Ramona
Come closer
Shut softly your watery eyes
The pangs of your sadness
Shall pass as your senses will rise
The flowers of the city
Though breathlike
Get deathlike at times
And there’s no use in tryin’
T’ deal with the dyin’
Though I cannot explain that in lines
The Oval City Hall Sheffield, England 30 April 1965
I´ve posted some great versions of VOJ lately. There seems to be strong opinions among our readers regarding “best VOJ live version”, so why not compare different versions?
I´v nominated 10 versions and would love to get feedback – use the comments section in this post or comment on my post on Alldylan´s FB page -> Alldylan @ Facebook.
Try to pick 3, but any number will do.
My top 3:
Sheffield 1966
Portsmouth 2000
Dublin 2005
If we get enough response, I´ll compile the results and update this post.
Ain’t it just like the night to play tricks when you’re tryin’ to be so quiet?
We sit here stranded, though we’re all doin’ our best to deny it
And Louise holds a handful of rain, temptin’ you to defy it
Lights flicker from the opposite loft
In this room the heat pipes just cough
The country music station plays soft
But there’s nothing, really nothing to turn off
Just Louise and her lover so entwined
And these visions of Johanna that conquer my mind
My previous post about Dylan´s “Portsmouth 2000” version of VOJ got some comments referring to “Münster 2000″ as an even better version. Well I don´t know if it´s better… BUT it sure is utterly brilliant as well.
Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build the big bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks
GREAT version.
Hallenstadion
Zürich, Switzerland
25 April 1999
Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar)
Bucky Baxter (pedal steel guitar & electric slide guitar)
Ain’t it just like the night to play tricks when you’re tryin’ to be so quiet?
We sit here stranded, though we’re all doin’ our best to deny it
And Louise holds a handful of rain, temptin’ you to defy it
Lights flicker from the opposite loft
In this room the heat pipes just cough
The country music station plays soft
But there’s nothing, really nothing to turn off
Just Louise and her lover so entwined
And these visions of Johanna that conquer my mind
I´ve posted videos (including this one) from this great concert in Portsmouth before.
But this version of VOJ is so incredible it deserves a post for itself.