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Roll on, John, roll through the rain and snow
Take the right-hand road and go where the buffalo roam
They’ll trap you in an ambush before you know
Too late now to sail back home

Shine your light
Movin’ on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
~Bob Dylan (Roll On John)

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I dig John [Lennon]. As a writer, a singer and a Beatle. I dig everytime I meet them, but him I dig. He doesn’t take things seriously as so many guys do. I like that.
~Bob Dylan (KRLA Beat Interview, June 1965)

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Oh, I always love to see John [Lennon]. Always. He’s a wonderful fellow… and I always like to see him.
~Bob Dylan (to Jann Wenner, Dec 1969)

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Roll On John (original album version)

TOC

1. Facts
2. Lyrics

@#60 on my list of Bob Dylan’s top 200 songs.

John Lennon was murdered December 8, 1980 – 36 years ago today. It feels only right to post an article about Bob Dylan’s lovely tribute – Roll On John.

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Facts

 

Known studio recordings:

• Groove Masters Studios
  Santa Monica, California
  January – March 2012
  Tempest recording sessions, produced by Jack Frost
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• Bob Dylan (vocal, guitar, & piano), Stu Kimball (guitar), Charlie Sexton (guitar), Donnie Herron (violin, mandolin, steel guitar), David Hidalgo (guitar, accordion, violin), Tony Garnier (bass), George Recile (drums).

Live:

• Concert debut: Opera House Theatre, Blackpool, England – 24 November 2013
  
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  ~3min video clip from the performance:
  
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• It has been performed only 2 times live – last performance: Royal Albert Hall, London, England – 26 November 2013.
  https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/227610156

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Album:

• Released on “Tempest” – September 7 to September 11, 2012
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  –> check out: September 7: Tempest by Bob Dylan was released in 2012

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Lyrics

Doctor, doctor tell me the time of day
Another bottle’s empty, another penny spent
He turned around and he slowly walked away
They shot him in the back and down he went

Shine your light
Movin’ on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John

From the Liverpool docks to the red-light Hamburg streets
Down in the quarry with the Quarry men
Playing to the big crowds, playing to the cheap seats
Another day in the life on your way to your journey’s end

Shine your light
Movin’ on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John

Sailin’ through the trade winds bound for the south
Rags on your back just like any other slave
They tied your hands and they clamped your mouth
Wasn’t no way out of that deep dark cave

Shine your light
Movin’ on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John

I heard the news today, oh boy
They hauled your ship up on the shore
Now the city gone dark, there is no more joy
They tore the heart right out and cut him to the core

Shine your light
Movin’ on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John

Put on your bags and get ’em packed
Leave right now, you won’t be far from wrong
The sooner you go the quicker you’ll be back
You’ve been cooped up on an island far too long

Shine your light
Movin’ on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John

Slow down you’re moving way too fast
Come together right now over me
Your bones are weary, you’re about to breathe your last
Lord, you know how hard that it can be

Shine your light
Movin’ on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John

Roll on, John, roll through the rain and snow
Take the right-hand road and go where the buffalo roam
They’ll trap you in an ambush before you know
Too late now to sail back home

Shine your light
Movin’ on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John

Tyger, tyger burning bright
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
In the forests of the night
Cover ’em over and let him sleep

Shine your light
Movin’ on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John

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Check out:

• Bob Dylan top 200 according to Egil
• –
• Alldylan @ Facebook
• Karl Erik’s expectingrain.com

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Sources

• Bob Dylan – The Lyrics: Since 1962
• Wikipedia
• Olof’s – Still On The Road

-Egil