Poll: Best Song on Dylan's "Blood on the Tracks"

Message Bookmarked
Bookmark Removed

Hmmm...pretty damn difficult!

Poll Results

OptionVotes
Tangled Up In Blue 26
Idiot Wind 18
Shelter from the Storm 12
You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go 12
If You See Her, Say Hello 6
Buckets of Rain5
Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts 4
Simple Twist of Fate 4
Meet in the Morning 3
You're a Big Girl Now 2


Joe, Thursday, 17 May 2007 19:40 (nineteen years ago)

impossible

gabbneb, Thursday, 17 May 2007 19:41 (nineteen years ago)

"Buckets of Rain."

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Thursday, 17 May 2007 19:43 (nineteen years ago)

yeah. no, wait...

gabbneb, Thursday, 17 May 2007 19:44 (nineteen years ago)

"Simple Twist Of Fate" was the song that finally got me to buy a Dylan album, so that one.

Alex in Baltimore, Thursday, 17 May 2007 19:46 (nineteen years ago)

I still don't understand why Bob left "Up To Me" off this.

kornrulez6969, Thursday, 17 May 2007 19:49 (nineteen years ago)

Man alive how I hate Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts

Mr. Que, Thursday, 17 May 2007 19:52 (nineteen years ago)

oops!

tremendoid, Thursday, 17 May 2007 19:55 (nineteen years ago)

it's the one i think of when i think of the album and it makes me smile to think of it sry.

tremendoid, Thursday, 17 May 2007 19:57 (nineteen years ago)

Man alive how I hate Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts

i used to agree 100% but then it clicked

gabbneb, Thursday, 17 May 2007 20:02 (nineteen years ago)

"Idiot Wind." Feral, regretful, mean, funny, hurt, long-winded (ha!). If I were forced to pick one song that represented Bob Dylan, this would be a candidate.

Lostandfound, Thursday, 17 May 2007 20:22 (nineteen years ago)

Not hard for me - "Tangled Up in Blue". Man I used to love to play that back when I played guitar.

Mark Rich@rdson, Thursday, 17 May 2007 20:28 (nineteen years ago)

xpost-- OTM! But when I want Idiot Wind, I want one of the live versions. More venom.

Jon Lewis, Thursday, 17 May 2007 20:30 (nineteen years ago)

this is impossible! I voted Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts but I think almost all of them have been my favourite at one time or another.

dryga, Thursday, 17 May 2007 20:34 (nineteen years ago)

yeah i mean i keep thinking i should just keep listening to it...?? maybe it will hit me one day

Mr. Que, Thursday, 17 May 2007 20:37 (nineteen years ago)

yeah this one's really tough. It's not even my favorite Dylan (most days), but I'm having a bitch of a time deciding. I wouldn't say I hate it, but L,R, & JoH is far and away my least favorite.

will, Thursday, 17 May 2007 20:44 (nineteen years ago)

Voted "Idiot Wind". One of his best songs.

Geir Hongro, Thursday, 17 May 2007 20:47 (nineteen years ago)

If You See Her, Say Hello is a little bathetic

gabbneb, Thursday, 17 May 2007 20:48 (nineteen years ago)

good singing, though, i guess

gabbneb, Thursday, 17 May 2007 20:48 (nineteen years ago)

You're a Big Girl Now can get annoying

gabbneb, Thursday, 17 May 2007 20:49 (nineteen years ago)

"Lily, Rosemary, etc" is the one I'm most likely to skip, though it has its moments. I used to be kind of meh about "Idiot Wind" - I think it was hearing a live version that changed my mind. I still don't know what live version it was though - if I could find it, I'd probably buy it. (Hint, hint: can anyone recommend a good live version that's on an official release?) As for my favorite track, very hard to say. Maybe "Tangled Up in Blue".

o. nate, Thursday, 17 May 2007 20:55 (nineteen years ago)

OTM! But when I want Idiot Wind, I want one of the live versions. More venom.

Agreed, and yet conversely I also love the quieter, more introspective acoustic version on Disc 2 of The Bootleg Series, Vols. 1-3 : Rare And Unreleased, 1961-1991.

(So I suppose I just love this song.)

Lostandfound, Thursday, 17 May 2007 20:55 (nineteen years ago)

Of the songs still not mentioned above, "Shelter From The Storm" is also great.

Lostandfound, Thursday, 17 May 2007 20:56 (nineteen years ago)

o. nate, off the top of my head, a live version is definitely on Hard Rain.

