Man Gave Names to All the Animals is a song written by Bob Dylan that appeared on Dylan’s 1979 album Slow Train Coming and was also released as a single in some European countries. It was also released as a promo single in US. The single became a chart hit in France and Belgium.
However, the song also has detractors who consider it the worst song Dylan ever wrote. A 2013 reader’s poll conducted by Rolling Stone Magazine ranked “Man Gave Names to All the Animals” the 4th worst Bob Dylan song, although the hit single from Slow Train Coming, “Gotta Serve Somebody” placed second. I love’em both.
Man Gave Names to All the Animals has been covered by multiple artists, I’ve picked three of my favourites.
Johnny Cash – Man Gave Name To All The Animals (demo, 1981):
Townes Van Zandt – Man Gave Name To All The Animals (from the album Roadsongs):
Johnny Borrell(Razorlight) – Man Gave Names To All The Animals (2013):
– Hallgeir
Not a huge fan of the song but certainly don’t hate it. There are much worse songs that he’s done. Funny thing though, I was at my sister’s place and looking over some of her children’s books she had for my niece and one of them was an illustration book of Man Gave Names to all the Animals. I’m almost certain she didn’t even know it was based on a Dylan song; she just saw it as a way to introduce my niece to different animals.