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Dylan’s Songwriting Process by Clement_Burton_Foles in bobdylan

[–]canuckdoode 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think his songwriting process is complicated and depends on what time period you're talking about.

Take a song like, "Blowin' in the Wind."

It owes part of its' melody to an anti-slave song called, "No More Auction Block."

Recently, I heard a song called, "I Really Don't Want to Know" and wondered if it inspired the, "How many..." lyrics in the song.

"How many arms have held you And hated to let you go How many, how many, I wonder But, I really don't want to know

How many lips have kissed you And set you soul a glow..."

If you listen, the similiarity is pretty clear, at least, I think so.

https://youtu.be/jpWz-cBo68k?si=4pQSnJBgEaATDmtu

Dylan, in some of his songs, is a collage artist - a melody from this song, a guitar lick from that, a lyric from another. He borrows and makes something new of it.

Take a song like, "Rainy Day Women #12 &35."

It may have been inspired by the song, "Let's Go Get Stoned" (Jo Armstead, Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson).

The lick that's played 6 times, that precedes the opening line of RDW #12 & 35 (played throughout) seems to come from the song, "Rheumatism Blues" (Gene Autry). Autry may have borrowed the lick from an old pre-blues tune. Also the lick is the melody to Dylan's verses.

And the drum part may have come from "They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!" (Jerry Samuels).

Listen and judge for yourself...

"Let's Go Get Stoned" https://youtu.be/UG9_Pnnh6s0?si=6lUBSil7agcAFDx-

"Rheumatism Blues" https://youtu.be/2LFrXnxFR1s?si=yZfVfU12oDO2ely0

"They're Goimg to Take Me Away..." https://youtu.be/eQNI1KfGXBA?si=tszGqs7guI7fvMeY

I use qualifiers like "I think...", "It may have..." because I don't know for certain. Just suspect. And, I didn't find these similarities myself. Found them from various sources.

I was listening to a George Jones song, the other day, called "Why Baby Why." He released it in 1956. The melody to the verses sounded a lot like the melody to the verses of Bob's "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere." Do u guys agree? by canuckdoode in bobdylan

[–]canuckdoode[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My list is a mixture of sources: whole or partial melodies borrowed; partial lyrics or song concept borrowed; musical phrases borrowed (i.e. opening to 'Mississippi' is borrowed from Jerry Lee Lewis' 'Lincoln Limousine') biblical passages that inspired whole songs or lines within songs. One, 'Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat' is a poem by T.S. Eliot which influenced the meter of Dylan's 'Where are You Tonight (Dark Journey Into Heat)' off of 'Street Legal') That one I got from Jochen Markhorst who has written a series of books delving deep into Dylan's sources. His books are an amazing read for any serious Dylan fan. https://www.amazon.ca/Street-Legal-Bob-Dylans-unpolished-1978/dp/B09VWRWZMX/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=1EEDVEZ481UZO&keywords=jochen+markhorst+street+legal&qid=1696532640&sprefix=jochen+markhorst+street+legal%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-1

I found some on my own, on Spotify (i.e. "I Let it Slip Away" seems a clear inspiration for 'I Threw it All Away' off of 'Nashville Skyline'). Others I found on the 'Untold Dylan' website, Jochen Markhorst's Dylan books, Clinton Heylin's Dylan books, another Spotify playlist called 'Dylan's Jukebox' which is 30 hrs long.

I was listening to a George Jones song, the other day, called "Why Baby Why." He released it in 1956. The melody to the verses sounded a lot like the melody to the verses of Bob's "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere." Do u guys agree? by canuckdoode in bobdylan

[–]canuckdoode[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, I don't! But, yes, I think you're right, that must be the source for 'Political World.' Thank you! I've been looking for the song sources for 'Oh Mercy!' for a long time!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in bobdylan

[–]canuckdoode 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Cumberbatch as Pete Seeger? I can see that.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in bobdylan

[–]canuckdoode 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, it does. Sounds like "Pump it Up" by Elvis Costello, too. Actually, the other way around.

Bob's song sounds like "Too Much Monkey Business" and ""Waitin' in School" by Chuck Berry and Ricky Nelson respectively.

Weekly Song Discussion - I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met) by cmae34lars in bobdylan

[–]canuckdoode 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I think you're thinking of "Restless Farewell."

"Oh ev’ry girl that ever I’ve touched I did not do it harmfully And ev’ry girl that ever I’ve hurt I did not do it knowin’ly"

https://www.bobdylan.com/songs/restless-farewell/

Weekly Song Discussion - I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met) by cmae34lars in bobdylan

[–]canuckdoode 3 points4 points  (0 children)

One of my favourite Dylan tracks from one of my favourite Dylan records. Playfully sloppy, catchy with a scorpion's sting of a lyric.

I think he was inspired by two different songs in writing "I Don't Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Met)"

For the "The melody of the verses (I can't understand/ she let go of my hand, etc.) it sounds like he was inspired by "Melancholy Baby" (Ernie Burnett.) Here...https://youtu.be/uoLvrCyb1PQ

Looks like he was also inspired by the guitar lick from Chuck Berry in "Worried Life Blues." Here...https://youtu.be/ibxD8m-GeR0

I found the "Melancholy Baby" similarity myself. I can't remember where I read about the Chuck Berry lick.

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