Oh my name it is nothin’
My age it means less
The country I come from
Is called the Midwest
I’s taught and brought up there
The laws to abide
And that the land that I live in
Has God on its side
—
Originally due to appear on the English “Tonight” program on the eighth of May, Dylan appears on the program on the 12th, introduced by Cliff Michelmore. He performs a very hesitant version of “With God on Our Side.” The TV footage is obviously a video insert, so it was presumably filmed earlier in the day.
~Clinton Heylin (Bob Dylan: A Life in Stolen Moments Day by Day 1941-1995)
BBC Studios London, England Early May 1964
Broadcast by BBC 1 12 May 1964 in the program Tonight. Rebroadcast 11 September 1984.
In the course of a remarkable interview with Horace Judson, from Time magazine, given at the Royal Albert Hall, London, May 9, 1965, Dylan, wired up with youth’s impatience (at least), and moving among lumpen dullards like some beautiful alien from superior space, can say to the 40-something reporter..
-Michael gray (The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia)
Bob was being absolutely appalling, but so brilliant. By this time I’d learnt that he could pull strips of skin off people, verbally … [ButJudson] was quite abusive as well. He was extremely upset, he really was; and in a way I suppose it was not really his fault-not properly briefed, treating Bob as some sort of curiosity, not as a serious artist.
–Anthea Joseph
A Restaurant
Royal Albert Hall
London England
9 May 1965
Interview by Horace Judson.
I Seen the arrow on the doorpost
Saying, “This land is condemned
All the way from New Orleans
To New Jerusalem” Well I traveled through East Texas
Where many martyrs fell I can tell you one thing nobody can sing the-blues-like-Blind-Willie-McTell
Great version of this masterpiece from the 2002 Europe spring tour.
–
“Blind Willie McTell” was the most interesting performance of the night.
It used to be like that:
“No-one can sing the blues …
like Blind Willie McTell”
but tonight it went like this:
“I’ll tell you one thing …
nobody can sing …
the-blues-like-Blind-Willie-McTell”
The more astute amongst you will have noticed that the third line of this new version is quite long and doesn’t fit too well. Several times I thought the line wouldn’t fit but Bob managed to squeeze it in, just in time.
~Andy Jenkins (from the archives over @ boblinks.com)
Manchester Evening News Arena Manchester, England 9 May 2002
Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar)
Charlie Sexton (guitar)
Larry Campbell (guitar, mandolin, pedal steel guitar & electric slide guitar)
Go ’way from my window
Leave at your own chosen speed
I’m not the one you want, babe
I’m not the one you need
You say you’re lookin’ for someone
Never weak but always strong
To protect you an’ defend you
Whether you are right or wrong
Someone to open each and every door
But it ain’t me, babe
No, no, no, it ain’t me, babe
It ain’t me you’re lookin’ for, babe
You must leave now, take what you need, you think will last
But whatever you wish to keep, you better grab it fast
Yonder stands your orphan with his gun
Crying like a fire in the sun
Look out the saints are comin’ through
And it’s all over now, Baby Blue
Cardiff International Arena
Cardiff, Wales
6 May 2002
Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar)
Charlie Sexton (guitar)
Larry Campbell (guitar, mandolin, pedal steel guitar & electric slide guitar)
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