Bob Dylan: 7 Woody Guthrie covers (audio & video)

bob dylan woody guthrie

Then later I got to Woody Guthrie, which opened up a whole new world at the time. I was still only 19 or 20. I was pretty fanatical about what I wanted to do, so after learning about 200 of Woody’s songs, I went to see him and I waited for the right moment to visit him in a hospital in Morristown, New Jersey.
~Bob Dylan (to Ron Rosenbaum, Nov 1977)

Today is Woody Guthrie’s Birthday. Here are seven songs of his which Bob Dylan covers.

Ramblin’ Round
Unidentified coffehouse
Minneapolis, Minnesota
May 1961

Ramblin’ around your city,
Ramblin’ around your town,
I never see a friend I know
As I go ramblin’ ’round boys,
As I go ramblin’ ’round.

Pastures Of Plenty
Unidentified coffehouse
Minneapolis, Minnesota
May 1961

It’s a mighty hard row that my poor hands have hoed
My poor feet have traveled a hot dusty road
Out of your Dust Bowl and Westward we rolled
And your deserts were hot and your mountains were cold

Car, Car w/Dave Van Ronk
Gaslight Café
New York City, New York
September 1961

Dear Mrs Roosevelt w/ The Band
Carnegie Hall
New York City, New York
20 January 1968

I Ain’t Got No Home w/ The Band
Carnegie Hall
New York City, New York
20 January 1968

Deportee w/Joan Baez
Hughes Stadium
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, Colorado
23 May 1976

Do Re Mi w/Ry Cooder and Van Dyke Parks
Malibu Performing Arts Center
Los Angeles, California
January 2009

Check out:

-Egil

6 thoughts on “Bob Dylan: 7 Woody Guthrie covers (audio & video)”

  1. Lest we forget, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot had a long and very close relationship with Woody. Bobby also studied on Jack’s mannerisms and singing style. I don’t recall that any of us who were there at the time faulted him for that. Ramblin’ Jack was well worthy of note and respected by all his fellow folkies. Jack was a consummate singer of Woody’s songs and along with Dave Van Ronk was a strong influence on Bobby during his first years in the Village. I was privileged to have had many friendships with my fellow troubadours of those days. Jack is still Ramblin’, Bobby’s magic is still amazing us and though Dave has passed from the scene, here’s a tribute in story and song that celebrates Davids life. As I said “Lest we forget.”
    .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5iD-xTagb0

  2. I’ve always felt that the 3 songs Bob and The Band did at the Guthrie Memorial show were the best they ever sounded together.

  3. Where is “Grand Coolee Dam” (from the January 1968 concert for Woody Guthrie)?

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