Lostandfound, Thursday, 17 May 2007 20:59 (nineteen years ago)

(that should have said excellent live version.)

Lostandfound, Thursday, 17 May 2007 21:00 (nineteen years ago)

And there's also this.

Lostandfound, Thursday, 17 May 2007 21:02 (nineteen years ago)

"Idiot Wind" was also on the Rolling Thunder volume of the Bootleg Series, wasn't it?

But yeah, Hard Rain is what makes me really love "Idiot Wind" and "Maggie's Farm".

Jon Lewis, Thursday, 17 May 2007 21:08 (nineteen years ago)

"Idiot Wind" wasn't played til 76, so it didn't make it on to the Rolling Thunder Bootleg Series...
The "Hard Rain" version is terrifying.

tylerw, Thursday, 17 May 2007 21:14 (nineteen years ago)

The intro to "Idiot Wind" on the Bootleg Sessions is amazing, all the pain in the song compressed into a few tentative strums.

No idea what I'm going to vote for. "Tangled Up In Blue" wd be the poptimist choice I guess! I've narrowed it down to 6 out of 11 I think.

Groke, Thursday, 17 May 2007 21:39 (nineteen years ago)

The intro to "Idiot Wind" on the Bootleg Sessions is amazing, all the pain in the song compressed into a few tentative strums.

Yes, OTM.

Oh, and I didn't even consider "Tangled..." just because I knew it would be taken care of very well here. Strategic voting!

Lostandfound, Thursday, 17 May 2007 22:01 (nineteen years ago)

I voted for Tangled Up In Blue. Obvious, but obvious for a reason.

Blood On The Tracks would have been the perfect album had he replaced Lily Rosemary with Up To Me, and Meet Me In The Morning with Call Letter Blues, found on Biograph and Bootleg Series 1-3, respectively.

kornrulez6969, Friday, 18 May 2007 00:34 (nineteen years ago)

i voted for 'buckets of rain'

but only because it's my favourite of the moment

i could have come up with an all time fave, but i think most of the songs have occupied that spot at some stage

Charlie Howard, Friday, 18 May 2007 15:59 (nineteen years ago)

ygmmlwyg for sentimental reasons. could have been about 5 others...

negotiable, Friday, 18 May 2007 16:09 (nineteen years ago)

never been a fan of this album but tangled up in blue is the one outstanding song for me. it is a perfect morning tune, radiating positive energy. i like it when dylan is kicking. great unpretetentious direct lyrics as well. theyou're a big girl now especially the virtuosic, subtle guitar play in the beginning and bucket of rain which somehow reminds me of nick drake are also close to my heart.

alex in mainhattan, Friday, 18 May 2007 17:59 (nineteen years ago)

let's try that last sentence again:

you're a big girl now, especially the virtuosic, subtle guitar play in the beginning and buckets of rain which somehow reminds me of nick drake are also close to my heart.

alex in mainhattan, Friday, 18 May 2007 18:01 (nineteen years ago)

shelter

ghost rider, Friday, 18 May 2007 18:11 (nineteen years ago)

There isn't a track on this I dislike. There are the ones that jump straight out: Idiot Wind, Tangled Up in Blue, Lily, Rosemary etc, but its the quieter ones that you don't notice first play that seem to hold the album together in some way - the likes of "if you see her, say hello" and (especially) "meet me in the morning". Pauses for breath, in between the rants, maybe, and its in those quite, bittersweet moments that the rest of the emotions seem more poignant, because they're contained, perhaps.

That said, I've gone for You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go. Because sometimes you can't beat a good cynicism vs. hope face-off. I hope someone votes for Meet Me In The Morning.

hobart paving, Saturday, 19 May 2007 11:31 (nineteen years ago)

the one-two of Idiot Wind and You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome – the first song brimming over with vitriol and disingenuous callousness and the second song gill-stuffed with blame and hurt, manifest as passive-agressive vim – play to me like an opera. the phrasings and vocalizations: the eponymous 'eeey-dyot' and 'blood on your saaaaaddle' and later the glibly beautiful beast 'dragon clouds so high above' and its fuck-you-honey stinger 'i've only known careless love' are as inflected and nuanced as anything dylan ever sang.

remy bean, Saturday, 19 May 2007 19:34 (nineteen years ago)

You're A Big Girl Now has been my favourite Dylan song for the longest time.

Alba, Sunday, 20 May 2007 00:26 (nineteen years ago)

I voted "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome" narrowly over "Tangled Up in Blue."

