My love she speaks like silence
Without ideals or violence
She doesn’t have to say she’s faithful
Yet she’s true, like ice, like fire
People carry roses
Make promises by the hours
My love she laughs like the flowers
Valentines can’t buy her
–
One of his sweetest love songs – apart from the brothel, death and Apocalypse references.
“My love she speaks like silence.” Tricky, but then she is quite a woman: true, morally elevated, yet winking and laughing like the flowers. The very scent of her swirls through this honeyed river of song, borne along on gentle tumbles and ripples of guitar. Frankly, we’re all enamoured … Until that bastard bridge at midnight trembles, the wind howls like a hammer, and she’s suddenly a raven at the window. So- what?- she’s death?With a broken wing too? Now we’re confused, now we’re in a bit of a pickle. Romance over? What happened? What does it mean? Sigh.
– MOJO Magzine – 100 Greatest Dylan Songs
Performances:
163 times acoustic w/ band – top year 1994 (24 times)
119 times acoustic – top year – top year 1992 (48 times)
1 time as an instrumental – 1978
90 times w/band – top year 1978 (60 times)
–
First performance: Troy, New York – February 12 , 1965
Last played: Broomfield, Colorado – October 30, 2012
Free Trade Hall Manchester, England 7 May 1965
In the dime stores and bus stations
People talk of situations
Read books, repeat quotations
Draw conclusions on the wall
Some speak of the future
My love she speaks softly
She knows there’s no success like failure
And that failure’s no success at all
Freebody Park Newport, Rhode Island 24 July 1965 Newport Folk Festival. Contemporary Songs Workshop.
The cloak and dagger dangles
Madams light the candles
In ceremonies of the horsemen
Even the pawn must hold a grudge
Statues made of matchsticks
Crumble into one another
My love winks, she does not bother
She knows too much to argue or to judge
Madison Square Garden
New York City, New York
8 December 1975 Night of The Hurricane
The bridge at midnight trembles
The country doctor rambles
Bankers’ nieces seek perfection
Expecting all the gifts that wise men bring
The wind howls like a hammer
The night blows cold and rainy
My love she’s like some raven
At my window with a broken wing
Hammersmith Odeon
London, England
3 February 1990
Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar)
G. E. Smith (guitar)
Tony Garnier (bass)
Christopher Parker (drums)
–
Trädgårdsföreningen Gothenburg, Sweden 28 June 1992
Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar)
Bucky Baxter (pedal steel guitar & electric slide guitar)
9 thoughts on “Bob Dylan: 5 Great Live Versions of “Love Minus Zero/No Limit””
what abot the lovely version on “Unplugged”?
What about the lovely version on “Unplugged”?
My favourite version is from St. Louis 2004:
The last verse from Philly ’95 is great. Reminds me of some of Jerry’s tunes when he really lets loose.
Love the Copenhagen guitar work. That being said, will always like the solo acoustic/harmonica 65 version the most.
My favourite Version is from december 1975, Toronto, It’s on the Flagging Down the Double E’s disk
Great versions.
Great versions, thanks much. I like the Philly one in 1995. I believe he was touring smaller venues and played the Supper Club in NYC around that time. Very intimate show with a great band (as always). He was much younger and more vibrant. The vocals are impressive and very melodic for Bob.
For the seventies, I think the best version is the one on The Concert For Bangldesh 😀
what abot the lovely version on “Unplugged”?
What about the lovely version on “Unplugged”?
My favourite version is from St. Louis 2004:
The last verse from Philly ’95 is great. Reminds me of some of Jerry’s tunes when he really lets loose.
Love the Copenhagen guitar work. That being said, will always like the solo acoustic/harmonica 65 version the most.
My favourite Version is from december 1975, Toronto, It’s on the Flagging Down the Double E’s disk
Great versions.
Great versions, thanks much. I like the Philly one in 1995. I believe he was touring smaller venues and played the Supper Club in NYC around that time. Very intimate show with a great band (as always). He was much younger and more vibrant. The vocals are impressive and very melodic for Bob.
For the seventies, I think the best version is the one on The Concert For Bangldesh 😀