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November 11: Bob Dylan – The End Of The Innocence, New York City, 2002 (video)

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bob dylan NYC 2002

 

Remember when the days were long
And rolled beneath a deep blue sky?
Didn’t have a care in the world
With mommy and daddy standing by

When happily ever after fails
And we’ve been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyers dwell on small details
Since daddy had to fly

“The End of the Innocence” is the lead single and title track from Don Henley’s third solo studio album, The End of the Innocence, in 1989. The song was written by Bruce Hornsby, with lyrics added by Henley, and both perform the song live in their respective concerts.

Bob Dylan performed this song 9 times during 2002. Here is the MSG version:

Madison Square Garden
New York City, New York
11 November 2002

  • Bob Dylan (vocal & piano)
  • Charlie Sexton (guitar)
  • Larry Campbell (guitar, mandolin, pedal steel guitar & electric slide guitar)
  • Tony Garnier (bass)
  • George Recile (drums & percussion)




But I know a place where we can go
That’s still untouched by man
We’ll sit and watch the clouds roll by
And the tall grass wave in the wind

You can lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair fall all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end

This is the end of the innocence
O’ beautiful, for spacious skies
But now those skies are threatening
They’re beating plowshares into swords

For this tired old man that we elected king
Armchair warriors often fail
And we’ve been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyers clean up all details

Since daddy had to lie
But I know a place where we can go
And was away this sin
We’ll sit and watch the clouds roll by

And the tall grass wave in the wind
Just lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair spill all around me
Offer up your best defense

But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence
Who knows how long this will last
Now we’ve come so far, so fast

But, somewhere back there in the dust
That same small town in each of us
I need to remember this
So baby give me just one kiss

And let me take a long last look
Before we say good bye
Just lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair fall all around me

Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence

Check out:

-Egil

6 thoughts on “November 11: Bob Dylan – The End Of The Innocence, New York City, 2002 (video)”

  1. Great rendition, something I haven’t heard before. Right up there with another great one, “Mutineer”. The imagery sort of reminds me of the song “Sara ” from Desire. Reading the words and really listening to Bob, I’m thinking …what a great song that would have been for Elvis. Thanks to you as always.

  3. Anyone who thinks Bob Dylan isn’t the greatest singer of his generation should listen to this performance: talk about making a song penned by someone else sounds like it was written by the singer. This is singing at its very best. Nobody since Frank Sinatra can phrase like Bob Dylan.

  4. As it is said, “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” I know Bob covers songs at times, but he is selective in what he covers, so this is a great affirmation of the artistry of this song. Clearly this is an amazing song by master songwriters. The theme of the song always hit home for me, and we are living in the times after the end of that innocence. I hope what Don claims in “Boys of Summer”, “you can’t go back, you can never go back” is not etched in stone. We need to bring back some of that innocence for the good of us all.

    Thanks much for this.

  5. It is not possible to hear these people laugh so in the audience. What is funny? Why do they spoil the song with their noise?

    1. I thought they calmed down after the first verse, and it often takes that long to decipher what Bob is singing. What a great version and performance by Bob.

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