Matos W.K., Sunday, 20 May 2007 07:02 (nineteen years ago)

dont let it die! easy, "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" is my favorite Dylan song so that it is.

Jeb, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 01:19 (nineteen years ago)

Pretty damn easy: Tangled Up In Blue

(I don't like this album.)

Rockist Scientist, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 01:32 (nineteen years ago)

xpost Yeah, I was gonna say, until the last few posts, there was NO LOVE for "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go," but I see towards the bottom here that I'm not alone in loving a good Dylan pop tune. That's my vote. But, yeah, of course every song is wonderful.

Also, Madeliene Peyroux's version of this song is heartbreaking.

Manalishi, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 01:32 (nineteen years ago)

Simple Twist Of Fate edges out You're A Big Girl Now and Tangled...

Would be Idiot Wind, but as stated above the live versions better this one.

Jon Lewis, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 02:42 (nineteen years ago)

I wonder if I'll be the only vote for Meet Me In The Morning. This album really grates on me for some reason, and that's one of the few bright spots.

Hurting 2, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 02:46 (nineteen years ago)

This is completely impossible. For a long time, 'If You See Her, Say Hello' used to be my favorite. Now, it sounds maybe a bit too obvious. I'll probably go with 'Big Girl Now'.

baaderonixx, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 08:02 (nineteen years ago)

Me, I'm still on the road heading for another joint
We always did feel the same
we just saw it from a different point

of view

The Wayward Johnny B, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 08:11 (nineteen years ago)

I've always been a bit dismayed at the hatred for Lily, Rosemary, et al. I think it's a great throwback to '65, the shaggy-dog days of convoluted widescreen epics like "Tombstone Blues" and "115th Dream" and the like. Not every song needs to be a confessional about a relationship gone wrong - I don't feel that it compromises the album's purity or whatever.

Nevertheless, "Tangled Up In Blue" (which kinda has it both ways) gets my vote.

Myonga Vön Bontee, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 18:14 (nineteen years ago)

That song feels like it goes on forever.

Hurting 2, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 18:16 (nineteen years ago)

Seek the version on Blood On The Tapes - it's better. No 'oompah' drums

Manalishi, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 18:18 (nineteen years ago)

Real Live is worth owning for the version of "Tangled Up in Blue" – it does sound like it go on forever. I always saw New Order's "Temptation" in the same light: a song of infinite malleability, thematically and sonically, adjusting to age and experience.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, 22 May 2007 18:31 (nineteen years ago)

That song-goes-on-forever monotony was one of the things I liked about Dylan when I first began to listen. But I can understand the objection. (I was big on the Minutemen in those days too.)

Myonga Vön Bontee, Wednesday, 23 May 2007 02:17 (nineteen years ago)

I also never liked the production on *B* on the *T*.

Hurting 2, Wednesday, 23 May 2007 02:26 (nineteen years ago)

if we're gonna talk covers, perhaps one or two people might check out the Jerry Garcia Band's Simple Twist on their live 1991 self-titled. a sensitive vocal performance (i'm tempted to call it the best song on BOTT, but it's far from the best performance) and some jazzy, expressive soloing (caution, punk rockers - a 12-minute track). the album also has a jolly but less memorable Tangled Up.

I'm also partial to Shawn Colvin's neo-Joni version of YGMMLWYG on her Cover Girl

gabbneb, Wednesday, 23 May 2007 03:02 (nineteen years ago)

"shelter from the storm" because it's the first dylan song i can remember really liking as a kid. who wouldn't want shelter from the storm?

tipsy mothra, Wednesday, 23 May 2007 04:56 (nineteen years ago)

(i also loved "lily rosemary," and i remember trying to follow the story and always getting lost.)

tipsy mothra, Wednesday, 23 May 2007 04:57 (nineteen years ago)

"meet me in the morning" is the only one i can listen to without urge to kill rising..

poortheatre, Wednesday, 23 May 2007 06:47 (nineteen years ago)

Eventually I voted for "Tangled", after enjoying it most on a playthrough. "Lonesome", "Meet Me" and "Simple Twist" narrow runners-up. "Idiot Wind" great grand guignol stuff but it didn't touch me like I was expecting it to, this time.

Groke, Wednesday, 23 May 2007 07:11 (nineteen years ago)

No one's voting for Big Girl :(
Is anyone gonna stand up for 'Buckets of Rain'? That's the one I liked most when I first got the album.

baaderonixx, Wednesday, 23 May 2007 08:09 (nineteen years ago)

The Blood-on-the-Tapes-version of Idiot Wind

christoff, Wednesday, 23 May 2007 14:39 (nineteen years ago)

Hmm, based on poor's comment, I wonder if Meet Me In The Morning is generally the favorite of people who otherwise don't like the album that much.

