rybody's doin' well,
All the girls and boys.
But when Bill of Microsoft gets here,
He'll soon be takin' all the toys.

Come for the take, come for the kill,
You'll not see nothin' like the moneyed Bill.

I like my code just like the rest, to come in lean and low,
But animatin' paperclips
Just makes it big an' slow.
Ev'rybody's cashin' in,
Makin' money right to the brim.
But when Bill of Microsoft gets here,
All the money's gonna go to him.

Come for the take, come for the kill,
You'll not see nothin' like the moneyed Bill. (repeat)
A frozen screen or a failing boot, to me each one's a clue,
Just tell me what you got there honey
And I'll tell you what to do.
Ev'ryone's on overtime,
Workin' hours at a loss.
But when Bill of Microsoft gets here,
Then you'll soon be workin' for the boss.

Come for the take, come for the kill,
You'll not see nothin' like the moneyed Bill.

© 1997 Lincoln Spector Gigglebytes colomnist for Computer Currents

Subject: RE: The Mighty Quinn
From: Captain Swing
Date: 23 Jan 00 - 04:13 PM

Oh good, I'm glad Dylan hasn't a clue what it's about either - I thought I was missing something. Many thanks. Captain Swing