Tambourine Man - I like it pretty much for the reasons you state. I
disagree that dylan will be vibrant again, his early stuff caught the
moment and caught it brilliantly. The moment has passed. All artists
have a reprise before they go - see Johnny Cash's career - but the
autumn of their lives follows the same pattern as anyone else's,
probably more-so having drove to some giddy-height.
I'm reminded of an article in the LRB concerning retired politicians.
Brutal, empty lives, repeating anecdotes of past glories to doting
acolytes (Scorcese'a film on Dylan). Creatives can still create, but
there must be a time when they're not the centre of attention.
Roger
On 5/8/07, MJ Walker <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> To, hopefully, not add to the confusion: the text by the Marquise is my
> present signature, written in the 18th C - no commentary on Berryman
> intended!
> I agree with J.G. about "Mr Tambourine Man", which still does it for me
> - it's not "profound", it's a certain mood caught on the wing, a lyric
> song, not a paper poem. I like trippy, mesel', if it's disillusioned, as
> here.
> I said more or less the same about the cyclical thing in my last,
> Stephen, so agree with you there. He's gonna sock it to us again.
> mj
>
> joe green wrote:
>
> >No point. Any significance imposed. Didn't hit the water. That's it.
> >
> >But then that point of no point that fits into ideas of "trippy" has much to do with the song. Imposed from outside -- set of expectations disappointed but there is a world elsewhere. Works in another way. Ok, for example, to be "squishy" and so leaving the set of conventions implied behind.
> >
> >Chester was an old professor by then. Reluctant to mention all of that. Maybe throwing that fact out to undercut the usual stories. Maybe just a fact. Missed the water.
> >
> >Though you might hear laughin', spinnin', swingin' madly across the sun,
> > It's not aimed at anyone, it's just escapin' on the run
> > And but for the sky there are no fences facin'.
> > And if you hear vague traces of skippin' reels of rhyme
> > To your tambourine in time, it's just a ragged clown behind,
> > I wouldn't pay it any mind, it's just a shadow you're
> > Seein' that he's chasing.
> >
> >
> >Joseph Duemer <[log in to unmask]> wrote: Joe, & I was an undergrad at the University of Washington shortly after
> >Roethke died. It was apparently written into the contract of every new
> >professor in the English Department that they had to mention him at least
> >once a quarter. My point is, what's your point?
> >
> >And I stand by my judgment: "Mr. Tambourine Man" is squishy & trippy, not in
> >a good way. And I say that as a devoted Dylan fan.
> >
> >jd
> >
> >On 5/7/07, Stephen Vincent wrote:
> >
> >
> >>>Il ne faut pas toujours conter,
> >>>Citer,
> >>>Dater,
> >>>Mais écouter.
> >>>Il faut éviter l'emploi
> >>>Du moi, du moi,
> >>>Voici pourquoi:
> >>>
> >>>Il est tyrannique,
> >>>Trop académique;
> >>>L'ennui, l'ennui
> >>>Marche avec lui.
> >>>
> >>>Marie-Françoise-Catherine de Beauveau, Marquise de Boufflets
> >>>
> >>>
> >>Dominic, are you also suggesting that this seemingly absolutist dismissal
> >>of
> >>"moi-ism" also applies to Berryman's "Henry"? I mean Henry this, Henry
> >>that,
> >>Henry once again. Like maybe, at least, occasionally Berryman might change
> >>the name to "Hank" to work out another real contrary side of "Henry."
> >>Yeah, I initially found myself intrigued with Songs but soon got exhausted
> >>with the tone, etc. of the Henry conceit.
> >>
> >>I don't know if I would drape B. Dylan with the same wrap/ he is much more
> >>cyclical with great stuff, bad stuff, good stuff - he might have crashed a
> >>motorcycle once but I don't think he will jump off a cliff in Malibu into
> >>the Pacific. I think Dylan will continue to work and believe some more big
> >>old man songs are going to bloom, or come cursing off his lips. At least
> >>I
> >>want to believe that!
> >>
> >>Stephen V
> >>http://stephenvincent.net/blog/
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> --
> Il ne faut pas toujours conter,
> Citer,
> Dater,
> Mais écouter.
> Il faut éviter l'emploi
> Du moi, du moi,
> Voici pourquoi:
>
> Il est tyrannique,
> Trop académique;
> L'ennui, l'ennui
> Marche avec lui.
>
> Marie-Françoise-Catherine de Beauveau, Marquise de Boufflets
>
--
My Stuff: http://www.badstep.net/
"Patriotism is a virtue of the vicious." Oscar Wilde
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