It does seem like it's the only song, or one of the only ones, where he doesn't sing a constant stream of long, breathless lines.

Hurting 2, Wednesday, 23 May 2007 14:42 (nineteen years ago)

yeah, the key to lily, rosemary is actually listening to the lyrics

gabbneb, Wednesday, 23 May 2007 15:02 (nineteen years ago)

or, just submitting to it, basically

gabbneb, Wednesday, 23 May 2007 15:08 (nineteen years ago)

I must say that out of the super-lengthy Dylan tracks, I like "Rosemary..." better than "Sad-Eyed Lady..." or "Highlands".

Jon Lewis, Wednesday, 23 May 2007 16:41 (nineteen years ago)

Meet Me In The Morning is generally the favorite of people who otherwise don't like the album that much.

it's got the best beat! it sounds like dusty springfield.. i don't generally like dylan, but this is my favorite of his albums after John Wesley Harding.. "buckets of rain" sounds like devendra banhart.

poortheatre, Wednesday, 23 May 2007 20:09 (nineteen years ago)

I voted for "Tangled Up In Blue" but "You're a Big Girl Now" gets high marks from me...a very coy lyric: on the one hand Dylan is promising that he can change, but on the other hand he tells us that his lover can be found in someone else's room. Has he driven her away and now regrets it? Or is he trying to convince himself to stay with her? But Bob implies it's her fault, now that's she's a big girl.

Euler, Wednesday, 23 May 2007 20:26 (nineteen years ago)

meet me in the morning is probably the most contemporary-sounding song on the record (and/but possibly the most akin to the old-timey-ish stuff on his recent discs). it appeals some to my tourhead (pace xgau) side, tho tangled up is the real festival song.

"buckets of rain" sounds like devendra banhart

aieee

gabbneb, Wednesday, 23 May 2007 20:30 (nineteen years ago)

Meet Me In The Morning is generally the favorite of people who otherwise don't like the album that much.

it's got the best beat! it sounds like dusty springfield..

Hm! Never thought about that!

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 23 May 2007 20:36 (nineteen years ago)

"You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" is an unbelievably good song--it's like everything I like about Hank Williams plus everything I like about Dylan. And it's a hell of a lot of fun to play on an open-tuned guitar. (All of the BOTT songs were written in the same open tuning: E B E G# B E.)

Douglas, Wednesday, 23 May 2007 21:57 (nineteen years ago)

I thought you played these on the uke!

Jon Lewis, Wednesday, 23 May 2007 22:06 (nineteen years ago)

"Tangled Up in Blue" takes it by a fair distance.

Joe, Saturday, 2 June 2007 02:30 (nineteen years ago)

i like that everything got at least 2 votes.

tipsy mothra, Saturday, 2 June 2007 05:03 (nineteen years ago)

Guess I'll have to listen to "Idiot Wind" some more...that's always been my least favorite from that album.

Joe, Saturday, 2 June 2007 10:18 (nineteen years ago)

it's a deep, deep mystery for me how <i>you're a big girl now</i> finished last. the intro before he starts singing features about the best guitar play on any dylan track. apparently there were three guitarists (none of them being dylan who plays mouth harp) involved.

alex in mainhattan, Saturday, 2 June 2007 12:31 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, "You're a Big Girl Now" is one of my favorites on this one. Lyrics are great, too.

Joe, Saturday, 2 June 2007 16:19 (nineteen years ago)

hey, my two favorites tied for third.

ghost rider, Saturday, 2 June 2007 16:20 (nineteen years ago)

at least "simple twist of fate" didn't win. the "but he'd gone streeaaaAAAGIIGHHTHTT" part and its sisters are the kinds of moments that put me off dylan almost entirely.

poortheatre, Sunday, 3 June 2007 08:03 (nineteen years ago)

five months pass...

i can't believe Tangled up in blue won this...its obviously Idiot wind or you're a big girl now

swinburningforyou, Monday, 19 November 2007 03:04 (eighteen years ago)

Maybe so, but not 'obviously'

Myonga Vön Bontee, Monday, 19 November 2007 05:19 (eighteen years ago)

.. or "Shelter"

Mark G, Monday, 19 November 2007 09:59 (eighteen years ago)


You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.